Appeal Update

[Mackrick]

50th Birthday Appeal - Update Wednesday 16th December 2009

The latest Appeal results show that the 50th Birthday Appeal has raised just over £150,000. At this time of year, in the current economic climate, this is a positively encouraging uptake. Everyone is most grateful for this on-going support.

Right now however, we are still well short of having enough cash to commit the essential engineering activities for 2010, with cash donations standing at just over £100,000. We really need to double this in less than a month!

After that, we still have a long way to go before the project is secure. We must keep driving the Appeal to realise well over £200,000 in cash by the first week in January, then £200,000 for each of the following 3 months.

Please take a few minutes to think of any friends, relatives or colleagues who might be persuaded to make a donation or a pledge!

The mathematics says that even a small direct donation but from a large number of people can make a huge difference! To this end, we have placed adverts in a number of regional publications, and are also looking into the cost implications of taking these adverts to a National level early in the New Year.

On pledges, the “Signup” page now allows you to specify a redemption month that suits you. If you have already pledged or donated, then please consider another pledge but timed in March towards the end of our Appeal.

Please continue to do all you can to promote XH558’s cause, as indeed every person – employee or volunteer - involved with the Trust is doing on XH558’s behalf. We have come too far not to try every possible means available to us.

Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary, announced yesterday a savage reprioritisation in the RAF’s budgets, with amongst other cuts RAF Cottesmore – an old Vulcan base – to close. I now believe that XH558 has a third role, in addition to “Honouring the Past and Inspiring the Future”. With the inevitable cuts in the RAF’s air display commitments, XH558 is now one of the few ways that the public come to see the importance of Air Power in the defence of our country – a role that senior RAF officers fully endorse.

My next update will be just before Christmas and will be the last before the New Year – and decision time.

Kind Regards,


Robert Pleming
Chief Executive

[Saracenman]

well, if they'd started the appeal earlier in the year, at the BEGINNING of the airshow season............

of course, i can understand that Dr. Pleming has only just become aware that 558 is fifty years old next year

sm

[Sooty655]

well, if they'd started the appeal earlier in the year, at the BEGINNING of the airshow season............

of course, i can understand that Dr. Pleming has only just become aware that 558 is fifty years old next year

sm

And his Engineering Director has only just been told they've used up all the fatigue life

[Saracenman]

ah yes but apparently that's not his responsibility

thank god this appeal isn't going toward paying certain salaries.............oh hang on..........

[Nickolas]

well, if they'd started the appeal earlier in the year, at the BEGINNING of the airshow season............

of course, i can understand that Dr. Pleming has only just become aware that 558 is fifty years old next year

sm

And his Engineering Director has only just been told they've used up all the fatigue life

IF I were him I'd want a bloody fatigue report after EVERY sortie.
There would be a damn great graph on the wall showing the wear and tear.

I'm going off to bang my head against a wall till it hurts..........

[Xplumberlives]

Still waiting for resignations or redundancies amongst the higher levels!

[Air]

well, if they'd started the appeal earlier in the year, at the BEGINNING of the airshow season............

I disagree.
It would have been far to early to start another appeal at the BEGINNING of the airshow season, when they'd only just come off the back of the pledge scheme to get flying in 2009.

Pledges were still being collected; I don't think I was in a position to pay mine off until about July, and a 2010 appeal in May would have been met with people asking what was going on when they'd only just had an appeal and were still collecting money from it.
END of the airshow season maybe, but beginning....no, not in my opinion.

[Dan4th]

The point here is that the appeal last summer
would have been targeted at those who had
never before been reached -- the 1,000,000+
airshow attendees not in the immediate circle
of already hit-up supporters, a.k.a. "The Usual
Suspects".

Just such a program(me) was ready to roll but
was nixed by those in charge.

How to reach those 1,000,000+ airshow goers now?

Danf.

[Air]

What exactly were they going to do then?
I seem to remember the commentator giving loads of plugs for donations and getting involved at the B/mth Air show. Even Pleming himself was there and gave a little speech asking for donations.

One point I'd make about opportunies missed though, was that the B/mth air show had the highest attendance for an airshow in the UK last year, over 730,000 and all the Vulcan team had there was a little tent stuck right out of the way up Boscombe end. Doh!

Anyway, like I said, for the most part another appeal straight away would have been met with derision from those who'd just given their hard earned for the 2009 season.

[Saracenman]

Air, i agree with Danforth - with 558 locked in a box or months on end, at this time of year, and particularly with Christmas very nearly upon us, a campaign while 558 was still flying would, I'm certain, have generated a much better response

people have very short memories - those who are not confirmed Vulcanites forgot all about 558 the second they left the airshow carpark

558 is completely inaccessible at Lyneham, so no hangar tours to generate interest and income. no airshows to promote merchandise etc - winter is a very lean time

Bournemouth's pitch was all that could be obtained, given the layout of the place. also, don't forget that the majority of those there were there for the beach, NOT the air displays

sm

[Bovril]

150k (only £110k cash) and just over a week to go its not looking good need someone like sir jack to save the day

[Xplumberlives]

Air, i agree with Danforth - with 558 locked in a box For months on end, at this time of year, and particularly with Christmas very nearly upon us, a campaign while 558 was still flying would, I'm certain, have generated a much better response

people have very short memories - those who are not confirmed Vulcanites forgot all about 558 the second they left the airshow carpark

558 is completely inaccessible at Lyneham, so no hangar tours to generate interest and income. no airshows to promote merchandise etc - winter is a very lean time

Bournemouth's pitch was all that could be obtained, given the layout of the place. also, don't forget that the majority of those there were there for the beach, NOT the air displays

sm

[Saracenman]

150k (only £110k cash) and just over a week to go its not looking good need someone like sir jack to save the day

long term, that's not the answer - 558 needs proper promotion and management to get 80,000 Club members, rather than the mere 8,000 we have now

it's numbers of PEOPLE required, not one person with deep pockets

sm

[Air]

with 558 locked in a box or months on end, at this time of year, and particularly with Christmas very nearly upon us, a campaign while 558 was still flying would, I'm certain, have generated a much better response

Yes, but you originally stated the BEGINNING of the season, which I thought was too soon after the previous campaign.

558 is completely inaccessible at Lyneham, so no hangar tours to generate interest and income. no airshows to promote merchandise etc - winter is a very lean time

I believe someone here said that they were looking into that. It was never going to be simple getting public access on an active RAF base.

Bournemouth's pitch was all that could be obtained, given the layout of the place. also, don't forget that the majority of those there were there for the beach, NOT the air displays

While it's true the sun brings people to the beach, it certainly would NOT have been on that scale if it weren't for the air display.
The council wouldn't bother with the expense of an airshow if that amount of punters were coming to town anyway.
Besides, the 2008 show didn't have the best of weather, but the council booked a date for the 2009 show on the back of the extra trade that had come into town to see the airshow.

Regarding the Vulcan stand. Perhaps if the Vulcan does display in 2010 then maybe a bigger more prominent stall could be arranged. Even the people that are there solely for the beach are holidaymakers with money to spend.

[Bovril]

trouble is £25 or there abouts for an individual membership is a little bit high.

150k (only £110k cash) and just over a week to go its not looking good need someone like sir jack to save the day

long term, that's not the answer - 558 needs proper promotion and management to get 80,000 Club members, rather than the mere 8,000 we have now

it's numbers of PEOPLE required, not one person with deep pockets

sm

[Air]

558 needs proper promotion and management to get 80,000 Club members, rather than the mere 8,000 we have now

it's numbers of PEOPLE required, not one person with deep pockets

Given that I've been told on here that the Trust and Club are two separate entities, with separate financial accounts, then surely it's up to the club to promote themselves and get people to join?

[Pujgnie]

with 558 locked in a box or months on end, at this time of year, and particularly with Christmas very nearly upon us, a campaign while 558 was still flying would, I'm certain, have generated a much better response

Bournemouth's pitch was all that could be obtained, given the layout of the place. also, don't forget that the majority of those there were there for the beach, NOT the air displays

While it's true the sun brings people to the beach, it certainly would NOT have been on that scale if it weren't for the air display.
The council wouldn't bother with the expense of an airshow if that amount of punters were coming to town anyway.
Besides, the 2008 show didn't have the best of weather, but the council booked a date for the 2009 show on the back of the extra trade that had come into town to see the airshow.

Regarding the Vulcan stand. Perhaps if the Vulcan does display in 2010 then maybe a bigger more prominent stall could be arranged. Even the people that are there solely for the beach are holidaymakers with money to spend.

Regarding the Bournemouth pitch - I believe this is being worked on for 2010. (ie - better siting )

[Saracenman]

yeah, the location wasn't the best but also the 'proper' Vulcan Village was at Shoreham on the same weekend so wasn't available for Bournemouth

as for the Club membership issue - yes, it IS up to the Club to promote itself, but that is exactly the same as promoting 558 herself isn't it? what else is the Club there for?

the promotion and marketing is 100% better than it was before Ian Homer took it over. the Club realises that it needs to attract NEW members, rather than just appealing to the same ones over and over again. the big hook will be Education, which the Trust has done precious little to promote

the Club is doing what it can, but the Trust always seem to be the cause of delays and difficulties

sm

[Spitfire]

Bournemouth's pitch was all that could be obtained, given the layout of the place. also, don't forget that the majority of those there were there for the beach, NOT the air displays
sm

Well I don't believe that for a minute - Mrs S and I walked MILES to get to that pi%%y little tent right down one end - where you were all working damned hard - but we walked past LOADS of MUCH bigger pitches of people selling crappy sunhats - one of which I bought - and huge caravan pitches of London wide boys doing these pick a number with a five on the end and win a huge cuddly toy type things.

Surely the XH558 stand could have been twice the size - and much nearer the middle had it been booked earlier

Where was the Plemming clout in getting the organisers behind the appearance of their biggest crowd puller and getting them the best - or a better - pitch ..... XH will only appear IF etc etc

We really need to double this in less than a month! Same old same old - AGAIN
Please take a few minutes to think of any friends, relatives or colleagues who might be persuaded to make a donation or a pledge! They're ALL well fed up with me bangin' on about it and I'm too embarassed to pitch them again

We have come too far not to try every possible means available to us. Except perhaps trying a new management structure

Robert Pleming
Chief Executive

[Saracenman]

[Pujgnie]

I agree that Bournemouths' pitch was NOT ideally suited. (Maybe there are genuine reasons as to why... but I'm not enter into any argument over that).

Main VV was at Shoreham as already stated... the team are fully aware of the needs for a better pitch next year (fingers crossed).

I have already spoken to the Jon Weaver (Festival Organiser) regarding this... So, hopefully 2010 will see us more prominant.

[Xplumberlives]

Bournemouth's pitch was all that could be obtained, given the layout of the place. also, don't forget that the majority of those there were there for the beach, NOT the air displays
sm

Well I don't believe that for a minute - Mrs S and I walked MILES to get to that pi%%y little tent right down one end - where you were all working damned hard - but we walked past LOADS of MUCH bigger pitches of people selling crappy sunhats - one of which I bought - and huge caravan pitches of London wide boys doing these pick a number with a five on the end and win a huge cuddly toy type things.

Surely the XH558 stand could have been twice the size - and much nearer the middle had it been booked earlier

Where was the Plemming clout in getting the organisers behind the appearance of their biggest crowd puller and getting them the best - or a better - pitch ..... XH will only appear IF etc etc

We really need to double this in less than a month! Same old same old - AGAIN
Please take a few minutes to think of any friends, relatives or colleagues who might be persuaded to make a donation or a pledge! They're ALL well fed up with me bangin' on about it and I'm too embarassed to pitch them again

We have come too far not to try every possible means available to us. Except perhaps trying a new management structure

Robert Pleming
Chief Executive

WHAT Plemming CLOUT?

[Spitfire]

WHAT Plemming CLOUT?

sar·casm (sär'kăz'əm)

n.
1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.

[Xplumberlives]

CLOUT, just take the last three letters, that's what the project needs!

[Sooty655]

Or take out the U and you've got a fair description of most elements of the project leadership.