CARNIVAL THANKS This year’s Newton Abbot Town Carnival has now ended, the weeklong carnival ended with the carnival procession on Saturday 12th July at Courtenay Park. This year the event was organised by the Newton Abbot Carnival Committee and supported by Newton Abbot Town Council. The organisers would like to thank everyone involved in the event for their hard work, time and generosity. Including Keith Stokes-Smith, Lord of Newton Abbot Borough Town, for his generous donation which paid for the carnival dignitaries dresses and a monetary gift to the new Carnival Queen, Andrew Hill Hairdressers for their wonderful work on the hair of the Carnival Queen and Carnival Princess, Court Leat for their organisation of the crowing, Wetherspoons for the use of a venue for the quiz night and Tall Sounds for providing the questions, the ATC for all their valued help throughout the whole carnival, Kilners Komets and the Music Mill for their entertainment on the R’n’R night and all our sponsors including MDA, Viridor and WBB Minerals. Many of the carnival raffles would not have happened without the help from local businesses in the area who supported the carnival by donating raffle prizes, to name but a few they were The Union Pub, Wetherspoons, Pizza Cafe, Solsa Tanning, Somerfield, Devon Deli, Woodlands, Paignton Zoo and Plant World. Watch this space for more details on the presentation of the monies raised, which will be presented to Splash (Special Play & Learning Activity during School Holidays) in the coming months.

The 2008 Newton Abbot Carnival Queen and Princess have now been announced. The Carnival Queen is Lauren Garner (Left) and the Carnival Princess is Bethane Guest (Right).

The funds raised by the Carnival this year will go to SPLASH, Special Play and Learning Activities during School Holidays for children with special needs. The group is run by a management committee made up of parents and volunteers and rely heavily on fund raising, grants and donations.

As a group they spend time doing things that many 'normal' children take for granted such as swimming, going to the cinema, playing sports, trips to the zoo and Crealy park, however these children require extra support to achieve these things. For example they need to hire buses with tail lifts and wheelchair access. Experienced, qualified staff trained to administer life saving medication. Specialist equipment such as hoists for changing and light boxes. All these things come at a high price but when you see the look on the children's faces it makes it all worth while!

CARNIVAL CHEQUE PRESENTATION

Tuesday 7th October 2008, saw the presentation evening of the Carnival Committee. Money raised over the week long event was presented to S.P.L.A.S.H. (Special Play & Learning Activity during School Holidays).

Even with the poor weather during carnival week, the Carnival Committee were able to donate a generous £800 to SPLASH. The money raised was through the number of weeklong events as well as a number of raffles which took place during carnival week. Two representatives from Asda also attended and presented a cheque for £170.13 to SPLASH, this money was raised during their fund raising efforts during carnival week.

The presentation evening also acknowledged the hard work and support from the Carnival Queen Lauren Garner and Carnival Princess Bethanie Guest. Certificates were also presented to carnival royalty float attendants who included Abigail and Rachael Smith, Melissa Blackford and Lucy Cullum. A certificate was also presented to Adam Green who acted as a Carnival monk.