SSAFA Party in the Park
Sponsored by
The deVere Group
If you drove down the hill into Happy Valley in Episkopi at 07.00 on Saturday 4th June
2011, you would have seen a mist over the Sports Arena. This was the Joint Services
Health Unit just finishing the spraying of insecticide over the grassed area which, that
afternoon, would be the venue for SSAFA Party in the Park.
Thirty minutes later the area started to come to life. The sound and lighting team
arrived to set up the 18,000 watt sound system and the lighting gantry above the
stage. RQMS Andy Buckle and his team arrived to finish putting up tents and
distributing tables and chairs where they were needed. Cpl Si Zorn and his team of
electricians was busy making sure there was power everywhere it was needed and
that emergency lighting was in place, just in case.
Throughout the day vendors arrived and more and more SSAFA volunteers arrived to cover the roles of
Security, Car Parking, Ticket Desk, Merchandise, T shirt sales and Staff Catering. At 16.30 with all the
children’s entertainment in place and checked for Health and Safety, the gates were flung open for people to
enter the arena.
The Compares for the show were Chris Pearson and Wes Thompson from BFBS and they also held some
competitions to win some BFBS goodies. The first act was children from Episkopi Youth Club who gave
several dancing demonstrations with different age groups. Also at that time the face painters were hard at
work as was the shooting range, golf driving range, fun bus and other side shows.
At 19.00 the children’s entertainment was closed down and stall holders went home. It was now time for the
first of the evening’s bands.
The Rockhoppers were a band of accomplished musicians who had got themselves together just for this
event. They played all the favourite Rock and Roll songs from the late 50’s and early 60’s. Unsurprisingly a
large number of people got up from their picnics and began jiving to the music.
The next band was called Un-Hitched. They were a duo who played more up to date music with just semi-
acoustic guitars to accompany them. They were fantastic and were so enjoyed by the crowd that they
received repeated calls for an encore. Unfortunately this was not possible as the stage needed to be made
ready for the headline act.
At 21.00 Chris Pearson and Wes Thompson welcomed on stage the World Famous (in the Pissouri area)
No Off Switch. This band plays Rock like it is meant to be played. Especially for Party in the Park, the band
arranged for Rick Mort, the lead singer from the acclaimed AC/DC tribute band “Ride On”, to fly over from the
UK. After the first song Rick burst onto the stage and led the band for the next ninety minutes. Some of the
songs were written by Jack a veteran of many famous bands in the 70’s and 80’s, but as Rick was in the line
up for the night there were several AC/DC songs in the evening’s set as well. Several people agreed that if
you hadn’t known better, you could have been listening the real AC/DC.
However, all good things must come to an end and all too soon it was time to go home. As the crowd left the
arena, people were heard to remark that they enjoyed the whole event and were commenting on which band
was their favourite of the night. One man was heard to say he had been waiting five years to hear a good
Rock Band in Cyprus.
We mustn’t forget the reason for Party in the Park – to raise funds for SSAFA Forces Help. All the profits from
the SSAFA cake and drink stall as well the donations from all the other food vendors went to the Episkopi
In-Service Committee to continue their work with Service personnel and their families in Episkopi Station.
The money from the entrance tickets went to SSAFA Branch, who organised the day, to continue their work
within the Veterans and their families’ community.
SSAFA Branch would like to thank: Lt Col Bob Pickford, Station Commander, Episkopi Station, for the use of
Happy Valley and the support he gave to the event. Everyone in Episkopi who helped get the arena kitted out
safely for the event and who took it all away again afterwards. The event OIC’s who each gave several
months of their time to make sure their section of the event ran smoothly and all the SSAFA volunteers and
supporters who gave up their time to help out on the night.
Finally to Phil Hockin and his team from the deVere Group who generously sponsored the event, which has
allowed nearly all the money taken to go straight into SSAFA funds. Without them the profit on the night
would have been very much smaller.
On the day approximately 700 paying adults came through the gate and with the accounts just about finalised
we should have raised in excess of €7,500!
Will this turn into an annual event? You will have to wait and see.
Click here to see a video of No Off Switch and another video here
Click thumbnail to enlarge
