Bridgwater Carnival statue "Spirit of Carnival" unveiled
October 2005
The statue an idea of Roger Brown, member of the British Flag Carnival Club has at last been completed.
The statue, titled "The Spirit of Carnival" was unveiled on the Cornhill, Bridgwater on the 28th October 2005 by our President, Chris Hocking, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the "Gunpowder Plot" and to remind visitors to our town of our proud Carnival tradition. As the crowds gathered a procession of "Squibbers" left the Town Hall at 6.30pm led by our new Guy Fawkes cart.
On arrival at the Cornhill our President made his way to the stage supplied by local radio station BCRfm and gave his speech (below) thanking all those who had contributed to the statue and worked toward getting the project completed.
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 5th OF NOVEMBER
GUNPOWDER TREASON AND PLOT
I SEE NO REASON
WHY GUNPOWDER TREASON
SHOULD EVER BE FORGOT
For four hundred years the people of Bridgwater have never forgotten England’s most famous act of treachery; when Guy Fawkes was discovered attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
But perhaps we should really be thanking King James 1st for our celebrations, because it was he who decreed that the whole nation should remember 5th November - the day when the mother of all parliaments was saved from extinction.
Now we all know that Bridgwater people need very little if any encouragement to party; so not surprisingly this declaration by the king was not one that the inhabitants of our town could overlook.
The result is for all to see every year at the beginning of November; and there can be no other town in the whole of England that comes close to emulating the spectacular Guy Fawkes celebrations that this very spot has witnessed over the last four centuries.
At first our festivities centred on a huge bonfire that was erected and lit here on the Cornhill on the evening of 5th November. Around this bonfire people of the town gathered for a night of merrymaking during which they took great pleasure in igniting hundreds, sometimes thousands of our unique fireworks, the Bridgwater squibs.
From the very flames of this Cornhill bonfire and from the sparks of the squibs our world famous Carnival has emerged and grown.
It is therefore appropriate that this marvellous Carnival statue which I am about to unveil is located here in the very place where our Carnival foundations lie.
It was some 25 years ago that the erection of a Carnival statue was first suggested to the Carnival Committee; the idea coming initially from Carnival historian, Roger Brown. As you know we never rush into things but the idea was taken up three years ago when it was decided that this would prove a suitable way to mark 400 years of Carnival celebrations in the town.
Initial discussions with Sedgemoor District Council encouraged us to proceed further with this project and a team of people including:
Ann Popham who took on much of the planning, commissioning the sculptor and fund raising.
Dave Faulks our sculptor ‘Extraordinaire’ who has created what can only be described as a masterpiece, ably assisted by Barry Popham.
Bill King – who provided financial guidance.
And our secretary Dave Croker who has worked tirelessly to tie up all the loose ends.
This team, together with others too numerous to mention plus the generous financial contributions from over 150 people and organisations has finally made our Carnival dream a reality.
On behalf of the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee I would like to thank everyone for their support and hard work over the last three years. The successful completion of this project is in itself a tribute to their efforts.
As President of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival I feel extremely honoured and privileged to be asked to formally unveil this marvellous statue, which I dedicate to everyone who over the last 400 years has contributed to the growth and development of the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival.
Undoubtedly it will be a constant reminder of our proud Carnival heritage and hopefully it will serve to encourage future generations to maintain and hold dear our wonderful tradition.
It is certain to attract the attention of visitors to our town and give weight to our belief that Bridgwater is the "Home of Carnival".
Ladies and Gentlemen it now gives me great pleasure to unveil the official Carnival statue, the "Spirit of Carnival"
Unveiled the "Spirit of Carnival" statue to a round of applause. Onlookers were the treated to an early display of the Bridgwater Squibs that will be used in the 2005 Squibbing display.
During October, when the foundations were laid, a transcript bearing the names of all those who donated to the statue fund was placed in a cask the shape of a Bridgwater Squib, then buried under a specially made Bridgwater Carnival logo set in the pavement.
The project commenced three years ago and cost in the region of £20,000 to complete, if you would like to have a souvenir of this event why not consider purchasing a cold cast bronze model of the "Spirit of Carnival", priced at £49.99 each plus p+p, for more details see Statuette or ring 01278 421795.
The local paper, the Bridgwater Mercury, carried the story of the statue and the unveiling in their edition of Tuesday 1st November and listed the names of all those who donated. It is only with their help that this dream has become a reality.
The plinth, made of Stanton Moor Sandstone, was put into position on Wednesday 21st September 2005 in readiness for the statue to be placed later in October, our most grateful thanks go to Nigel Haggett for the excavations, Bob Wheeler for collecting the plinth stone and Ian Hale of Fine Memorials for the installation.
Personal donations receieved from:
The Anstes Family, Dave & Lisa Arney, Mrs JM Atkins, Mrs C Bailey, Alan Baker, Jill Baker, Ken Baker, Ross Baker, Mrs T Baker, Mr L Ball, Mrs C Barker, Maurice & Mary Baskerville, Pete & Jackie Bastin, Zoe Bastin & Chris Baker, Mrs VR Behenna, The Bennett Family, Daphne Bevan, Mrs J Boaden, Mrs S G Board, Mrs A Brown, Roger Brown, Janet & Ged Butcher, Mr Butson, Mrs J Butson, Mr A C Butt, Mr M A Butt, Mrs S Butt, Sheila Buxton, Mr & Mrs TP Cartwright, Kate & Sam Cattle, Malcolm Cattle, Mr & Mrs D Cavill, Mr K Child, Mrs E Claremont, Mrs P Clarke, Terry Clarke, Paul Collard, Les Criddle, Mike & Sue Crocker, Evelyn & Doug Croker, Janet & Dave Croker, John Cullen, Mrs JG Cummings, Mr & Mrs T Curtin, Alan Dallimore (Dally), Pamela & Michael Daniels, Mr & Mrs J Day, J & S Dean, Andy Dean, M Devey, CF Drake, Gladys Dunster, Arthur Dyke, Richard Edwards, Mrs M Ellis, Graeme Elson, Janet Farkas, Mrs BP Feltham MBE, Mr & Mrs A Franks, Mrs Pat Gardner, D & A Gawn, Mrs & Mrs CJ Gay, D P Gee, Mrs J Gill, KJ Gollop, Shirley & Douglas Gribbon, Mr & Mrs J Hall, Paul, Sonnya, Jordon & Xander Harris-Bastin, Mrs Janet Harvey, Eva Hawkins, Miss J Hawkins, CPM Hocking, W Holder-Wolff, Bill Holland, Irene Hooper, Kieran Howes, Mr D Hubbard, Mrs KA Hues, Mike & Glenis Hurley, Nigel Jarman, LE Jones & RW Perry, Rita & Alan Jones, Mr RF Jordan, Mrs Kerton, Clive & Gill Kett, Bill & Janice King, O King, Christine King, Mr & Mrs C Kingerlee, RB & JA Kingston, DJ Kirk, RJ & CK Lavers, Steve Lee, Lynne & Arthur Leigh, Mr & Mrs TJ Lewis, Ian Liddell-Grainger MP, Megan & Samuel Manley, V Melham, Mr M T Morgan, Mr W Munn, Mr & Mrs R T Oerton, Monica Owen, D C Owens, Trevor Palmer, Neil Parish MEP, B Patel, Mrs M Patel, Mr JW Patrick, Dave & Joan Patten, Ruth Peberdy, Mr & Mrs T Poole, T Popham, S Porter, Sandra Porter, Mr R Pritchard, Mrs Privett, Mrs G Prowse, Hazel Rafferty, AM Rainey, John & Marlene Reakes, Dave & Pam Reed, Ken & Betty Reed, Doug & Pam Robson, Mark Robson, Mr D Rodgers, Kath Rossiter, Beryl Sadler, Darren, Amanda & Emily Sampson, Mrs J Shackleford, Mr R Sharman, Gill & Pete Slocombe, Les & Sheila Slocombe, Phillip & Ute Smeed, G Smith, Margaret Snell, Dr Paul Snell, Mr O Spicer, Mr OH Stidwell, Mr & Mrs G Stockman, Dave Stokes, Mrs M Streeter, B & M Sweeting, Andrew Tallon, C D Thompson, D Thorne, Ed Thorne, Mrs R Timms, Eddie Treeby, Ken Tyrrell, Lyn & Alan Tyrrell, Mr Ian Underwood, Mr I Waters, Mrs C A Weston, D & E Wheatly, T Miss L Whitlock, Effie Wilson, Miss W Wolff, Mr H R Wood, EJ Worgan, Mr WS Wright.
Organisations donations received from:
Avalon Round Table, H Biffen & Son (Bill & John), Blake Insurance Services, Bridgwater Town Council, British Energy, British Flag CC, Butterworth Jones, Cavaliers CC, Centurion CC, Co-op Funeral Services, Crusaders CC ,M J Dodden & Co Chartered Accountants, Elkins Tyres, Globe CC, Gremlins CC, Griffens CC, Hot Rock CC, Jersey Battle of Flowers Association, Lime Kiln CC, Lions International, Magnox Group, The Mansion House, Marina Sydenham JCC, Masqueraders CC, National Westminster Bank, Newmarket CC, Oasis CC, Rainbow CC, Ramblers CC, Renegades CC, River Parrett Trail, Bridgwater Rotary Club, Royal Ordnance plc, Sedgemoor District Council, Sedgemoor LVA, Shambles CC, Somerset County Council, Vagabonds CC, Volunteer Arms, Westonzoyland CC, Wills CC, Bridgwater YMCA CC, Zig Zag CC.
We are also extremely grateful to the following firms/individuals who have either given their time voluntarily or at reduced rate:
Ann & Barry Popham, Bridgwater Mercury, Bridgwater Times, Copratec Mouldings, Fine Memorials, Metal Craft, Nigel Haggett (Builders) Ltd, Scotts Carpets & Wheeler & Son (Haulage Contractors).
