Thread: UK get together!

Just talked at length to Mike Keogh, the organiser of 'Knives U'K - prob the biggest knife event in the UK. His take was very straightforward in the fact that we are not breaking any laws by carrying collectors pieces that are used for shaving to an event. He agreed that a letter saying where an individual was going with the razors may be a useful thing in the unlikely event of anyone being stopped. He has provided this once for someone coming from Denmark who was a bit concerned and in this climate right now I reckon it would do no harm. It is not a difficult thing to provide. As he related, there are militaria shows with hundreds of punters all over the country happening every weekend - spears, swords, scimitars, daggers - you name it. He also said that locking up your razors in a box seemed like paranoia and had no legal footing. At his events and others he knows people just bring them sensibly wrapped for there own protection in a sheath or knife roll etc.

He contacted the police for his first event and they weren't interested. As he says, this kind of event is old hat to the police. I am still keen personally to give them a quick bell and just let them know that we are doing it - as responsible club members. However, the question still remains, why? We are doing nothing illegal and why should the police be concerned in that instance - just wasting their time?

Press - he does not use them but does take lots of pictures, writes it up and puts it online and into mags like 'Gunmart'. Can't think of a glossy that would suit our purposes? However we can do all that ourselves and just put it on SRP for the first meet, in this instance.

The other thing I was thinking was continuing to let other related fora know about the event. We had an invite to B&B etc - I am also on 'britishblades' and I know there are people there who would be interested in coming along. I notice Bruno is in their too - being the SRP link on some of the threads. Are people hesitant to open it up to interested parties in like minded clubs?

Okay - enough from me - feedback time and let's make some decisions!

cheers
Stephen

Nice one Stephen, thanks for doing the legwork, again!

WRT why we'd consider precautions... well, if nothing else to avoid any potential inconvenience to attendees. Sure, we're not breaking laws, but in the current environment being dragged along to a station to be checked out and released uncharged would still be a pain in the arse. With enough forewarning (even if they're not that interested) we probably avoid this.

Take the point about lockable boxes... unless we're advised otherwise between now and September I probably won't bother then.

And I'm happy for other fora members to attend. We could get a few bevvies in, organise a good old-fashioned SRP vs. B&B ruck (we'd win of course), then all go for a curry afterwards. (I'm kidding! ... but not about the curry.)

Cheers
M.

Anyone else booked a hotel yet? The Paragon looks OK and has ample parking for anyone driving there. Book via Expedia and you'll get it slightly cheaper than direct booking.

Stephen -- are you booked in? If so, I'll probably book there too... to keep it social (and also means I'm less likely to get lost in Brum when bevvied up!)

Originally Posted by majurey

Anyone else booked a hotel yet? The Paragon looks OK and has ample parking for anyone driving there. Book via Expedia and you'll get it slightly cheaper than direct booking.

Stephen -- are you booked in? If so, I'll probably book there too... to keep it social (and also means I'm less likely to get lost in Brum when bevvied up!)

Yep - I am booked in the Paragon for three nights from the Friday. Just the way the cheap flights from Inverness worked. Be excellent if some other folk were there!

Yep - I agree that a call to the local bobbies would be sensible. I also think that keeping it to a related forum like B&B or Britishblades would not mean a deluge of knuckle dragging idiots. Hell, none of you have met me yet - I might just be that knuckle dragger!! However, there will be no other advertising or pre meet PR whatsoever I would suggest and anybody interested in attending should state that they want to come along and download/print a day invite to the meet. Amongst other things as this progresses we do need to firm up the numbers a bit and who is staying for food and drinks after to book somewhere suitable.

cheers
Stephen

Talked to Kings Heath Police Station today about our meet, explaining all relevant details. The police constable took my number and had a pow wow with her sergeant and phoned me back - an unusual request for information I suppose! The detail of her response was that there was no problem to carry them to the get together as long as all due care was taken to ensure they were out of the publics reach and could not put anyone in danger. I asked about a locked case and she stated that it was not essential but if we felt it was necessary for it to be safe then to do so. She emphasised a 'responsible' attitude a few times but was very relaxed about what we were doing. I suggested we could have a pro forma sheet so that if stopped a club member could show straightforwardly why they were carrying razors. She thought that fine but again if it made us feel better rather than a big deal for the police. I gave them the date and times and location - whether she noted that I would doubt.

So, I think we can individually carry our kit with us in a responsible fashion and a pro forma will at least make ourselves feel more relaxed. I will carry my razors probably in small razor boxes or perhaps in the cloth razor roll I have. Either way they will not be locked up but will be closely guarded.

I talked to heather at the community centre and she confirmed that payment was received and we were firmly booked in. Heather is a great fan of things Scottish so we are well in there so far !

Also had a chat with Steve 'blueprinciple' last night and he has some nice prizes for raflle at the meet, including a unique Dovo razor gifted by Dovo for this UK meet. Tempting pictures to follow! We were thinking about having a raffle that may also be accessed by any SRP members and gifting the proceeds to a charity of group choice in the Birmingham area? Any thoughts on how a raffle should be operated very welcome. Steve will also have some Dovo stock at discount for SRP members.

Once we are into Aug we can pull together a front page spread with help from DW and give a layout of the day etc etc...

Re PR - I will bring camcorder and digi SLR and take lots of photos. We can decide how to celebrate the event with the outside world afterwards.

cheers
Stephen

Well, it's done... room booked, car requisitioned from SWMBO, 24-hour pass granted and approved from same

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

P.S. If anyone wants a lift from London and back, PM me.

Originally Posted by Makar

I also think that keeping it to a related forum like B&B or Britishblades would not mean a deluge of knuckle dragging idiots.
cheers
Stephen

Great idea Stephen! Are there any more Ladies attending or am I still the only one??

As for Pubs, there are quite a few decent ones in Brum, depends what you want. Costers or the Rock Cafe instantly spring to mind as they used to be my old watering holes, hehehe. The Queen Vic by the Pallasades is HUGE and pretty neutral, unless some idiot has turned it into a "wine bar". I'm sure we will be able to find somewhere to go for a drink afterwards.

Makar -

just do me one favour! There are no such words as 'gifted' and 'gifting' - these are Americanisms that lay on the same shelf as 'meeting with'. Oy Vay! that it should come to this for us. Please - Dovo 'gave' me the razor and the proceeds from the raffle will be 'given' to charity.

Don't take it personally - I just have a high regard for the language we gave to the world and to see it butchered thus is galling!

And now that I have had my Friday night rant I can say that I now have a big Dovo flag so I can play at being Batman (or in my case fatman). Also have some POS stuff to bore all with but I am still waiting a result regarding the Belgian stone (and the Kent crew are very quiet too). Still, I will do what I can and the RAZOR will be on show tomorrow!!!

I'm going to get a brand spanking new Wapi engraved in time for the meet up. One question. Is this the first ever SRP UK meet up or have there been others before this?