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Sheerness Summer Carnival attracts the crowds

00:00, 24 August 2016

updated: 09:16, 24 August 2016

More than 1,000 people turned out to enjoy the Sheppey Summer Carnival.

The event took place on Saturday, when a procession toured through the town centre.

Almost £500 was raised in donations from spectators.

VIDEO: The 2016 Sheppey Summer Carnival

Where the money will go is still to be decided by the organising committee.

Carnival committee chairman Bob McCall said: “It was a good fun day, we had a lot of participants taking part.

“We haven’t decided what charities will benefit from what we raised on Saturday yet.”

It was, however, the second year in a row there wasn’t an appearance by the Sheppey Zulus, which is thought to have impacted on the event’s popularity.

The Island All Stars Baton Twirling Academy perform at the Sheppey Carnival
The Island All Stars Baton Twirling Academy perform at the Sheppey Carnival

A variety of competitions was held around the fun and games, including the title of best senior court, which was awarded to Teynham. Sandwich took the title of junior court winner.

Planning for the annual event begins six months before the procession is due to set off, while there were visitors from Germany and London taking part in the fun.

Mr McCall said of the preparations: “It takes a lot of time and effort to get something like this up and running.

Sheppey Princess float at the Sheppey Carnival
Sheppey Princess float at the Sheppey Carnival

“It’s worthwhile, though, when you get the positive feedback, with people saying they enjoyed it.”

The committee in charge of pulling the idea together is made up of volunteers.

Sheerness East Working Men’s Club, Queenborough Road, Halfway, hosted an awards ceremony on the same evening at which prizes were handed out to the winners of the competitions.

Joe Stafford with Maxy a 20-year-old parrot
Joe Stafford with Maxy a 20-year-old parrot

The annual funfair in Beachfields park also proved popular with carnival-goers.

  • See this week's Times Guardian for three pages of photos
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