Get involved in this year's Bridport Carnival (From Bridport Carnival)

Get involved in this year's Bridport Carnival

4:49pm Wednesday 20th July 2011 in News By James Tourgout

PEOPLE are being urged to join in the 40th anniversary Bridport Carnival as pictures emerge of one of its old stalwarts.

Hazel Richards and Wendy Warr sent in pictures of their dad Brian Richards during the days when he was on the committee.

Hazel said: “He was a larger than life businessman who gave up his time and money to raise cash for lots of local charities.

“I thought it would be nice to remind people that he is still around and to share some photographs of the events he was involved in.

“One of the best has got to be King Henry VIII. He did not have much dressing up to do to look the part.

“Another favourite is when he was dressed up as a school teacher and lots of females dressed up as St Trinians schoolgirls.”

Brian now lives at St James’s Park Nursing Home in Bradpole where Hazel and Wendy say he can be visited by friends and family.

Other pictures show Brian’s father Harry Richards in his much loved bright red fire engine.

Hazel and Wendy said Brian loved the carnival.

“He would go around on foot with his collection tubs and mix in with the crowds of people and most of them that knew him would put in their lose change.

“Not satisfied with that he would then go into the public houses and encourage people to give generously to charity. In this way many tubs were full when dad was collecting.”

The memories come as organisers gear up for the 40th anniversary carnival on August 20 and 21.

It’s all systems go for the Bridport News-backed carnival’s grand procession on Saturday, August 20 and torchlight procession on Sunday.

Jade Coombs is the Carnival Princess for the 40th anniversary year. Organisers are planning a huge fireworks display on Sunday night at West Bay to mark the anniversary occasion.

Motorists are being asked not to park in St Swithin’s Road on Saturday, August 20 so the floats and procession can gather.

Special 40th anniversary carnival car stickers and entry forms for the procession are available from the Bridport News office in East Street, the tourist information centre and AG Down in South Street.

Previous winners of trophies in the procession are also requested to return the cups to AG Down.