Colourful carnival brightens a grey day

2:21pm Monday 18th August 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

A VIBRANT Bridport Carnival injected colour and fun into Saturday's grey evening.

The wet weather broke in time and the crowds came out, lining the route of the procession along St Swithin's Road, West Street and South Street - and they stayed out, dancing to the live bands in South Street later.

There was a humorous start with Bournemouth Carnival Band, all dressed as Batman, as they helped head up the parade with the Wessex Military Band and the pretty pink float carrying Carnival Princess Anya Iwaszko, attendants Gemma Gaylard and Rhea Webb and junior princess Charley Davidson.

They were followed by mayor Martin Ray and councillor Maggie Ray in a bright red Ford Galaxie convertible.

More colour came from the Horwood family's Exotica mobile garden - winner of best local entry - The Bright Sparks of Bridport Youth Club in neon ballet gear, and a striking Chinese dragon from Bridport House Club.

Friends of Mountjoy School's swashbuckling entry - The Pirates of Mountjoy - took top award as best float in the procession and best youth entry.

Bridport Round Table raised lots of laughs with the hilarious Star in a Reasonably Priced Cart, their take on Top Gear's slot - this time with mobility scooters transporting Elvis, Marg Simpson and Ali G.

Hansel and Gretl's gingerbread house was Bridport Rotary Club's entry.

Sunny Days Nursery tots were angelic as scarecrows and farm animals owned by Mr MacDonald while Bridport Sea Cadets were the Plottingham Pirates.

The 1st Bridport Brownies were characters from cartoon Scooby Doo, while the West Dorset Girl Guides' seniors were cheeky St Trinians' girls, and Bridport Scouts depicted the Wild West.

The cavalcade was completed by majorette troops and some great walking and wheeled entries.

Bridport youngsters Oliver Bretherton, nine, and Max Butchart, four, said they really enjoyed the parade, with Max's favourite being Groves Nursery's Busy Bees entry, which even included a spaniel dressed as a bee!

Mayor Martin Ray said it had been a wonderful turnout considering the weather with some excellent entries as always.

Bridport Carnival results: Best presented vehicle (not towing) "The Mayor's choice": Elvis (Dave Horwood). Runner up - Galaxy.

Best costumes in procession: Old MacDonald's Farm (Sunny Days Nursery, Bridport). Runner up: Busy Bees (Groves Nursery, Bridport).

Best comical entry: Busy Bees (Groves Nursery). Runner up: Stars in reasonably priced carts (Bridport Round Table).

Best local entry: Exotica (Alan and Sandy Horwood, Horwood's garden and landscape designers). Runner up: Busy Bees (Groves Nursery).

Best walking entry (non wheeled/non-motorised): Indians (A and A Carnival Club, Kilmington, with Nigel and Alex Phillips). Runner up: Return of the Dragon (Bridport House Club).

Best walking entry (wheeled and/or motorised): Recycled Wedding (Goldfinger Jewellery, Bridport, with John and Jocelyn Pardoe). Runner up: Stop the Pigeon (Cousins Carnival Club, Ilminster, with Jessica Dawe and Megan Norman, both aged three).

Best float: Pirates of Mountjoy (Friends of Mountjoy School). Runner up: Old MacDonald's Farm (Sunny Days Nursery).

Best youth entry including schools and pre schools: Pirates of Mountjoy (Friends of Mountjoy School). Runner up: Old MacDonald's Farm (Sunny Days Nursery).

The DT6 most innovative entry: Stop the Pigeon (Cousins Carnival Club, Ilminster). Runner up: Babes in the Wood (Brit Valley Rotary Club).

Sponsor's favourite (float or walking): Stop the Pigeon (Cousins Carnival Club, Ilminster). Runner up: Busy Bees (Groves Nursery).

Other entries in the big parade included: Safari (Grinter family with Olivia Grinter, six, Tara Grinter, eight and mum Teresa); The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (Jasmine and George Hussey and Robert Horniblow); 1st Bridport Brownies (Scooby Doo); 1st Bridport Scout Group (Wild West); 1st West Dorset Guides senior section (St Trinians); The Bright Sparks (Bridport Youth Club with Becci King, Jazmine Whitfield, Cara Koerner and Jess Sheppard).