Headcorn Military Show to be run by Headcorn Special Events (HSE

[cordenj]

The joint organisers of this year’s Combined Ops show are pleased to announce that they have come to an agreement for Headcorn Special Events to take over the show.

With the continuing rise in popularity of the Combined Ops Military and Aviation Show held at Headcorn Aerodrome in August it has become increasingly difficult for The Invicta Military Preservations Society (IMPS) to be able to find sufficient volunteers who can devote the necessary time and resources to form an organising team. Therefore an agreement has been reached whereby Headcorn Special Events (HSE) will take over the IMPS side of the show. By bringing all the organising and running of the show under one roof it will make its operation more efficient and will ensure its success in the future.

Whilst IMPS regrets having to withdraw from assisting with the organisation of the show, as the co-operation between the two organisations has been very close over the past 8 years, and has delivered a very successful and popular attraction for the public, they feel this agreement will ensure the show’s continued success.

There will still be a show at Headcorn Aerodrome on the 13th and 14th August this year, with air displays and military attractions similar to the past Combined Ops Shows, and IMPS members will continue to receive all the benefits previously accorded to them.

More information regarding this year’s show will be announced as it becomes available, or you can contact Headcorn Special Events via their website: www.headcornevents.co.uk

Headcorn Aerodrome & Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society

[John Comber]

Thank you for confirming what is happening , I am sure that many exhibitors will now be rather undecided , do you go to an established show with the aviation attraction or support the local club and their new venture ?? I expect we will end up with two half shows, compared with the recent years combined opps exhibitor attendance..... Rather a pity in my opinion , but if over stretching I.M.P.S you can understand the reasoning.

i see a family meeting brewing to draw straws where we go!!

[TooTallMike]

Very interesting and it does explain some of the recent rumours.

 

With W&PR and now Headcorn being run by events companies I think we'll be off to the Hop Farm then.

 

- MG

[Lauren Child]

Well done and good luck to those taking the show on

 

Just wondering if I was the only one who read the thread subject and thought "Health and Safety Executive"

[Tony B]

I'd plump for Headcorn. I've always found it a very friendly intresting place to show , and the avation side is added interest. The did have the Flying Proms there a few years back. Now the 1812 Oveture with real artillery is good. Spitfire Prelude and Fuge , from the film First of the Few, outdoors, with full orchestra and a Spitfire and Mustang doing low (Grass trimming) passes! UNBELIVABLE!!!

[Adrian Barrell]

Just wondering if I was the only one who read the thread subject and thought "Health and Safety Executive"

 

No, that was my first thought too!

[terryb]

a show run by HSE?

next they'll be wanting you to provide your own public liability insurance........

[Jack]

Thank you for confirming what is happening , I am sure that many exhibitors will now be rather undecided , do you go to an established show with the aviation attraction or support the local club and their new venture ?? I expect we will end up with two half shows, compared with the recent years combined opps exhibitor attendance..... Rather a pity in my opinion , but if over stretching I.M.P.S you can understand the reasoning.

i see a family meeting brewing to draw straws where we go!!

 

This reminds me of what the MVT tried to do with the Overlord show. It was stupid and egotistical.

[Baz48]

Headcorn or Hop-Farm what to chose over the same weekend, Saturday one Sunday the other, then there is W&P Revival new and improved just before all supported by, run by or organised by IMPS/members of all in Kent. By-heck the roads around the South East will be just like pre 6th June.

 

It's quite a choice, Battle re-enactors whiz-bangs tanks and trucks, sorry lorries a spectacle at all, aircraft advertised as attending Headcorn though I'm not sure the Mitchell as shown in the blurb can land there

[gas 44]

This reminds me of what the MVT tried to do with the Overlord show. It was stupid and egotistical.

 

I'm not sure the MVT know what to do with a show.........oh yes, they like to rivet count.........:laugh:

 

 

The British MVT could do with taking a leaf out of the Belgium MVT.

Edited March 16, 2016 by gas 44

[cordenj]

updated in light of continuing debate

Edited April 2, 2016 by cordenj

[Richard Farrant]

Thanks John, for posting Allan's message. I did not receive it by email so glad you posted it. I will definitely be at Headcorn for both days, with my friends. See you there.

 

regards, Richard

[Markheliops]

Well that is one side of the story and I'd like to hear the other side purely on the grounds of equality.

I'm going to invite Dave King for a response to the statement and then I shall post it on here - providing he gives a response obviously.

Markheliops

[snort]

Its always nice to hear both sides but sadly this doesn't always happen.

[Topdog]

Maybe I will give Beltring a go after I have read reports from this year but Headcorn for me as usual. Any indication on entry prices for Beltring?

[Richard Farrant]

Here is a statement just received from IMPS Chairman, Andy Neal.

 

Dear IMPS Member,

 

Combined Ops, Dave King and Military World Show.

 

On 28th January, Dave King announced quite unexpectedly that he was

not prepared to organise Combined Ops at Headcorn this year.

He proposed an alternative show at a different location.

This left the Board in a very difficult position, being already

committed to Combined Ops but with no-one to run it.

 

After much discussion and meetings with the Combined Ops volunteer

team, the Board decided on 29th February to renegotiate the agreement

with Headcorn Special Events to ensure that IMPS members continued to

have the benefit of what has become, for many, their favourite show.

 

They decided to have no involvement with any show run by Dave King at

an alternative location.

Dave King resigned from the Board that evening with immediate effect.

 

 

Subsequently Dave King announced that he would run a new show at the

Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, and chose to hold it on the same date as

Combined Ops.

While this is very regrettable, the Board cannot stop him, or any

member, organising anything they choose to, if IMPS is not involved

in any way.

 

No Board member is assisting with the organisation of this new show,

although apparently several members are.

 

The Board continues to support Combined Ops and would ask members to

do the same, as IMPS has a financial arrangement to benefit from the

show.

 

 

 

The IMPS Board

 

[julezee001]

I am not one to get involved with either the running of IMPS, or the politics, so I can only guess at the reasons for some members deciding to set up another show at the Hop Farm on the same weekend.

 

Personally both I and my friends have found that Combined OPs has been the most relaxed and enjoyable show of the year, and the best opportunity to catch up with like minded friends. Is it perfect? No, but for a relatively small club it's a great show, and I'm sure has deservedly been good for IMPS funds over the last few years.

 

This year I have another local show, non military but only 1 mile away, also on the same weekend, but both I and my friends will be at Headcorn as we've decided that overall it is by far the best option.

 

Jules

[volvoc303]

i read the reasons for givern my imps board why they are not getting involved with hop farm show but why is the head corn show being support by imps if they our both being run by private companys ?? i wish both shows best off luck. i feel the truth will come out why the breakup came about in the future

[Markheliops]

i read the reasons for givern my imps board why they are not getting involved with hop farm show but why is the head corn show being support by imps if they our both being run by private companys ?? i wish both shows best off luck. i feel the truth will come out why the breakup came about in the future

 

As I understand it - A NEW IMPS statement, retracting the previous IMPS statement, will be released shortly!!!

 

Things should become a little clearer - bear with it!

[milworld]

Please may I encourage you to read this statement which includes the facts about the events leading up to the present situation with the IMPS Board in connection with their former club show. Every part of this chronology is supported with emails and signed minutes (unless otherwise stated) and gives members an unedited timeline giving them the option to make an informed choice.

 

But firstly a few background facts:-

 

1. When the club show was formed by the original team, a one year agreement was drawn up which only allowed for the show in 2009. This agreement does not give either a termination clause nor does it give any exit clauses.

 

2. No further agreement has been drawn up for the show ever since.

 

3. In my opinion my role as Show Chairman has been considerably undermined by issues being dealt with without my knowledge or through the club president.

 

4. The Financial agreement as agreed for the 2015 show was dismissed on the Monday after the show with the owners of Headcorn stating that they wanted a 50/50 agreement and demanding both to Diane Smy, the Show Treasurer and James Gosling the Club Treasurer, that it was going to be that way.

 

I have consistently informed the board throughout 2015 that the role of Show Chairman was untenable.

 

This is a full chronology of dialogue and events since the show in August 2015.

21 October 2015 – Debrief Meeting at Headcorn for the 2015 show, most members supported a show in 2016 but some had reservations about volunteering to help with another show. It was also pointed out that a number of Headcorn staff were not doing what they said they would and as a result this was causing issues. The Show Treasurer also officially Resigned as Treasurer.

December 2015 – I spoke with the team to see if they were willing to put on a show, a number (myself included) had issues with some of the Headcorn staff. It was suggested that it was left until after Christmas but all would need a decision early January.

Early January 2016 – I Spoke with most of the team and the general consensus of opinion was that the show was being strangled at Headcorn and that some staff at Headcorn were causing more issues than they were resolving. Therefore I said I would take that back to the Board meeting for further discussion.

25 January 2016 - At the board meeting I raised the issue that a number of team members (including myself) were not happy working with Headcorn. I asked who owned the name “Combined Ops”, The club president felt adamant that IMPS owned the name in its entirety. Therefore I presented the Board with three options in connection with a future club event, which are recorded in the board minutes and they are as follows:

 

1. Combined Ops stays at Headcorn, but without DK in main co-ordinator role.

 

2. Give the show to Headcorn to run as sole organiser and for IMPS to just support show.

3. Move Combined Ops to a new venue without Headcorn as a partner.

4. DK takes over the running of Combined Ops as a paid organiser, with show still remaining an IMPS event. IMPS retains % of the profit but would not suffer if the show made a loss. DK is to discuss options with The Hop Farm and Bewl Water as possible alternative venues.

 

At the meeting it was agreed that I should investigate the venues stated and report back to the board.

 

4 February 2016 –The Club President called a meeting of the IMPS core organising group for Headcorn & the board, without informing me, but later confirmed that he should have let me know but requested I did not attend (which I would have been happy with). Although I believe no minutes were kept of the meeting in attendance were The President, 4 Board Members & 4 of the Show Team (one of which at the meeting stated she wouldn’t be working with Headcorn). Once member of the Show Team was away on Holiday. The options put to the meeting were:

 

1. Combined Ops stays at Headcorn, but without DK in main co-ordinator role.

 

2. Give the show to HEADCORN to run as sole organiser and for IMPS to just support show.

 

3. Move Combined Ops to a new venue without HEADCORN as a partner.

4. DK takes over the running of Combined Ops as a paid organiser, with show still remaining an IMPS event. IMPS retains % of the profit but would not suffer if the show made a loss. DK is to discuss options with The Hop Farm and Bewel Water as possible alternative venues.

 

Decision was to go with option 4 but needed to put it to a full board meeting.

 

9 February 2016 – An extraordinary board meeting again chaired by the President, (The member of the show committee who could not attend the meeting on the 4^th, attended this meeting at the request of the club president) was called to discuss this, where I believe, again no minutes were taken, however the outcome was to inform me of the decision from the meeting on the 4^th and to get feedback from me as to how the Show was organised. I confirmed that in the time since the last board meeting I had met with the Hop Farm and they were interested in having Combined Ops move there. The outcome of the meeting was that

 

1. I would continue to organise the show and the board would prepare an agreement for signing where IMPS would have received 20% of the show profit with NO end date thus releasing the club from the financial input and VAT liability.

 

2. Register the name to protect it.

 

I requested that this was confirmed in an email.

 

10 February 2016 – I received an email from The Board confirming the board’s decision to go ahead with operating the IMPS Club show, known as “Combined Ops”, at a new location. In addition the email went on to say that “We further authorise you to register, and use, the name, logo and domain name for Combined Ops in relation to a Military, and/or, aviation show held in Kent, along similar lines to the established show, under that name.” & also authorises me to register the name. (a copy of this email is available)

 

17 February 2016 – A member of the show team sent an email to the club President and myself in connection with the Launch of the new location (a copy of the email is available)

19 February 2016 – The first Draft of the proposed agreement was forwarded to me. I believe that the board had separate discussions as I voiced my opinion that I should not be involved with discussions on this contract on the clubs behalf as I had a vested interest.

22 February 2016 - An email which was sent to the board letting them know that I felt that:

 

1. IMPS members needed to be informed of this change

 

2. Headcorn needed to be informed

 

3. Stallholders needed to be contacted

 

4. A Public announcement needed to be made.

23 February 2016 – the final version of the contract was available for signing and subject to all approval it would be signed at the board meeting on 25^th.

24 February 2016 - I felt it unwise to sign this agreement without first informing Headcorn therefore I suggested that I would go to Headcorn on behalf of the board and inform them of the Board decision to move the show. I suggested that this was done before the board meeting on 25^th and therefore I further suggested that we did this on the morning of 24^th (before the board meeting) however no other board member wanted to accompany me to Headcorn. The meeting at Headcorn, lasted 5min 52 seconds. I took the precaution (being that I was on my own) to record the meeting; a transcript is available!

 

Later that day I forwarded the Transcript of the meeting together with a number of issues to the board members informing them that Headcorn were adamant that they owned part of the show & also raised a number of concerns on this basis. (a copy of the email is available)

25 February 2016 – The Club President (in reply to my email of 24^th) confirmed (among other things) that his advice to the board was that the club should still pull out from the show at Headcorn (copy of email available)

Also at the board meeting the subject of the show was discussed and the following is an extract from the Board Minutes:

DK stated that he had been to Headcorn on 25/2/16 to tell Jamie that IMPS were taking Co-Ops elsewhere. After a very short discussion, DK was asked to leave.

 

IMPS Board is to write to Headcorn to confirm that:

 

1. Headcorn is to stop selling tickets for Combined Ops immediately.

 

2. Headcorn is to take Combined Ops off their website.

 

3. Headcorn is to remove all reference to IMPS with regards to any activity at Headcorn Airfield.

 

4. Headcorn is to relinquish all claim to the Combined Ops name and logo, or provide proof of ownership.

 

5. IMPS Ltd will be writing to all stallholders and exhibitors who have pre booked, to offer refunds and we suggest that Headcorn do the same for any pre sold entry tickets.

 

IMPS Board is to issue the above letter to Headcorn by noon on Friday 26^th February and request a reply from Headcorn by no later than noon on Monday 29^th February 2016.

 

DK is to speak to ‘Business names’ to obtain legal advice on our position relating to the Combined Ops name and logo.

 

26 February 2016 – An internal board email was circulated with a draft email to send to Headcorn. At this point the President (who did not attend that board meeting on 25^th), informed the board that he had a message from Jamie Freeman (at Headcorn) threatening an injunction requesting that the board held off on sending the letter/email.

26 February 2016 – It was proposed to have a board phone conference but that was cancelled as not all board members could make it. Therefore it was cancelled by the President and rescheduled

27 February 2016 – It was proposed to have a board phone conference but that was cancelled as not all board members could make it. Therefore it was cancelled by the President and rescheduled

28 February 2016 – Again a board phone conference was cancelled as not everyone could make it. Therefore it was cancelled by the President and rescheduled

29 February 2016 – The Board Held a phone conference, during which it was agreed that three board members should go down to Headcorn and discuss this with them. At this meeting I informed the board that I would still be going ahead with a new show with the people that wanted to staff it on the same weekend at the Hop Farm. I also felt that as a result of the board making such a dramatic U-Turn in their decision that I had effectively been constructively dismissed and as a consequence that left me with no option but to resign from board. This resignation was confirmed via email to the chairman (who was not in attendance at the phone meeting).

7 March 2016 – I believe that the board members met with Headcorn on this evening, however not being privy to any board discussions since my resignation I am not aware of what happened at this meeting.

Since then there have been a number of accusations flying around from both the Board, ex-members of the board & people attached to Headcorn, in connection with both myself and members of my team.

 

Therefore in short:-

 

1. The IMPS President confirmed that IMPS were the owners of the show.

 

2. The President & Board authorised me to put a show on at a new location, knowing full well it would be at the Hop

Farm.

 

3. Headcorn threatened Legal action as a result of this

 

4. The Board due to other unknown influences has conducted a U-Turn and sided with Headcorn.

In my opinion, I believe that the Board has had considerable external factors making decisions behind their backs but is using them as cover. To what gain I am not sure however I feel that these matters should be much more transparent as any behind the scenes influences are not conducive to a healthy and happy club. The original setup of the show in 2009 did not lend itself to the show continuing and did not protect IMPS should they ever need to stop running the show.

 

The IMPS Board at 10:37 today 7^th April 2016 agreed to publish a statement similar to this statement together with a retraction of their email dated 2 April 2016. However since agreeing this they have made another U-Turn and decided to terminate my membership.

 

Obviously everyone is free to attend whichever show they choose to. However I feel that it is of significant importance that all members make this choice having total knowledge of the full chronology of events. It is also important to dispel rumours which may have arisen from only partial knowledge of these events.

 

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to wish you well at whichever show you choose to attend & look forward to seeing you at a show soon.

 

David King 07/04/2016

[Markheliops]

Umm - that certainly paints a different story to the IMPS release.

 

Some shady goings on and not conducive to a happy membership.

 

Still, make your own minds up and attend whatever show you feel is more beneficial to you - after all, that is why we do what we do.

[shaun]

If all the above can be verified It is very different to the press releases and "rounders" going around . I know many of the imps members and some of the board as well I believe and I am shocked at this turn of events . If true not a good way to conduct business . I'm glad I'm not an imps member at the moment . I bet it all comes down to greed and money in the end, it's harming our hobby .

[Markheliops]

Agreed Shaun.

 

I would imagine you'd have to be very foolish to write such a statement if you couldn't back it up with hard factual evidence.

 

I suspect it is a true account of the events as they happened and as such, the IMPS board have some explaining to do!

[John Comber]

What a mess and no paper as the saying goes !

If DK's statement is correct then there will be a few sleepless nights for certain IMPS board members , and rightly so, to instruct a team member , then U turn and drop him in it , its not cricket in my book.

Equally if IMPS prove DK's statement incorrect and made up , then he deserves the humiliation.

 

We await the next IMPS statement then.....

[matchlesswdg3]

Looking at this mess pragmatically, it is a shame that the situation that members now face is to attend one or other of these competing shows. It surely is the case that the members......and both shows.....would have benefited by not having the dates clash. Does it have to come down to a slugging competion? Apparently, yes. My feeling is that the show at Headcorn was beginning to creak in terms of the limited space.......acknowledging that last year did have the big draw of the Vulcan display. But with all the uncertainty associated with the War & Peace event and the likelihood that this will shift out of Kent soon, there will likely be an opportunity to rethink "Headcorn" as a starting point for a new national/international show, rather than purely a club event. Easy to say, I know, but "snatching defeat out of the jaws of success" seems somehow appropriate to describe the current situation! Come on guys and gals, get your act together!