Carnival presentation night

This was the Carnival Committee's annual evening of celebration and sharing out proceeds from the hugely enjoyable community event held way back in July.

The doors opened to the skirl of pipes and drumbeats as the band marched in to the Pebsham Community Centre to start the 2009 Carnival Presentation and Awards.

Chairman of Rother District Council, and President of Bexhill Carnival, Councillor Martin Mooney, heard Carnival Chairman, Nim Whitmarsh, praise Carnival sponsors Sidley Central Taxis, Drays of Western Road, Old Town Preservation Society, Earl's Bakery, Nick Shaw's Carnival Fair, and Smith and Humphries for their financial support to an otherwise self-funded organisation.

Many thank you gifts were presented to carnival helpers too numerous to mention, without whom the small committee could not put on the successful event for the town.

The Carnival Queen, Tessa Carrick, spoke on behalf of the Court to thank everyone for helping to make the year such an enjoyable one, and to say how glad they were to have played a part in raising funds for this year's chosen charities, which this year were Hastings and Rother Voluntary Association for the Blind, Crossroads, and St. Michael's Hospice, all of which were delighted to be presented with cheques for 500.

The evening concluded with a display of Le Roc, by the 1066 Jive Dance Club, and general dancing to the music of Roy Forrow's disco.

Nim Whitmarsh commented, "This year's carnival week went off really well. We've already begun planning for 2010."

Nim and wife Sal were runners up in the volunteer category at the Bexhill Achievers Awards.

Chris Cox, one of their carnival helpers, said: " Nim and Sal are real grafters, putting in long hard hours to make the carnival the success it is, neither is afraid to get their hands dirty.

"The whole committee pull out all the stops during carnival week."