“Don’t lose the 1940s Weekend to another town”

Welshpool Town Council has been warned that the town can’t afford to lose the 1940s Weekend to another Mid Wales town after a plea for support was received from the organisers.

The event has been a popular part of the town’s social calendar for a number of years, but fundraising has become increasingly difficult, placing the event’s future in doubt.

Lead organiser Alan Crowe told the Town Council’s Events & Planning Committee that more than £20,000 was needed each year to put it on, and that the latest fortnightly bingo had brought in just £31.

“The event doesn’t grow because all of our time is spent raising money,” he said. “We have also lost a lot of committee members because of the stress of raising money.”

The Town Council does not give out financial support for events and groups, but Cllr Phil Pritchard issued a stark warning that the local authority should do whatever it can to make the event happen.

“The 1940s Weekend is Welshpool’s,” he said. “If, for some reason it went away and ended up in Newtown or Llanidloes or somewhere similar, we would be absolutely appalled.

“We have to support this in Welshpool. (I'm) Not saying financial grants because we would face many, but certainly we should help organisations like this with offering facilities like the Town Hall for free.

“I would implore you to support the 1940s Weekend because it has been such a fantastic weekend for many years now.”

Last year, the Town Council provided the Town Hall for 50% of the usual cost, so the issue was forwarded to the full council meeting later in the month to decide what level of support should be offered this year.

PICTURE: Huge crowds flock to Welshpool for the annual 1940s Weekend in September.