Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
From DDC ********
Just for information, can I forward the following note regarding the street party on Dover Seafront to celebrate the Olympic Handover from Beijing to London.
"Please note that due to shipping movements, the firework display as part of the handover celebrations on Dover Seafront on Sunday (24 August) has had to be moved from 21:00 (9pm) to 20:12 (8.12pm). We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Been nice knowing you :)
fireworks should be seen for miles in daylight,(what shipping movement might i ask)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Phil I was wondering about that one myself but its a mystery at this time. If anyone at all knows as to why the adjustment was needed we would be only to happy to hear about it. Hopefully though all should go well even so...but as Scotchie says there its cutting it a bit fine lightwise.
I am happy with the change in time as the original was too near my bedtime............
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Afriend of mine visited the fireworks at 2012 but lots of people were not aware of the time change and were arriving at the original 9pm time and missed it all and went away very dissappointed.
keith
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Why am I not surprised.......
Been nice knowing you :)
No point changing times if this was the only site that made the change known.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
All I can say is a friend of minre visited at 2000 as i told them abnout change of time
they said loads of people were arriving at 2100 when they were leaving
sad realy
Or, to put it another way, bloody silly!!! We really need to get a grip on PR and advertising!!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Bern
Who is PR that you would like to get a grip on? not our very own editor surely?
I recall a JR who had a grip on nearly everything.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Marek, at my age having a grip one anyone (I mean anything!) is a bonus........
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Think they must have had lessons from the English Heritage person that wanted a firework display for the Archery and then realised that it would be daylight
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
A good crowd turned up for the fireworks and the seafront was fully parked out...as were the surrounding streets. It is a shame if people missed it by turning up at 9, but of course once you change the schedule at the last minute this kind of unfortunate problem is inevitable.
But in the afternoon along the flag raising damp seafront everyone was told the Fireworks were off!..so Dover's penchant for confused messaging carries on...
There are TWO problems though with regard to all this that havent been answered...
1. What was the reason for the change to 20:12..because as we know it was still too bright...the rumour mill has been working overtime. Did Speedferries object?? did it clash with their running schedule? Their catamaran wasnt in harbour at 20:12 and perhaps thats the way they wanted it.
2. Why did the display have to go on so far away..it was right at the very end of the pier, so the whole experience lacked intimacy. It was like looking over the fence watching someone elses display.
The fireworks towards the end of the display that displayed the Olympic rings were very good.
Unregistered User
Paully . I believe you are correct about the change of timing. Shipping movements, as I was given to believe & I also believe you have nailed who it was.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Quite\sad that, if shipping companies can dictate
yet when cruise liners come in theres fireworks galore(and lovely they were to)
was a muddle up over the time and people dissapointed, must learn from it.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
The main thing was it wasn't dark enough for fireworks, towards the end as it grew darker they looked great (especially the 5 Olympic rings) Good show
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
I see there have been some very effective letters in The Mercury today about the timing cock-up and how it impacted on some families. Parents gettting their kids ready to come to the spectacular heard the fireworks go off while still getting ready at home. A great pity this....especially if kids are little...well you just get gutted and crestfallen
One of the first rules of marketing...you must never change the schedule once your advertising and promotional material has gone out. Its a no-no bigtime.
The Mercury also feature the prob in a humourous editorial..worth looking at...but perhaps pointing the blame in the wrong direction.
I just hope that whatever organisation was responsible for this error of judgement,has the bottle to apologise publically to all those dissappointed parties concerned.
