New Carnival Shed
March 2009
At a recent specially arranged ceremony at the Bristol Road ‘carnival village’ site, Doug Robson, president of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, officially opened a new carnival shed.
The shed, which is the culmination of five years of intense planning and fundraising efforts, will now house the collection vehicles, road barriers, signs and other props essential to stage Bridgwater’s biggest night of the year.
(Picture courtesy of Andy Slocombe.)
Also present at the opening party were Bridgwater’s mayor and mayoress Graham and Kay Granter, representatives from Bridgwater Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council, members of Bridgwater Carnival Committee and of Bridgwater carnival clubs, and other stakeholders who helped with the shed’s construction.
Mark Robson, the committee’s Bristol Road project manager and collection officer, said: “It has been a massive project which started way back in March 2004, and it’s just so wonderful that our original dream has turned into reality.
“So many people and organisations have helped us along the way, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their involvement and support with the project: Bridgwater Town Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset County Council, HM Joinery, Pardoes Solicitors, and the many carnivalites who have either helped with their experience or through giving us financial loans. Without this incredible support we would not be where we are today.”
Now this first shed is built, Mark and the carnival committee have no plans to rest and will now turn their attention to trying to raise the necessary amount of money needed to build more sheds at the site.
Mark added: “It would be fantastic if we could build a new shed for every Bridgwater carnival club on the Bristol Road site, so as one dream finishes another is just beginning and I do hope we succeed.”
