It may still be many months away, but for the dedicated team of volunteers who organise the annual Pelsall Carnival the countdown to this year’s event has begun.
The Chamber of Trade instigated the revival of the Carnival in 1972. They formed a sub-committee to take it on made up of friends Arthur Evans, Ray Gilbert and Morris Smith and Ray Swain. This year will see the 49th Carnival which will parade and wind its way through the streets of the village.
And for the volunteers behind the event, led by Chairman Steve Swain, son of one of the original founders, the hard work is NOW starting to get ready for the big day on Saturday, July 4th.
“It just continues to grow, and gets bigger every year,” said volunteer Diane Leese. “It’s one of those wonderful traditional carnivals where floats parade around the village, and the residents come out to watch and cheer.”
Vehicles and drivers for the floats are provided by local haulage firm J Hayward & Son, who have supported the carnival for years.
“They donate all the lorries and drivers free of charge for the procession,” explained Diane, “They are absolutely brilliant, and we couldn’t do it without them. We are so grateful for their support because the floats are a very important part of the carnival.
“The floats are created by schools, nurseries, sports clubs, people wanting to promote their businesses – all kinds of people. They choose a theme, then come in early on the day and dress the floats for the parade.”
The parade, which also includes marching bands, walking groups, individuals and other vehicles like tractors, winds its way around the village streets before ending at the ancient village common, where the carnival itself takes place and the carnival queen is crowned. On the way, the floats collect money from the crowd which is then donated to local organisations.
And at the head of the procession is the Carnival Queen, keeping up a tradition that has been celebrated for half a century.
“It’s really important that there’s a Carnival Queen,” said Diane, “This year the competition to pick the Queen is being held on Sunday 26th April, at the community centre at 1.15pm, and we would like to see lots of youngsters get involved – after all, the Queen is the face of the carnival!”
Entrants can fill in an application form via Pelsall Carnival’s Facebook page in order to enter the contest, which will also select the Queen’s attendants who ride with her on the lead float.
But the real contribution of Pelsall Carnival to village life is the incredible amount of money it raises to help local groups and good causes.
Every October a presentation evening is held at Pelsall Community Centre, when dozens of groups are handed cheques for small but important amounts that help life in the village tick over for another year.
“A small amount of money can make a lot of difference to some of these charities,” explained Diane, “£200 donated to Pelsall Musical Society is an awful lot of money for them. Community groups benefit massively from it.
“The carnival is all about community spirit, really – it’s a brilliant showcase for the village and its people.
“We are so lucky that it is still going, there are so few of these carnivals left now, it is lovely to keep it going here.”
Each year after the parade the common comes alive with activities, stalls, side shows, bouncy castles and slides. The Carnival also gives local organisations the opportunity to raise their profile. There are vintage cars to marvel at and a dog show for local pooches to strut their stuff. In the arena area there is non-stop entertainment from variety of performers, such as dance and gymnastic groups, martial art displays, marching bands and the fire cadets. It’s a real slice of English life and we are always looking for local groups to showcase their talent.
There is also a huge car boot sale with up to 200 cars. It opens at 7.30am and continues throughout the day. It’s always extremely well supported by traders large and small and is a great place to find a bargain! This also raises a substantial amount of money for the carnival.
On the other side of the common, Jones’ Fun Fair usually offers thrill rides and games.
Now, as the countdown begins to this year’s event, the organisers are sending out a plea for more volunteers to swell their ranks.
“We have a very small number of organisers – I would say there are just 12 active members – and we really want to try and get some more support,” Diane said. “We’re looking for people to join the committee and support the carnival and/or just help on the day. We all bring different skills and experience to the organisation of the Carnival and for it to continue to thrive and grow we need more help and fresh input. We also fundraise throughout the year to support the Carnival and “many hands make light work!”
“If there are local businesses that would like to get involved or sponsor the event in some way that would be wonderful too. The cost of staging the Carnival is massive for such a small organisation and we cover this mainly through advertising/programme sales and fundraising through the year. For instance, we desperately need new collection buckets, but have to find the money from somewhere to purchase them.
“I think the carnival has been going for so long that people take it for granted and perhaps don’t realise what goes into making it happen.
“We’d like more people to get involved, lend a hand and join the fun. Anyone who has supported the carnival over the years will appreciate the significance and importance of it and all that it embodies.
“Next year with be the 50th carnival in Pelsall, and it would be great to get a few new faces in to help us ensure it carries on for another 50 years!”
For any information on the carnival and associated events, or if anyone can volunteer to help, contact Diane: 07752 772 951 diane.leese58@gmail.com
Facebook page @Pelsall carnival (official)
Some of the groups to benefit last year:
1st Pelsall Scout Group
3rd Pelsall Scouts Group
425 Squadron Welfare Fund (ATC)
Acorns Hospice
Back the Track (Pelsall to Brownhills Railway Path)
Circle of Friends
Guide Dogs for the Blind
McMillan Cancer Support
Midland Air Ambulance
Pelsall Community Association
Pelsall Disabled Persons Association
Pelsall Musical Society
Pelsall over 60’s Club
Pelsall Villa Colts
Pelsall Village School
Rushall Primary School
Ryders Hayes
St Giles Hospice
St Michael’s Church School