TROWBRIDGE Carnival will take place this year following a “fantastic” response from 30 people to a public appeal for more volunteers.

The carnival committee announced it will carry on following a crunch ‘Save the Carnival’ meeting at Wesley Road Social Club in Trowbridge on Wednesday (February 21).

The new committee chair is Jo Gray, 43, from Studley Green Community Centre, who was the committee’s vice-chair for three years to 2022.

Wiltshire Times: Jo Gray is the new Trowbridge Carnival Committee chairperson. Image: Trevor Porter 70619-3Jo Gray is the new Trowbridge Carnival Committee chairperson. Image: Trevor Porter 70619-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Jo has stepped up to fill the vacant role left by the previous Trowbridge Carnival committee chair Maryrose Mantle, who stepped down on January 10.

She said: “I’m not stepping into Maryrose’s shoes, they would be too big to fill anyway.

“We are just going to carry on and we are going to have a Trowbridge Carnival.

“The amount of people who turned up yesterday was amazing. It was quite emotional. The response has been fantastic.

“We had a lot of interest from a lot of eager people who are quite passionate about the carnival carrying on this year.

“But we will only be holding two events this year just to ease everybody into their roles.”

The fantastic response to the appeal means the Trowbridge Carnival committee will get a new lease of life after fears the annual event could fold.

Wiltshire Times: Thirty people responded to the Save the Carnival appeal. Image: Trevor Porter 70619-2Thirty people responded to the Save the Carnival appeal. Image: Trevor Porter 70619-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Up to 30 people responded to the appeal to save the 120-year-old carnival, with 25 joining the committee and five saying they would volunteer as and when needed.

The committee will now focus on the hard task of raising the £10,000 it needs to put on two events this year, including the carnival procession on Saturday, October 19.

The other is the Trowbridge Carnival Country Fayre, which is likely to be held on Saturday, September 7 in Trowbridge town park.

Wiltshire Times: The original Trowbridge Carnival committee outlines the work required to the group of people who responded to the Save the Carnival appeal. Image: Trevor Porter 70619-1The original Trowbridge Carnival committee outlines the work required to the group of people who responded to the Save the Carnival appeal. Image: Trevor Porter 70619-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mrs Gray has come back to help save the carnival and says the next two meetings will be used to get to know the new committee members and assess their strengths and abilities.

Trowbridge Carnival is part of the Wessex Circuit and annually attracts three or four large floats, plus majorette groups and marching bands, all of whom have to be paid to appear.

Mrs Gray has appealed for the local community to get involved, particularly potential sponsors, and community and children's groups who wish to take part.

They should contact her through the Trowbridge Carnival Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TrowbridgeCarnival.