Lambeth Country Show
Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London 20-21 July 2002

Archive report of the 2002 Lambeth Country Show
(posted on the urban75 bulletin boards)

"So our council can't look after it's tenants (at all), can't pay it's suppliers on time, can't handle very basic street cleaning/rubbish collection services, can't make a rational pronouncement about policing crime or tackling hard drugs in the community. And let's not even talk about the Great Lambeth Council Tax Fiasco(s). But. It has to be said, Lambeth Council knows how to give us the circuses even if it can't throw us the bread.

Today's Country Show was beautiful.

This has to be the best organised municipal festival on the planet, and I don't think I'm exaggerating. I mean, where else can you have a day out with the family where you can fling the little ones on fairground rides, where you can hear the Bhundu Boys and watch a falconry display, where you can be handed a lifetimes supply of free Soothers (and Cadbury's Smash to raaahtid! Now that stand was just desperate. Still pulled tho'), buy books at the West Indian Ex-Servicemens stall, expose yourself to the demented Radio 4 world of prize marrows and jam competitions, listen to steel drums and beardy-folky stuff, get deliciously wasted on real cider, shop for clothes new and second hand, eat food from all over the planet and enjoy the opportunity to take in the vaaaast spectrum of people/lifestyles/income groups that inhabit our borough.

FOR FREE.

And tomorrow will be even bigger and better with Johnny Clarke on the main stage. Sheeit!!.

Could have done without the Armed forces recruitment stands tho'.

Did anyone else check out the 'Elegant Toilets'. Framed prints of Monet and Matisse in the portaloos ferchrissakes!!

Life in this part of London can be dispiriting sometimes as posts to this board attest, but if you ever need an argument to convince someone to move here just bring them down to Brockwell Park on a day like today.

Norman Cook can keep Brighton Beach and the Swiss tourists can keep the Notting Hill Carnival. The Country Show rocks.

How could anyone NOT enjoy it??!?"

Rocket no.9 20th July 2002




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