Dave Croker becomes new Bridgwater Carnival President

Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival has elected a new president.

Dave Croker, took over the presidential carnival chains at the committee’s annual general meeting (AGM) last night, and becomes the 26th known president in the popular carnival’s long and esteemed history.

Dave has plenty of carnival knowledge and experience. In 1971 he was one of the founder members of Bath Bridge Carnival Club, who amalgamated with Griffens Carnival Club in 1975, and he was the club representative at carnival committee meetings from 1979.

He joined Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee in 1983 as a member, and during the last forty five years has held a number of positions including Collection Officer, Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman.

He was made a Vice President of the carnival committee in 1991, and elected as a Life Member in 2000.

As well as holding the officer positions, Dave has been hugely influential with the evolution of Bridgwater Carnival over the years. He has also held a number of other responsibilities including, the production of the official video and transition to DVD for the past 28 years, founder and webmaster of the official Bridgwater Carnival website, and the event’s Judges Convenor since 2001.

Very much a family man, Dave has been married to Janet for 43 years, and has two children, Stuart and Gemma, and two grandchildren, Louie and Harry.

Immediately after taking on the prestigious role, Dave said: “I feel extremely proud and honoured, and I would like to thank my fellow committee members who have elected me as president of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee. I look forward to working with the committee and the clubs to ensure the continued success of our wonderful carnival tradition.”

Dave also thanked and paid tribute to his predecessor and outgoing president, Mike Crocker. He added “Mike is a wonderful ambassador for everything Bridgwater Carnival stands for, and I have a huge challenge in following in his footsteps. No doubt I will be asking for his help and support as I take on this new role.”

Index of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Presidents:

1881 – 1892 W J Ford

1893 – 1896 W T Baker

1896 – 1906 S M J Woods

1906 – 1908 H Banes Walker

1926 – 1933 H M B Ker

1933 – 1957 C MacKenzie

1957 – 1963 E Wills

1963 – 1971 G N Hayball

1971 – 1974 William Coate

1974 – 1977 Fred Betty

1977 – 1980 Cliff Harris

1980 – 1983 Clifford Jarvis

1983 – 1986 Stan Bown

1986 – 1989 Bill Holland

1989 – 1992 Ken Parsons

1992 – 1995 Bill Biffen

1995 – 1998 Denis Cavill

1998 – 2001 Dave Patten

2001 – 2004 Les Criddle

2004 – 2007 Chris Hocking

2007 – 2010 Doug Robson

2010 – 2013 Pete Bastin

2013 – 2016 Rita Jones

2016 – 2019 Malcolm Cattle

2019 – 2024 Mike Crocker