Jesters Children’s Fair - ‘Simply The Best’
Mike Franklin
(Honorary Jester)
It was not just the best Jesters Children’s Fair yet, but simply the biggest and the best. We had inclement weather from the outset. Heavy early morning rain pre-opening, and lighter rain on and off all day, did nothing to deter the enthusiasm of the organizers, the eighty stallholders, the performers entertaining throughout the day, and the many fairgoers.
Jester Kevin set it all up at the Diana Garden Resort & Driving Range for the third consecutive year, a venue that provides the best facilities one could hope for to stage a major event such as the Children’s Fair. He gave us the best layout yet, carefully designed to welcome a multitude of fairgoers and give all the best opportunity to shop the stalls, relax in the shaded areas and enjoy the activities, demonstrations and stage performances. And come they did, in large numbers throughout the day, many staying for the duration as there was something for all members of the family to enjoy.
The action packed day began at 10 a.m. with the opening ceremony. Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood, Jesters Charity Drive committee chairman, gave a warm welcoming speech acknowledging the enormous support from all the sponsors (including a new, record breaking 17th Platinum sponsor) and giving due credit to the non-Jester committee members by naming them ‘Honorary Jesters’. Then followed the ribbon cutting by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Sopin Thappajug (managing director of the Diana Group and host to the Children’s Fair), and Graham Macdonald (JCD Corporate sponsorship director). Mayor Niran gave a welcoming address and the 2004 Jesters Children’s Fair was officially open.
A stunning demonstration of the Kasemsook Movement workout for mind and body by the Happiness Camp kids concluded the opening ceremony.
Then it was over to the big guys, Neil Smith and Nigel Saunders, for a super-slick emceeing double-act (underpinned by Pistol Pete for the many Thai fairgoers) that kept things going apace throughout the day. A children’s variety show was first up with performers from the Fountain of Life, the Blind School choir & band, and a fine performance by children from BEST School. Stage performances from the Hula Hoop Sisters and Eckie the Clown followed and then it was time for Nigel’s program of children’s games with lots of prizes, donated by the PILC, to be won.
Real action ‘on the mat’ was next with an exciting exhibition of martial arts and Kung Fu by the S.E. Asia International School of Martial Arts, always an eagerly anticipated item on the program. More of Nigel’s popular children’s games followed, before the Hula Hoop Sisters and Eckie the Clown came back for a second set on stage.
Thai House classical dancers gave a glamorous and enjoyable presentation, followed by rousing singing performances by Yvonne Sorensen and Karin Thompson. Then it was more of Nigel’s games and lots more PILC prizes for the children.
Bicycles, provided by Low Energy House Construction, were presented to the ‘Best of Class’ Fountain of Life kids for the Chris Kays Scholarship Fund.
Then it was time for the Children’s Raffle, albeit in persistent rain and having to be drawn at the raffle stall to keep the many valuable prizes dry. Thanks to the sponsors of the prizes, namely main sponsors PSC, Jester Neil, Brown Farm, Tony Malhotra, Diane Connelly, Diana Group, Mermaid Diving, and Pattaya Trader sponsoring Bernie Bear - not to be confused with the energetic PSC charity chairman working on the raffle stall, Bernie Tuppin.
Prizewinners are listed as accurately as possible with some names unclear due to the rain. However, the continuing light rain did not deter the children from the Kids Tug-of-War and the Jesters made sure that all ‘tuggers’ received a prize.
While all this was going on, fairgoers had the option of touring the eighty stalls that included a special Play Center for the little ones. Many food stalls were there with fare from all over the world, stalls with interesting things to buy, games to play, pony rides from Horseshoe Point, and if it all got too exciting Bangkok Pattaya Hospital nurses were there to give a free blood pressure check and send you off to the ‘Cool Mist’ Green Garden, next to the Jesters beer stall, for a relaxing drink.
Never a dull moment and certainly no lack of enthusiasm or enjoyment by all present due to the weather.
As 5 p.m. drew near, the mighty duo of Neil & Nigel had done their bit and, with the beer tent in their sights, the live bands took over with stage performances from Elvis and Old Blue Eyes impersonators, Wild Night band, and Pop’s Pattaya All-Stars to see the day out, right up to the 6 p.m. wrap.
The 2004 Charity Drive concludes with the Jesters Pub Night at Shenanigans on Saturday September 18, and you can read all about that, with the amazing Grand Raffle and the valuable Auction items listed, right here in this week’s issue of Pattaya Mail.
For now, it’s been another hugely successful Jesters Children’s Fair.
It was the children’s day, a one and only ‘Children’s Park’ created for the day, a day for the whole family to enjoy, and the only day of its kind during the year. When all said and done, it was ‘Simply the Best’.
