Show hailed the biggest and best yet

...and it’s just the start of greater things to come
WEARY carnival organisers are celebrating after the biggest and best Oldham Carnival for years, and have pledged a mammoth effort to make it bigger than Notting Hill by 2015.

“That is what we want, and we know we can do it,” said events organiser Paul Davies.

“It’s the biggest weekend we have had since we brought the carnival back four years ago, but it’s going to get bigger and better.

“We are already working on next year’s carnival and we have a few ideas which I don’t want to reveal yet.”

The enthusiasm of the six-strong committee and the 30-strong team of volunteers who helped on the day produced a carnival for Oldham to be proud of.

“There were absolutely thousands of people in the park,” said Paul.

The carnival brought families from all parts of the community together in a weekend of fun.

A modest Paul admitted: “We have worked hard, but we all enjoy it. We asked the people of Oldham to support us and they did. We have shown we can make a traditional carnival a big success.

“There is nothing better than a working-class town like Oldham having its own carnival. People wanted it, they supported it, and from now on it will be known as ‘The People’s Carnival’.” Entry to the field and entertainment provided by the carnival committee was completely free, and the event also gave an opportunity for local charities to raise awareness of what they do and to raise money at the same time.

“For us, the carnival is more about community spirit than making money, and I would like to thank everyone who helped to make it a success,” said Paul.

There were lots to see and do on the carnival field, and Alexandra Park provided a stunning setting for the fun.

Some revellers crowded round the Eskape to the Musik stage to hear local bands play, others meandered around stalls and the fairground, or enjoyed puppet and clown shows. Others found a quieter place on the edge of activity to enjoy family picnics.

Linda Wood travelled from Blackpool, where she moved two years ago, especially for the carnival. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I love it,” said the 45-year-old.

“My dad, Ronald Wood, sold balloons, flags and banners along the route for years before he died. We used to help him and my mum, Marjorie, used to sit and watch the parade,” she said.

Julie and her sister, Linda, of Waltham Street, Oldham, made it a real family outing, with the seven children and seven grandchildren they have between them.

The Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, spent all Saturday afternoon at the carnival, and a delighted Paul said: “He stayed for four hours and met a lot of people and shook their hands.

“He said he was very impressed with everything.

“It was simply great.”