On reading your paper I was shocked to read a letter from a Mrs Jones, and what was actually wrote in it, as I was with the original carnival committee right from the start and stayed the longest.

Every person that came along through nearly two years of trying to get the carnival up and running left because nothing was being done to get the carnival running.

If Mrs Jones had attended any of these meetings she would have realised the problems.

I have been involved with carnivals for well over 20 years and they are very hard work. You have to put a lot of time and effort into it and we must raise a lot of money to put the carnival on.

I helped Stephen Miles with a lot of things and it was not going anywhere, so I pulled out from the committee, which left just Stephen and a young couple.

I had people asking me if the carnival was going ahead. The only thing I could say was “I don’t know, I’m not on the committee any more”.

After several months and not hearing anything, I asked the couple if they had heard from Stephen, they said no, so I presumed the committee had stopped. I went ahead and called a public meeting which anyone could come to, with the backing of other carnival people around the south west.

I also stated to Stephen he would be welcome. As soon as he saw my posters he started his meeting again; he asked me and the young couple to attend which we did, as we would have maybe joined forces, but was very rude. He commented that he had spoken to the town crier and that he was backing Stephen not me. The next day I contacted the town crier and he said he would stand by whoever gets the carnival up and running and if it meant we had two carnivals all well and good as it would be good for Westbury.

Since my meeting I have had interest from a number of carnival clubs, asking for more info and wanting to come to my meeting and help, from all over the south west.

I have also had contact with someone from the Wessex circuit and he is willing to help out. I’ve had the offer of stewards from other carnival committees. Myself and a couple of friends of have sorted more in a week than Stephen did in 18 months plus.

I took part in Salisbury Carnival and again at Trowbridge, as well as many other carnivals this year with my twirling troupe.

I go out to have fun in the carnivals as that’s what they are all about.

Sue Alexander, The Crescent, Westbury.