Move to revive Bacup's carnival (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Move to revive Bacup's carnival

3:51pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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A MEETING is set to take place to discuss plans to resurrect Bacup Carnival.

Already nearly 700 people have pledged help to get the carnival up and running again by offering to work on stalls, face painting, organising street marshals and much more on the social networking website, Face-book.

A meeting is to be held next month for people to discuss their ideas.

Coun Jimmy Eaton, who remembers being involved with the carnival as a child, said it would be wonderful to set it up again.

He said: “Thousands of people used to come down – and I’m going back 50 years here.

“It was absolutely brilliant and so many people gave up so much of their time to do floats and take part.

“I remember it well. It used to start on the old Fairview Road and it went down on to South Street, into the centre then up into Stacksteads and into New Line – it was a really big procession. I’ve still got clips of it on video.

“There was a big arena put up with bands playing.

“I think people wanted to move it to different parts like Rawtenstall but the people who set it up wanted to keep it in Bacup.

“I’d love to see it set up again.”

Vickke Burnside, who set up the Facebook group and runs an after school club from The Community Centre, Stacksteads, said: “I can’t believe how much it has taken off.

“Everybody has been going on about it since we lost the carnival in Bacup, so I decided to start a group and see what support there was.”

She has suggested Stubbylee Park, Bacup, as a venue – where the carnival was traditionally held, and banning alcohol to ensure the event is suitable for families.

Money raised by the event would be given to the families of Sophie Lancaster, who was murdered in Stubbylee Park, Matthew Entwistle, who died in a motorbike accident at Cowm Quarry, Whitworth, former councillor Peter Gill and seven-year-old Joshua Westwell, who both died from cancer.

The families could then donate the money to charities of their choice.

A meeting to discuss the plans is at Holy Trinity Primary School, Booth Road, from 6pm on Monday, August 18.

Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting or join the Facebook group or contact Vickke at The Community Centre in Stacksteads.

Do you have memories of Bacup Carnival?

Add your comments below.

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