THE people behind a plan to  bring back the popular Southend Airshow have spoken of their disappointment that it had to be cancelled because of a lack of money.

Campaigners John Delaney and Thomas Curtis have devoted almost a year to a valliant attempt to stage a Southend Airshow and Military Festival this September.

They have been forced to admit defeat, after failing to come up with the final £35,000 they needed to turn all their plans for September into reality.

However, with £185,000 of sponsorship under their belts, the pair are insisting the showwill be back in 2015.

Southend Council had organised the popular airshow every year since 1986, drawing huge crowds to the seafront, Last year, facing spending cuts, the council cancelled the 2013 event, promoting a huge outcry and a popular Facebook campaign, which has attracted 23,000 supporters.

In response to this, Mr Delaney and Mr Curtis took up the challenge, backed by the Echo and set about trying to raise the funds to bring the back the Airshow, forming the Southend Airshow Community Interest Company last July.

After winning the backing of a major sponsor in the Toomey motors group, the pair managed to raise more than £185,000.

However, this week theydecided their fundraising was still too short of the mark and they had no choice but to pull the plug on September’s event. Mr Curtis said: “Although it would have been possible to run a smaller event with the funds raised, it would have featured fewer aircraft and thus not matched the planned vision for Southend Airshow and Military Festival.

“We’ve learned a lot and achieved more than we thought possible in the nine months we’ve had.

“To be only £35,000 short is a pretty impressive achievement.

We start the march to 2015 with £185,000, giving us the best possible chance to make the event happen.

“We’re confident we can raise the final amount and get thing back in the air for 2015.”

Mr Curtis added: “Through new partnerships made with service sponsors and a focus on efficiency, the team made £80,000 of cuts to the 2012 event’s budget.

“This left just £35,000 to raise by March 1 and we had hoped other sponsorship would be found to ensure the event could return as planned.

“Sadly, it did not come forward in time. Though it’s undoubtedly a sad day for me and the team, postponing the event to 2015 does not take away from the achievements we have made this year.”

Co-organiser John Delaney said: “It was always going to be a huge task to put everything together in nine months.

“I’m disappointed, but we ran out of time for 2014.

“I am still delighted with what we have achieved so far. This is underlined by the total commitment of all our supporters and sponsors who have agreed to continue working with us towards the revised 2015 airshowdates.”

 

A FORMER Southend mayor has called the decision to cancel this year’s airshow soul-destroying.

Nora Goodman helped launch the Echo-backed campaign to bring back the show, which has attracted thousands of visitors from around the country in past years.

She said: “I am so very sorry to hear this. Everybodywas so looking forward to it. People love the airshow and wanted it back. It was so near and yet so far. I’m glad they are still planning to use the money for next year.”

Plans for the 2014 show had aimed to focus on reflecting this year’s First World War centenary.

Replicas of aircraft from the GreatWar were to fly in from the 1914-19 war aerodrome at Stow Maries, near Maldon, to take part.

Derek Jarvis, Southend councillor responsible for culture and tourism, said: “We have been working very closely with Tom and John. It is sad, but they have done tremendouslywell in rising to the challenge.

“We tried to aid them in every way we could.

“It shows how difficult it is to fund these sort of things.

“They are businesspeople, who have learned a lot about airshows and have formed a bond with the council, helping us with other things which I hope will surface during our First