Like all of us, Bovington has suffered over the last 18 months. To them, the lost income from visitors is huge. Therefore, in the short 'season' remaining, they're trying to put on as much as possible while still adhering to Covid restrictions in order to protect all visitors. Hence the restrictions on the number of both visitors and exhibitors.
So, before you think "well, that all sounds a bit limiting, so I probably won't bother this year", regard it (a) as a chance to get out and about again, and (b) a chance to help Bovington rebuild. The reward will be in the future - we are very much in Bovington's Good Books, and it's very likely we'll be given much more favourable treatment when the current travails are just an unpleasant memory. To misquote JFK: "ask not what your hobby can do for you, but what you can do for your hobby".
Exactly the same comments apply to TankFest on 17-20 September. For the 2021 Show It won't be as it used to be, but it'll still be a great event (the highlights for me will be the Spitfire and Lancaster flypasts, and the Japanese Ha-Go tank). I understand that, following Kian's post, take-up has been low. So have a rethink, and get your application in !
And now, the instructions for the Model Show. As usual, please express your interest to myself or Stephen White, stating which day(s) you're interested in, and what Armortek model you'll be bringing. We'll also need to see your Public Liability Insurance, which is a must-have but we can advise if you haven't got it.
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Thank you for joining us at the South West Model Show on Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th September 2021. We hope that you have an enjoyable weekend with us. To aid us in the organisation process, please read and follow any instructions given to you within this letter.
Enclosed within this letter is the following information:
1. Registration / Arrival information
2. Parking information - If you require disabled parking, please ensure that this is arranged in advance
3. Breakdown / Departure
4. Additional Event Information
5. Site safety, security and conduct information.
6. Sensitive Artefacts Policy (Separate Document)
7. Covid secure measures
REGISTRATION / ARRIVAL
Friday 3rd September 2021
We encourage all traders and exhibitors to set up the day before the event to allow for sufficient time in which to prepare their exhibits/products.
Registration for the South West Model Show on Friday will open at 10:00 and close at 16:00.
Saturday 4th September 2021
We appreciate that for some groups and organisations, the Friday access times are not suitable.
With this in mind, the registration desk will open again at 06:30 on Saturday and close at 07:45.
Please ensure that you have arrived between these times in order to unload all of your exhibits/stock. You will have until 08:30 to complete your set up.
The event will be open to the public from 09:00 – 17:00.
If you plan to Load out on Saturday please do this between 17:00 – 19:00.
Access 5th September 2021
Access to the museum on Sunday will be from 07:30 via the main museum entrance.
We ask that all groups are on site and prepared for the museum and event opening at 09:00.
This year there will be multiple registration desks dependant on your pitch location.
As your pitch is outside within the Marquee please report to REGISTRATION DESK A located in the Cold War Hall, access will be via the shutter door. Here you will receive your wristbands and parking passes. A member of staff will be able to show to your pitch location.
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TRADER / EXHIBITOR PARKING
Traders and exhibitors have been allocated car park 4. As you are driving down Lindsay Road you will find this car park (gravel) on the right-hand side, opposite the main car park (see the image and map below). Please adhere to the one-way system when moving your vehicle to this car park. We would like to ask that all vehicles are moved over to the car park as soon as you have unloaded. Please ensure that you have displayed the attached parking pass on your dashboard.
- Car Park 4.png (272.78 KiB) Viewed 1529 times
Should you require accessible parking, please get in touch via events@tankmuseum.org to let us know your vehicle registration and group name and we will advise you on the best place to park for the weekend.
BREAKDOWN / DEPARTURE
Sunday 4th September 2021
Unloading doors shall be opened and manned after the event closes at 17:00, please ensure pack up is completed by 19:00.
ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION
Each trader and exhibitor will receive a free tea/coffee voucher on both days.
The Tank Museum restaurant will be opening early serving breakfast from 07:30.
Should any groups want more than 6 wristbands for this event, additional passes can be purchased for £7 each for the weekend or of course pre-existing in-date Annual Passes or Friends memberships can be used however please let the Events Team know if you are using either of these methods so we can continue to keep an eye on our overall capacity. Alternatively, if you would like to purchase a full price ticket including an Annual Pass (which would also remain valid for February’s SWMS) you can do via The Tank Museum website. The ticketing system will ask for you to select an arrival slot so please select the latest one although this won’t be relevant to you as contributors (you can arrive early) but it will allow us to manage our numbers on site effectively.
SAFETY, SECURITY & CONDUCT INFORMATION
• All traders/exhibitors must comply with speed limits on site and abide by the one-way circuit. Lindsay road is a public highway and must be treated as such.
• All stands are left at the owner’s risk, and the Museum accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage caused to any of the exhibitors/trader’s property. Any damage to Museum property must be notified to a member of staff immediately and any damage must be paid for by the exhibitor/trader.
• Each pitch will be labelled with a reservation sheet upon arrival. If you have requested a space with electricity your pitch has been located as near to a power point as possible.
• Please bring your own extension cables and ensure that they are safely secured to avoid a trip hazard. The museum will not be providing extension cables or protective matting.
• There are no trollies provided by the museum for loading or unloading. Please bring your own if required.
• Requests or instructions given by Museum staff must be adhered to; this includes requests to take down stands or signage that are deemed unsafe or items that are unsuitable for sale within the Museum.
• Please do not place any items on the exhibits themselves during the event. This is strictly prohibited.
• There is a zero-tolerance policy regarding threatening or abusive behaviour towards Museum staff, any person found to be abusing or threatening Museum staff will be asked to leave the site by the Event Manager.
• Any change of trading/exhibiting location on arrival or during the event due to exceptional circumstances is under the manager’s discretion.
• It is the traders/exhibitor’s responsibility to remove all rubbish from their immediate location and keep this area tidy throughout the event. Please do not leave empty cardboard boxes or bags of rubbish at your pitch location at the end of the event.
• If you are approached by a child that is lost or an adult that has lost a child please contact a member of Tank Museum staff as soon as possible, and they will take charge of the situation.
• In the event of you or anyone visiting the Museum feeling unwell or injuring themselves, contact a member of Tank Museum staff and ask them call for a First Aider to attend the situation.
• NO bags must be left unattended at any time. Any bag left unattended maybe seized or taken in line with Ministry of Defence policy.
• If you witness any suspicious behaviour or identify a suspicious package, please contact a member of Tank Museum staff as soon as possible, and they will take charge of the situation.
• Strictly no dogs are allowed on site or inside the museum except assistance dogs.
Fire Evacuation
• In the event that the fire alarm goes off, you will hear a loud bleeping noise with an automated voice and the fire alarm lights will be flashing red. You must evacuate the building.
• Please make your way to the nearest available fire exit. Once you have exited the building, head towards the main car park and assemble on the far side of the car park close to the Vehicle Conservation Centre.
• Remain at the fire point until you have been given the all clear by a member of the Tank Museum staff.
CURRENT COVID-19 SECURE MEASURES:
• We have a one-way system around the museum
• Face coverings are no longer mandatory within the museum however we strongly encourage exhibitor and traders to wear one, particularly when inside the museum. Tank Museum staff are continuing to wear a face mask at all times.
• We have hand sanitising stations throughout the museum.
• Please ensure that if you or a member of your staff/group has any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been contacted by Track & Trace that they do not come onto site.
Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We look forward to welcoming you.
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All the best, and stay well,
Chris Hall
Stephen White
A bunch of Tiger and Panther variants, a few 88`s and smaler ones like Hetzer, Stug III, etc. and soon a Leo II