The Panda Shandy / Roller Cola Debacle

File note. The refreshment papers distinguish between genuine sponsor references, surviving product images and later Bear-fronted wrapper copies. The disagreement itself is recorded only as “the kiosk incident.”

Background

During the Bear’s Rotunda and Dome period, Rio’s Ice Cream and Silver Spring Roller Cola appear in the papers as supporting refreshment names. Rio’s supplied the local ice-cream memory; Silver Spring supplied the red, white and blue cola image which the Bear treated as sporting endorsement.

The arrangement deteriorated when Panda Shandy appeared in the kiosk material. Its own bear-branded cans were understood by the Bear as a rival mascot attempting to steal his act. The dispute was commercial in scale, folkloric in tone and extremely small in practical consequence.

Roller Cola can featuring the Bear — Roller Cola can image featuring the Bear. This is the preferred can reference for the sponsorship file.

Rio's Bear ice-lolly wrapper — Rio’s Bear ice-lolly wrapper for the sponsorship file.

Rio’s Ice Cream, Folkestone logo reference. This replaces the incorrect left-hand image previously used on the supporters’ board.

Signwriter painting the Bear on a Rio's ice cream van — Van-painting photograph: the Bear being added to the Rio’s van artwork before the sponsorship papers became difficult.

The Bear beside a Rio's Super Ices van — Rio’s van copy. The Bear stands beside the concession as if awaiting a briefing; no briefing is recorded.

Panda Diet Shandy can reference. The rival bear image was the start of the trouble, although it had not asked to be involved.

Vintage Silver Spring Rola Cola can — Silver Spring Rola Cola can reference: the “Rola” spelling appears on packaging while Bear paperwork writes “Roller”.

Rotunda Amusements — Short Incident Report

Item	Report wording
Date	Undated; filed after the summer season and before the next printing of the supporters’ board.
Location	Rotunda kiosk, beside the ice-lolly freezer.
Persons	The Bear; one Panda Shandy representative; two kiosk staff; one child asking for change.
Summary	A disagreement occurred regarding the display of rival bear-branded cans adjacent to Rio’s stock and Roller Cola promotional material.
Damage	One shelf label creased. No proper fight, no injury, no useful publicity.
Instruction	Do not position Panda Shandy beside the Bear’s refreshment line without first removing the Bear.

Clipped Note: Sponsorship Withdrawn

REFRESHMENT ARRANGEMENT QUIETLY ENDS. The Roller Cola arrangement ended shortly after what Rotunda staff referred to as “the kiosk incident”, when the Bear objected to a Panda Shandy representative displaying rival bear-branded cans beside the ice-lolly freezer. The sponsorship was quietly withdrawn the following week.

Rio’s remained in the Bear’s private billing for some time afterwards, usually as “official recovery lolly.” No one at the kiosk appears to have signed this phrase.