Sunshine carnival is voted best ever

From the Echo, first published Monday 15th Jul 2002.

EVENING sunshine bathed Puddletown in a warm glow as the village's best-ever carnival enjoyed a spectacular procession through the streets.

Hundreds of people cheered a series of colourful floats along the route in the annual fundraising event which raised nearly £6,000 in total.

Visitors from across the county enjoyed a variety of stalls, games, displays and fundraising promotions at the show.

Carnival Princess Lydia Duff, 10, a pupil at Puddletown Middle School, led the procession with her attendants Hannah Antell, nine, from St Mary's Catholic First School in Dorchester and Emily Hallett, seven, from Tolpuddle, who attends Puddletown First School.

Best overall float was Once Upon A Dream, put together by family team the Puddletown Shiners.

The truck featured a papier maché moving dragon's head which belched smoke and flashed green eyes. The model was hand-made by Chris Rampton, Mike Cranshaw, Martin Dare and Dave Mckenna. Mr Mckenna also won the Arthur Squires Memorial Cup for overall winner of the carnival.

Puddletown Mini Football Club's float, with its Formula One team, won the cup for the best youth organisation.

The Borough Sports Cup went to Puddletown Pageant carrying youngsters dressed in costumes inspired by Arthurian myth and legend.

The Bernard Weldon Challenge Cup for best children's organisation, went to Lawrence the Crock, aka Lawrence Watley.

And the David Cheffey Cup, for overall children's winner, was awarded to the Jester, played by Charlotte Wittingham. Among the 110 fancy dress entries Puddletown First School won best walking entry as a gang of pirates. Other fancy dress winners included Rhys Jeans, Lawrence Watley and the Johnson family.

The best individual over-14 prize went to Joe Hurst, 77, from Winterborne Whitechurch, who has never missed a procession.

A series of marching bands, including the Dorchester Town Carnival Band and groups of majorettes also kept punters entertained.

Organiser Pat Stockley thanked main sponsors Tracy Walbrin from Wedding Time in Dorchester, the Blue Vinny pub in Puddletown, Englands Removals in Dorchester and Puddletown builder Peter Kellaway.

Mr Stockley said: "I think that's the best ever - we're not going to beat that one. I am overwhelmed by the support we've had. It was a fantastic effort from everyone. The village has really supported it and there was such a cross-section there.

"It's been absolutely marvellous."

Archive Home