ORGANISERS behind the First Aid Music Day in Okehampton answered their critics on Monday with a highly professional show of musical excellence and stunning special effects never seen before in the area.
'Nothing short of fantastic', 'absolutely brilliant' and 'spectacular' were some of the comments voiced by ticket-holders as they revelled in the day-long entertainment in Simmons Park and the town centre. Yet the people behind the event are disappointed by the lack of local support.
Around 2,000 people attended the event which included a medley of original bands from the 60s and 70s, the London Community Gospel Choir and the English Symphony Orchestra — but organisers had expected double that figure at least.
Festival organiser Susanne Watt said although the day achieved its aims of giving a boost to the town and putting Okehampton on the map, it had not raised any money.
Originally planned as a three-day festival earlier in the year which was postponed because of the continuing foot and mouth crisis, the event was to raise funds for those who had fallen through the net of foot and mouth recovery funding.
'We made a loss which has defeated the main aim of the event and deflated my enthusiasm some what,' said Susanne.
'Regardless of any fundamental reason for putting the event on there was the opportunity for everyone to participate in a unique occasion.'
She said she had been encouraged by the wonderful comments from people who had attended the music day and had been inundated with thankyou messages from people all over the country.
'One message even came from a staff member at police headquarters in Exeter who said it was the best fireworks display they had ever seen,' she said.
'I would like to do it again however I am extremely nervous about committing funds and involving a group of professionals if people are not going to support it.'
Chairman of the Chamber of Trade Ian Bailey said some people had complained that the ticket prices of £10 for a day ticket and £16 for an evening ticket were too high but he did not agree.
'If you compare the prices with other entertainment of this calibre around the country then it was extremely cheap,' he said. 'Last Night of the Proms in Okehampton was approximately £10 cheaper than it was in Exeter.
'We are talking here about nationally known artists and bands — they cost money and we cannot afford to give the tickets away.'
The chamber chairman said it was an absolutely super day where everything went like clockwork and there was a real buzz around the town.
'The stage, the lighting and sound — it was 100 per cent professional,' he said.
'It really was a joy to watch something like this in our home town.
'The organisers need to be congratulated because they have achieved something here that will never be surpassed only equalled — the only let down was the low turnout of local people.'
During the evening performance by the English Symphony Orchestra, around 150 people gathered outside the arena in an attempt to hear the music and see the fireworks.
A spokesman for the Box Office said he capitalised on the situation by asking people to make a donation towards the event.
'I invited them to come in and watch from the back for the last ten minutes but unfortunately there was a small element of people who refused to even make a donation yet they were obviously enjoying it,' he said.
'I think for many people who gathered outside, it was not until the end that they realised just what they had missed and why the tickets had to be the price they were.
'I am confident from their reaction they will definitely be there next time!'
David Fisher who has recently moved to Okehampton with his wife from New York said it was one of the best events he had seen for a very long time.
'The selection of musicians and quality of music was excellent and it was better than many of the events we have seen in the towns around New York,' he said.
'It was nothing short of fantastic and we had a really superb day.'
l Pictures on page 16 and 33.