by Graham Tutthill

The company which organised the Bleriot centenary celebrations in Dover has gone into liquidation.

Business consultants Cresting Limited put the Dover 2009 event together but its affairs are now being wound up.

The weekend, at the end of July, included a recreation of Bleriot’s flight by international pilots, a spectacular firework display, a fly-past by the Red Arrows, and a £250-a-head gala dinner at Dover Castle with guest speaker Gyles Brandreth.

There were two days of entertainment and activities on Dover seafront, but poor weather and a lack of sponsorship led to financial problems.

Displays at the Duke of York’s School on the second day were cut short, and people asked for refunds.

Cresting’s boss Paul Tipple said: "These past weeks have been dominated by a series of sad events that have forced Cresting Limited into liquidation.

"Sadly, the Friday prior to the centenary weekend saw some of the worst storms of the summer affecting the whole of southern England. Coincidentally, computer failure at P&O caused gridlock of traffic in the Dover region.

"This resulted in many aerial exhibitors and potential spectators calling off their plans to attend. Although the weekend was sunny and dry, the residual strong gusting winds caused many last-minute cancellations in the aerial programme and prevented many historic and vintage light aircraft, including several of the Bleriot XI aeroplanes planning to fly across the English Channel, from participating as planned.

"The direct consequence of this was that visitor numbers and receipts were significantly lower than planned on the Saturday and virtually non-existent on the Sunday.

"The expenses committed to by Cresting Limited exceeded the amounts raised from all sources, including a significant financial investment on my own part, and accordingly the company has had to advise people of its liquidation."

In a statement a Dover District Council spokesman said the council was not a party to any commercial arrangements between Cresting and its suppliers, and therefore did not anticipate any financial repercussions.

However, the council did make some "emergency payments" before the event to ensure that it went ahead, and talks are being held with the liquidators in an attempt to retrieve that money.