Guide | NewburyCycleFest

Marshals’ Guide

Thank you for volunteering to help with Newbury Cycle Festival. Without your assistance, it wouldn’t be possible for us to hold this event.

This information covers marshalling for the Cycle Festival PARADE. Please read it carefully before the festival day. If you are also involved in other activities for the festival, you will be briefed by the relevant lead person for that activity.

The Route and Your Role

The parade route and marshalling points are indicated in the map attached to this guide. Please look through the marshal point list below to find which marshal point you’ve been allocated, where it is and the specific responsibilities for that marshal point.

Marshal Briefing Sessions

Having checked which marshal point you are at, note where and when your marshal briefing will be from the table below. It is important that you arrive promptly for your briefing.

At the marshal briefing you will be given your hi-viz jacket (if you have not already received it) and a whistle. After your briefing you should then walk to your marshal point, to be there ahead of the parade start at 13:00.

End of the Parade

The duration of the parade will depend on the number of riders. We anticipate that the parade will end between 13:30 and 13:40. The tail rider, in a high-viz jacket, will notify you that the end of the parade has passed you. You can then leave your marshal point. Please walk to Victoria Park to hand back your high-viz jacket and whistle at the Newbury Road Club gazebo (see map for location of the gazebo).

Marshal Responsibilities

Your primary responsibility as a marshal is to ensure the safety of the participants and yourself. Your secondary responsibility is to ensure that non-participants are aware of the parade taking place and therefore avoid straying into its path.

As a marshal you MUST :

Always wear your high-viz jacket. Your visibility is an early warning for non-participants that an event is taking place.
Have a charged mobile phone with you.
Make sure that you are familiar with the route – non-participants may ask you about it.
Alert the parade participants to any hazards.
Summon first aid for the participants if necessary. Initiate the emergency procedure if this becomes needed (see below). Note: the risk of a medical incident is very low as the bikes will be travelling slowly.
Make sure members of the public are aware of the parade. Encourage them to move out of the way, but you cannot force them to do so. Always be polite.
Use your whistle to alert people to the approach of the parade.
Advise people that there will be periodic gaps in the parade in which to cross the street.
Be particularly careful at junctions where pedestrians may emerge from roads or alleys towards the parade.
Look out for and report anything suspicious such as unattended packages, individuals acting suspiciously or aggressively.
Cheer, clap and support the parade participants!

As a marshal you are NOT responsible for:

Dealing with emergencies, other than following the emergency procedure described below.
Providing medical care. We have a full medical team for the event, so notifying our emergency team is the priority. However, if you have up-to-date medical training and feel confident to help in a medical situation then it is your personal choice to do so.
Dealing with complaints from, or other issues with, members of the public. Please refer them directly to the event leadership team. Any incidents should be reported to the Lead Marshal or Event Organiser as soon as possible.

Emergency Procedure

If there is an emergency, accident or other issue, your primary responsibilities are:

Ensure your own personal safety and that of any participants. Never put yourself in danger.
If it is an emergency, dial 999.
Then immediately notify Fraser Harding (Lead Marshal) (07747 016478). The Lead Marshal is responsible for managing any emergencies and the coordinating the medical team.
If you are unable to reach Fraser, do not wait for a call back. Please immediately call David Appleton (Event Organiser) (07557 051349), who will liaise with the event first aid providers. You must have a charged mobile phone available as these numbers will by your primary means of summoning assistance.
Be prepared to give directions to your position. Emergency services may ask for your “what3words” location – you can find this on the marshal info page below for your designated marshal point.

Remember

Make sure road users and pedestrians are aware of the parade. As a marshal, you have no legal powers to direct traffic (or pedestrians). A polite (but assertive) request will usually result in a considerate response and may prevent an accident.
Do not put yourself in any danger. Ever.
Remain calm and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Do ask members of the public, fellow marshals and even parade participants to help if there is a medical incident.

Marshalling Point Locations