The Senior race attendance has never been anywhere near dead, at anytime in the last 30 years. Its true that some years attendance for the race week has been poor, but Senior race day has always been busy. Having to fill in the riders yourself is also incorrect. The page in the race guide was blank, but it was blank for a reason. In the good old days when the riders use to go off in numerical order, all races apart from the Senior were preset, regardless of practice times. The Senior starting order was determined on lap times during the week. on the Thursday before the Senior, they would publish a printed starting order that you could pick up. It was the same size and layout as the race guide. The blank pages therefore had nothing to do with how busy the attendance was. 
I still believe I am right about the low use of radios. Even a quick glance up and down a line of spectators can see who has ear piece radios/headphones in. Still a very, very low percentage.
A case in point. The woman who was fined £1500 for walking on closed roads pleaded ignorance to the law. Yet, how many times do you hear it announced on the radio that you can go on closed roads? Or the fact that it is printed in the program and race guide. An enthusiast will devour every piece of information they can BEFORE they even get here. The 'Eventers' seem to arrive feeling entitled to do what they want.
As for the Lido, they current crop would either faint,be offended and seek counselling, or sue for distress if they saw what when on in there.