CARNIVAL: Last chance to save Chard Carnival from dying

CARNIVAL: Last chance to save Chard Carnival from dying

A FINAL rallying call has been made for support to help safeguard the future of Chard Carnival.

A special meeting was held at the Guildhall in Chard last Thursday (January 14, 2016) to try and generate some fresh blood to the committee with no less than eight members stepping down next month.

Veteran Carnivalite Doreen Toms, who was set to stand down, has decided to stay on and fight to save Chard Carnival from dying.

“I was going to stand down, but I have had second thoughts and have decided to stay on for another year,” she said.CARNIVAL: Last chance to save Chard Carnival from dying Photo 1

“It is now 48 years since Carnival was re-formed in Chard and we don’t want it to fold as it’s an important event for the town – its biggest community event.”

PHOTO - TOP: The Mayor of Chard, Cllr Dave Bulmer, with members of the Chard Carnival Committee - some of whom will be stepping down at next month's annual meeting.

PHOTO - RIGHT: A picture from the 2015 Chard Carnival.

The crunch meeting will be on Thursday, February 18, 2016, at the Lordleaze Hotel in Chard – starting at 7.30pm - when a decision will be made on whether to continue or pack up for good at the group’s annual meeting.

“There are lots of jobs and roles to fill and they are all important,” said Doreen. “But if we don’t get enough people to come forward at the annual meeting then there won’t be a Chard Carnival this year. We don’t want to be despondent, we want to keep going.

“I’ve been involved in it for all of its 48 years and it has become part of my life – I don’t want Carnival to end.”

Among the roles that will need to be filled include chairman, treasurer and chief marshal.

Committee member and former Chard Mayor, Martin Wale, said he was “flabbergasted” when he moved to South Somerset from London and saw the Carnival for the first time and the “wonderful effort” which goes into it.

He suggested that efforts should just go into putting on the Carnival procession itself and forget about other related-activities.

“The important thing is to do the Carnival on the night,” he said. “If we do we will able to progress things further. There are ways and means and we will have to look at everything, but I’m sure we will have a Carnival.”

Chard makes up a quarter of the South Somerset Carnival Federation with other parades in Wellington, Ilminster and Taunton.CARNIVAL: Last chance to save Chard Carnival from dying Photo 2

Representatives from Ilminster and Taunton Carnivals were present at the meeting and have said that they will lend their support to maintain Carnival in Chard.

PHOTO - RIGHT: A colourful group at last year's Chard Carnival.

Ilminster chairman Kym Toms said: “We can’t afford to lose any Carnival in the Federation.”

She hinted that with Yeovil Carnival having been disbanded a number of years ago, the thought of Chard no longer going ahead could put the remaining processions at risk.

“The other towns are behind Chard and we won’t let it go,” she said.

Chard committee chairman Andy Chant, who will be standing down at next month’s annual meeting, said he wanted to thank all of the existing committee for their “help and dedication.”

“The people in the background have worked tirelessly and it has been a privilege to serve as chairman,” he said. “But all being well Carnival will still go-ahead.”

Mayor of Chard, Cllr Dave Bulmer, said: “Chard Carnival is a very special event and one which the whole town enjoys. We need to spread the word and get people involved in saving Carnival.”

Anyone who wants to support Chard Carnival needs to attend the annual meeting on February 18 at the Lordleaze Hotel in Chard - 7.30pm start.

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Carnival.