Warwick Mop

[cathidaw]

Thank you Mop fan;Iwill consider myself well and truly rebuked and no offence taken.
Your facts and figures were interesting too...grovel-grovel.
Ishould have realised ,and it had crossed my mind, that there were quite a few 'unregistered' people on this site with all of the differing writing styles, and spellings.
I do love steam fairs and for some years we went to Stourpane Bushes in Dorset which is at the end of September, and the last meeting place of the year for the showmen and women.
We took an art exhibition there travelling in an ancient caravan which we had bought for £30.00 and did painting demo.s in a small marquee.
The travelling people were always friendly and my children loved going even when it was a quagmire, which some years it was.
Ihave never been to Stratford Mop but now look forward to going.
When is the next one?

No offence taken Cathidaw

Stratford Mop is held actually on the 12th October (opening the night before too). Like Warwick it has a runaway mop which is held a week the following Friday. Though I'm not sure what effect on this the 12th also being a Friday has.

If anyone is interested I will try and confirm the dates for all the Warwickshire Mop fairs and add them on here. I know the immediate ones but there are some in places like Alcester, Studley and a number of others whose dates I would need to look into before passing onto anyone for certain. Mop fairs with one or two exceptions are very much a Midlands tradition.

[chillitt]

Thanks for that, mop fan. One point to clear up, I laughed at the threat made to my business because it was pathetic, not because I thought it funny. There is nothing funny about threatening people. I have called for the mop to change, not close. If it wont change then thats another matter.
Lots of interesting stuff there.. Any where we can read the actual charter? The stuff I posted was linked from the showmans guild website, but without any info on where the information came from, or what it actually means!
Sorry, but I remain unconvinced that the siting of stalls being traditional prevents any change in lay out, (despite it possibly being the most 'traditional' thing about the current mop.)
Whatever your (or my!) personal taste in diesel fumes v coal fires, the fumes from the generators are carcinogenic, and I was not exagerating when I said I had to close my shop because of the fumes last year. Clearly that is unacceptable. As of 1st July, Smoking will be illegal in my shop, so I do not see why I should have to choke on exhaust fumes instead.
I do not see anything here which would compare to people moving in next to a church and then complaining about the bells, its more akin to complaining when the bells are swapped for a PA system playing jive bunny on a loop for 2 days.

In the time I have been here, I have never had anyone from the mop or the council come in to see if there are any problems. Lots of mop people tearing about, doing their thing, though. Its probably a lack of communication between the 2 groups that has lead to all this. Perhaps someone from the showmans guild and the council could attend a chamber of trade meeting to get some sort of dialogue going?

If things don't change, My shop for one, will be closed while the mop is here, and that is not a good thing on a number of levels.

to chillit,i am just one one of the many people unregistered whove been posting on here,i too came across it by accident while doing a search on fairs,ive just been busy reading a lot of posts as ive been away for a couple of days,i must say however im disgusted at the "lets close chillitts shop campain" comment which was uncalled for because you as are the showmen just wanting to earn an honest living,i hope you didnt take it to seriously,if you are genuinely getting fumes in your shop you really need to address this with youre authority maybe even get a toxins meter and take some levels during the mop,just a note on the street power points one would assume they were put there for such events as the mop and victorian day etc,so therefore they should have the relevent transformers ,as they have at other street fairs i have seen.

[optrex]

Originally Posted by Toad

Ooops, sorry - it's actually on 29th November.

Will do - tell you what can you put it in the calendar for WOL, so we all get a reminder.

Does anyone use the calendar function?

Also might be a nice idea to put an entry in form the mop too. I've worked out its the weekend after the 12th, but what month? lol

[chillitt]

Despite everything I have said, I think you lot should all come to the mop. Take notes, take pictures. If you can, have a great night out. See for yourselves. Then, if you have any bright ideas to make it better, either let the showmen know, or post it up on here.

[Shizara]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[cathidaw]

Thanks for the information. From today I shall use the WOLcalender.
Ishould remember the mop date --it is on my birthday, but Ineed reminding. Iusually know that something is happening when Imake a date ahead ,but forget what.

[Shizara]

--it is on my birthday, but Ineed reminding.

You need reminding about your birthday?

Ok first up my apologies chillitt, I’d assumed the comment to be a joke as a public forum such as this is hardly the place for threats and I hope any showmen who read this will view the comment about Warwick Mop in the same way. I’m always being told I have a weird sense of humour so guess I mistook this one.

Like diesel or not there is definitely a difference between the occasional waft bringing back memories and sitting in a shop full of it slowly drifting off into a dream state. I agree this is something that needs to be addressed. Naturally as a fan I have no sway whatsoever with the organisers, but I believe one of my friends equipment is near your shop so I will have a quiet word with him and see if anything can be done. I know a few of the showmen have extended length exhaust pipes to carry the fumes up higher but I’m not sure all generators are compatible with this. I believe most of the generators are positioned close to attractions to minimise the lengths of cables that have to be run out. Where possible I know these are raised off the ground but this is not always practical and the further away they are the bigger the problem becomes. The present locations are most likely the result of past complaints about cables. I can only say I will ask and see if something can be done.

The suggestion of the Showman’s Guild and Council meeting with the Chamber of Trade seems a good idea and might go some way to resolving problems. However over the last few years or so many spurious facts have been generated about the Mop by Chamber members resulting in deep trenches between the two sides being dug. Asking a showman to visit a Chamber of Trade meeting would be rather like asking a snowball to pop into hell for a quick chat! Oops there goes my sense of humour again, but hopefully you see my point. However, as most of the mischief has been caused by just one or two individuals it might be possible to progress constructively as many chamber members are positive. I can only suggest that I have a word with a couple of my friends and see what comes up. Maybe one of them would be willing or could find someone who is. Or it may be possible to set up some kind of communication if a few registered on here, possibly that could work too?

I believe that a specific problem such as the positioning of generators, put over in a manner as you have here could be resolved. Anyone would be understanding towards this as a genuine problem rather than the general ‘Warwick Mop is here lets find fault with it however far fetched’ that has gone before. This is why I suggest chatting to the showmen, although choosing times carefully as ‘build up’ and ‘pull down’ are stressful events for them, which may lead to rather short answers that would certainly not show decorum! Even with showmen friends I have been on the receiving end of some of these! :O) I suspect it will be a lengthy process to repair the damage that has gone before but it could be done with benefits to all.

Anyway, I will close with another anecdote which some of you may find interesting. One generator is sited across the road from St Mary’s Church and was used to run an arcade a few years ago. A couple had arranged their wedding day for what would be Mop Saturday. To their dismay the noise of the generator running in the background was being recorded by the camera equipment they were using to tape their special day. They chatted to the showman and he agreed to switch it off for the full duration of the service. So just before the bridal car arrived, the generator stopped, the music stopped, the showmen in that end of town sat through out the service without taking money and the happy couple got their video recording without disruption. Pity they didn’t have a dodgem car with the wedding ribbons on!!! :O)

[chillitt]

There has to be better communication between showmen and the locals, and not just through the council. The shopkeeps and residents have absolutely no option but to have whatever is deemed best by the showmen or the council foisted on them, and we have no point of contact with the mop. As you say, the people setting up can be quite curt at times, and that doesn't help the cause.
To say a meeting with the C of T would be difficult because of entrenched views is all very well but they feel like they have been run roughshod over for years, so it is understandable. If the parties involved in northern ireland can sit down together, surely the S.G and the C of T can have a sit down somewhere...
Moving generators would be very nice, but won't that just give someone else the same problem?

Still no sign of an actual charter anywhere, by the way. Any of the showmen know where it is?

[Madhatter]

All mains cables are 415v three phase, and it's easy to drop 240v down to 110v (in old voltages I know 240v is 230v now etc). The market stall lighting should be running off 110v supplies anyway. The reason all main feed cables along streets are 415v is that some big shops actually do run on 415v, they have fridges, freezers, lifts escalators etc which are three phase, that is three live supply wires. Shops that run on 240v street lighting etc, is fed by just one of these phases, so one live supply. Every third shop will be on the same phase.

When the breach (junction) where the three phase supply to my block comes of 'blew' because it was old and put under strain with the draw of the christmas lights, only my flat went off and upstairs, the other four flats stayed on.

There should be no reason why unmetered supply points can't be fitted in the town centre other that actual costs involved.

this has been an interesting debate,one which i have enjoyed very much,long live the mop and i just hope the problems for the locals and shopkeepers can be resolved sensibly and constructively,i also hope chillit you dont have to close your shop for the duration of the mop as that would be a great shame,just out of interest chillitt what type of shop do you have?try doing some mop specials and use the occasion to make a killing
regards to all.

[chillitt]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

try doing some mop specials and use the occasion to make a killing
regards to all.

I am sorry, but that appeals to my sense of humour... (odd though it is..)
I may even start a separate thread for it.. 'specials for when the mops here...' any suggestions? Ear plugs? Blinkers?

[optrex]

Wellies ???

oh, and a bucket - always useful when mopping

[Shizara]

Wellies? - Gumboots! - You can't be without them! Here's why....

(Intro, spoken, with gusto.) 'Righto, kick it in the guts, Trev... '

<o/'>

C G F C (aka as guitar chords)
Gumboots, they are wonderful, gumboots, they are swell
F C Dm G7
'coz they keep out the water, and they keep in the smell.
C F C
And when you're sittin' round at home, you can always tell
F C G C
When one of the Trevs has taken off his gumboots.

Chorus:
If it weren't for your gumboots, where would ya be?
You'd be in the hospital or infirmary
'coz you would have a dose of the 'flu, or even pleurisy
If ya didn't have yer feet in yer gumboots.

Now there's rugby boots and racing boots, and boots for drinkin' rum.
But the only boots I'm never without, are the ones that start with "gum".
I've got short ones and long ones, and some up to me belt.
I'm never dressed 'till I've got on me gumboots.

Whenever I sing at the opera, my gumboots are a must.
They help me hit the high notes, and protect me feet from dust.
They keep the water well away, so me voice won't get no rust.
You will not never see me without me gumboots.

Now (names of current unpopular politicians), they haven't made a hit.
They're ruining the country, more than just a bit.
If they keep on how they're going, we'll all be in turd.
So you'd better get yer feet up yer gumboots.

</o/'>

Sung by Fred Dagg