Melksham Carnival, 2011 - pictures
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2011-07-17 11:23:38 - Graham EllisMelksham Carnival was yesterday - 16th July - and I was back in Melksham just in time to see the parade go past the corner of Coronation Road and Warwick Crescent. Lead - this year - by a "fun run".
And here comes the parade "proper" ... (click on any image to enlarge it into a new frame):
The parade seemed much shorter than in previous years ... although the quality has high (and great fun was had by all). With the exception of the Major Wrecks, there were no majorettes in the parade, and it was notable that the school groups that were on floats had the children all seated. I hear comments about what may and may not be included in parades such as this being much more effected by policical correctness, health and safety issues than was the case even just a couple of years ago, and I can't help wondering if the fact that we're onto our third Carnival Committee in three years has stifled the continuation and goodwill from previous years.
Anyway - after "is that IT" I heard from the crowd, everyone made their way home and Spa Road could be reopened.
Here's hoping that the parade will grow and prosper next year.
If you see pictures from Party in the Park and the Food Festival missing from this blog ... yes, they went ahead in 2011. It's simply that we were away throughout the Food Festival, and only arrived back into Melksham during Carnival day - long after Party in the Park was underway!
Update ... I originally entitled this article "Melksham Carnival 2012" and got rather ahead of myself. It was, of course, 2011 I was talking about. I understand from the 2011 Party in in the Park organisers that 2012 will be a difficult year in which to organise major events, because of competing calls for resources from the Olympics. Everything from Policemen to Portaloos will be in short supply, and it's anticipated that a big chunk of people's leisure time will be eaten up by the Olympics too. In fact, it might be a good idea to give the whole thing (or some of it, perhaps?) a rest next year.