Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival has elected a new president.
Mike Crocker, took over the presidential chains at the committee’s recent annual general meeting (AGM), and becomes the 25th known president in the popular carnival’s long and esteemed history.
Mike is from a carnival loving family and has plenty of carnival experience. His first real memory of Bridgwater Carnival was as a young boy and being taken by his uncles to see an entry being constructed for the annual procession back in the 1950s. In 1961 he took part in the carnival as a walking entry with some friends, and he has been involved ever since.
After spending time in British Flag CC (carnival club) and Wilfs CC, Mike joined the carnival committee in 1980. Here he has held a variety of positions including vice chairman, assistant chief marshal, assistant chief steward and vice president, and he became the event’s grandstand coordinator in 2005 – a position he still holds to this day. In 2011 he was elected as a life member of the committee.
Very much a family man, Mike has been married to Sue for 50 years, and has two children and three grandchildren. Unsurprisingly all have been involved in carnival at some stage in their lives with Sue being a former member of Suffragettes CC (the only all-female carnival club to take part in the carnival).
Immediately after taking on the prestigious role, Mike said: “I feel extremely proud to have been elected as president of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, and I look forward to working with the committee and the clubs to ensure the continued success of our wonderful carnival tradition.”
Mike also thanked and paid tribute to his predecessor and outgoing president, Malcolm Cattle, and added: “Malcolm 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.”
