A large number of carnival helpers gathered along with representatives of several local charities in the Bouverie Hall, Sat 16th May to witness the presentation of nearly £8,000 donations from 2008 carnival activities.
The 21 Carnival villages and 15 other local charities each received £100 as did local electrical goods recycling company Refurbiz
Annual awards were made to persons or groups who had made outstanding contributions to Carnival:
Presidents Cup – Zixex Club for their efforts in refurbishing the Old Fire Station House, soon to become a fully-fledged HQ for PADFAC.
Len Goddard Cup – Liz Boden for the annual Carnival programme and press relations.
The Fred Phillips Cup was won by the indefatigable Shirley Manning.
The Luce Cupfor best decorated gardens on the main procession route went to Mr & Mrs Ken Chave & Mrs Lavis.
Special thanks were also given for the major contributions to fundraising made by Pewsey Co-op (main sponsor), Cossors Shop, Pewsey Vale Running Club, Hasbeens and Sam’n'Ella’s Burger Bar!
The HSE’s latest “Myth of the Month” seemed quite relevant so here’s a link!
Events Calendar
Thanks to a recent software upgrade we now have a fully functional Events Calendar embedded in this site, displayed as a widget at the top right margin on each page and in larger view on the Calendar page. Just click on the highlighted days for further details of the event.
PADFAC were well represented at PACT’s Christmas Fayre on Sat 29 Nov with helpers keen to meet carnival supporters old and new, to canvass ideas and to encourage more involvement … particularly on new events for younger people and support for would-be float builders.
Things went very well. Firstly, as we’d hoped, a few people said that they wanted to do a float but didn’t know how to start, e.g. getting a trailer! … and there was also a very helpful offer of assistance with funding workshops and associated activities … watch this space.
The stall actually ran out of questionnaires on the day and had to announce that it would also be available online - so here it is: Questionnaire (pdf) – please return to the PADFAC Secretary, c/o China Rose, 7a High Street, Pewsey, SN9 5AF
A huge crowd gathered at one point to watch Mick Lynch’s DVD of 2008 events and some copies were sold to boost PADFAC funds! There was also considerable interest in online Shopping through this website, and lots of people especially wanted to know how to access and buy photos.
The Pewsey Area Community Trust (PACT) are staging their Christmas Fayre through the afternoon of Saturday 29th November in North Street.
PADFAC will be represented with its own stall with helpers keen to meet carnival supporters old and new, to canvass ideas and to encourage more involvement … particularly on new events for younger people and support for would-be float builders.
A Questionnaire has been prepared [also to be available online as additional Feedback for a limited time after the event- Ed] and a pamphlet promoting our Shopping site will also be handed out … speaking of which …
*** STOP PRESS ***
For every new customer we introduce to photobox (below) PADFAC receives £5 … so don’t delay … just clickthrough and place an order for any of their wide range of personalised photo products. You can also use promo code SAVE5 to save yourself a fiver on orders over £20.
TRADER
DESCRIPTION
PROMO CODE
Photobox are the UK market leader in online photo sharing and printing. Just click through using the banner left to register with photobox then use one of these shortcuts to select photo(s) you want to print and/or use in customised calendars, mugs, T-Shirts, etc:
HAVE FUN but BE SAFE (not Sorry) and SUPPORT OUR CHARITIES
AND SO YOU DID! …
The well-documented revision of PADFAC policy on Health & Safety and Licensing legislation plus the various implications for Insurance coverage affected everybody involved in Carnival 2008 one way or the other [as covered on the Frequently Asked Questions page].
However, everyone – float builders, drivers, walking entrants, spectators, organisers, stewards, service providers, etc – responded magnificently and PADFAC would like to express its heartfelt thanks to ALL for keeping the much-loved show that is Pewsey Carnival on the road!
WINNERS
Best Local Float (Ron Oram Cup): Pewsey Pearlies (Coopers Originals)
Class 1: Mamma Mia! (F.Chivers & Son, Devizes)
Class 2: Rocket Man (Amor/Plank families and friends, Pewsey)
As anticipated the overall headcount in the Main Procession was slightly down albeit only really missing the type of on-the-day entrants who in the past have made the least effort to entertain and caused the most trouble. Those who did enter Class 6 by registering in advance (for free) did themselves and us proud, especially the large number who turned out as “exemptions” [i.e. the dancers or those with moving vehicles].
Fortunately, instead of quantity there was quality particularly among the thirty entries in the Motorised Classes 1-4 who have always had to enter two weeks in advance anyway. This number was only one or two below the norm and all cheerfully took on board the new common sense rules on safe handrails and fire extinguishers. Class 5 entrants alone (hand-drawn floats which use a generator) faced the burden of paying extra premiums for insurance and deserve special praise for that commitment. [May we hope that once all other Carnivals have also adopted best practice H&S policies the market for insurance will be more competitive?]
Even the much more rigourous – and highly publicised - restriction on alcohol had its lighter side as some entrants who had tried to smuggle the odd can or two past the police cordon could only shrug and adopt a “fair cop” attitude when rumbled!
The one real hitch came just prior to the event as some of the floats that had been constructed at the bottom of the slope in Coopers Field found it very difficult to get away from ground softened by a “summer” of rain … as usual the larger floats had left it till the road was closed before heading for the Asssembly Field but the hold-up made them even more determined to help Pewsey put on a good show … even the weather gave its blessing, not that a drop more rain would ever have detered any true Pewsey Carnival stalwart from reasserting their late September tradition!
YOUR PHOTOS
Check out Diesel’s slideshows on photobox.co.uk where you can order all sorts of products based on your favourite photos …
Photobox are the UK market leader in online photo sharing and printing. Just click through using the banner left to register with photobox then use one of these shortcuts to select photo(s) you want to print or use in customised calendars, mugs, T-Shirts, etc:
Wheelbeero and Main Procession – 2008 (Martin Phelps)
Main Procession – 2008 (Jonathan Helps)
If you have any photos from 2008 or earlier years that you would like to add to the PADFAC archives on this site, please Register then get in touch using the Comment facility and we’ll send upload instructions.
AND FINALLY … HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
PADFAC’s safety and operational policies will be subject to constant review in order to remain valid. So any comment/suggestion you may have on any aspect of Carnival or Wheelbeero/Wine Races would be more than welcome.
Have Fun – Be Safe (not sorry) – Support Our Charities
Many thanks to all this year’s entrants for the forebearance – and in many cases innovation – they have shown in reponse to the revision of the various H&S, Insurance and Licencing regulations. Here’s wishing the thousand participants registered in advance every success in putting on a joyful and safe show for all!
Road Closures
The main roads through the village will be closed from 6.00pm to 11.00pm on Sat 20th Sept.
Car Parking
There will be clear signposts to Car Parks from all routes into the village (actual locations are still subject to weather/harvest conditions in some cases). Please respect the fact that some streets away from the procession route are coned off because they may be needed for emergency access.
All Entrants
No Entry on Day. Alcohol is prohibited on Assembly Field and Procession Route.
Please assemble in Carnival Field by 6.30pm, the layout has changed slightly so that vehicle drivers will have a clearer route. Please proceed as directed by Marshalls on entry to the field:
Class 1-5 entrants: please bear right to the Checking Area where you will need to produce your Float Risk Assessment/Checklist(.pdf) and your proof of Insurance to enable the organisers to sign-off (no insurance = no go). Only Float Safety Stewards shall walk alongside floats in Classes 1-4 (NB: as a guideline, most carnivals / insurers use one person per square metre of free space as a safe limit for the number of passengers on a float).
Class 6 entrants: please bear left to the Tagging Area and when all your group members have arrived make yourself known to the organisers and ensure that each person is issued with a tamper-proof security tag as their proof of entry to the route.
Due to the newly installed speed humps on the Wilcot Road one way system Float Constructors should note that the safety requirement for HARNESSES / RESTRAINTS to protect float passengers (as detailed in the Entry Criteria) will be strictly enforced.
Judging will commence at 6.45pm and at the same time the mandatory briefing for Float Safety Stewards will take place (probably in the Checking Area).
Procession starts at 7.30pm - proceed only as directed by Marshalls.
No pedestrian other than a bone fide Entrant, Carnival Official, Crowd Marshall or Float Safety Steward shall be allowed on any part of the route while the Procession is in progress.
OTHER NEWS
If anyone has any photos we could add to the PADFAC archives on this site please Register then get in touch using the ‘Comment’ facilty.
Wheelbeero Race (18th Sept) - a splendid turnout of 194 teams and some fine ale on route courtesy of sponsors Three Castles; the Hasbeens three-man team is claiming a new record for a combined age of 175 years … we’d like to hear from any old-timers who think they beat that.
TaVern TV – courtesy of PVADS … the word on the streets from folks who went to the opening night is “brilliant” … if there are any tickets left for the 26th or 27th we suggest you go get them now!
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