THE threat of the first rain in weeks didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of everyone at this year's Astwood Bank Carnival.
The event, last Saturday, saw near perfect weather conditions.
Right from those arriving on the carnival field to finalise getting everything ready, to the same group clearing up on the Sunday morning there were blue skies and smiling faces.
The procession, headed by the carnival royal family in a horse and carriage, followed in limousines by MP Rachel Mclean and mayor of Redditch councillor Juliet Brunner, along with County Councillors, saw a number of floats, traction engines, a fire engine, an American muscle truck, and an army jeep.
As everyone arrived back at the carnival field they were entertained by Lucy Jane’s School of Dance, just before the crowning of carnival royalty and the awarding of rosettes to the best float and walking groups.
This year also saw Horseman Of The Knight, a team of professional stunt riders, and the Jorvik Viking, a battle re-enactment group, entertaining people.
Mid afternoon the skies were lit up by a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hawker Hurricane and the event came to an end with the grand raffle draw.
Ashley Hewitt, chairman of the carnival committee, said: “The list of ‘thank yous’ grows every year as more and more people come along and support the Carnival in one way or another.
"Whether it's businesses providing us with equipment to help us put the show on, sponsorship of the events, all of the groups who entered floats and walking groups, people who have helped sell raffle tickets and programmes, the road marshals, residents for bedecking their houses with flags, the council for putting up the bunting, or the residents and visitors for simply coming along and making it all worthwhile, this remains a true community owned event that should make everyone proud - I certainly am.”
All photos by Roy Edwards
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