Lowestoft Air Festival Back in 2011

The organisers of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival have confirmed it will be back on next summer, despite it making a loss this year.

The festival was hit by really bad weather this year which meant fewer people turned up, and so meant they got less money through donations.

This year was the first time the Air Festival had made a loss since its organisation was passed five years ago from Waveney District Council to a charitable, not-for-profit company, run by unpaid directors and volunteers.

After the meeting managing director Paul Bayfield said: “This year’s loss of around £40,000 can be put down to bad weather on both days which hit the attendance, the bucket collection, park and ride and our merchandise sales.

“Fortunately, however, over the past five years we have put in place a wet weather contingency. This means that not only will we be able to pay everyone but it also gives us a springboard for next year.”

Mr Bayfield added: “We have been immensely encouraged by the hundreds of positive comments we have received since last month’s airshow and we are also grateful to some businesses who have either pledged support or who have sent a donation.

“This support has enabled us to make the decision to go ahead in 2011. The dates are Thursday August 11 and Friday August 12 and we will be submitting our usual application for displays to the Royal Air Force events team before the end of this month.”

Regarding next year, Mr Bayfield said: “We will be largely relying once again on the generosity of the public and we will also be looking at various ways we can reduce our costs to make the 2011 Air Festival both successful and viable.”

This year’s two-day Air Festival was attended by an estimated 333,000 people who donated a total of just under £86,000. This was down by £34,000 on last year when the attendance was estimated at 420,000.

Donations to help towards next year’s event can be made by sending cheques to Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival Ltd, 41 Tennyson Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1PS.

Lowestoft Seafront Airfestival 2009