From little acorns doth mighty Oaks grow. In many ways it’s the story of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival today and this year particularly so for one club.
Sixty years ago, a street in Bridgwater was to become a major part of carnival history. Roy Pearce and his son Kevin formed a carnival club to meet the aspirations of youngsters in the area. As most of the early members lived in Marina Row, that was the chosen club name.
Their carnival debut that year was a walking entry – Musketeers – which featured a trailer and Go-Kart! The fun had begun and was followed up with Zulu Comes to Town the following year with Kevin accompanied by friends Steven, James, Luigi and Adrian taking part.
Pirates, Hell’s Angels and Vikings came in the following three years but in 1971 their first prize – a third – came in the shape of Chichester Returns which celebrated solo round-the-world sailor Sir Francis Chichester. There was no looking back.
The size of entries began to grow, and prizes started to accumulate, including a first in 1974. All this time the club was exclusively for young people and still is. Following a move to the Sydenham Centre in 1982 the club’s current name was forged – Marina Sydenham Junior CC.
To celebrate the club’s 21st anniversary in 1987, it was decided, for the first time, to incorporate a moving part on the club’s cart entry, Fantasia. It was a low-tech approach. A man concealed in a box turned a handle which rotated a big number 21!
Cart building had been under a tarp – initially in a tennis court and then a pub car park, but in 1989 Marina Sydenham took up residence in a shed at the Bristol Road carnival complex. County class wins followed and in 1996 the club’s Aztec Tribal Dance swept the board on the county circuit.
This year, the little acorn planted by Roy Pearce comes to an incredible climax – the club will be moving into one of the brand-new multi-million pound complex of Bristol Road sheds, arguably one of the best carnival facilities in the UK.
From the late 90s until recently the club was in the hands of Richard and Sarah Humphry who remain as club stalwarts. Looking ahead to the new club shed Sarah said members felt privileged and grateful. ‘It’s very exciting for everyone and is an amazing facility for Bridgwater youngsters to become involved in carnival. Not only will they have tremendous fun, but they’ll also learn lots of cart building skills and become part of the lifeblood for carnival in the generations ahead.”
