Disability Awareness Day Sunday 12th July 2009

2003 Sunday 13th July.

The event attracted 300 exhibitors and approximately 24,000 visitors, but this event will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Three weeks before the event we were informed by chance that the marquee suppliers had gone into liquidation, after two weeks of frantic action from everyone at the DAD office and my secretary Sue we were looking at a possible overspend of nearly Ł8,000. As not one single supplier could be found to supply anything more than 2 marquees we would have to pay premium rates for what we could get. But thanks to a very understanding team at Florida Marquees, the teams at Walton Hall, and Health & Safety and Corporate Services at Warrington Borough Council, and tons of extra effort from the already over stretched DAD team we managed to secure an action plan, but not until the 11th hour, yes 5.15pm on Friday 4th, one day later would have meant that over 20 events planned to take place within the marquees during the week wouldn't have taken place and we could have faced the possibility of not having all the marquees up and ready for the main Sunday event. As per usual none of the DAD Week event organisers or DAD exhibitors saw or heard about this near disaster, now do you agree with my evaluation of DAD being swan like?

One person who didn't know about all the fuss was The Right Honourable Marie Eagle Minister for Disabled People who was visiting the event as part of her tour of the UK during the European Year of Disabled People

The DAD VIP and Sponsors Reception focussed on the visit from the Minister. During the event the Department of Work & Pensions launched two disability awareness videos that are now used in cinemas across the UK

Earlier in the year a delegation from Cornwall had visited Warrington and met with members of the DAD management team, as soon as they returned they got to work organising their DAD event which took place on the 20th July at the Cornwall Agricultural Ground and was attended by over 5000 visitors, excellent for their first event

I did say that this years event will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, well DAD was mentioned on the TV news and most national newspapers as they reported on an horrific accident that involved a bus that was on route to Walton Hall Gardens from the Town Centre. Initial reports suggested up to 10 fatal injuries as the vehicle had rolled over several times down an embankment. As we tried to get an update on the situation the local radio stations were reporting it as a very major incident, with the road blocked and traffic at a standstill on other routes due to crowds on their way to a local rugby match, a police helicopter was spotted circling the area. Then we started getting reports that people who were waiting at the bus stop to return to the town centre were fainting in the extreme heat. Our quick thinking stewards supplied water and reassured people that another bus would be along soon. The mood of everyone concern was very low, I felt personally responsible, I thought that if I hadn't set the idea of DAD going then the people wouldn't have been on the bus, no matter what people said, it didn't make me feel any better. Just before 7pm we were inform by the police that nobody had been killed but there were one or two serious injuries. I am pleased to report that the most seriously injured person is recovering at home after spending months in hospital.

On a brighter note DAD was presented with an Innovations Award from the Learning Foundation based at the 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust. The award was extra special for the team as it was presented in honour of our friend and DAD supporter Nick Hilton who sadly died during 2003.

Previous Years