Township backs carnival with £1900 donation

A member of the Oldham pipe band starts up a tune during last year's parade.

The Milnrow, Newhey and Districts Carnival has been given £1900 by the Pennines Township towards the running of this year's carnival.

The amount is double the sum the Carnival committee originally appealed for and, based it on last year's costs, the money should fund the entire event.

“My jaw dropped when I realised that the decision had been made to award the Carnival with the total of all of last year’s running costs,” said the Carnival’s Chairman Paul Kettle. “This means that we can concentrate all our efforts into making the event a special day to remember for the whole community.”

The Co-operative Milnrow Brass Band, Oldham Scottish Pipe Band and Rochdale Borough Youth Band have already been booked for the event.

Crossgates Primary School’s Steel Band will play at the fête, after the street parade, and children can look forward to a fairground and Rock Puppet shows throughout the afternoon.

Dancing displays, refreshments, stalls, a tai chi demonstration, Yelloway Mobile Museum, a tombola, raffle, and games can be enjoyed, whilst Rochdale (Impact) Road Safety’s driving simulator and display will provide a thought-provoking activity.

Community groups, schools, churches, businesses, clubs and organisations can call 01706 649 730 or visit www.milnrowcarnival.co.uk for procession entry forms.

The Carnival Committee has launched a competition for pupils at Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College, ahead of the carnival on 6 June.

Supported by their Art and Design department, and teacher Kathy Lewis, students have been asked to design A4 posters for either, or both, categories of the competition ‘The Carnival’ and the ‘Annual Duck Race’.

The two posters that best capture the tradition and spirit of each of these events will be reproduced and distributed for display throughout the villages, for the purpose of promoting the Carnival and Duck Race ahead of the fun in June.

Councillor Irene Davidson has donated two HMV gift vouchers, worth twenty-five pounds each, as prizes for the designers of the winning posters.

The closing date for entries is Friday 27 March, when the student’s efforts will be showcased with a display at Milnrow Library. The posters will be secretly judged and residents will have the opportunity to view the creativity, and artistic talent, developed at the school.

Competition winners will be announced on Monday 20 April.

Robert Hardy, the Carnival’s Secretary, is pleased that the competition has been launched with the association of Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College: “We value the school’s assistance with the competition and are delighted to have the involvement of the students.”