Pilning Carnival is cancelled (From Gazette Series)

Pilning Carnival is cancelled

8:30am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Thornbury news By Marion Sauvebois

FOR THE first time in more than three decades, Pilning’s most anticipated summer event has been cancelled this year.

The village’s Carnival organisers have announced that with virtually no help from the community and only a small committee, they were not in a position to go on with the preparations.

Last year’s event, with its spectacular procession of floats, had been a success with visitors flocking to Pilning.

Former vice-chairman and treasurer Becky Cooper told the Gazette that half the organising team had to leave the committee this year.

"There were six of us last year and it was already difficult to plan and prepare everything then," she said.

"I would love to see the Carnival continue. Villagers love the event and it has raised a lot of money for charity over the years."

Pilning Carnival had faced folding in 2008, but was rescued at the last minute when a group of volunteers came forward.

Yet, despite the new committee’s efforts to recruit members and save the event, nobody offered to join their ranks this time around.

She added: "There was a meeting to appeal for volunteers but no-one turned up for that.There is a small amount of money left for anybody who still wants to take it forward. But as far as we are aware the event is not happening this year."

Former chairman Ray Edwards, who had to step down from the commiteee, said that the event would hopefully be resurrected in 2013.

"I don't want to see the carnival pack up completely," he said. "I really enjoy it and I don't see why there would not be a carnival next year.

"I would not be chairman again, but I would do whatever I could to help people put it on for next year."

It is hoped that the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations will make up for the loss of the Pilning Carnival in June.

This is the second long-running summer event to have been cancelled in the area.

Thornbury Carnival organisers launched a campaign to rally local support in November before calling off all preparations in December.

They, however, vowed to resurrect the annual celebration in 2013.

And last month, the Gazette revealed that Tytherington’s famous horse show, the Gymkhana, was also under serious threat.