Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Race against time for cart builders as jubilee nears
WORK on a 100ft long cart by carnival club members from across Somerset is taking place at feverish pace ahead of its starring role in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
Nearly 200 volunteers from carnival clubs across the area have put in countless hours of work on Bridgwater Carnival’s giant ‘Jubilation’ entry in the parade which will take place in London on June 5 and tell the story of the Queen’s 70-year reign.
The cart has been designed to reflect various regal elements of the monarchy, including the royal crest, crowns, royal carriages and Yeoman of the Guard, with additional links to the Commonwealth.
It contains more than 40 engineered moving parts and 18 spectacularly crafted models.
It will also feature 32 dancing costumed performers on the cart and a further 110 dancing in the street in front of the entry. The dance parade at the front of the entry will represent street parties – a feature of previous jubilee and royal celebrations in towns and cities throughout the UK.
With just over a fortnight to go to the big day, dance rehearsals are well under way in Bridgwater for those carnivalites taking part.
The construction of the cart is being captured by Bridgwater Photographic Society.
The group of photography enthusiasts have been taking and will continue to take pictures of each stage of the build process, from design right through to the end of the pageant itself.
For some of the local carnivalites taking part in the parade, the occasion will bring on some extra personal significance.
Sue Duddridge, from Newmarket Carnival Club, is one of the cast members who will be dancing in front of Bridgwater Carnival’s entry on the day. She was very keen to get involved as a tribute to her father, Dave Hodge, who had the honour of marching in the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
It is very much a family affair because Sue’s daughter, Christie Sidebottom, is also involved with Bridgwater Carnival’s pageant entry.
Another two carnivalites who will have an extra reason to celebrate over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend are Alex Evans and Gemma Lewis of Renegades Carnival Club.
The couple are getting married on the Friday before the pageant parade. This will be third time lucky for the pair after their wedding was cancelled twice because of Covid restrictions. Only 48 hours after tying the knot, the bride and groom will be part of the Bridgwater Carnival entry, in front of the Queen and the watching world.
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival spokesman Dave Stokes said: “We are so very excited to be constructing an entry for the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant, and the cart being built will reflect the style and expertise which have become the hallmarks of Bridgwater Carnival processions.
“This is a massive team effort and the reward will be seeing a Bridgwater Carnival cart, in all its glory, parading before a royal audience and being witnessed by millions around the world. This is great publicity for the town of Bridgwater, Bridgwater Carnival itself, and every illuminated carnival in Somerset, and all of the carnivalites involved are very proud of what they are doing and have a very unique story to tell.”
After the pageant, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival organisers are planning to display the cart in Bridgwater Town Centre on Sunday, June 12.
Spectators at Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival on November 5 and the other six Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals (Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-superMare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and Glastonbury) will also have the chance to see the cart in its full glory.
Bridgwater-based Griffens Carnival Club will be taking the cart out on the road during the November illuminated carnivals, and will be providing the cast and road crew.
Griffens Carnival Club secretary Christine Reynolds said: “It is a massive honour and privilege given to our club by the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee to be able to take such a prestigious readymade cart to the seven carnivals in November, and we are all really looking forward to it. We can then start to look ahead to building our 2023 entry, and continuing the proud tradition of Griffens Carnival Club.”