Burnham Carnival needs your help (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

Burnham Carnival needs your help

4:16pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Kirsty James

ORGANISERS of Highbridge and Burnham Carnival have said the event will not be able to go ahead if not enough people volunteer as marshals.

The Highbridge and Burnham Carnival Association is once again appealing for marshals ahead of the big night on November 12 - after last year's carnival was almost cancelled due to a lack of volunteers.

Carnival committee chairman Phil New, said: “It is on a knife edge for all carnivals. The bare minimum we usually need is around 80 marshals.

“If on the night we couldn't reach a suitable figure to maintain the safety of the event then we just wouldn't be able to run it and there wouldn't be a carnival.”

Marshals are sent from other carnivals such as Bridgwater and North Petherton to help with Highbridge and Burnham Carnival but the group still needs to rally together neighbouring volunteers to make up the rest.

Phil stressed there is some compromise for volunteers in terms of shifts covering the event.

“Some people may have to work at 10pm so we can put them on for the first part and have another person cover the last bit,” he said.

“The last thing we want is to have only 20 people turn up. Last year we were desperate for marshals as, due to unforeseen circumstances, we found we were short just two weeks before the carnival. We contacted everyone we knew and ended up with the most marshals we'd ever had.

“It goes to show how important marshals are to allowing us to hold this free event.”

Training is offered for anyone who volunteers as a marshal, which demonstrates a sense of community spirit and leadership and can be added to CVs.

Anyone interested can call Phil on 01278-780219 or dapman221@yahoo.co.uk or drop a note into 221 Burnham Road.

This year the group will gather at the Princess Hall at 5.45pm.