Funfair to open after closing to mourn death of Prince Philip

A “SPOILSPORT” decision to postpone a funfair in Coventry to mourn the death of Prince Philip has been reversed by council chiefs following complaints.

Pat Collins Funfairs was due to open at Hearsall Common on April 12 but was told by Coventry City Council to postpone the opening after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

On its Facebook page, the firm said it would not be able to open until Sunday at 1pm after the Duke’s funeral on Saturday - “to allow for a week-long period of mourning”.

They said: “The Hearsall Common Funfair site is owned and operated by Coventry City Council. Pat Collins Funfairs whilst using the site are tenants of the council.

“The council wishing to mark the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, made the request that Pat Collins should close its funfair until after the funeral. This request has been honoured.”

The post received more than 250 comments, some praising the decision as a mark of respect for Prince Philip, while others branded it ‘ridiculous.’

One dad Brian Bennett, who was planning on taking his 10-year-old daughter Betty to the fair, said: “My daughter was crying when I told her. It is a real slap in the face.

“Children, with the greatest of respect, have no great understanding of who the Duke of Edinburgh was.

“I just find it hard to understand when all the other things that people are going to and this is finally something to do that is for children and teenagers and now they can’t go.

“I could understand if they said on Saturday afternoon for the funeral it was closed, or for the day.

“This was something for the children to look forward to after being locked down for three or four months. It just seems like the council are being spoilsports and a killjoy.”

The UK is in a period of national mourning up to an including Saturday April 17 following the Duke’s death at the age of 99.

But there is ‘no expectation for businesses to close during the mourning period unless they wish to,’ the government’s guidance has said.

Pat Collins Funfairs said subsequent discussions took place with the council on Monday, who agreed to U-turn on its initial decision.

The fair was set to open on Tuesday from 1pm and will close for a day on Saturday as a mark of respect, before reopening on Sunday.

Mark Blackstock, general manager of Pat Collins Funfairs, said: “The council and Pat Collins Limited work very well together and we respect the support they have given us. The sheer amount of comments and support we have received on our website has been extraordinary and we look forward to opening.”

A spokesman for Coventry City Council added: “In the wake of the sad news of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, a decision was taken to postpone the previously agreed start date for the fair at Hearsall Common.

“This was to reflect the national period of mourning in the same way that election campaigning was postponed until Tuesday, April 12.

“In that same spirit, and following national guidance that is now available, we have agreed with the operator that they can open the fair from tomorrow (April 13), but it will close on Saturday as a mark of respect for the Duke’s funeral. It will reopen again on Sunday.”