Wonder Girls back and ready for town carnival

The Wonder Girls are perfecting their routines ready for their debut on June 13.

They will be among the individuals and community groups forming the parade along the seafront.

It will be the first time Sarah Jarvis, 12, will have performed in a carnival. She became a Wonder Girl soon after the troupe began again in March.

"I enjoy dancing and I'm looking forward to being in the carnival so I can show off my dancing in front of the spectators," she said.

The troupe rehearse at a three-hour session each week and the dancers make up their routines between them.

The Wonder Girls ran between 1992 and 2002. Support drifted away and their driver became ill. But some of the members wanted to restart it to continue to give young people the chance to dance in public.

They brought forward their plans by a year to enable them to support the new-look carnival in its first year.

Word soon spread and the number of dancers has increased to 20 '“ with more set to join. They are aged between three and 65 years.

Among the new group's supporters is Hayley Wingate, 23, who was a Wonder Girl the first time around and appeared in several carnivals with the troupe.

"It was brilliant being in the carnival with people watching me dance," she explained. "You watch their faces as they watch you and you see them smiling as you go by. It makes you feel happy."

As well as Bognor, The Wonder Girls will be appearing in the carnivals at Littlehampton and Rustington this summer. Several more appearances are also likely to be arranged.

Businesses wanted for parade

Traders and business groups are wanted to enter the 2009 Bognor Regis town carnival.

The event has been brought back after a four-year absence by town councillors anxious to provide a community occasion.

The starting point will be the Regis Centre car park and the procession will go along the seafront to finish at West Park.

Floats are welcome but the emphasis is on walking, cycling, pushing or pulling entries with lots of colour.

Town council events officer Sue Holmes said: "We already have entries in six of the seven categories but have yet to receive any trade entries.

"So, the challenge is on to find local traders and business groups to take part. They can publicise their work and have some fun at the same time."

The other categories of entries are push and pull, adult walking,

children walking, schools and youth clubs, and community groups.

To download an entry form and a copy of the rules click here.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP