Published at 09:43, Friday, 24 July 2009

I FEEL the need to write about Haltwhistle Carnival – not just the day but the whole week.

Dressed for the occasion: Hazel Simpson and Anne Donnelly turned themselves into scarecrows for Haltwhistle Carnival.

I know events are held throughout the year by the carnival committee, but the week of events starting with the kids’ disco on Friday, July 3, to the carnival itself on Sunday, July 12, are what I would like to comment on.

How many other towns/villages can say that during one week in the year you can attend a kids’ disco, duck race, party in the park, car treasure hunt, quiz night, prize bingo, barbecue and fun night, afternoon tea dance, bowls competition, live music and a carnival parade, not to mention making a scarecrow and entering him/her in a competition? What community spirit!

The number of sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and pies that will have been made in Haltwhistle during the week would have fed, and did feed, hundreds.

I understand that sometimes things do not run as smoothly as some people would hope, and you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

But I take my hat off to everyone on the carnival committee who worked relentlessly and gave up their free time to ensure that the carnival was the best it can possibly be. Thank you – I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Good luck to you all for your 21st birthday celebrations next year.

SHIRLEY PHILLIPS,

Haydon Bridge

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk