The following email extract is published as a correction to an article published in our Autumn Newsletter (See Home Page and click on Newsletters) LOSRA apologises for any inaccuracy in its original report.

"The [Newsletter] report says that Carols in the Meadow “cannot take place because there is an event at Riverside Arts Centre, which prevents them from supplying the lights”. This is not true. The problem was that the crew who rig the lighting and sound are the Riverside Youth Theatre Technical Team, who would be operating on the opening night of their Christmas production at the Arts Centre on that evening.

"I pointed out the problem to Gerry Ceaser in October who said he would try to move the event to the following week. When he told us this was not possible we made alternative arrangements to obtain wind-up lighting stands from a hire company, at no cost to the event (to save rigging scaffold towers), and found two technicians from the Arts Centre to rig and operate the equipment. We asked that Gerry should see if he could get them some help to derig, and help to take the equipment back to RAC.

"Gerry sent an email on 31st October to the churches and myself which included:

This is to confirm to you that the Carols in the Meadow will NOT take place this year due to a number of unforeseen problems that have only just come to light.

It is hoped that, provided these can be overcome, that Carols will return in 2015.

Can I thank Ian in particular for the alternative lighting arrangements that he put forward which were most appreciated but then other difficulties arose thus leading to the reluctant decision not to go ahead this year

"Myself and others at the Arts Centre have received critical comments from those who believe the cancellation was due to us saying we couldn’t help, which is unfair as we went to considerable trouble to find a solution.

"I would ask that you publish a correction in your next Newsletter, and on the website.

Thanks,"

Ian Dow

Technical Director – Riverside Youth Theatre