Carnival plans in pipeline

HIGH summer may still be some way off, but preparations for this year's Bexhill Carnival in late July have been going on almost since the 2010 event drew to a close.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Apr 2011, 11:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 21:27 BST

And as ever, one of the things that taxes organisers most is keeping the freshness alive, as carnival chairman Nim Whitmarsh admitted last week.

The chosen theme for float builders and fancy dress revellers this year is Music and Musicals, giving plenty of scope for some imaginative and colourful entries in the carnival procession.

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Adding their special touch to proceedings will be carnival queen, Chloe-Eloise Willis, her two princesses, Mary Ann Potter and Amy-Louise Swatridge, and junior princess, Daisy Dyer, supported by last year’s queen, Fern Denney.

But Nim said: “The carnival procession is just part of it, because apart from the Monday during the week leading up to carnival day - this year it’s Saturday, July 30 - we have all kinds of things going on to interest and entertain townsfolk and visitors alike.

“On Saturday, July 23 there’ll be a quiz night to get things under way, and on Sunday the vicar of All Saints’, Sidley, the Reverend Trevor Buxton, will lead hymns and prayers at an open-air community service.

“On the Tuesday and Wednesday, local sports coach Craig Martin has stepped forward to revamp the children’s football competitions - seven to 10-year-olds on the Tuesday and 11 to 14s the day after - and each will have a Person of the Match award.

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“The traditional carnival funfair will open on the Wednesday, and on Thursday we will have a carnival boot sale, which helps with funding, and a round-the-town pram push setting off from the old Bexhill West station in Terminus Road.

“Entrants are encouraged to raise sponsorship, half of which goes to a cause of their choice and half to the carnival, and of course fancy dress will add to the fun.”

Nim said that the Friday night’s Party in the Polegrove this year would feature local band No Exit and top Queen tribute band, The Bohemians, followed by a gigantic firework display.

He added: “Something we’re looking to revive from back in the 1960s is plank racing, with teams of six competing over a measured course, and the organising committee would welcome other ideas that anyone may care to suggest.”

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Also welcome would be any offers of sponsorship, because the carnival has no major sponsor at present yet depends heavily on such support for its survival.

Nim said: “With all that goes into the event, it costs us some £14,000 a year to keep going, so any offers of help in this direction would be very much appreciated.”

• Nim can be contacted on 01424 220217.