Video: Olympic great returns to open Marlow Town Regatta (From Bucks Free Press)

I understand the need for security, but I was a bit disappointed to see so many fences up and around the area of the putting green. This was always an open area for people to walk through, and I noticed there were a lot of visitors completely bemused by the fact that they couldn't find their way in. I also think there were far to many police, not only in the park but also the high street. As the fair is closing early, surely this was over the top policing?
I have been going to the Regatta for over forty years, and yes there usually is a bit of trouble, but up until this point we have always managed to stop it. I just got the impression when I was walking around today, that we were all on trial, and if we didn't behave then we would be told off, a bit like a child on the naughty step! I feel it was wrong to stop the fireworks and the evening events. Why should the public lose out because of a few trouble makers? By closing early, it has given the 'yob' element the final victory. And as someone else mentioned to me, surely they would just cause trouble on the Friday night instead? Please bring back the old way of the Regatta, and don't ruin it for us Marlovians that know how to behave.

Nell Rose wrote:
I understand the need for security, but I was a bit disappointed to see so many fences up and around the area of the putting green. This was always an open area for people to walk through, and I noticed there were a lot of visitors completely bemused by the fact that they couldn't find their way in. I also think there were far to many police, not only in the park but also the high street. As the fair is closing early, surely this was over the top policing?
I have been going to the Regatta for over forty years, and yes there usually is a bit of trouble, but up until this point we have always managed to stop it. I just got the impression when I was walking around today, that we were all on trial, and if we didn't behave then we would be told off, a bit like a child on the naughty step! I feel it was wrong to stop the fireworks and the evening events. Why should the public lose out because of a few trouble makers? By closing early, it has given the 'yob' element the final victory. And as someone else mentioned to me, surely they would just cause trouble on the Friday night instead? Please bring back the old way of the Regatta, and don't ruin it for us Marlovians that know how to behave.

I 100% agree. I have never seen such a poor and under represented pathetic excuse for regatta ever and to have such a mob handed police presence can only be described as massive over kill.

Yes I am fully aware that there have been rumors that every gang from every town within a 50 mile radius will descend on the town turning it into a war zone. They have been doing that rumor for as long as there has been a Marlow regatta. and yes last year there was a few idiots with broken CDs that wanted trouble but this was total over kill

I counted 10 fully loaded Police wagons still in the town at 8.30pm an thats over 2 hours after the fair closed (Maybe it closed early just in case the Gangs need the extra space for their riot) - Who pays for them - Well it comes out of the Regatta profits and harms the chances of there being a next regatta due to the cost.

Marlow has always had a peaceful event and whats been happening this year is little more than an attempt to shut it down - DONT LET THEM.

Please help to bring Marlow Regatta back into something we can all support and get behind and stop them killing it by little cut after little cut and over nanny state policing.

The Regatta closed early and people just hit the pubs earlier instead! Friday night three Polish men jumped a Marlow lad and put him in AnE, last night a man had his neck slashed up by Pipps... There were also several smaller altercations across the town. Alcohol = trouble. The only difference is that the pubs had to deal with it from an earlier time on Saturday instead of it being centred in the park.

holly4 wrote:
The Regatta closed early and people just hit the pubs earlier instead! Friday night three Polish men jumped a Marlow lad and put him in AnE, last night a man had his neck slashed up by Pipps... There were also several smaller altercations across the town. Alcohol = trouble. The only difference is that the pubs had to deal with it from an earlier time on Saturday instead of it being centred in the park.

Seems I was wrong. For some reason I believe we lived in a civilised country! Back in the day yobs used their fists to fight like men, and the police could take them down easily, not any more it seems. Maybe if they had kept the fair open and banned alcohol? Seems the police were in the middle of a rock and hard place.

Nell Rose wrote:

holly4 wrote:
The Regatta closed early and people just hit the pubs earlier instead! Friday night three Polish men jumped a Marlow lad and put him in AnE, last night a man had his neck slashed up by Pipps... There were also several smaller altercations across the town. Alcohol = trouble. The only difference is that the pubs had to deal with it from an earlier time on Saturday instead of it being centred in the park.

Seems I was wrong. For some reason I believe we lived in a civilised country! Back in the day yobs used their fists to fight like men, and the police could take them down easily, not any more it seems. Maybe if they had kept the fair open and banned alcohol? Seems the police were in the middle of a rock and hard place.

The Police were out in great numbers but as usual they were more intent on looking the part than doing anything. All pose and no action.

Looking at the regatta this year, it's quite easy to tell which type of person Marlow favours. They tell the funfair to close earlier, to stop "Gang trouble and yobs", despite the fact that Marlow has never had a gang or even seen one come to the fair, then they fill the fair up with police officers. In the fair on Thursday night, there were more police officers than people!
In all the years I've been to the fair, I've never seen anything worse than a few drunks arguing. In fact, the pubs in the high street cause more trouble than the fair ever did. Funny that, a few fights in the high street, and suddenly the fair is considered to be the problem.
I think the sign at the road into marlow needs to be changed. "Welcome to Marlow, No Fun Allowed"

splatternick wrote:
Looking at the regatta this year, it's quite easy to tell which type of person Marlow favours. They tell the funfair to close earlier, to stop "Gang trouble and yobs", despite the fact that Marlow has never had a gang or even seen one come to the fair, then they fill the fair up with police officers. In the fair on Thursday night, there were more police officers than people!
In all the years I've been to the fair, I've never seen anything worse than a few drunks arguing. In fact, the pubs in the high street cause more trouble than the fair ever did. Funny that, a few fights in the high street, and suddenly the fair is considered to be the problem.
I think the sign at the road into marlow needs to be changed. "Welcome to Marlow, No Fun Allowed"

Very Very Wrong - Marlow People created the whole event it those that moved in when the locals couldn't afford the house prices that want Marlow to be the Chocolate Box town it never was.

It wasn't Marlow people that wanted the Fair to close at 6pm - when Marlow people ran the even it was shut at Midnight with the Fireworks ending at 10 or 10.30PM

If you want some one to blame have a look at the Nanny State Police force that almost out numbered the fair goers and the oh we cant have anybody wanting to have any fun brigade. Then there's the rowers sulking because nobody from Marlow goes to their little Event in the Gravel Pit near Eaton and cant understand that the town really wants to keep the Regatta as it was despite them.