Carnival 2006 - Films

Looking back at the 2006 Carnival

Wayne Rooney eat your heart out!

Not even the World Cup or Andy Murray could stop the 2006 Carnival being a Box Office success story.

This year the weather was scorching hot but you all turned out in your thousands to celebrate the vibrancy of our Community. The procession was the best yet and every organisation that entered should be congratulated on their hard work and originality as too should the house-owners on the route who turned the villages into a riot of colour.

Mel Grundy was a Star as the Carnival Opener and our thanks go to him. Naming names is always dangerous but I must thank my Committee of Beryl Bishop, Chris Banks, Kevin Eagling, Sue Gladin, Katrina Grant, Gordon Gray, Theo Gray, Norman Lee, Ann Lee, David Mann, David Marriage, Heather Martin, Mark Saccoccio, Lin Sargeant, Rebecca Shaw, Peter Thomas, Robert Tigg and Roger Wilkinson. I shall not attempt to go on and name the long list of other people who supported the carnival in so many different ways - just thank you to you all. Well done everyone and congratulations on a magnificent event.

The outcome of all this was that, yet again, we raised £10,000 for local good causes and my thanks and congratulations must go to you - the people who live in this community - for your whole-hearted support. If you have a favourite local good cause please contact me so that they may be considered for a grant from the proceeds of this year's event.

Our web site is www.stmarysvillagecarnival.com - do go there and look at the collection of photographs below - you may see yourself!

If you would like to be involved in the running of THE Carnival in 2007 contact us, I would love to hear from you.

Carnival Day 2007 is Saturday July 7th - see you there

-- Peter Bennett - Chairman

Worm Charming

On a scorching hot day, at the end of a hot week and during a drought, worms were always going to be elusive. Even with the help of copious quantities of water 20 minutes of charming was never going to be enough to tempt out any, other than the most stupid of worms. One lucky charming team did manage to find a very dead worm carcass in their square but the winner of the event was Annabel Coppen with one worm, equally dead - but only recently so. The Edlesborough worms were clearly even less interested in playing than the England football team.

Once again the world record of 511 worms remains safe, unchallenged by the mighty charmers of Eaton Bray and Edlesborough. Maybe we would have done better if the day had been wet but, on balance a sunny day was most welcome. Clearly, when the Olympic Worm charming event comes to Edlesborough Green in 2012 we will have to do better if we are to beat off the competition.

Come on you charmers.

-- Gordon Gray

Photos

Photos will return soon. Please see Facebook for current photos.

Carnival Opener - Mel Grundy

It gave me particular pleasure when Mel agreed to open this years Carnival for it was he who, as Carnival Chairman, managed the transition from Parish Fete to Village Carnival in the early 1990's.

Without Mel's efforts it is unlikely that the event we enjoy today would have evolved so that local good causes have reason to be grateful for his work in providing the vehicle to generate income either through receiving a direct donation or by running their own fund-raiding stall.

Mel, in common with the present committee is very proud of what St Mary's Village Carnival stands for - wholesome entertainment on a grand scale by and for the local community.

Mel and his wife Vivienne have lived in Eaton Bray for 39 years and founded Vansar Blinds - a company which specialises in domestic and commercial blind installation and maintenance. The name Vansar is derived from the names of their two daughters, Vanessa and Sarah. Mel retired from the business in 1997 and the company is now run by their son-in-law Mark Allen, Sarah's husband.

Mel has been a pillar of this community for all the time he has lived here. Over the years serving on the Eaton Bray Lower School PTA, and active member of the Parochial Church Council, Churchwarden and is currently a trustee of Eaton Bray Village Hall. One thing is certain, Mel will continue to serve our Community for many years to come.

-- Peter Bennett

Carnival Queen, Princess & Attendants

The selection of this year's Carnival Queen, Princess and Attendants took place on Sunday 2nd April in Eaton Bray Village Hall, with the results as follows;

Particular thanks to:

• Confetti Bridal Wearfor their beautiful dresses
• Chicks Crop Shopfor doing the girls' hair
• Buds of Mayfor the flowers

Carnival Procession

The results were as follows. More pictures are available from the Carnival 2006 Gallery.

Pre-School & Lower School

School Age Organisations

Family & Business

Best Dressed House

Every year more and more people along the Procession route decorate the outside of their Home so helping us all get in the Carnival mood.

Prizes

Prizes were awarded for one house in Eaton Bray and one in Edlesborough on the route of the procession as follows:

Eaton Bray: 100 High Street
- Star Wars

Edlesborough: Janes, High Street
- The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe

Grand Draw

My thanks go to everyone who sold and bought tickets,- without you it wouldn't work - and to my team of Norman, Deirdrea and Gaynor, for the great help I am given in achieving a very pleasing result - and to the winners - please enjoy your prize and if you have any feed back (which I'm sure can only be good!!) please let me know.

-- Ann Lee

If you would like to donate a prize for next year's carnival, please contact the Carnival Committee.