Well the project to raise £1500 for the
final weekend of the Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration is now live. You can check it out on
I really hope you will feel able to pledge
something towards this fantastic event. Those who have been following the story
of my involvement in it will know that I offered my services to direct it about
eight months ago and I said I would perform at the event for free in 2016. More
or less ever since I’ve been furtling around in the background making things
happen. The result I hope promises to be
exciting, different and, above all, fun.
The programme is due to be officially launched at Easter and until then
I am determined to raise the money to allow the Gala Weekend (June 17th
-19th) to be a spectacular success.
Now I know what some of you may be
thinking. What has this to do with me? Why should I donate to an event I’m not even
able to go to? Well I can say two things to that – Firstly perhaps you could
come down to Devon for it. Ilfracombe is
a lovely place and we will make you feel really welcome. Secondly, I’d like you to imagine that you’re
popping that contribution into my hat at the end of a show, and if I’ve ever
amused, entertained or enlightened you during one of my shows then here’s an
opportunity to make a small contribution.
Or even a large one….
Not only will you be allowing a lovely
well-established event to survive, you will also be adding to the sum total of
joy, happiness and well-being in the world. (I should have been a car
salesman.) We are trying (the committee and I) to make the event really
memorable this year, especially for local children and young people and we
really need your help to make this happen.
Many events like this can receive grant
funding and certainly we also believe this is the way forward in future
years. The problem is that the event has
never done what is required of those grant-aided organisations, ie become a
registered charity or a community interest company. So far it’s just a loose association of dedicated
individuals who want to do something for their community. I say ‘so far’ because the committee is going
to take those important steps towards becoming properly and legally
constituted. It’s just that the event
needs to survive this year and prove to many local people that it is a worthwhile
enterprise and to continue a track record now into its 29th year.
You can really help in this by pledging
something towards it. As you may know,
no-one has to give anything unless we reach our target amount of £1500, and the
money goes directly to the event. No
middle men… no admin fees… Kickstarter take a small percentage but I already have
the promise by one giver to meet that amount if we reach the target so EVERY
PENNY you give is coming to the event.
I’ve made my pitch. Thank you for listening. Next week I will be back to the usual stuff. My strange life on the roads of Britain. So in the meantime…
All the best from a road near you,
Mr Alexander
