The Queen's Jubilee

[doversoul1]

Oddball
I’ll rephrase that bit to:
I am not discussing the Monarchy in this post. I am commenting on the media’s approach to the event which, I think, is lamentable.

[MrGongGong]

Oddball
I’ll rephrase that bit to:
I am not discussing the Monarchy in this post. I am commenting on the media’s approach to the event which, I think, is lamentable.

I thought Grace Dent nailed it

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's a pity we cannot have a sensible discussion about this event without the immature interpolations by those who are attempting, unsuccessfully, to he funny.

[MrGongGong]

It's a pity we cannot have a sensible discussion about this event without the immature interpolations by those who are attempting, unsuccessfully, to he funny.

The Monarchy seems to have the effect of making some horses very high indeed

[Panjandrum]

The Monarchy seems to have the effect of making some horses very high indeed

Another misjudged attempt at "humour"?

[MrGongGong]

Another misjudged attempt at "humour"?

Suit yourself

Why do people take this nonsense so bloody seriously ?

I guess a "sensible" discussion is a load of ranting about how the BBC has gone downhill since Walton died

[Serial_Apologist]

P.S. I’ve just read this bit, although the writer is decent enough not to mention equality.

Stability and unity are the products of a democratic country where power is vested in the people to elect an accountable Government and head of state. This is exemplified by the USA, a republic and one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world.

Yes, if ever there was a case of someone with something cogent to say dropping one right in the middle...

[Pegleg]

I thought Grace Dent nailed it

How exactly does Grace dent's article nail it? She seeks to excuse the lamentable BBC coverage of the Thames pageant by blaming “the twonk who planned the flotilla” and the poor old Beeb is just a scapegoat. Yes folks :

Don't blame the BBC. Blame the Establishment Pugwash who dreamed the whole thing up.

I'm sorry, but this just does not wash.

Maybe the pageant wasn't a such a brilliant idea, and broadcasters faced a number of challenges on the day. But Dent is wrong to tar them all with the same brush by saying:

The main problem with the BBC's coverage, and Sky's and CNN's, too, was that to relish the flotilla from the comfort of one's home rested on one being someone who really LOVES boats

The BBC never gave its audience a chance to get to know the boats let alone love them. The BBC seemed to have pre-judged the event as about as interesting as watching paint dry so filled our screens with gimmicks and third rate empty headed presenters. I remain as insulted as the two veterans on HMS Belfast who names Fearne Cotton mixed up and hadn't the slightest clue how to interview in any meaningful way.

Why do people take this nonsense so bloody seriously ?

My wife's father was at Dunkirk. Would it have been so hard to tell us about that part of the flotilla?

[Lateralthinking1]

I agree with pegleg.

There were 5.5 million visitors to the Northern Europe ports for the Tall Ships Race and 5 million for the Atlantic Challenge. The tall ships events had the largest spectator attendance of all the sports and exhibition events in the world. Add to that boat ownership in this country - per capita 1:107, Cowes Week, HMS Belfast, canal boat holidays and much more.

Millions visit the art galleries and are interested in history. There was scope for all kinds of stories. There was also some crossover appeal from other transport areas - bus conventions, VW and Mini weekends, Tour de France, general cycling, gliding, air displays, veteran car rallies. Furthermore, no one says of other royal events that they are only appealing to people interested in crowns.

If TV can do the point to point coverage of a Tour de France and a London Marathon; if it can attract audiences for antiques roadshows, snooker and, in the old days, sheepdog trials; it should have been able to do this too. The mind boggles what is it going to be like when it covers Olympian archery and shooting but some lessons could still be learned.

And people who didn't like the flotilla itself could always have gone shopping.

[french frank]

And people who didn't like the flotilla itself could always have gone shopping.

I'm slightly bemused by those who rant about the coverage qua celebration of the monarch(y) (why watch?) as distinct from those who wanted to watch the celebration and found it a let-down.

I have more sympathy for the second lot than for the first.

If anyone wants to start a Republic v. Monarchy discussion, why not? - on a different thread.

[Pabmusic]

...Add to that boat ownership in this country - per capita 1:107

What does this mean, Lat? Surely not that there's more than one boat for each of the 62(+) million people in the UK? The British Marine Federation website gives a little more than 541,000 privately owned craft in the UK, which is about 1 boat for every 115 people.

I'm perfectly capable of missing the point, but I don't understand the per capita figure.

[french frank]

which is about 1 boat for every 115 people

As distinct from 1 boat for every 107 people? Or am I missing the point?

[Lateralthinking1]

What does this mean, Lat? Surely not that there's more than one boat for each of the 62(+) million people in the UK? The British Marine Federation website gives a little more than 541,000 privately owned craft in the UK, which is about 1 boat for every 115 people.

I'm perfectly capable of missing the point, but I don't understand the per capita figure.

Pabmusic - I'm not an expert so that will teach me!

Does it not mean though 1 boat owned for every 107 people? That is a figure pretty close to your 115 and the sources vary on the precise ownership figures. Some say 600,000 but it could be less or more. So surely you divide the 62m by 100 or just over (the 107 or 115) to get an approx figure? Happy to be corrected if this is wrong. The main point is that a lot of folk like boats a lot.

[Quarky]

Oddball
I’ll rephrase that bit to:
I am not discussing the Monarchy in this post. I am commenting on the media’s approach to the event which, I think, is lamentable.

Thanks for clarifying that for me, doversoul.

[cloughie]

I thought Grace Dent nailed it

No just dented it!