No rain on Masbro Carnival Parade

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Over 2000 people attended

In a day of high drama the Masbro Carnival defied the rain to register yet another resounding success to the 23rd Annual Carnival held on Saturday August 13th.

With the Carnival parade due to start at 3pm the heavens opened and it looked like weeks of hard work would be lost in the downpour. However after a 45 minute delay the Carnival extravaganza – a retro look at the swinging sixties – was held undercover on the Masbro Centre’s sports pitch to the delight of hundreds of people who packed into the Centre to watch the Carnival proceedings.

The Carnival then hit the streets to make its way to the stage where the music played on all afternoon to an enthusiastic crowd who just sang and danced in the rain.

Twins Sabrina & Sareta Osei Tutu aged 11 from Goldhawk Road who later appeared as rainbow warriors opened the Carnival. They were joined on stage for the opening of the 23rd Masbro Carnival by Addison Ward Councillors Siobhan Coughlan & Melanie Smallman Cabinet Member for Education who fund the summer youth project at the Masbro Centre.

It was estimated that over 2000 people attended the Carnival, which had started in brilliant sunshine at the beginning of the day.

The Masbro Carnival food stall did a roaring trade making over a £1000 and one enterprising local individual sold 80 umbrellas to the crowd who refused to be beaten by the weather. The face painters were in constant demand under their gazebo, which had been especially set up to counter the anticipated rain that was sweeping the country on Saturday. The only casualty was the bouncy castle that had to close at 4pm to allow the Carnival to perform on the sports pitch in the Masbro Centre.

With Daddy Ernie from CHOICE FM orchestrating proceedings from the stage and the Brazilian rhythms of Quilombo Do Samba emanating from the Masbro Centre festivalgoers had a choice of Carnival music. Two dance groups of 7 to 11 year olds from the playscheme - “Masbro Youngers” and “Little Richards” - were just some of the many highlights in a non-stop action packed afternoon of entertainment.

To top a hugely successful day the large team of volunteers - in their special commissioned Carnival t-shirts - cleared the streets at the end of the day in a record time of 70 minutes.

Andy Sharpe Director of the BNC and Carnival organiser adds: “To beat the weather and put on a Carnival of the highest quality makes this year’s street festival extra special. We have a huge following and people flock to the Carnival every year come rain or shine. Plans have already started on next year’s festival which will be held on Saturday August 12th.”

August 23, 2005