Carnival time for Bexhill family

Roy and Caroline Forow with daughter Natalie are part of what makes Bexhill Carnival tick - a vital part of the team that keeps the tradition alive and a major event on the town calendar.

The countdown to Saturday July 26 has already begun with plans in place for the traditional colourful procession preceded by Party In the Park at the Polegrove on Friday night.

But it's not just about two days in summer - the work towards this year's Carnival began months ago with fundraisers such as race nights and jumble sales, selection of the Carnival Court, booking bands and entertainers and approaching local businesses for sponsorship and help.

Which is where people like the Forows - as well as chairman Nim Whitmarsh - come in, working behind the scenes towards creating a spectacular and fun celebration.

It all began with Natalie, now 23, when she became Carnival Queen in 1999. Roy and Caroline, of Singleton Walk, signed up soon after.

Natalie entered the competition on the spur of the moment and wasn't expecting to be elected Queen at the age of 14.

"It was a surprise. The princesses were announced first and I thought - okay, I'm on my way home. But then I was announced Queen so that was very exciting. That first year was quite overwhelming and it was about finding my feet. We would be going away and meeting other people at different carnivals. But you find a family of carnival friends which was nice - some of the girls who were Queens back then I still see at other events now, so we catch up."

Natalie is now Chaperone to the Court having reigned as Queen twice - again in 2003 -and also spending a year as Deputy Queen. Her job is to look after the Court and travel with the girls to other Carnivals around the country.

Meanwhile her parents also have made Bexhill Carnival part of their way of life.

Caroline said: "Soon after Natalie became Queen in 1999 my husband and I were talking to the Chaperone, and she was saying they really needed more people on the committee. We thought about what that might involve...we wanted something to do outside homelife and work, so we went along to the committee meeting and became involved that June. My husband became the driver of the Carnival Court so I started going out with them, and seeing what went on when the girls went out. Then on Carnival Day that year the Chaperone they had then decided to resign, and she looked at me and said - you can take over.

"I thought - oh, crikey! But it has got to be done, somebody has to do it...so I just took it on board. The following week we took the girls to Margate and it all went from there really. From then I was out with them all the time - up until last year.

"But it was nice to go out and meet new people. I made a lot of new friends. You get a buzz from the atmosphere and it is just fantastic. It is a fun time, just seeing everything come together."

Having retired as Chaperone, Caroline now helps Natalie out and is still an active committee member, while Roy has been busy this year organising music for Party In The Park. He is still driver for the Court and was chairman of the committee, then vice-chairman for the last few years. He also DJ's events such as the Carnival awards and cheque presentation in September, but a major task for him has been organising the route and logistics of the Carnival procession itself.

This year he claims to be taking "a back seat", and will be based at the Polegrove attending the arena acts.

"It is hard work," said Roy.

"But the end result, when the Carnival is here, is you have achieved something for that year for the community, and you feel better in yourself about it. You feel you have achieved something. When it comes to the Friday and Saturday that is the time I really enjoy. Once the procession is on its way the adrenalin is pumping around your body.

"I have always said to myself - if we weren't doing Carnival, what would we be doing? Would we be just sitting back doing nothing? This is something for us to do really, I don't want to be a couch potato, do I?"