Carnival 2004 - Fantasy
News - Focus, October 2004
Another Great Carnival
In the last few weeks we have heard about many people around the world having far worse weather than the 2004 St Mary's Village Carnival. We cannot complain though, on two grounds. First because of the many years in which the weather has been good and second because the carnival managed to make almost as much as last year despite the weather. It tempts one to wonder what could have been done if the weather had been better.
We have commented in the past on what a hardy bunch are the people who support the Carnival that is, you. There have been years when everyone got wet in a sudden heavy shower, went home, changed and came back. This year however must have tried the resolve of even the most stalwart amongst you – but your support did not waver and we managed to make almost as much as the record breaking 2003 figure. You all need to be congratulated and thanked profusely.
Despite the rain, we managed to do all the things that we had planned.
The carnival procession went off well and winning floats by class were:
- Preschool/Lower School: 1st Dagnall Under 5s; 2nd Edlesborough Under 5s.
- Junior School Organisations: 1st Friends of Edlesborough School; 2nd First Eaton Bray/Edlesborough Cubs.
- Family and Business: 1st Hawkes Family; 2nd Brilliant Publications.
The enthusiasm of the community for decorating their homes for the day also continued unabated. The house judged to be best in Eaton Bray was 103 High Street, while that in Edlesborough as 20 Moor End Close.
Grand Draw was again very successful and you will find the results in detail elsewhere in this issue of Focus [these can be found under Grand Draw ... wm]. The draw for the wood sculptor's piece, was won by Paul Wright of Edlesborough. The Clarabelle the Cow contest was won by ...
Thanks must go to the 2004 Carnival Committee of Chris Banks, Kevin Eagling, Gordon Gray, Theo Gray, Mel Grundy, Viv Grundy, Normal Lee, Ann Lee, David Mann, David Marriage, Mark Saccoccio, Brock Shaw, Rebecca Shaw, Alison Tigg and Peter Thomas and their respective support Teams. Thanks also to all those local businesses and organisations that support us, to the two Parish Councils and to our local Police.
And so we move on – on to next year. The planning and organisation done by the Carnival Committee for the 2005 event really begins quite soon. We are always looking for more community minded people to join, and membership is by no means restricted to St Mary's churchgoers. So if any of you have the wish to have the Carnival Experience from the inside, please get in touch with our chairman, Peter Bennett. In particular the key office of secretary is open at present.
As far as 2005 St Mary's Village Carnival is concerned it will be on the first Saturday in July as always, which this year is the 2nd. The theme will be Nursery Rhymes and the principal charity will be the Dagnall Church extension.
Brock Shaw/Peter Bennett
© Focus Magazine 2004
