Southport - the Classic Resort on England's North West Coast

2009

District

105BN

IT Award

●

Southport Carnival & Veterans Day

Saturday & Sunday, 27th & 28th June 2008

 

For the first time, this year, the Carnival took place in association with Veterans’ Day: the Carnival Parade wended its way along Lord Street to Victoria Park on Saturday, where considerable numbers of stalls and attractions had been arranged. The event  continued on the Sunday, with a number of displays from the uniformed services, paying tribute to all those who have served their country in whatever way, and in whatever time of national need. Sadly, this was the last year when the Parade was organised by our friends at the Southport Champion, but we would all like to say a big ‘Thank You’ for the support they have given to the Carnival over recent years.

Where to go from here

First on the schedule for the day is preparing the vehicle for our safari. We are very grateful to Formby Timber Services for providing an excellent flatbed truck which provided the basis for a first rate mobile disco. The computer controlled disco unit, with laptop PC is carefully located behind the Lions-coloured bunting: it’s a very modern jungle we inhabit!

And to prove the point, we do not regard age as any bar to joining in our fundraising activities, and surely enough the younger element are usually more successful!

So, with our Gorilla in place behind the drum-kit, we were ready for the off. Sorry? Yes, that’s right, the Gorilla was playing the drums. Of course it wasn’t a real Gorilla. At least, that’s what we tell the Health and Safety police; you can imagine the kind of hassle we would get if it became known that we really  had an anthropoid on the back of our truck.

But, of course, it wouldn’t have been Veterans’ Day if there hadn’t been a few military veterans there. And that did not simply mean personnel; there was a wonderful selection of harder-ware too, and we took our lead from a real ‘star’ performer!

And, of course, it wouldn’t have been the Carnival without the odd drop or two of precipitate precipitation, aka drizzle. However, our Bucketeers are well versed in the techniques of money-laundering (just add a bit of detergent to the water in the bucket!) so all was not lost.

Our Mobile Disco and live Gorilla, are here seen approaching the entrance to the park.

It should be noted that no Bucketeers (or Gorillas) were harmed during this performance, though they did get a little bit soggy!

And, at the end of the parade, there was the opportunity to relax just a little, while the world’s press queued up for the impromptu photo opportunity. Now, what was that magazine called...?

Fortunately, the following day, Veterans’ Day itself, was much more clement, and the hundreds of members of the public who turned out to visit the attractions had a really fun time.

See you there next year?