Crowthorne Carnival is Best of British
By Laura HerbertJuly 13, 2012
The typical British weather was in keeping with the theme, but it didn’t ruin the fun at this year’s Crowthorne Carnival.
The village became a sea of red, white and blue as hundreds of people waved Union Flags to mark the parade’s progress along Duke’s Ride, down High Street and into Morgan Recreation Ground where the carnival continued.
Ken Newland, chair of Crowthorne Carnival, said: “Let’s ignore the weather – apart from that everything has been fantastic.
“The floats were the best we’ve ever had and the judges were complaining the difficulty in choosing was almost impossible.”
He added: “When deciding on a theme we were struggling to think of something different.
“We came up with Best of British because we didn’t want it to be based on the Olympics or Diamond Jubilee.
“People say to me ‘my children are in the procession like I was when I was a child’, so it provides that generational connection that goes through the whole of Crowthorne and everybody knows it, loves it and has been part of it.”
The 19th carnival had a Best of British theme with many of the procession floats depicting the seaside and fish and chips.
Nicky Temple, from Camberley, took part in Wildmoor Heath School’s float.
She said: “I think it is lovely. Even though it has been wet everyone has pulled together, made the effort and come out to support and take part.
“We got soaking wet on the float but it was worth it. It is good for the children as they put so much work into the floats and I think it would be a shame if no-one turned up.”
More than 86 pitches filled Morgan Recreation Ground to make it the biggest carnival yet.
As well as stalls and fairground games, visitors were entertained by The Reading Scottish Pipe Band, belly dancing and The Rock Choir.
Eleonor Priglore, from Crowthorne, said: “I think it is wonderful the effort made every time it’s the carnival.
“It is soggy but positive.”
Councillor Jennie McCracken, mayor of Bracknell Forest, who opened the carnival, said: “The weather hasn’t dampened anybody’s spirits. It takes two years to prepare so nobody was ever going to cancel it.
“The schools and everyone who did the floats are all winners.”
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