A shameless bump as the Fair is less than three months away now ... 
Hoping that a fair few on Urban are up for it
Hoping that a fair few on Urban are up for it
Strawberry Fair 2009
- Thread starter Jimmy Bailey
- Start date
The Fair's in trouble I'm afraid 
The local cops have decided to charge the organisers for their services...
I'm of the opinion that they should just tell the pigs to fuck off and have the fair anyway. Then if they want to stop it they'll have to mobilise, but it would be for free
Not necessarily the safest option, but fuck it. How can the police insist that they be there, but then also insist that they need money for something that they have determined is a requirement. It's well Kafka.
The local cops have decided to charge the organisers for their services...
I'm of the opinion that they should just tell the pigs to fuck off and have the fair anyway. Then if they want to stop it they'll have to mobilise, but it would be for free
Not necessarily the safest option, but fuck it. How can the police insist that they be there, but then also insist that they need money for something that they have determined is a requirement. It's well Kafka.
Bollocks 
, that was threatened last year, the Police charging thing, but some sort of agreement was reached in 2008 though, wasn't it? 
I'm daring to hope that the Fair is too big and too well established not to happen though ...
, that was threatened last year, the Police charging thing, but some sort of agreement was reached in 2008 though, wasn't it? I'm daring to hope that the Fair is too big and too well established not to happen though ...
The way I look at it, we all pay tax for the police.
If they are going to start charging for "policing" any public gathering, a cost that if you refuse to pay, they won't allow you to hold your event, its very close to being a protection racket.
What about, say, a protest march? Sorry, we think its going to cost £20,000 to "police" and if you don't cough up, you can't have it.....
Its the same principle - we are all the public, their job is to police events as they happen.
If they can basically charge a compulsory fee for turning up, they effectively dictate where people can gather together for any purpose (even more than they already do) which is a worrying move.
Giles..
If they are going to start charging for "policing" any public gathering, a cost that if you refuse to pay, they won't allow you to hold your event, its very close to being a protection racket.
What about, say, a protest march? Sorry, we think its going to cost £20,000 to "police" and if you don't cough up, you can't have it.....
Its the same principle - we are all the public, their job is to police events as they happen.
If they can basically charge a compulsory fee for turning up, they effectively dictate where people can gather together for any purpose (even more than they already do) which is a worrying move.
Giles..
I missed the fen females last year, hope we can bump into them this time
Spot on comments from Giles. Can Cambridge locals keep an eye out for developments on the Police charging thing? I really hope the Fair isn't in financial jeopardy ...
Spot on comments from Giles. Can Cambridge locals keep an eye out for developments on the Police charging thing? I really hope the Fair isn't in financial jeopardy ...
The usual benefit gigs and stuff are going on, but this is looking like a potentially fatal blow. I don't know the state of negotiations at the moment as I am no longer that friendly with the committee.I missed the fen females last year, hope we can bump into them this time
Spot on comments from Giles. Can Cambridge locals keep an eye out for developments on the Police charging thing? I really hope the Fair isn't in financial jeopardy ...
I totally agree with Giles, I was trying to express that in my angry post but he said it much more eloquently.
I'll post up any info I get.
Thanks for that perplexis.
I was speculating to myself that that story in the Cambridge Evening Post originated from someone on the Fair Commitee. And that they might be deliberately publicising the Police's change of stance in order to generate negotiating leverage with the help of the publicity .....
In other words lets hope that negotiations and lobbying routes still remain open/ongoing, and that the worst of the blow can be averted.
I was speculating to myself that that story in the Cambridge Evening Post originated from someone on the Fair Commitee. And that they might be deliberately publicising the Police's change of stance in order to generate negotiating leverage with the help of the publicity .....
In other words lets hope that negotiations and lobbying routes still remain open/ongoing, and that the worst of the blow can be averted.
Cloo
Banana for scale
I'm planning on going this year... I hope the Police aren't so cunty again - I wouldn't fancy being herded through all that with a young baby in tow.
I've only made it there one of the about five years I've intended to go (other times I had something else on, and the one free year it was pissing down), and I really enjoyed it.
I've only made it there one of the about five years I've intended to go (other times I had something else on, and the one free year it was pissing down), and I really enjoyed it.
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
That site's not been updated for some time, the C.E.N. story about the Police is a good deal more recent than the last website update (which followed their successful efforts to overcome the threat to the 10 pm licence from the Council, a while ago ).
I'm in touch with strawberryozzie of the SF Committee, I will post more when I know more ... and I'm sure perplexis will also keep us posted.
BUMP! as the Fair is only in three weeks time.
The main SF site has been updated now, with an interesting page setting out in detail the Fair Committee's response to the Police charging threat.
And the recent Strawbery Fair Committee's press release titled 'Community events are vital' (tis a PDF mind).
I'm taking it that negotiations with the Police about this year's Fair are still 'ongoing', given that the SF site doesn't say one way or the other what the outcome of their lobbying is. And I have no further inside info for now ...
For now we can assume the Fair is going ahead !
ETA : And straight from the Fair Committee's mouth, Martin Twiss confirmed this on 12th May -- see below ....
as the Fair is only in three weeks time.The main SF site has been updated now, with an interesting page setting out in detail the Fair Committee's response to the Police charging threat.
And the recent Strawbery Fair Committee's press release titled 'Community events are vital' (tis a PDF mind).
I'm taking it that negotiations with the Police about this year's Fair are still 'ongoing', given that the SF site doesn't say one way or the other what the outcome of their lobbying is. And I have no further inside info for now ...
For now we can assume the Fair is going ahead !
ETA : And straight from the Fair Committee's mouth, Martin Twiss confirmed this on 12th May -- see below ....
Just belatedly seen this though, posted by Martin Twiss (one of the Fair's key organisers) over on efestivals, on a thread I hadn't checked for ages 
Watch out once more at Cambridge Station on the Saturday for those bastard British Transport Police. Here is what Martin has to say :
That BTP alcohol ban is not good AT ALL, but do bear in mind :
You can travel other than by train.
You can get off your train elsewhere than Cambridge main station if you use some of the stopping trains from Liverpool Street
Alcohol will be available both on site (in the lovely beer tents) and in and around town too I guess
Some of you can travel up on a day other than Saturday 6th
It's a lively and lovely event especially when sunny, that so many peoople really enjoy, don't let British Transport Police obstructiveness grind you down or stop you getting there.
Cambridgeshire Police, for all their potential arsiness over charging, will be the ones near and around site and they tend to keep a much lower profile.
The SF stewards who do the real work are as cool and laid back as fuck. It'll be fine once you've arrived.
Watch out once more at Cambridge Station on the Saturday for those bastard British Transport Police. Here is what Martin has to say :
Martin Twiss said:
That BTP alcohol ban is not good AT ALL, but do bear in mind :
You can travel other than by train.
You can get off your train elsewhere than Cambridge main station if you use some of the stopping trains from Liverpool Street
Alcohol will be available both on site (in the lovely beer tents) and in and around town too I guess
Some of you can travel up on a day other than Saturday 6th
It's a lively and lovely event especially when sunny, that so many peoople really enjoy, don't let British Transport Police obstructiveness grind you down or stop you getting there.
Cambridgeshire Police, for all their potential arsiness over charging, will be the ones near and around site and they tend to keep a much lower profile.
The SF stewards who do the real work are as cool and laid back as fuck. It'll be fine once you've arrived.
Cloo
Banana for scale
Hope we get good weather - we are mobilising to come along.
That really sucks about the trains - I mean, really, how many problems have they actually had due to people drinking on the way? But how enforcable will it be? Plenty of people won't know about it, and unless transport police get on all the trains (I assume some will), I doubt staff will be telling people to stop.
That really sucks about the trains - I mean, really, how many problems have they actually had due to people drinking on the way?
But how enforcable will it be? Plenty of people won't know about it, and unless transport police get on all the trains (I assume some will), I doubt staff will be telling people to stop.
Hope we get good weather - we are mobilising to come along.
That really sucks about the trains - I mean, really, how many problems have they actually had due to people drinking on the way?
I think the main British Transport Police presence will be around Cambridge station, in other words something of a step up from their already OTT presence at Cambridge station last year. I can only guess, but the risk of them patrolling the actual trains is probably?? far less, and if there's any of them checking Cambridge-bound trains at Kings Cross or Liverpool Street, that really would be overkill. And they'd be subject to righteous complaints from Cambridge bound citzens who are nothing to so with the Fair.
Suggest people stock up on alcohol when already in Cambridge (plenty of offies/shops in town!) or when on site.
Or employ smart BTP avoidance tactics as suggested by me previous page
We've booked our trains -- arriving in Cambridge a day early -- and we will definitely be there in two weeks time. Hope to meet up with plenty of folks
-- and we will definitely be there in two weeks time. Hope to meet up with plenty of folks 
Onket
Je suis [CONTENT REMOVED]
Cloo
Banana for scale
God, how are we supposed to spot you, then?!I'll be there with ballgown and a bottle of tequila! Festie season has started
foo
dirtysweet
hey William (and anyone else who'll be around all weekend) if you're in Cambridge on the Friday night before the Fair - there's a Dubzone pre-party with soundsystems and VIBRONICS! cheap n cheerful venue with no noise restrictions!
BASS! .
i've c&p'd the info cos i can't link it from the facebook page....
We have booked the Funky Fun House warehouse in Cambridge just off Newmarket rd for a friday night session!
We promice you a really amazing warm up to the weekend on the very special eve to the strawberry fair, with a NEW venue with BIG capacity. And an amazing16K sound install by Cambridge's very own REVELATION 2000 and The Dub Zone. So expect the volume and the bass to be up there with Jah.
The Dub Zone is also pleased to present the mighty *VIBRONICS* .....From their creation in 1995 Vibronics have been at the forefront of the UK Roots and Dub explosion. They served their apprentice through a series of exclusive heavy-weight cuts for Sound Systems such as Jah Shaka, Iration Steppas and Aba-Shanti-I before moving on to releasing music through Zion Train's Universal Egg label. Vibronics have been playing live and DJing across Europe since 1997 where they have earned a reputation for kicking up a musical storm. An exhausting itinerary has taken them from Portugal to Finland with visits to just about every country in between. Their studio work leads the way in contemporary dub productions and has included collaborations with Zion Train, Ranking Joe, Macka.B and The Mad Professor. .... Vibronics is the future sound of Dub...... .
Also with selectors and vocalists blessed with sight for sounds, from UPRIZING, REVELATION 2000, and THE DUB ZONE.
* Irie M, Ras Paix, TrishnaI, Jimmi Steppa, Roddy Culcha, stevie judah, bagga shines and DylanJah*
This session is seriously not to be overlooked, and will take place on Friday 5th June, the night before Cambridges free festival "strawberryfair". The venue is The Funky Fun House, 8 Mercers Row
Cambridge, CB5 8HY (just off of Newmarket road).
9pm till 2am .Price: £6 - £8
cheap n cheerful venue with no noise restrictions! BASS! .
i've c&p'd the info cos i can't link it from the facebook page....
We have booked the Funky Fun House warehouse in Cambridge just off Newmarket rd for a friday night session!
We promice you a really amazing warm up to the weekend on the very special eve to the strawberry fair, with a NEW venue with BIG capacity. And an amazing16K sound install by Cambridge's very own REVELATION 2000 and The Dub Zone. So expect the volume and the bass to be up there with Jah.
The Dub Zone is also pleased to present the mighty *VIBRONICS* .....From their creation in 1995 Vibronics have been at the forefront of the UK Roots and Dub explosion. They served their apprentice through a series of exclusive heavy-weight cuts for Sound Systems such as Jah Shaka, Iration Steppas and Aba-Shanti-I before moving on to releasing music through Zion Train's Universal Egg label. Vibronics have been playing live and DJing across Europe since 1997 where they have earned a reputation for kicking up a musical storm. An exhausting itinerary has taken them from Portugal to Finland with visits to just about every country in between. Their studio work leads the way in contemporary dub productions and has included collaborations with Zion Train, Ranking Joe, Macka.B and The Mad Professor. .... Vibronics is the future sound of Dub...... .
Also with selectors and vocalists blessed with sight for sounds, from UPRIZING, REVELATION 2000, and THE DUB ZONE.
* Irie M, Ras Paix, TrishnaI, Jimmi Steppa, Roddy Culcha, stevie judah, bagga shines and DylanJah*
This session is seriously not to be overlooked, and will take place on Friday 5th June, the night before Cambridges free festival "strawberryfair". The venue is The Funky Fun House, 8 Mercers Row
Cambridge, CB5 8HY (just off of Newmarket road).
9pm till 2am .Price: £6 - £8
baldrick
hmmmmm
glade, innit?Not sure I get what you mean.
