THOUSANDS of spectators watched a spectacular light, colour and music display at the Trowbridge Carnival procession on Saturday (October) as rainfall earlier in the day failed to dampen spirits.
Trowbridge Carnival Committee chair Maryrose Mantle had pledged that this year’s procession would be “just as good as” previous years and had prayed that the weather would stay dry.
Heavy rainfall earlier in the day held off for the evening and thousands of spectators were able to watch the procession through the town centre from Canal Road to Cradle Bridge.
Mrs Mantle said: “It was fantastic. It was a spectacular display full of lights, colour and music and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.
“It was a traditional community event and the community certainly turned out in their thousands.”
The Trowbridge Carnival procession is the last but one in the Wessex Circuit competition and usually has a bigger selection of large illuminated floats.
However, two carnival clubs on the Wessex Circuit, Castle Cary Comedians and Kipling, are not competing this year.
Many carnival clubs enter the Trowbridge procession as a run-up for the Somerset Circuit series including Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare.
The procession featured more than 50 entries, including three illuminated floats from the Wessex Circuit, two smaller floats, four majorette groups and two dance groups, plus multiple walkers.
Some people complained on local social media that there were fewer illuminated large floats this year but their lack was more than made up by an increase in the number of walkers.
The procession was led by Mark Taylor, from Southwick, with a large red David Brown Cropmaster tractor towing a trailer with two mowers and a skeleton on board pushed by a scarecrow.
Mark, 36, said: “The procession seemed to over pretty quickly but that was probably because I was taking part this year instead of watching it.”
He was approached by the Trowbridge Carnival committee at the town’s country fayre in the summer to do something for the carnival and rallied round with friends.
He and other members of the unofficial Southwick Working Men’s Club entered five tractors into the procession as Tractor Numpty’s on Tour to lead the carnival.
The procession included a cavalcade of five classic Morris Minor cars belonging to members of the Morris Minor Owners Club from Staverton, Royal Wootton Bassett and Thornbury near Bristol.
Jenni Wood, 52, from Thornbury, brought along two vehicles, her own and Miranda, a Morris Minor which has helped to raise more than £100,000 for the Marie Curie cancer charity over the past 40 years.
“It was brilliant and it was great fun. We really enjoyed it,” said Jenni, who says the Morris Minor Owners Club members are celebrating 75 years of the classic car this year.
The Cary Comedians from Castle Cary usually has an outstanding coloured float in the procession but were unable to build their cart in time for this year’s event.
Chairman Steve Higgins said: “We have around 40 members but only five or six of them help to build the cart and we were unable to complete it in time. But we will be back in time for next year’s carnival circuit.”
Another big float made by the Magnum Carnival Club from the Blandford Forum area in Dorset was also due to take part but cancelled its appearance.
But the Hot Rock Carnival Club float taking up the rear of the carnival was outstanding. They included Samba dancers but only just made it in time with their middle cart.
The Warminster Carnival on Saturday, October 28 is the last on the Wessex Circuit. The procession starts at 6.45pm in Boreham Road.
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