Popham Events: Behind the Scenes
As you can imagine, a lot goes into planning the Popham events, but it’s not something many see, so here’s a sneak peek behind the scenes from this year’s goings-on...
1. Early starts (and late nights!)
Inevitably, the team sometimes needs to work long days coming up to and during the events. Starts can be as early as 6am to meet with traders and exhibitors entering the site, and once the show closes, we have to make sure the site is clean and tidy for the next day’s activities. Sometimes (as with the Microlight Trade Show and Classic Car Show) we run back to back events – so the new setup has to be turned around between one show closing at 4pm and the next one opening at 10am the next day, which can be a bit full on!
It is however lovely to witness the airfield early on a misty morning.
2. Golf buggies
Anyone who says golf buggies aren’t fun are lying – they are a complete hoot! And essential to the setup and running of our events – from quick transport around site, to taxiing visitors and carrying goods about – we couldn’t do without them. Oh and did I mention? They are very fun 😊
3. Doggos
Being event organiser has its perks – one of which is meeting as many dogs as possible - visitor, exhibitor, caterer or trader – if you have a dog, I will likely appear to pet it at some point.
And sometimes my dog Cali comes along to help set up too…
4. Food
Keeping up the energy is vital throughout the events – good job we have a great café and wonderful catering stalls to choose from!
5. The weather
We all know it’s not something we can control, but it can make or break an event. Sadly this year’s classic car show was a victim of (quite a lot of) rain. Cars + grassy field + lots of rain = slip-sloppy-miserableness. Still, we were incredibly grateful to those who showed up, and as always we had the Hampshire and Berkshire 4x4 Response guys on hand to rescue anyone stuck in the mud, which was a much better option than me and my determined pushing – never one to be deterred by the scale of a challenge, whilst ‘helping’ to push one of the stuck cars out of a sticky (read ‘slippery’) situation, I too found myself with zero traction and swiftly toppled face-first in the mud pool.
Ironically, the weather was so lovely the next day that I could hang my freshly washed (previously mud covered) Popham clothes on the line to dry…
6. The dream team
It’s the whole team at Popham that makes our events possible, and many of this team are volunteers who selflessly give up their time to ensure our success. Mike and I are eternally grateful for their help – we couldn’t do it without them!
CONTACT INFO
Tel: 01256 397733
Email: admin @ popham-airfield.co.uk
Popham Airfield, Coxford Down, Winchester, SO21 3BD
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