General Discussion
Dawlish Carnival
Was it a good carnival? Yes and no. There were some exceptional entries, well done to those.
Where were our favourite Wakefield Majorettes? Their music and performance was missed by many. I can't imagine it being Gordens decision as he and his girls love Dawlish carnival.
What was with those street sellers selling their awful tack and upsetting so many children?
I agree with you Ziggy, our Carnival used to be talked about all over South Devon but I doubt it gets a mention now. I dont know why its been like this the last couple years, have noticed a lot of people that used to enter dont bother now. Those unlicensed balloon sellers needed stringing up, scammers!!!!
We saw this happen to a family near us; a clown placed a balloon into a little boys hand and asked him if he wanted it implying that it was free, as she had placed it in his hand, the boy said "yes". So then the clown then asked for a pound from his Mum. When she said no thank you the clown snatched the balloon out of the little boys hand leaving him in tears. I did hear later that these clowns were rogue traders who later got arrested for not having a traders license. They had their balloons confiscated and had to take their costumes off. Hope there were not too may families conned by these people. back and walked off leaving the little boy in tears.
I found the carnival a bit disappointing to be honest. Not much in it at all, what was there was good, really good some of it but not many taking part this year.
Don't like to keep harping on about the same old thing, but feel I have to as so many people on here seem unaware of why this and the previous years carnival parade was so poor. Again blame good old Sainsbury's and maybe just maybe a lack of something the late Brian Heath had in spade fulls.
For years we entered the parade we also sponsored and supported carnival week the best we could, Brian and his committee used to involve as many local businesses as they could selling programs advertising and all sorts of things. Then along come good old Sainsbury's with a pocket full of sponsorship money and all of a sudden the committee cant be bothered with the local small businesses that supported them for years.
Another reason and probably why we stopped entering a float was the judging which takes place on John Nash Drive prior to the parade. No hard feelings but the same old van with a string of balloons around it put there five minutes before judging, used to win our class year in year out We spent all day on our float had everything a float should have and never won a sausage.
Perhaps next year after this years Airshow flop the two organizing committees can get back together and have both events on the same day as it used to be Friday would probably be better than Thursday.
Finally bring back Steve and the Teignmouth mutineers now that used to be a float worth seeing.
Shame on you Sainsburys, you've only been open 2 weeks and already destroyed the Dawlish Carnival, just trying to work out how your opening in August prevented people from making Floats this year. Am sure all Dawlish residents will be happy to see you close down soon due to lack of support then we will have a decent Carnival again next year.
The power wielded by supermarkets is truly awesome!!
I think it was a huge mistake allowing the fair to take over the lawn on carnival week.
Families i spoke to were disappointed they could not picnic on the green and watch the events put on by the carnival as they had done previous years.
I know David Rowland is a generous man and paid for the marquee maybe thats what swayed the decision. Also the flower show had to relocate because the marquee didn't arrive early enough, anyway it would have been too small (so i was told!)
how can sainsburys be the reason the carnival wasn't as good this year,it has been going downhill for the last couple of years,they wasn't open then, if they did give sponsership money that can only be could,ever thought people just cannot afford it?
Agree with ZIGGY. Was surprised to see the fair taking up so much of the Lawn.
Can't really see that Sainsbury's making a donation to the carnival is anything but good. I didn't get to the carnival.. did they have a float taking part? That would have been better.
as you are now a Councillor, perhaps you can look into why the fair is allowed to have so much time on the lawn now!!! it used to be 4days, it does nothing for the town centre in fact people stay away as its too expensive and the visitors have nowhere to go when the tide is in, come to think of itthat applies to residents as well
Have to agree with Ziggy - the fair did take up too much of the Lawn and was too expensive for the average family. When you've got 4 kids it's a nightmare and in the end we avoided the area which was probably not what was intended by the carnival organisers. The procession was ok and the weather was kind, unlike the previous day for the airshow. Not that anyone can do anything about the weather. Missed the Wakefield girls, they add some much-needed glamour to the whole thing, the sight of the Pipe band's hairy knees really doesn't come close. The clowns were scarey, especially when they demanded money with menaces! Now we are waiting for the results of the competitions, let's hope they don't lose them as they did last year with the misplaced articles' results.
As usual with you lot never happy. Mr Rowlands pays good money to bring something different to town in an effort to make the place more entertaining for a couple of weeks and what do you lot do slag him off. How about you all get together and make a list of just what you do want in town then come up with a way of paying for it. If you all think you can do things better re The Council, The Carnival and Air show committees,The Re-generation, Entertaining the holiday makers, etc. Lets see you at the Manor House with your ideas instead of constantly moaning on here about everyone elses efforts. In fact why not move to Sidmouth and wait for god if your so unhappy
Smug head, you are the one that started moaning blaming Sainsburys.What a suprise your favourite in the past had the word TEIGNMOUTH in it. Overall i think it was a very good week. The beer tent was missed , especialy the Tribute.
Floats may have been down due to the recession. Crowd numbers were way up as were the numbers for the pram race.
The pikey clowns were a pain but then they were also sainsburys fault.