School prom limo chauffeurs to be faced with rigorous checks

Licensing officers in the South Staffordshire area plan to attend each prom being held in the district over the summer in order to access that every chauffeur is properly licensed to be carrying prom-goers.

The move comes after a number of complaints were made last year in regards to unlicensed limo hire firms transporting youngsters to schools proms. Concerns were raised about the safety of the school pupils who could end up being transported in an unlicensed limo with a chauffeur who has not been properly checked by authorities.

South Staffordshire council have written to every secondary school in the area to find out where each prom is being held. They plan to send three licensing officers to each venue on prom night to run checks on limos and chauffeurs as they drop off the youngsters at the party.

The chauffeurs must prove that they and the vehicle are correctly licensed with either the council or the Department of Transport. They will also be checking that the limos are carrying the correct number of passengers and that there is no over-loading taking place. From last year only limos which have a COIF certificate are legally allowed to carry over 8 passengers.

The council is also asking for parents to be vigilant and to check their chosen limo firm is correctly licensed before making a school prom booking.

School Prom News: Welsh Council warns of underage drinking on school prom parties

Council warns about the threat of underage drinking at school proms

Council warns about the threat of underage drinking at school proms

A council in West Wales has warned licensed premises in the area to take a cautious approach when accepting bookings for school proms after a spate of problems related to underage drinking had been reported.

Behind the glamour of the school prom with its princess dresses and luxury limousines, lurks a more sinister problem; binge drinking is threatening to spoil the end-of-term party.

Carmarthenshire County Council issued the warning after two school proms held at a well known entertainment venue in the area resulted in the prom-goers binge drinking. Many of the youngsters were reported to have been drunk to the point of being incapable, and one reveller was taken to hospital with alcohol poisoning.

In a separate incident in the county, police were called to a school related celebration and a number of the party-goers were arrested.

The problem has lead to many establishments introducing an outright ban on school proms as they simply don’t want to take the risk. The council has warned those that are continuing to host school proms to ensure they have measures in place to prevent underage revellers from being served alcohol, and from consuming alcohol they may have smuggled into the venue.

Police have launched a series of test purchases in the county whereby underage individuals are sent into a pub or club and attempt to purchase alcohol. These tests will continue as the authorities work hard to stamp out the problem of underage drinking.

As the trend for the American style prom shows no signs of waning, licensed premises will need to come up with stricter measures if the end-of term celebration is to continue safely.

Prom limos showcased at first ever prom fair in Worcester

Worcestershire holds first ever fair dedicated to school proms

Worcestershire holds first ever fair dedicated to school proms

The first ever Worcestershire school prom fair took place last Saturday and proved such a success, that they’re considering turning it into an annual event.

The prom featured a range of exhibitors including photographers, prom dress and suit specialists and prom limo hire experts. Visitors were given a glimpse at some of the hottest dresses and suits to be seen in at next year’s prom season as a series of cat walk shows took place during the day.

A number of top beauty and styling experts were also present and were able to offer professional make-up and hair advice to the youngsters attending the fair. Every visitor to the event was given an essential “Prom Bible” offering a complete run-down of everything a prom-goer needs to know before the big day.

Of course, making an entrance on your prom night is an extremely important aspect, and luckily there were several limo hire companies in attendance at the fair showcasing some of their most impressive vehicles. A wide range of limousines are available for prom hire including the stretch limo Lincoln Town Car, the hummer limo and the vintage car for the traditional look.

The whole event was organised by the owner of a local clothing boutique, Jill Mills of Promesse. A number of dresses from her shop were modelled as part of the catwalk show and were a big hit with the audience.

Having attracted an estimated 700 people through the door at last Saturday’s event, the school prom fair in Worcester looks set to become a permanent figure in the local calendar.

Operation Prom launched in US to ease financial burden for school prom-goers

 Prom charity donates outfits to underprivileged school prom-goers

Prom charity donates outfits to underprivileged school prom-goers

Operation Prom has been launched to help ease the financial burden on prom-goers from disadvantaged youngsters in Westchester County, New York. The school prom has a long and celebrated history in America and is recognised as an essential rite of passage. Nobody wants a student to miss out on the big event for financial reasons, which is why Operation Prom has stepped up to the mark to provide free prom dresses and tuxedos to those in need.

Organisers of Operation Prom are calling for local people and businesses that have new or old prom dress and tuxedos in good condition to donate their garments to the worthy cause. The project has even lined up free tuxedo rental for the boys from a local shop owner.   

The programme has been up and running for the past 5 years and seeks to help youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds and those who may be suffering from a mental or physical disability. However there is one condition attached to obtaining a contribution from the service: students must be passing all of their classes in school.

Last year the project collected 500 prom dresses and this year organisers hope to top that after joining forces with Westchester County’s Department of Social Services which will raise the profile of the campaign, and get more individuals involved.

School prom back on after vandals own up

Stratford High School allow prom to go ahead
Stratford High School allow prom to go ahead

Stratford High School allow prom to go ahead

A school in Stratford, Connecticut in the US had to cancel its school prom scheduled for next spring after a series of acts of vandalism took place during homecoming week. Due to the severity of the crimes, the police were called in to investigate. Following a series of interviews involving the police and school officials, the culprits finally cam forward to take responsibility for their actions.

This week the Board of Education at the school in Straford have announced that the school prom will now go ahead as originally planned, next spring. One of the teachers who had her house vandalised during the attacks said she was glad the prom was back on and that the vandals had come clean.

The Superintendent who was in charge of the investigation, Scott Winch, said I give the kids who stepped up and took the blame a lot of credit,” Winch said. “It wasn’t an easy thing to do.” Although the guilty parties have not been named due to their age, Winch did read out a letter of apology from the gang. However some board members and parents are calling for the vandals to face some kind of punishment such as a series of fines or to undertake a community clean-up scheme.

One thing’s for certain, the students at Stratford High couldn’t be more thrilled that their prom is back on. One pupil said “I’m so excited! I’ve already had my dress. The main thing is the prom.”

First online school prom magazine is launched in the UK

school-promUK school prom website is launched

Last week saw the launch of the UK’s first online school prom magazine. The website ourprom.net is deigned to help youngsters make the most of their prom experience, giving them a helping hand in the planning stages including advice of the best dresses, shoes, limo hire, and hairstyles etc. Here you’ll find all the information you could possibly need to ensure your prom is a night to remember.

Ourprom.net will issue reviews every week with up to the minute advice on the best places to find your outfits, the latest trends to hit the shops and the hottest colours to be seen in this prom season. They aim to provide a “one-stop-shop” for all those prom queens and guys out there and the site is updated regularly to keep you well informed on the latest going on within the world of proms.

Another exciting option which the site offers is the opportunity to design a webpage dedicated to your school’s prom. Here you’ll be able to add all the vital information about your prom to keep everyone informed. A very helpful addition to this site is a dress register where you can put your name on the dress you will be wearing so as to avoid turning up in the same outfit as someone else.

Prom-goers all over the UK will be able to find a list of services such as limo hire companies, dressmakers and stockists, hairdressers etc in their area by typing their address into the online directory whereby a list of services in their area will appear.

The editor of ourprom.net, Denise Carter, spoke about the need for an online prom service which was dedicated to the UK: “There’s been a phenomenal rise in interest in the UK over the past three years with most secondary schools and colleges having an end of year celebration. However the American sites with their, let’s face it, slightly scary looking models, aren’t in tune with what kids want over here. We have a slight more sophisticated take on it”

School Prom shuns limo hire for 2010

prom-1
Prom limos rejected

Prom limos rejected

The board of governors at a school in New Jersey, USA, have voted to exclude limos from its 2010 school prom. Instead a fleet of chartered buses will be ordered to transport the prom-goers to the big event. Not only will coach hire cut down on the costs of attending the prom, but it will also ensure that all students are transported safely and will deter them from taking their own cars and driving themselves back late at night.

It has been decided that 18 buses will be ordered to carry the students to the event which is scheduled to take place on June 5th 2010. Last year more than 800 pupils attended the occasion which is the highlight in the school’s calendar.

Only one member of the board of education was against the idea and he decided to abstain from the vote. Therefore the motion was passed with a majority vote of 8-0.

The school principal, Brett Charleston, said that the suggestion was initially made by the students themselves via the school council. Their reasoning behind the idea was that it would be far cheaper to hire a bus as opposed to a limo as the prom is due to be held at a venue an hours drive from the high school.

It was estimated that for 6 people to hire a limo it would cost $75 each. A coach on the other hand would be less than half the price at $21 a piece.

There will be festivities at the school beforehand and students are allowed to hire a limo to take them to this stage of the celebrations.

Hummer Limo Hire to celebrate 100th birthday

Limo ride and helicopter trip up for grabs in Canadian charity fundraiser

Hummer Limo

Hummer Limo

May Hunter chose to hire a Hummer limo for her birthday last week and invited all her friends along for the ride. Nothing unusual in that you may think, but when you factor in the small matter that May was celebrating her 100th birthday, it’s fair to say this wasn’t your average birthday bash.

Born in 1909 May Hunter has lived a full and varied life, but she’d never ridden in a limousine. The former theatre nurse has travelled the world during her 100 years, even journeying on the Orient Express and running a hotel in the Lake District; last week she was able to strike “limo ride” off her list of things to do.

The white hummer limo, a mode of transport generally favoured by hen dos and school proms, took May and 14 of her pals for a spin around her local area of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire. Despite sticking to soft drinks, the partying pensioners still managed to raise the roof and have a good-old-knees-up. The limo’s chauffeur said his unconventional party “were a great laugh and as rowdy as younger customers.”

After their limo ride the birthday clan returned to their MHA Auchlochan retirement village for a tea party to mark May’s centenary. The incorrigible 100 year-olds niece Hilda Johnston had suggested the limo to her aunt thinking it would be “fun idea.” Young-at-heart May jumped at the offer and enjoyed her landmark birthday to the full. The only question which remains is; how will she top this next year? Helicopter ride? Sky dive? Watch this space…