SLOSHING GOOD TIME AT HELMDON CARVIVAL

Only “Jacques Cousteau”  - Ainsley Berryman – in his diving gear looked at home in the rain which lashed Helmdon’s first carnival parade on Saturday.

Seven floats sloshed up the main street and “Jacques” complete with flippers and face mask, was part of the Helmdon Sports Club group which was judged best by scrutineers Alan Ryalls and Dick Collett.

Travelling under the theme “France” the Sports Club float had a Bluebell girl (Hazel Gulliver) can-can dancers Heather Gulliver and Jill Turvey, a big bottle of champagne, its own Eiffel Tower and long-nosed General de Gaulle (Paul Murray).

HUNCHBACK

Supporting alongside were  the Hunchback of Notre Dame (Geoff Gulliver) and a first class “Johnnie Onions” (Terry Upstone) who continually passed the “Tour de France” rider because his own bike had no brakes!

Others taking part included the Youth Club (second as “Great Britain”), Young Wives (“America”), Women’s Institute (“Holland”), the School (“United Nations”),  Playschool (“India”), the Cubs (“Canada”), and Brownies (“Japan”).

Prizes for first and second were provided by Jeffs Coaches, together with  that for the best dressed schoolchild, Robert Gardner, of Shortlands, Helmdon, who was resplendent as a Canadian Mountie.

Organised by Helmdon Reading Room with the Sports Club, the Carnival, and fete which followed, raised about £665 for the two organisations.

Further entertainment was provided by Towcester Silver Band, Brackley Vendettes, a model areoplane club from Banbury, tug o’war and children’s sports (where the rain finished as overall winner).

The Sports Club won the tug o’ war gaining straight leg wins over the Bell Inn and Chequers public houses.

A fun dog show was organized by Tim Wheeler and May Gidman, with Mrs. Maureen Boodle of the “Tommyville”  kennels at  Whittlebury acting as judge.  Best dog in show was Stephanie Wheeler’s Labrador “Dinah”.

Hopes now are that the carnival will become an annual event though possibly scheduled for an earlier date in future.

Probable Banbury or Brackley newspaper