I have lived in Dartmouth since I was three, albeit with spells away for my career with Lloyds Bank, and this is the first time I’ve felt compelled to write a letter to the Chronicle.

I joined the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta committee early in 2017 to help with social media and PR. Earlier on this year I took on the additional role of secretary.

I have two children to feed, wash and iron clothes for, dish out money to, taxi here there and everywhere, a husband who works away most of the week, a dog and my own business. I am kept very busy, the same as every other mum!

In recent months, as regatta draws closer, I probably spend in excess of 20 hours a week in meetings, calls, emails, secretarial duties, preparing and scheduling content for social media –?including dealing with more comments than I care to share – and dealing with the press, on top of what my ‘normal’ life entails.

I do this because I love Dartmouth and want to give back to the town for all the regatta’s I have enjoyed.

All of the committee are volunteers and many of us have jobs as well as a family and life, and some of these committee members spend much more time on the event than me. You simply would not believe the time and effort the Regatta takes to organise.

We have worked really hard this year to bring a regatta to the town that goes back to its core values: water-based events with fun for all the family and plenty of community involvement.

The regatta is a not-for-profit organisation, with no funding and every penny we raise through generous sponsors and merchandise sales is needed. Not to mention those who give their time for free and gladly. Yes, there are no air displays this year, but look at what we have got. And before anyone says it, there loads of information on our website and social media with full detail in our souvenir programme which you can buy for just £5 from Dartmouth Visitor Centre, Pillars, Hollis Garage, the Anchorstone Cafe, Kingswear Post Office, Kingswear Stores and the Visitor Centre in Torquay.

So rather than criticise the regatta committee, come on Dartmouth, get behind us and support the event.

We are not asking for praise, we do this because we want to. Offer helpful suggestions and even take on a role.

Stop the vitriol of damning comments on social media, dig deep, smile widely, be nice –?you will feel better honestly –?dance a “no rain” jig and enjoy what will be a fabulous few days in Dartmouth.

A huge thank you from the committee to all who support us. See you all next week.

Lisa Chandler

Secretary, Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta