Boat parade on the rocks

THE Illuminated Boat Parade in Henley could be significantly scaled back or held every two years if sponsors cannot be secured to reduce its running costs.

The annual event, which has been held in Henley in September for the last three years, features around 50 boats decorated with lights as well as paddleboarders.

Thousands of spectators line the banks of the River Thames and on Henley Bridge to witness the procession along the Henley Reach, culminating in a prize-giving ceremony at Leander Club.

Chris Taylor, who lives in Wharfe Lane, founded the event in Cookham in 2015 and brought it to Henley in 2022 after moving to the town. The toy inventor, who helped create Polly Pocket, has funded the event himself but says the event has become too expensive for him to be the sole source of funding. Last year’s event cost £33,000.

Luke Breen, one of the organisers, told a meeting of the town council’s finance strategy and management committee on Tuesday last week that there was a “high risk” of the parade not happening in the future if sponsorship cannot be found.

But Mr Taylor told the Henley Standard that while he is planning for the event to take place this year, the spectacle would be called back and, if investors do not come forward, it could be held every two years. He said: “The parade will go ahead for this year but it will be stripped back because, at its heart, the parade is the boat event. What everyone loves is just the magical effect of the boats on the water.

“I think we'll just cut back on some of the glitzy stuff and it'll go ahead for around £20,000. What I’m then hoping is that we can get some contributions in so that we can continue it as an annual event.

“One option is that we make it every two years rather than doing it every year. It’s a shame, but that is an option I think we must consider.”

Mr Taylor said he invested in improving the sound system and lighting last year in an attempt to attract more sponsors but it didn’t work. He said: “I was hoping that we could attract more sponsors if we made it a slightly glitzier show but that wasn't forthcoming.

“I think this year we'll just go back to basics and hopefully we'll still have the same number of boats..

“I can't keep on funding it to the level we did last year.

“I’m very happy to make a significant contribution to it but it would just be nice if it was a bit more town involvement rather than me just spending on it.”

Mr Taylor added that he would have to increase the boat entry fee by £2 but he didn’t want to price boats out.

Mr Breen and fellow parade organiser Claire Knott had applied for a £2,5000 grant from the town council to help pay for some of the running costs but it only agreed to pay £500.

He said: “We are at a high risk of the event not happening. We have approached many local companies to try and help with sponsorship but in today’s climate it is not easy.

“We also understand the reasons why the council couldn’t support us with free advertising in the town hall but might request that it might be reassessed in the future.

“As organisers, I think we feel slightly isolated running the event when everything that we’re trying to do is to give back to the community. Support from the town council would be greatly appreciated.”

Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak acknowledged the benefit the event brought to the town but questioned its running costs.

He said: “It’s a fantastic event and there were so many people engaged with this event that it was absolutely wonderful.

“My concern, and you’re going to have to convince me, is the cost of putting it on. On the face of it, the boat owners are paying and it’s still costing £33,000 to put on?

“I just don’t understand it. You’re making a loss of £24,000 and that’s the problem I have — the justification of the cost to put it on, it’s just huge.”

Ms Knott said that costs had been stripped back as much as possible to ensure the event went ahead this year.

She said: “We did have discussions about not doing it again this year but the feedback was it would be a great disappointment so the family have agreed to partly fund it again.

“We have saved about £6,500 from bringing marketing and social media in house but we still have fees to pay for the management of the website, we have cost for publicity which includes posters, banners, postcards, forex publicity boards.

“Accounting costs, security costs — we have security personnel come and man the event.

“We also pay Hobbs of Henley for safety boats, all the costs of the trophies and the engraving, insurance costs and all of those elements add up.

“We’re probably going to have to cut back on the lighting if we don’t get enough financial support. But there are elements that we cannot cut back and should obviously be maintained, such as safety and security.

“It would be nice to get some direct financial sponsorship or support for the event because it is so successful and so popular for all the family.

“We employ local and community-based resources, Henley Theatre Services, Hobbs boatyard and Rural Pie company.

“They’re all local companies and we give net profits to charity, so we feel that we’re giving back a lot and it’d be nice if we had some more support for it.”

This year’s parade will take place on Satuday, September 20.

For more information an to sponsor the parade, contact Claire Knott, call 07766 407140 or email lights@
illuminatedparade.com