Just like that, Hatherleigh Carnival is over for another year — and what a smashing weekend it was, according to organisers.

Friday night began with a large crowd of children helping to drag both sets of the unlit tar barrels to the top of town and many people stayed out for live music in the Square from Electric Spank, Fireblockers, and DJ Steve. There was another great crowd for the 5am run of the flaming tar barrels, with the new route a huge success!

The decorated House and Decorated Shop Window competitions were also big success and congratulations were expressed to the winners:

Decorated Shop Windows:

1, One Market Street Cafe, 2, Sapphire Framing, 3, Salar Gallery

Decorated Houses:

1, Sam, Adam, Anya and Jonah Hill with ‘Hather-sea’, 2, Hatherleigh Community Primary School with story book characters, 3, Marion Southwick in conjunction with Beachwood Trinkets with ‘Woodland Wonders’

The weather was kind for the children’s afternoon and plenty of people came out to cheer on the entrants. Carnival Queen Charlotte Reddaway and Carnival Princess Alicia-Rose Janowski were crowned by Carnival President Deb Laing-Trengove, before a celebratory mini parade of all the entries at Hatherleigh Community Centre.

‘A huge thanks to Shiva and Bridge Street Garage for sponsoring the children’s prize money for the afternoon procession,’ said the committee.

‘We had packed streets ahead of the main evening procession, with some exceptional floats entertaining the crowds. The crowds stayed busy for the second run of the flaming tar barrels, which were followed by even more live music from Eat The Rich, James Monkman, and Hatherleigh favourites, Lionstar.

‘Thank you to so many people: Kingswood Homes for the use of their premises; NJB Automotive for donating the paraffin used on carnival day; everyone who loaned barriers, generators, vehicles, lights, trailers, areas to park cars, bar and sound equipment; the George Hotel for providing coffee and cakes for the royalty and shop window judges; every single person who donned a high-vis jacket and helped steward the road closures and helped with crowd control, including the 4x4 Response Group and Rotary Club; Deb Laing-Trengove, Charlotte Reddaway, and Alicia-Rose Janoswki for being this year’s Carnival President and Royalty; our fabulous judges; the wonderful team armed with collection buckets and the Last Appeal; our smashing bar staff in the Square; every single person who worked their socks off to make Hatherleigh Carnival 2021 such a fantastic success in any other way; and finally, everyone who came along to watch — thank you.’

The impressive set of floats entering the evening procession were:

Mad Max – Deb Laing-Trengove, Hatherleigh Carnival President

Hatherleigh Queen – Charlotte Reddaway

Hatherleigh Princess – Alicia-Rose Janowski

Our Yorkshire Devon Farm – Hooper and Wale families

Hatherleigh’s Future Young Farmers – Powsland, Jones, Brett, Pease, Cleave, and Rice families

Hatherleigh Housewives Unlocked – Hatherleigh Jolly Boys

Pantoland – Wonnacott, Bater, Lumby, King and Squire families

Hatherleigh Youth FC – Paul Flowers and Adam Hill

Clarksons Farm – Emma Edwards-Brady

The Mystery Machine – Winearls and Trenaman families

Santa – Okehampton Round Table

Yer Tiz – Sprockett CC

Post-Lockdown After Party – Winkleigh YFC

Holsworthy Queen – Maxine Greenaway

Okehampton Princess – Victoria Bennet

Woolsery Goes Cold – Woolsery YFC

Thank You Keyworkers – Lewdown YFC

Powered By Pedal – Bradworthy YFC

Clarksons Farm – Okehampton YFC

Wild West – Clawton YFC

Wild West – Buckland Brewer YFC

Holsworthy Princess – Jade Wonnacott

Thank You Keyworkers – Newton St Cyres YFC

Ship Happens – Jenny Piddington and crew

Glastonbury - Stratton YFC

Despite making the decision to suspend the usual judging this year, a virtual vote for the Jacky Entwistle Cup for ‘Best Visual Impact’ with members of the public voting via an online link, was held. With over 600 votes cast, a massive congratulations was given to the top three:

1, Hatherleigh Housewives Unlocked, Hatherleigh Jolly Boys, 2, Clarkson’s Farm, Emma Edwards-Brady, 3, Mad Max, Deb Laing-Trengove

The photo competition is open until end of the day on Sunday, November 21, please send any entries to [email protected] or send via Facebook Messenger.

The date for next year’s carnival will be Saturday, November 12 2022, and the carnival committee AGM will be in March 2022.