Not a big show (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Not a big show

5:10pm Saturday 31st July 2010 in

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ORGANISERS of the Winklebury Carnival have expressed their disappointment after a sharp drop in turnout cast a cloud over the normally popular community event.

The annual festival usually sees scores of school children join a parade of cars and bicycles down from the Sycamore Centre, in Sycamore Way, to the playing fields off Winklebury Way, Basingstoke.

But this time, the schoolchildren did not turn up, leaving volunteers and the carnival’s stewards to lead the procession.

Organisers also thought that the number of people at the playing fields was markedly down on last year, from around 5,000 people to 2,500.

Jackie Lambell, a member of the organising committee, said: “We usually have lots of children turn up from play groups and Scouts and Guides. It’s such a shame.

“There’s definitely not as much footfall as last year. We could definitely do with more support next year.”

This year’s procession included a fire engine, Winklebury PC Ian Castle and a handful of drummers.

Melanie Pope, of Willoughby Way, Winkle-bury, sat on the bank by Winklebury Way with her 30-year-old partner Chris Copage and their three young children to watch the procession go by.

The 27-year-old said: “We thought it was quite short and very small. We saw the pictures from a previous year and it looked quite big. But the children did enjoy the fire engine.”

The carnival itself featured a fairground with a number of scary rides, an arena with dog shows and one with magician Tony Spaghetti, a car boot sale and beer and food tents.

Janice Tarrant, of Trenchmead Gardens, Rooksdown, Basingstoke, came to the carnival with her 13-year-old son Alan and her 12-year-old son Lee.

She said: “It seems a little bit quieter than it normally does, but I think the event is really great and I think it is something we need to do more.”

Main organiser Lea Jeff thought the economic situation, and a clash with the Farnborough Airshow, could be behind the lower numbers, and added that the organising team would change their date next year and try to get more children involved.