Medway Council tried to use social media for their #MedwayBeacons competition – and it didn’t go very well
This year marks the Queen’s 90th birthday, becoming the only British monarch to ever reach the milestone.
In honour of the special occasion, Medway Council are lighting six beacons across the towns and invited residents to enter a competition to light the main beacon at the Great Lines Heritage Park in Medway:
Tweet with #MedwayBeacons to tell us why you should win our Medway beacon lighting comp – https://t.co/StJskmxu8I pic.twitter.com/faSBgODbAC
— Medway Council (@medway_council) April 13, 2016
The republican (that is, anti-monarchist and most certainly not pro-Trump) co-author of the local political blog The Political Medway was the first to enter:
I should be allowed to light the #MedwayBeacons because republicans love fire. @medway_council https://t.co/9922Fgl5q7
— Ed Jennings (@Ed_Jennings) April 13, 2016
Soon after, a respected local activist made the first of not very many serious entries:
@medway_council I would like to light #MedwayBeacons to show that Medway can be truly accessible to all!
— Sue Groves MBE (@SUEG46) April 13, 2016
Before talk turned back to the anti-monarchist Jennings:
I would like to light #MedwayBeacons to stop @Ed_Jennings, an avowed Republican, from doing so.
— Andrew Dennis (@AndrewDennis227) April 17, 2016
Never one to miss an opportunity, I’m sure I didn’t stand a chance when I referenced both the EU and British politicians in not a very good light:
Because Her Majesty is still a beacon of hope while we’re being shafted by a corrupt EU and lying politicians #MedwayBeacons
— Alan Collins (@AlanWCollins) April 17, 2016
The eventual winner is undoubtedly an asset to the Medway community:
I deserve 2 lite the #MedwayBeacons as I’m a volunteer for @Girlguiding and it will be serving my community. @medway_council
— Amanda (@40Tinks) April 18, 2016
Long-term Medway resident Glenn Moore was the last to enter (and, yes, I have included *all* of the entries on this post):
As a Medway resident of 41 years, I think I would be the ideal candidate to light #MedwayBeacons
— Glenn Moore (@GlennMoore1974) April 18, 2016
In all, since the competition was launched in the evening of 13 April and the winner was announced yesterday lunchtime, the competition attracted just six entries – and you can judge for yourselves how many of them were “serious”.
@Ed_Jennings @SUEG46 @AndrewDennis227 Does that count as a Social Media fail for the council…?
— Alan Collins (@AlanWCollins) April 18, 2016
Six entries in six days suggests that the answer to my question is most definitely “yes”.
Better luck next time, Medway Council!