A gloomy forecast failed to dampen spirits (From Ledbury Reporter)

A gloomy forecast failed to dampen spirits

11:00am Friday 31st August 2012 in Ledbury

RESIDENTS, businesses and local groups were as keen as ever to get involved in the Ledbury Carnival this year, submitting a huge range of colourful and inventive entries for a whole host of competitions.

The judges had a tough time deciding between the entries and deciding on the winners as listed below:

Class 1 Children’s Fancy Dress (Under 8) First – Tilly O Boyle and Bea Bowers

Class 2 Children’s Fancy Dress (8-16) First – Jessica Schofield as Zara Philips

Class 3 Senior Fancy Dress First – Ledbury Official Carnival Torch – Brenda Hill Second – English Rose – Tracy Pendfoleith Third – Britannia Celebrates 2012 – Carol Somers

Class 4 Best Perambulating Group (Best Bike, Pram/Hand Propelled Vehicle/Walking Group) First – Pearly Kings and Queen – Strictly Dance School Second – Great British Clown – Anthony Jenkins Third – Skyline Gang – Hobby Jenkins Family

Class 5 Best Equine Entry First - Queen Elizabeth and Her Footman – Georgie and Mary Holmes

Class 6 Best Small Float First – The Hereford Bull and Queen’s Pageant – Little Marcle Boys Second – Pugh’s Royal Olympics – Howard Pugh

Class 7 Best Large Float First – A Great British Summer – Ledbury Community Choir Second – Rule Britannia – Lads (Ledbury Amateur Dramatic) Third – Rotary Goes for Gold – Rotary Club of Ledbury

Class 8 – Best Children’s Float First – Great in Britain – Ann Cam School, Dymock Second – A Thoroughly British Bus Ride – Ledbury Children’s Centre Best Individual on Float Under 18 Archie Cricket as “Corgi”

Best Individual on Float over 18 Rob Hooper AKA Bradley Wigging

Best Overall Pearly Kings and Queen – Strictly Dance School

Shop Window Competition Judged on Friday August 24: First Prize – Oops A Daisy – Sweet Memories Second Prize – View Third Prize – Little Shop of Wonders Fourth Prize – Bamboo Highly Commended: Crowthers, Shaw Trust, Red Cross Commended: J B Gaynan, 3 Counties Bookshop, Homend Bakery, Janet’s Hair, Blue Cross, Monkleys, Wyebridge.

 

GLOOMY weather forecasts are being blamed for one of the lowest turnouts for a Ledbury Carnival in recent years... but that didn’t prevent the 7,000 people who did make a beeline to the High Street from enjoying themselves.

With most forecasts predicting strong winds and rain, Carnival organisers estimate that the turnout was down by at least a third on most previous years, for what was a colourful and patriotic event, with the theme “Great Britain in 2012”.

Carnival committee chairman Steve Clegg said: “The numbers were down, but everyone I talked to enjoyed it, and there were more floats this year, about 10, and the procession was a great success.”

He added: “Why were the crowds fewer in number this year? I think it was the very pessimistic weather forecasts.”

There were tense moments shortly before the procession left the Rugby Club, because a car had broken down in New Street, part of the procession route, and the most narrow part.

An AA man worked against the clock outside the Talbot Hotel, and the onlookers gave a cheer when, with the stirring sound of the St Andrews Pipe Band just audible in the distance, he was able to drive the car away, along the Gloucester Road.

He then returned for his yellow van, clearing the way for the happy spectacle that Ledbury’s Bank Holiday crowds have come to expect.

Ledbury’s Town Crier Bill Turberfield led the way, followed by the town’s fire engine, with the Carnival Princess, Phoebe Rogers, aged nine, waving from the fire engine’s cab. Then, resplendant in kilts, the St Andrews Pipe Band of Cheltenham swept past the crowd, playing drums and bagpipes, and the scene was set for a red, white and blue celebration of Britishness, the Jubilee and the Olympics.

Other attractions on the day included a toe-tapping permanance of the Roving Crows on the big stage in the High Street, shortly before the Ledbury Dance Company went through their paces.

And the weather behaved itself and did not rain on anyone’s parade.