STATELY START TO BIG DAY

The sun swelled the crowds at Helmdon’s annual carnival on Monday helping to make it one of the best in its ten year history.

A stately start to the parade was given by the quartet of magnificent Norwich Union greys pulling the striking black and maroon Mercury mail coach, the only one of its kind still licensed to carry the Royal Mail. Passengers on the coach had won their places in a raffle which brought in over £500 for the cottage hospital.

Proceeds from the rest of the carnival could well rival last year’s grand total of £3,000 when organisers have finished counting up.  Profits will be split between the hospital, Helmdon Sports Club and the village hall.

Adding a musical note to the parade were Carlsberg Pipe Band and the St John Ambulance Band from Banbury. Colour came from the half dozen floats decorated in this year’s theme of 1992.

Prize for the best float went to Helmdon Young Husbands and their version of the French revolution.

Carnival Queen Emma Butler had a royal ride in a pony and trap while her three attendants followed in an open top car.  Several classic cars also took part in the parade joining a display of vintage cars and motorcycles on the carnival field.

Former Scottish international footballer John Hanson opened the afternoon’s festivities which included a dance display, village slower and vegetable show, art exhibition and hot air balloon rides. There were lots of stalls and sideshows and several village organisations boosted their own funds by running stalls.

The annual vintage ploughing display hit a snag when organisers discovered the usual field was only just being harvested that day.  Having unsuccessfully tried to find another field needing ploughing, the event was finally cancelled.

The day ended with a successful barn dance and pig road at College Farm.

Probable Banbury or Brackley newspaper 1992