Well,,, the sun was shining for the 2009 Hale Carnival, on Saturday 13th June. As Carnival committee members, stall holders and other field events prepared for the day, no one could imagine how successful the Carnival would be, although a hint of good weather was predicted from around Wednesday/Thursday on several News channels and forecasts, the actual carnival day itself was quite simply, a beautiful day!?
As the gates opened and people began to arrive around 11.45am, it was clear from this point, that the weather in general, would provide Hale Village with another grand carnival event.
The Carnival officially commenced just after 12 midday, opened by the newly elected Lord Mayor of Hale, Freeman-Mr Peter Kelly, who also crowned this years new Carnival Rose Queen-Miss Georgina Evans.
Once the official opening ceremony and crowning of the Rose Queen were over, the historic carnival parade took up it’s cue in the showground arena in the park and set off for it’s journey around Hale at 12.20pm..
In the parade was the newly crowned rose queen along with the retiring rose queen, Miss Sophie Mason. The two carriages with the rose queens in were accompanied by their rose buds and page boys.
The parade also included two large giants, a samba band, vintage vehicles and the famous, green man!!
The carnival parade made it’s way around the village with the help of the Police and parade marshals/village volunteers in hi-viz jackets. En-route, locals came out to greet the parade as it slowly trundled through the village. The route it took was straight out of the park entrance down to the Wellington Pub, turning left onto Cocklaid Lane, followed by turning right onto Arklow Drive. The parade remained on Arklow Drive and made it’s way through the Wimpy Estate turing left out onto Ramsbrook Lane, followed by another left at the junction onto the High Street and then down the High Street turning right, back into Hale Park.
Once the Carnival procession arrived back in the park around 12.45pm, things got under way properly for everyone to enjoy, from a large climbing frame, Tai Chi demonstrations, fun fair, a large scalectrix racing track to a U2 tribute band called Elevation who rocked the park!
Other activities included a full 90 minute-charity football match in-respect of local villager Mr Will Standish, who passed away recently. Hale Bank Gun Club were also on the field with their Clay Pigeon Shooting stand-here you could practice your skill, at shooting,,, clay pigeons!
The crew from Cheshire Fire Brigade were on hand to give several demonstrations of how to tackle chip pan fires, kids could get to grips with several live reptiles in one of the marquees, a snake and a lizard as well as have a ride on the donkeys near by.
Local villager Roni Hilton had is plants on sale on his old farm trailer near the lime tree with help from his partner and his brother Geoff, near by was the Hale Branch of the RBL in their grand blue and yellow marquee, with Carol Masons bbq and hamburger stand just in front-providing us with some well needed nourishment throughout the day. Local Farmer Dave Harrison provided the carnival with the use of some of his vintage tractors, for which he had one on display, promoting an upcoming charity tractor run in aide of Marie Currie!
During the afternoon we had several sets from the U2 tribute band, Elevation, knocking out some classic U2 tracks, from the likes of “Pride in the name of love”, to “It’s a beautiful day”, what a great professional performance from these guys and the spectators absolutely loved it!
Over in the Village Hall, the volunteers in the coffee shop were providing a refreshing cuppa, along with the abundance of freshly baked cakes. Laurie Morgan had his photographic display on show, for those interested in the byegone days of “Ye Old Hale Village”.
Steve Marnick and his colleagues from Cheshire/Widnes Police provided the Carnival with much needed security-law enforcement on the day to ensure no unpleasantness ac cured, along with making sure the area around park entrance was safe for pedestrians and road users!
I think all in all,, judging by past carnivals, the saying always goes, it was better than last years, but is this just the usual off the cough remark? There are many ingredients to what makes Hale Carnival special, may be it’s the weather on the day, the number of people who turn out to come and sample the activities and entertainment-is it the types/forms of entertainment?
There is one main ingredient that is needed/but yet sometimes overlooked and that’s the small group of local village volunteers who give up their spare time several hours each month (for 12 months) to prepare and plan for Carnival Day.
Along with on the day, those trusted village folk of whom just turn up and help out. This is the sort of ingredients that makes such a Carnival as Hale has, that more special and all the more to keep it part of village heritage.
