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Traveller eviction features in wedding show

LAST YEAR’S dramatic eviction at Hovefields travellers site in Wickford is helping to advertise a new reality TV series.

Footage showing bailiffs moving on to the camp in September and removing seven families from illegal plots, is being used to advertise the new Channel 4 series Big Fat Gipsy Weddings, which kicks off tonight.

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings focuses on the usually secret world of the travelling community and follows on from a one-off documentary shown on TV last year, My Big Fat Gipsy Wedding.

Although the new series will still delve into the extravagant weddings held at gipsy camps across the UK, it will also touch on other parts of romany life, including births, communions and even funerals.

As well as featuring the eviction at Hovefields, which made national news headlines, a family from the nearby Dale Farm traveller camp near Crays Hill will also appear in the second of the four part series.

The cameras will follow the family as their daughter relieves Holy Communion for the first time.

In the travelling community Holy Communions are seen as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the girl’s wedding day with youngsters aged seven years old wearing huge custom-made frocks which are sometimes twice their size.

Comments(34)

geezer, innit says...
5:03pm Wed 19 Jan 11

who cares whether they're on TV or not, I for one couldn't give a flying fornicate at a rolling furry doughnut.

paul trimble says...
5:10pm Wed 19 Jan 11

It also shows the extravagance and money they have while pleading poverty.

knighs1 says...
5:18pm Wed 19 Jan 11

I thought this show was called the Filth Files!

el caballero de la noche says...
6:16pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Any mention or sight of that lawless mob means the television gets switched over, unless the sight of them being evicted is on then I will watch it.

APR says...
6:24pm Wed 19 Jan 11

The TV companies do seem to be falling over themselves to try and portray these people as being "normal", in the broadest sense of the word.
.
There was one before Christmas that featured the children, showing what lovely little darlings they all were.
.
It's akin to the Nazi propaganda films, made in the 30's and 40's.

thelonewhinger says...
6:46pm Wed 19 Jan 11

As part of my "research" into these outlaws I will admit to watching this fairy tale and it did little to lower my blood pressure!
I wonder who commissioned the "reality" program and what fees were handed over to allow their antics to be shown.
For those who saw it:
Emphasis on the morality and chastity of their young females who were then shown scantily clothed and appearing to be practising "exotic dancing" for the amusement of prospective suitors (many of whom had their faces blurred-out - wonder why?). Apparently the idea is for the tarts (sorry.... girls) to flaunt it and then the louts (sorry...lads) have to grab them. Seems that a tart is supposed to fight the lout off and in doing so obtains the respect of all. It didn't quite explain what happened to the one who seemed quite terrified after her mate abandoned her and ignored her shrill screams as a prospective "mate" did the grabbing.
We had the parade of expensive gaudy dresses and the dressmaker who was forbidden (on pain of death?) to talk about the costs ("G/Ts don't like talking about money").
We had the nervous bridegroom, late for church, driving his Transit having had a few bevvies to steady his nerves, not wearing his seatbelt, asking for directions despite having a nicked satnav staring at him from the windscreen and ending up at what he described as a "**** Weddin" by mistake.
Anyway they all got there in the end and only about 1/2 hour late. The groom mumbled his vows and the bride managed most of hers despite collapsing with laughter at what a pisstake the whole farce was.
They went on an expensive holiday with half the tribe and returned later to wedded bliss in their (nicked?) caravan which we were not allowed to see the inside of "because it wasn't very tidy.... and we are very houseproud" .... yeah right!
Why oh why did I watch it??? The thing is the viewing public probably believe all that cobblers and conveniently do not question how they actually manage to afford such a lifestyle on benefits. Incidentally I didn't notice any of the high proportion of sick and disabled attending the socialising..... I do hope the travelling community are not being discriminatory.....
Must watch the next instalment......

InTheKnowOk says...
7:23pm Wed 19 Jan 11

What i want to know is when this lavish style of wedding started to become the norm? As far as i'm concerned real Romanys (which they aren't) travelled the country, did a bit of this and that to make a living and just got by, daughters didn't have wedding dresses that exceeded into the thousands and they didn't turn up in limos, had hired halls, or family holidays abroad. This is typical Irish gypies, not to be confused with real travelling folk called ROMANYS who descended from India.

thelonewhinger says...
7:25pm Wed 19 Jan 11

I don't believe it!! TV is allowed to broadcast an outlaw belonging to a group high on culture and ethnic values using "racist" language, yet a local rag is able to edit-out the word used in my comment..... So here is another attempt - Rymes with Tacky Wacky...... got it now ....pathetic!

InTheKnowOk says...
7:41pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Did anyone notice that neither the groom or the kids wore seatbelts whilst travelling to the church. They have a law unto themselves where everyone seems to turn a blind eye.

Nebs says...
7:44pm Wed 19 Jan 11

I didn't watch it.

InTheKnowOk says...
7:50pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Nebs wrote:
I didn't watch it.
LOL

abbey gale says...
8:56pm Wed 19 Jan 11

InTheKnowOk wrote:
What i want to know is when this lavish style of wedding started to become the norm? As far as i'm concerned real Romanys (which they aren't) travelled the country, did a bit of this and that to make a living and just got by, daughters didn't have wedding dresses that exceeded into the thousands and they didn't turn up in limos, had hired halls, or family holidays abroad. This is typical Irish gypies, not to be confused with real travelling folk called ROMANYS who descended from India.
spot on ,they are not real romany ,thesel ott weddings (channel 4 documentaries style ) are causing outrage within the romany community .this grabbin business is made up rubbish x god only knows what else we'll have to endure next week x some more lies from 15 yr olds that don't know their arse from their elbow x

Dingo says...
9:16pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Channel 4 creating yet another scum programme for fat, scum of the earth to 'enjoy'.

abbey gale says...
9:40pm Wed 19 Jan 11

its rubbish ..it plays to the stereo type , i can honestly say when i was 16 the last thing on my mind was getting married x all i thought about was getting my driving license and a job x the travla n gypsy community in general r secrative (please don't correct the spelling because it's realy irritating ) i did both x i married when i was 21 (when i was 19 i was told i'd never marry apparently too old lolz ) it's a strange culture that even i don't understand n i live there x don't think you can watch an hour mocumentary on 4 and understand it x

mr_happy says...
10:57pm Wed 19 Jan 11

Dont even go there. They are bloody criminals and they get their own F*****g TV show. What the hell is wrong with this stupid rediculus contry and the brainless people who let this happen. Makes my blood boil. Why dont we just close all the prisons and lett the other criminals out. why dont we just leave our front doors open so scum can help themselves and why dont we just send our wage packets straight to the government each month. Or shall we all just claim that we are travelers and refuse to pay for water, gas, electricity, tax and council tax. This country is a laughing stock....

Dan_ says...
9:37am Thu 20 Jan 11

Why not start a private investigators fund? Every one puts in a little to achieve a lot - private investigators gather evidence (of a nature valid in court) of the various illegal activities. This is then presented simaltaneously to the police, newspapers & politicians. What a poop storm that would cause, would be very difficult for people to continue ignoring.

thelonewhinger says...
11:36am Thu 20 Jan 11

Dan_ wrote:
Why not start a private investigators fund? Every one puts in a little to achieve a lot - private investigators gather evidence (of a nature valid in court) of the various illegal activities. This is then presented simaltaneously to the police, newspapers & politicians. What a poop storm that would cause, would be very difficult for people to continue ignoring.
Dan - the evidence is out there for all to see..... they even have the brass neck to star in their own documentary about it!
The problem ordinary folks have is that those representing us have a stary-eyed view of G/T's and see them as lovable rogues enjoying a culture which is just a bit different to the norm.
Central, County and Local Government have specialist departments whose job it is to field any "awkward" questions from the general public. They are staffed by individuals sympathetic to the cause and have links and connections to organisations such as the Gypsy Council. Just try and engage directly with any of our "representatives" and your enquiry will disappear into a black hole...
Solving the problem will take someone with the guts to make a stand and take direct action and this is sadly lacking in modern Britain.

gitreal says...
11:46am Thu 20 Jan 11

Lonewhinger - maybe something will be done sooner rather than later.

http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/newstopi
cs/politics/8261552/
Conservatives-pledge
-to-stop-travellers-
from-gaining-plannin
g-permission-for-ill
egal-permanent-camps
.html

Richy don't shine shoes no more says...
12:26pm Thu 20 Jan 11

God, the 'send em all back' and 'in my day' brigade are in full force today.

Keep it up people, I love reading this guff.

thelonewhinger says...
2:05pm Thu 20 Jan 11

"Gitreal" - thanks for the link but I really don't think this will make any difference at all. In fact we have had the same line trotted-out for years.

The problem being the continuing argument that "G/T's need somewhere" and the "lack of sites" argument.

We have rules in place for permanent and temporary homes/dwellings which are perfectly adequate for everyone else except one group who choose to exploit an ancient "right" of travel based on a long-dead culture.

It makes no sense, no matter how well-behaved a group pretend to be, to allow businesses and services to be carried out by untraceable and unaccountable individuals or people "who don't talk about money".

Best example is our own local dispute where the High Court itself has ruled the illegals go but nobody has the guts to move em!

gitreal says...
2:16pm Thu 20 Jan 11

thelonewhinger - times are a changing. I know the council has paid lip service for an awful long time and people are fed up to the back teeth with the gutless in the council.

However, remember who is running this country now. Cuts are going to be made, serious ones and they will affect the waste of spacers who have flouted the laws and parked their butts illegally.

The stiff upper lip can only take so much before the mighty might of the hard working Englishman is unleashed. The poll tax riots are going to look like an egg and spoon race.

Personally anyone who has been affected by these people should slap the council with a lawsuit for loss of property value, loss of enjoyment of the home etc etc.

If enough people did that you could bet that those gypsies would be removed pretty quick.

VANGE LES says...
3:03pm Thu 20 Jan 11

If you're remotely interested, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is on Tuesdays not Wednesdays - get your facts right Echo.

thelonewhinger says...
4:00pm Thu 20 Jan 11

"Gitreal" I admire your faith but, as I mentioned in another thread today, there are too many folks subscribing to the "I,m all right Jack" philosophy to care a d.... about many issues until it affects them directly ..... too late!

S6girly says...
4:15pm Thu 20 Jan 11

Why do these people insist on calling themselves "Travellers" ... They obviously have no intention of travelling anywhere ....

mr_happy says...
4:18pm Thu 20 Jan 11

S6girly wrote:
Why do these people insist on calling themselves "Travellers" ... They obviously have no intention of travelling anywhere ....
Oh yes they do... To the next private land site a few hundred yard up the road, and it starts all over again.

Nebs says...
5:48pm Thu 20 Jan 11

VANGE LES wrote:
If you're remotely interested, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is on Tuesdays not Wednesdays - get your facts right Echo.
What's on the other channels at the same time?

gitreal says...
7:37pm Thu 20 Jan 11

thelonewhinger wrote:
"Gitreal" I admire your faith but, as I mentioned in another thread today, there are too many folks subscribing to the "I,m all right Jack" philosophy to care a d.... about many issues until it affects them directly ..... too late!
Saw that thread. This issue has been around for a long time and it ain't going away until people take a stand. Councils dislike litigation. You get 30 people suing the council because of the non travellers, the council are going to get really shaky, worried and a few council workers might actually kack themselves. Basildon council has spent upteem millions of ratepayers money servicing (and this term is used as you can interpret it) and giving lip service to people whilst cowtowing to the 'gypsie traveller human rights'. Many meetings are conducted in private - you have to wonder why.
Anyone that can should request the freedom of information on closed council meetings of any sort. You would be very surprised on what you read.

gitreal says...
7:38pm Thu 20 Jan 11

Nebs wrote:
VANGE LES wrote: If you're remotely interested, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is on Tuesdays not Wednesdays - get your facts right Echo.
What's on the other channels at the same time?
How clean is your house. (titter titter)

SUCKLEMONS says...
6:37am Fri 21 Jan 11

Well what can I say?

I AGREE WELL PUT

SouthchurchButters says...
11:56am Fri 21 Jan 11

D'yer loike dags, mister?

Pierwalker says...
3:15pm Fri 21 Jan 11

gitreal wrote:
Lonewhinger - maybe something will be done sooner rather than later.

http://www.telegraph

.co.uk/news/newstopi

cs/politics/8261552/

Conservatives-pledge

-to-stop-travellers-

from-gaining-plannin

g-permission-for-ill

egal-permanent-camps

.html
Some very interesting messages posted there too.

abbey gale says...
8:33pm Sat 22 Jan 11

i will try to put this into language that you (settledcommunity ) can understand ,romany gypsies n so called "travellers" don't mix .as far as real gypsies r concerned the "travellers " r irish tinkers.their the ones that have given us such a bad name .most romant gypsies at some point has hada run in with paddies ..a few years ago they turned up at a council run site ,with amenity blocks , n moved in while the family was at work x they r scum n i could name them but i won't on here .they turn up at ppls yards offer wot they think it's worth (usually pittance)n if they don't accept the offer come back later n beat them out of it . so before you spit your bile be sure of who you're talking about x

essexgirl2 says...
12:53am Sun 23 Jan 11

mr_happy wrote:
S6girly wrote: Why do these people insist on calling themselves "Travellers" ... They obviously have no intention of travelling anywhere ....
Oh yes they do... To the next private land site a few hundred yard up the road, and it starts all over again.
They obviously travel to the wedding dress shop with all thier hard earned cash, and to the church, oh and the pub, unfortunately not back to ireland.

thelonewhinger says...
12:07pm Mon 24 Jan 11

abbey gale wrote:
i will try to put this into language that you (settledcommunity ) can understand ,romany gypsies n so called "travellers" don't mix .as far as real gypsies r concerned the "travellers " r irish tinkers.their the ones that have given us such a bad name .most romant gypsies at some point has hada run in with paddies ..a few years ago they turned up at a council run site ,with amenity blocks , n moved in while the family was at work x they r scum n i could name them but i won't on here .they turn up at ppls yards offer wot they think it's worth (usually pittance)n if they don't accept the offer come back later n beat them out of it . so before you spit your bile be sure of who you're talking about x
I agree that many of those commenting are not familiar with the various groups within the "travelling" community.
Unfortunately all the friction you say exists between such groups is never evident to us Country People.
The organisations supporting travelling communities rely on the bond of different groups sharing an outdated culture to lobby for special treament.
A very high proportion of English gypsies have managed to settle into bricks & mortar and lead respectable lives.
It is about time all of these spoke up against those exploiting their culture. The longer they choose to follow "the code" the longer they will be tarred with the same brush.

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