General Chat

I agree With CB - one big one in the middle would be better - it sounds like a great idea!! But maybe a headache to organise. Anyone own a field for a picnic! Kaz :o)

I could search through my wardrobe for a big tent! LOL

This was suggested last year and the year before - oh and the year before. the sheer logicstics of organizing such a massive meeting - lol - how many members are there? good luck in your endevours

A big one in the middle sounds good , NEC good idea, deffently think ITV could have a hand in organising, even if they charged a small amount to get in to recoup some of the cost....sounds good cant wait lol

can u imagine the chaos at train stations across the country?lol BB xx

I would love to be able to come to a meet. Apart from my Gaynor Bear handovers, I have never been able to go to any :-( Liz

We would have to get permission to have a Glastonberry / bury??? type of do. AND, I'm not standing for hours at a 'bucket' type toilet! Deanna X :-0)

Ive never been to one either...i'll be a newbie too.But we could all be famous,ITV could make a programme about it!then we'd all be stars! BB xx

OK, Baby Butterfly! It was your idea originally, so why not check out the ITV website and see if there's a 'Suggestion Box'? If there is, tell them that you know thousands of people will be interested in attending the event - existing GR members AND potential new ones, and see if you can whet their appetite for bringing in loads more dosh. Let us know how you get on. Good Luck! CB >|< :>)

ok,will go and see

Watching'' The Real Dads Army'' last night suggested that Worcester was about the heart of the country..........there are a couple of BIG houses out that way..........wonder if they would do a Garden party Bob

I have only found a contact email for the shareholders side if it.can anyone else find one? BB xx

try this BB dutyoffice at itv(.)com xxx

A middle of the map meet sounds ideal, but ideal for whom ? Those who live within a couple of hours away. Looks fine on the map but remember its further in real life ! It took us five hours to get from cornwall to harlow at xmas, so from cornwall to say birmingham, think of a days travelling, hotel stays possible flight costs. Thats the reason there are many countrywide meets rather than one huge one. As others have said, good luck, but the same idea comes up, along with the threads each year, and in the end they are abandoned for smaller regional meets. Its not impossible to do a mid country meet, and call it a giant meet up, but youll find only those within comfortable distance will attend, with an exeption of a very few, who can find the time and money to travel the length of the country. Elaine x

ITV can be contacted at - Duty Office, Gas Street, Birmingham, B1 2JT Tel: 0870 600 6766 Fax: 0121 634 4898 Minicom: 0870 241 6346 Email: [email protected] Monday to Friday: 8.00am to 11.00pm Saturdays and Sundays: 10.00am to 10.00pm Closed on Bank Holidays. You can also contact your regional ITV company at www.itv.com/regions.

Sorry to pour cold water on your idea but ITV don't own this site.They have bought Friends Reunited NOT GR. If you intend to still hold the meet then Derby is in the middle of the country and Chatsworth House is a big Mansion.Have acres of brilliant grounds. We had all this last year as Jenny(Mommylonglegs)was hoping to hold 1 big meet for Gaynor Bear. Sue

Account would have to be taken of people living as far afield as Scotland, Wales and Ireland when choosing the location. Birmingham isn't central to the whole of the British Isles, but it does have the NEC and is a main junction for rail and road links, as well as having an airport. CB >|<

How about the coach companies who specialise in events like dancing, bingo, cards they could provide accomadation as well. James

I know a company that could do a coach from east anglia

Sue, The Gaynor Bear celebration was supposed to happen this April, on the anniversary of the start of the Relay, but Jenny thought the Relay would have finished by then, and as it's still going on and no-one knows when it will finish, there was no hope of arranging the party for April. That was why the idea came to nothing. I expect there will be a gathering to celebrate the end of the Relay, but it's not possible to tell yet when that will be. CB >|< :>)