Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby backs return of Abbey Park Show
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby wants to bring back the Abbey Park Show as a major date on the city's festival's calendar, "celebrating all that is good about Leicester."
He said the show, which at its peak attracted 50,000 people over two days, could be staged at its old venue in Abbey Park or in the heart of the city.
The event – which included animal displays, children's activities, entertainment, crafts, stalls and exhibitions by local groups – was shelved by the city council in 1995 because of rising costs and dwindling attendances.
Sir Peter said: "The question, I think, is not whether the show should be brought back. It should. It should never have been stopped.
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"The question is where it should be held. I think it might be difficult to recreate it on the scale that it perhaps once was, but I would like a similar event, maybe on the bank holiday weekend in August, to bring the city together and showcase the best of who we are and what we do.
"It might be difficult for us to stage things such as showjumping, which was always a staple of the show. But there are many other things we could bring back.
"I didn't agree with the decision to axe the show in the 1990s, despite the decision being taken by the Labour controlled council. It was a mistake, I think.
"We are currently reviewing all our festivals but I do genuinely think a big "City of Leicester'' show, celebrating all aspects of city life, would be a good thing. It is something I am convinced we should do."
The Abbey Park Show was axed in 1995, nearly 50 years after its inception, after it cost £135,000 to stage that year.
As costs had increased, numbers of visitors had also fallen. In 1991, a Mercury report revealed the show lost £176,223.
Councillor Rob Wann was chairman of the council's leisure committee at the time the show was axed. Speaking in 1995, he said the show was out of date.
He said: "It doesn't make sense to try to return the show to former glories. At one time, people had nothing else better to do, but they no longer get that excited about wandering around a few jam-making tents."
The council is undertaking a major review of festivals in the city to try to save cash.
Grants to the Caribbean Carnival, the Castle Park festival, the Hindu Dashera festival and others are being scrutinised for value for money. The council's festivals budget is £365,000.
But Sir Peter said: "The joy of the Abbey Park Show was that a lot it, the essence of it, was that it came from local groups, enthusiasts and volunteers.
"I'd want to build on that. I'm sure there would be a cost element, but I don't think it would have to be prohibitively expensive.
"At the moment, we have lots of festivals that represent various parts of the community. A new City of Leicester show could bring all of those elements together."
Comments
by the-market
Sunday, September 23 2012, 6:46AM
“Judging by The Mercury poll for this event,it is a BIG yes.
Just do not let count von count pete open it,
Kiss of death!”
by the-market
Thursday, September 20 2012, 11:15AM
“Not sure as to why "leicester" is getting reds.The idea is sound as long as well budgeted .A boost for all of Leicester,a community together.”
by leicestermale
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 6:57PM
“by LikeItaLot
"SPS carries on with these hair brain ideas, we will force a referendum and let the people decide to get rid of him."
Another bleating voice. Get on with it then"
http://tinyurl.com/958ne64
Want to help got 12,000 signatures ?”
by MacMonkey74
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:15AM
“If it's going to be a success then it HAS to change, otherwise it wouldn't have stopped all those years ago. It's ridiculous to expect that it would remain unchanged anyway because it's a fact that there are many different cultures in Leicester and there should be something for everyone.
That means including the elements of the original festival that are likely to be the most popular and introducing new elements that will attract sufficient crowds.
When I say that I'm not just talking about new elements culturally speaking but also new elements that will appeal to the generations that turned their back on the old show.
The Riverside festival is an example of a brilliant local event so something like that on a bigger scale would be great.”
by Chappy1884
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 8:58AM
“Seems like it's worth a go. Just as long as it's a proper go, otherwise it will be a flop.”
by ZooLander
Monday, September 17 2012, 10:40PM
“Flash form the past.”
by redcat
Monday, September 17 2012, 9:45PM
“Incidentally Leicester air show always seemed popular, is there no chance of bringing that back?”
by redcat
Monday, September 17 2012, 9:44PM
“Isn't August bank holiday when the Castle Park festival is usually held? (I know it's on for the whole week but surely it's the b/h weekend that gets the most visitors?). It would seem very strange for one council funded event to actively compete with another, reducing attendance numbers at both...”
by karinfall1955
Monday, September 17 2012, 12:39PM
“If the show was in its former format ie flower tents, equestrian events, dog show and demonstrations on bee keeping to name but a few I would welcome it, however, the city has changed and I fear it would become yet another celebration of multi-cultural Leicester which is not what the original show was about. Since the city has changed so much perhaps best remembered as it was?”
by Graham_LE8
Monday, September 17 2012, 11:34AM
“If it's about saving money, how about a combined 'Leicester City Diwali Eid Caribbean Christmas Firework Summer Sundae Navatri Passover Ramadan Pride Beer Festival Remembrance New Year Show'?...
Sure there's some I've missed, but you get the idea.”