Bells ring out as carnival returns
Villagers take to the streets to celebrate 50 years of festivities
LAMBOURN celebrated 50 years of carnival in the village on Sunday.
And, for the first time this year, the bells of St Michael and All Angels Church rang out as the parade left the assembly field and began making its way through the thronged village streets.
One of the organisers, Liz Cox, said: “There were parades before the war, but it was not until 1972 that it restarted.
“It has run every year since, with the exception of the two pandemic years.”
The event was a chance for the village to get its party hat on after observing coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Mrs Cox added: “After two years without the carnival parade, it was important to us, the committee, that this year should be a good one – and the village obviously thought so too because they turned out in force.
“We had 20 entries who were present for the judging and several more who came along just for the joy of joining the parade, which was led by the fire engine, which is a Lambourn tradition.”
Steam engines and the Reading Scottish Marching Pipe Band took part among the floats and walking entries and even some decorated mobility scooters.
Mrs Cox went on: “The standard of the entries was extremely high, making the judging very difficult.
“I would like to thank all those who took part, including all those who helped organise it.
“I would also like to say a special thank you to all the marshals who managed the road closures.
“It’s a difficult task when they have to take abuse from motorists who believe the road closure does not apply to them.
“They all deserve a medal.”
Carnival parade results MOTORISED – Over 25ft:
1st Party in Parliament – Lambourn Sports Club; 2nd= 100 Years of BBC – Helen Noll, Building A Better World – Lambourn Girl Guiding; 4th Horsing Around – Oliver Signy
MOTORISED – Under 25ft: 1st Hippy Chicks – Christine and Ann-Marie Little
EQUESTRIAN: 1st Gardener’s World – Lambourn RDA; 2nd Carnival Princess Mini – Sadie Corbridge; 3rd Veg R Us – Chloe and Darcy; 4th Rachel Blackmore – Sadie Corbridge
WALKING – ADULTS FANCY DRESS: 1st Save Newbury Street Telephone Box – Chapel Forge Farriers; 2nd Kylie and Jason as Scott and Charlene – Aimee and Tim;.
WALKING – CHILDREN’S FANCY DRESS: 1st Cinderella & Gus Gus – Dorrie and Aria.
WALKING – FAMILY FANCY DRESS: 1st The Lambourn Ragon – The Munday/Fowler Bunch; 2nd 101 Dalmatians – Team Coldborough Farm; 3rd Ghostbusters – Ellan Anstee/Tara Richardson; 4th Hoola Hoopers – Kim Hughes
WALKING – PUSH & PULL: 1st Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Tessa Brown; 2nd 101 Dalmatians – Tracy Fisher; 3rd Lotto – Sue Lawrence
BEST IN SHOW MOTORISED (Classes A & B): Party in Parliament – Lambourn Sports Club
BEST IN SHOW WALKING (Classes D, E & F): The Lambourn Ragon – The Munday/Fowler Bunch
BEST IN SHOW EQUESTRIAN AND PUSH & PULL: Gardener’s World – Lambourn RDA