RAIN failed to dampen spirits at Tavistock’s carnival procession on Saturday, when the streets were filled with floats and revellers, colour and music.

The procession through the town centre was the culmination of a week-long series of festivities, including a very popular new ceilidh and a fun day in the Meadows.

A fantastic £2,021.60 was raised from a bucket collection along the route, to be distributed by organisers, the Tavistock Lions’ Club, to local good causes. The haul of coins, which took 20 people three hours to count, was mainly composed of 1ps and 2ps.

‘It was a pity it rained rather heavily beforehand, although it was kinder during the procession itself,’ said carnival spokesman Alan Wroath. ‘It was really buzzing though, despite the weather. There were so many people there and it had a really good spirit. People seemed very happy and relaxed.’

He said huge efforts and plenty of creativity had been lavished on the floats and costumes.

‘The people coming out to watch are often related to the people in the procession so there is a huge sense of family fun and a sense of community and excitement.’

This year’s carnival theme was Heritage, Myths and Legends, with the prize for the best float going to St Peter’s and St Rumon’s Primary Schools. They were presented with a perpetual shield and a trophy to keep. A prize draw raised a further £2,000, again to be distributed by the Lions to local charities.

The week-long festivities opened with an innovation, a ceilidh on the first night, Friday, July 7, with local band Under the Moon. ‘We have never had a ceilidh before, and it was excellent,’ said Alan. ‘I have never been to a barn dance or ceilidh where so few people sat out. And it went on all night.’

There were also relay races organised by Tavistock Athletic Club, a baby show and a fun day at the Meadows, which included a dog show and a sheep dog herding geese. Pavement artists, meanwhile, dodged the raindrops to show off their skills right on the pavement in the town centre. And the town’s traders pitted their wits against each other in a skittles contest, won for the third year running by Cakes, Bakes and Shakes.

‘The tradition of carnival week goes back 50-odd years in Tavistock,’ said Alan. ‘It is all about keeping the tradition alive and celebrating all that is good about the town.‘

Next year’s carnival day has been provisionally set for Saturday, July 21 2018 and will be on the theme of Countries of the World.

Pictures by James Bird. See tomorrow’s edition of the Times for four pages of pictures.