Jules - prettiest bitch

On Sunday 29th it was the return, return, return of the Porterhouse Jazz Six who had everyone tapping their fingers and toes despite the rather inclement weather. A bar and barbecue helped keep everyone in Carnival mood.

By bank holiday Monday everyone was ready for the main event and in the morning there was activity all round the village with people getting stalls ready and making last minute preparations and adjustments. Unfortunately there was no procession this year as rocketing insurance costs had forced organisers to abandon tradition for the first time in the carnival's history. Insurance cover can be as high as £250 per float per hour for public liability!

Apart from the dog show, this year's attractions included such favourites as cake stalls, coconut shy, tombola, archery and skittles.

Returning for the second year was Nick Mead and his popular WWII tank - a great hit with the children.

The country theme was maintained with sheep shearing and a display of vintage tractors along with a demonstration of ploughing the old fashioned way with single-furrow vintage ploughs.

Unfortunately, although the day was mainly dry and sunny, the strong wind meant that the skydivers and model helicopter display had to be cancelled at the last moment. We hope to see them back again next year.

Simon Storer's Transplanted Onions were superb.

A popular event is the Helmdon Produce & Craft Show, which runs alongside the Carnival. Classes are always hotly contested and there is never a shortage of entries. The undisputed vegetable king of Helmdon is now Simon Storer and no one could match his vegetables for size and quality, although Rex Jessett, Tony Wilson and Fred Bennett gave him some good competition. Simon swept away with many prizes including firsts in "3 Transplanted Onions", "A Cucumber" and "Best Vegetable Plot".

The standard of arts and crafts on display, particularly in the youth section, was exceptional and all entrants deserve congratulations for such a good show.

The Carnival Committee was formed in 1982 as a joint venture between the Sports Club and the Reading Room. Both organisations have been, and continue to be, worthy beneficiaries of the Carnival proceeds and the remainder is given out to various village and local good causes.

The Helmdon Carnival Committee would like to thank all of the people who assisted in making this year's Carnival such an enjoyable event. "We would like to thank the organisations and their members for their support, for the many people who gave up their time over the weekend, our sponsors and all of the people who attended the events."

If anyone is interested in joining the committee in the forthcoming year please contact a member of the committee.

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