....And This Is Is Why Im here.....

[sandman67]

Six hundred years of tradition have been been tossed aside as organisers cancelled a pancake race in Yorkshire.
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The Shrove Tuesday race in Ripon usually attracts hundreds of people to watch local schools and businesses tossing pancakes through the city's cobbled streets.

But this year, organisers have called a halt to the race because of the time and costs involved in having to put the necessary precautions and regulations in place.

Bernard Bateman, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ripon North and one of the organisers, blamed "bureaucracy".

He said: "The main problem is the health and safety aspects and issues such as that. There is bureaucracy that goes into holding any event these days, the policing, the risk assessments, and it has a cost factor and takes a lot of time."

Organisers were told they would have to pay £250 to the local authority to close Kirkgate Road, where the race took place.

They would also have to hold insurance risk assessments and pay to have medical staff on hand in case of any injuries or accidents.

The Pancake Bell has rung for 600 years and was traditionally used to signal the start of the race, which was revived in 1998 by former Dean of Ripon John Methuen.

From a BBC source....

But...if this was Ede or Diwali there would be banners in the streets.....

Id rather be a stranger in a strange land than a stranger at home

[DawnHRD]

Yes, it's ridiculous to have to cancel a tradition that's many 100's of years old.
But, as for 'why you're here', which implies that Thailand is better - try closing a main street here in Hua Hin for any length of time without red tape &/or payment. I can assure you, that unless you know some very high up people, it's not going to happen.
We (HRD) have to ask for tessadban permission to walk our dogs through the streets (not compromising traffic or pedestrians) as a publicity drive, or to stop (still publicity drive) in the park.
Bureaucracy is the same everywhere - rules need to be obeyed & permission needs to be granted.

[sandman67]

Hi Dawn

great reply.....made me think again....hard through the Chang cloud....

my point is this....

Id rather be a stranger in a strange land than a stranger at home

Y see my point was that if this had have been a council canceling Ede or Diwali celebrations all hell would have broken loose. But an English tradition? Ah sod that....theres no laws they can sue us under.

Like I said...

Id rather be a stranger in a strange land than a stranger at home

and when we allow old traditions to be canceled because the health and safety costs are too much....Bugger Bognor say I!

More Chang!!!!!

[STEVE G]

This reminds me of when I visited a country house in the midlands a couple of years ago with my parents. In the adjoining church there was a small inset stone, lying down a shallow hole in the floor that commemorated the death of the Lord of the Manor.
This thing had been there since 1260 odd but recently, after nearly 800 years, the local authority had decided it was a hazard and covered it over!