A RALLYING call has gone out from the incoming president of the Worcester Carnival after he slammed previous organisers for their ‘pathetic’ cancellation of this year’s event.
Alan Feeney, who also serves at Worcester City councillor for Warndon Parish North, took over as the organiser of the event last Thursday (August 25) – one day after the much-anticipated carnival was cancelled due to ‘operational circumstances.
Charities and city residents were left disappointed by the last minute cancellation, with many taking to the Carnival’s Facebook page to voice their anger.
Headway Worcestershire, who had worked on their float for the last three months, launched a stinging attack on organisers for letting down so many people and described finding out about the cancellation on the carnival’s Facebook page as ‘pathetic.’
The furore led to Coun Feeney taking charge of the situation with a bold plan to rescue the popular event in time for next year.
The new president has already drawn up an action plan for 2017’s carnival and brought in a new committee and has vowed to organise the event in a ‘highly professional manner.’
“While I cannot change anything from 2016, nor can individuals make up for the losses people have incurred, I can offer my personal assurance the event in 2017 will be run in a highly professional manner, aimed at creating a fun event for the citizens of Worcester and beyond to enjoy,” Coun Feeney added.
“They can have full confidence I will be working tirelessly on their behalf with the new committee.
“However, I do require public support on this matter, with volunteers and participants being essential to success.”
Coun Feeney has 15 years experience as an events manager and released a further statement on Facebook on Sunday (August 28) detailing a number of failings which beset out-going organisers.
Only three people making up the organising committee, ‘conflicts of personality’ between organisers and a failure to raise enough money for the event were among his criticisms of the former organisers.
“There did seem to be conflicts of personality within the group as well as a certain amount of desire for personal aggrandisement,” he said.
“This led to bitterness and an eventual unwillingness to work together in the common spirit of creating a fun public event.
“Internal communication seemed to break down the closer the event got. It was not until a few days before the event it became known the parade consisted of floats in single figures and a number of walking groups, including military personnel.
“It seems a lot of promises were made in something of a ‘gun-ho’ fashion about funding and support. These may have been in good faith, but were never backed up with material evidence,” he added.
A launch event for the 2017 carnival will be held in due course.
