Whitehaven Carnival 2013
Whitehaven Carnival 2013
As always there was a good turn out for Whitehaven Carnival in 2013 helped by some glorious sunshine. Crowds lined the streets as the parade wound its way around the town centre.
There is a prescribed sequence of characters in the parade with the fire-brigade at the front so they can make a quick exit if necessary followed by Whitehaven band and then the town crier in full costume - a post currently held by Rob Romano who has done a stirling job over the past few years attending these events and playing the part with enthusiasm with his tricorn hat and bright red waistcoat.
Whitehaven band as usual were also at the front of the parade to let everyone know the parade is coming as it marches around the town.
Following close behind Whitehaven band in the parade is the character of Britannia played each year by a different young lady. This year it was Rachel Benson who took up the role and stood all the way in her chariot - a trailer puilled behind a 4x4.
Young military trainees from the cadets had a chance for some marching practice representing the services.
There are plenty of splendid trophies available for numerous categories in the carnival ensuring the hard work doesn't go unrewarded.
Jericho School produced some of the most exciting costumes in this year's carnival with their jungle theme. Featuring facepainting, masks and costumes to represent the various animals.
It is not surprising, with so many costumes all carefully created to produce such a spectacle, that they won not only this cup for the best school entry...
...but also the Copeland Borough Council cup for the best entry in the parade.
This colourful monkey character was from the Jungle Jack's Adventure Soft Play at Whitehaven Sports Centre run by North Country Leisure.
These drummers and buglers from Fleetwood Old Boys Band have been around in one form or another since the 1960's when they were an award winning sea cadet band. They reformed in in 1986 as an old boys band to commemorate the 150th year of Fleetwood and again in 2009. They looked very smart in their venetian gondolier styled matching blue and white striped shirts and straw hats with sun glasses which were very much needed on one of the best days of the year.
Leading Starkey's youngest dancers was a character dressed as Blobby with a diminutive Noel Edmonds alongside.
Regular entrants in the parade are the members of the Mokey fit exercise classes who always keep their high tempo routines going around town.
More exercise can also be obtained from playing sport and the Whitehaven Judo Club also had their members in the procession.
Adding some great atmosphere with their lively singing and dancing and great enthusiasm were members of the Cumbria-Rungwe link scheme which has been doing exchange visits between Whitehaven and Tanzania for 25 years.
<
/p>
Bringing up the rear of the procession were regular entrants Stix percussion school, with their infectious latin rhythms drumming out all the way round the route, who won this year's prize for musical group.
After everyone had walked around town they all gathered in Whitehaven Castle park where the ceremony of crowning the new Queen was led by Copeland Mayor for 2013 - Cllr. Geoff Garrity. After the new Queen Georgia Taylor had been crowned the local dancing schools performed their routines to a large crowd who were also entertained by a fun fair and numerous charity stalls.
©WAWL 2013