Passing Comment – Let’s make Barry Pride bigger and better
SO that’s it then. Barry Summer season is almost over – with a splash rather than a smash, as the schizophrenic Welsh weather ripped up the rule book.
GlastonBARRY swung in the sunshine then rocked in the rain. Rain stopped play at Cadstock, our free, fully-inclusive, family Music Festival, for a while.
And Barry Pride battled the elements to march proudly as it made its third appearance in our district’s diary.
Respect to the tireless teams, valiant volunteers, and others involved, who pulled off these three town treats. Give yourselves a clap, take a bow.
As one of the town’s most infamous community cohesion supporters, Barry Pride is close to my heart… or at least used to be.But as a former Ambassador, who was actively involved in the first ever exciting and extraordinarily successful event, I’m disappointed that we don’t do better.
Mind you, I haven’t a Scooby what (self-appointed?) soul or souls front Barry Pride anymore. So, I’ll say fair enough if time, teething troubles, and terrible weather, played a part in this year’s much quieter queer event.
But I’m my view, the organisers should take some tips from the brilliant Barry Pride 2018 and listen to the frank feedback I’ve heard. Why aren’t we marching from King Square, over Hood Road Bridge, through the Waterfront up the resplendent Rainbow Tunnel and into High Street?
High Street should be the focal point rather than Barry Island, especially stuck in a shelter way over on the side – what kind of message does that send?
We should also target more groups so there is a bigger march and many more stalls.
And I’d have some fringe events in the week leading up to the procession too. Barry’s debut Pride saw Academy Espresso Bars host a panel event, and The Small Space show a Rachel Dax film – Time and Again.
To pull these celebrations off with aplomb, I’d ensure a cross party, diverse and inclusive committee.
Let’s be clear, I’m not knocking anyone who has a go at making our community’s calendar more exciting.
I’d just hate to see that typical and tired Barry disconnect between what the community want, and what a select few think we want.
And I’m just thinking how we can make it bigger, better, and, oh the irony, more inclusive by working together.
Sound like a plan?
What do you think?
By Sue Vincent Jones
- The views expressed by columnists of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Glamorgan Star, its employees or its proprietors
Other items to read:
- Let’s build something better for our communities
- Plaid Cymru is ignoring plight of Heath Hospital
- Vale Show highlights importance of the rural economy
- I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
- Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
First Minister accused of ‘letting victims down’ over grooming gangs inquiry
What does my ‘Sentinel Apiary’ actually do?
Trio are sentenced over ‘drugs in prison’ plot
The bells, the bells – bringing a Time and Tide Bell to Barry
Penalty shoot out leads to Cup exit for Airport
Ring rusty Barry RFC make a promising start
