After keeping a wary eye on the weather all the previous week, the organisers of this year?s Thame Carnival were able to heave a great sigh of relief on Saturday, when, despite strong winds, the rain stayed away all afternoon!
Hundreds of people lined the streets well in advance of a parade full of enough colour and joyous sound to wash away the long, grey days of recent weeks. Led by the local fire engine and fire officers spraying the yelping crowd with their hoses, came float after float throbbing with the music of the Disco era, carrying dancers and waving people of all ages, all dressed up in big, curly wigs, Bell bottom trousers, medallions and other fashions of the day.
The judges selected The Black Horse pub float as the deserved winners of the Carnival Cup, but so impressed were they with all the primary school walking entries, that each was presented with a special certificate of commendation. Who could forget the great sea of red and gold as Barley Hill school passed by, and the John Hampden school?s giant-sized John Travolta pulled along on a trolley, with Head teacher Alan Haig in White suit, black permed wig and droopy, 60’s style moustache showing off his dance moves and exhorting the crowd to join in.
Down on the recreation ground afterwards, there were fairground rides, a mega slide, football challenge, dog show, food stalls, ice cream van, beer tent, climbing wall, bouncy casle, face painting, raffles, tug-of-war, belly dancing, drama display from Stagecoach and dozens of other stalls and games to keep the whole family happy all afternoon.
The live music stage included acts by St Joseph?s Disco Choir, Empire Band, Brill Tones, The Band With No Name, The Connection, Band, Dj-Arnie and the DJ for the dance competition was Thame?s very own, Kristian Winslade.
Nineties DJ legend, Brandon Block showed how he could still mix a mean set. His many claims to fame include “You Should Be…” a remix of ‘You Should Be Dancing’ by the Bee Gees, which reached number three in the UK Singles Chart in January, 1999.
Mark, the Manager at Brothers Hair Salon on Thame, led this year’s Carnival committee once again. He told ThameNews.Net today: “I thought the parade was amazing – even better than last year and it was so amazing to see such huge crowds turn up, despite the hurricane winds! A few stall holders decide not to come because of the weather but still we had lots more for people to do this year. The bands were great, the dog show was brilliant and the fitness displays were terrific.
“Hopefully we can continue to grow this event and we anticipate that we have raised more money than last year for local charities. Apart from one rude email from someone who seemed to blame me for the wind damaging her tent and losing her money, my view is the event was a massive success!”
PHOTOS; More carnival pictures here:LINK