Isn't it amazing what can be achieved when you all stick together?
The axe has been waiting to fall on the English Airshow for the past couple of years. Costs like the Red Arrows stars-of-the-show and other display aircraft, have soared and many were asking the question 'is it worth the money' Thankfully councillors of all political persuasion - yep Tory and Lib Dem leaders - were keen to see the show continue and stuck to their guns.
The continued support from the English Riviera BID Company also played a major part in those decisions as as well as sponsorship from other companies in the private sector. The result? The English Riviera Airshow 2024 was a roaring success and the 2025 event has already been pencilled in the calendar. Council bosses were keen to see this year's overall budget and Town Hall cash support kept to a maximum of £100,000 instead of a huge loss-making £300,000 as of last year.
That was achieved and it was the massive input and support from across the community and sheer hard work of the council teams and their partners that did it.
Council leader Dave Thomas, who was a volunteer at the show, said:" It was a huge success. On the Saturday it was rammed. We had extra trains coming into the Bay. You had to wait longer to get a train in from Newton Abbot which meant there were people coming in from further up the line from Exeter and beyond. And there were queues at Paignton station in the evening. All our car parks were full on Saturday. Premier seating and reserve seating were full. It was an amazing event. "He added: " Last year the event cost £300,000. We had conversations about we loved the airshow but could we afford to pay that kind of money? It was agreed that we would put £100,000 in.
"It was done because we had the community with us - all the people who put on events in the Bay, people like the regattas, children's week, the bikers and Torbay Pride. All those community players who work behind the scenes.
"We also did a deal with the Rotary and Lions with collecting buckets. "The sad thing is that of everybody put a pound in the bucket we would not have had a problem with funding this event at all. "One person did come up to me and asked why should he put anything in - that is what he paid his council tax for. "But there was a real buzz about the event. It gives you the feeling that there is so much pride in the Bay. "It has become the event in the Bay's calendar. Because we were able to deal with it within the envelope provided it means that we can crack on for next year.
"We can have a conversation now. We have so many traders who want to book for next year. We are confident we can book them up. Because of the doubts last year it was September or October before we were able to have those conversations."
Steve Darling was also a supporter of the airshow when he was at the helm at the Town Hall. The Liberal Democrat leader and councillor was concerned about not being involved in working parties leading up to this year's event and if there was just one tiny criticism or feedback from the event itself Cllr Darling said it appeared a little 'helicopter heavy'. He added: "I think there are stronger community outcomes that the event could achieve."
But he, too, agreed: "This is what we should have on the English Riviera. This is what we are all about. "Absolutely spot on! There should be no party politics from either side of the council chamber in general. Residents go the the polls in Wellswood today in a by-election called after the sad an untimely death of former ward councillor Patrick Joyce. I honestly do not care who or what rosette wins as long as Torbay is the winner and we can all crack on and deliver a new future waiting for us just around the corner if we have the will and common sense to grasp it.
As for the English Riviera Airshow 2025 Cllr Thomas says: "It will go ahead next summer without a shadow of a doubt. This year it came within budget and achieved what it wanted to achieve. It surpassed everybody's expectations and is in next year's calendar already."
Torbay punching above its weight with everybody in the same corner.....
