Welshpool Air Show axed

The Bob Jones Memorial Air Show and Transport Festival which is held in Welshpool each June will not go ahead in 2018, organisers confirmed today.

Welshpool town clerk Robert Robinson said the decision had been taken with the family of Mr Jones, who owned Welshpool Airport and died in a plane crash in January 2012.

The event has typically attracted thousands of spectators and displays by the likes of the Red Arrows, a Vulcan, Tornado and Spitfires.

But this year's show was hit by bad weather and was a financial flop.

Mr Robinson said: "In 2007 the late Bob Jones called to see me about the possibility of hosting an air show at Mid Wales Airport which was one of his dreams. The town council would run the air show and Bob would provide the airport and operate the aviation side.

"A committee of five was put together comprising Bob Jones, myself, Peter Sinclair, Nick James and Kate Goodall. From that time the air show was born and the first one took place in 2008.

"The event grew and grew with major displays attending such as the Red Arrows, Vulcan, Typhoon, Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire. Some years the crowds were immense. In 2015 the air show won Wales Tourist Board Silver Award, Best Small Event and then in 2016 was shortlisted for Powys Business Award, Tourist Section.

"Welshpool Town Council, in conjunction with Linda Jones the owner of Welshpool – Mid Wales – Airport, have taken the reluctant decision to not hold the air show in 2018

"Planning for the event would normally start immediately after this year’s show, but in the face of mounting costs and much reduced attendance the decision is unavoidable because any losses have to be borne by the council and local tax-payers.

"The air show for Mid Wales, which brought several thousands of visitors to the area between 2006 and 2017 and had become a major event on the air show calendar and certainly put Welshpool, Mid Wales and the Airport on the map.

"We enjoyed brilliant June weather and had seen many exciting displays and historic aircraft alike. With the co-operation and support of Welshpool Town Council the event was able to expand and it took in the Welshpool Transport Festival.

"In 2012 the event incorporated 'Bob Jones Memorial' to the name in recognition of the owner of the airport who had been the event’s patron and a driving force for general aviation in Wales. Bob Jones had died in a tragic flying accident in 2012.

"The event fund was stretched by recent additional costs that were incurred to overview an already safe and buoyant show; however, prevailing weather in the days before, and on show days, for two consecutive years placed an unsustainable strain on financial resources which resulted in the decision to place the air show on hold."