IT chucked it down on Friday. It pelted it down on Sunday. But Radcliffe enjoyed one of its best carnivals ever thanks to the glorious sunshine on Saturday, June 7.
"I was over the moon when I looked out on Saturday morning and saw the blue skies," said event chairman Ray Vevers, who has been involved in the carnival for 37 years.
"I couldn't have asked for more. It was absolutely marvellous and I lost count of the number of people who told me they had really enjoyed themselves."
At times, it seemed like the entire population of the town had turned out to join in the fun. In previous years, the focus has been the carnival field itself, but this year there were crowds everywhere you looked.
Spectators were six-deep in Ainsworth Road, eager to get a good view of the parade of carnival floats. The pavement in Water Street was virtually impassable due to sheer numbers and on outlying roads like Radcliffe New Road, there were families enjoying themselves. Even the grassed banking on Pilkington Way was claimed by picnickers!
The weather put people in good spirits, and the Radcliffe division of the St John Ambulance was only called upon to deal with a small number of people who required minor assistance, mainly when the heat got a bit too much.
Back on Red Bank Field, there were attractions wherever you looked. The troupes of majorettes and dancers from all over the region deserved praise, not just for their dazzling displays, but for having the stamina to keep going in roasting temperatures while wearing their smart uniforms.
The fairground's stomach-churning rides catered for thrill seekers, but there were also more traditional side show attractions like dart stalls, hoopla and a coconut shy.
Bargain hunters enjoyed browsing around the vast array of stalls where you could buy anything from sunglasses to framed and franked Adolf Hitler stamps!
Carnival Queens, Princesses, Rosebuds and their retinues from all over the region added a gentrified Deep South flavour to the day, dressed in beautiful hooped skirts and dainty white gloves. And for once their parasols, used so often to protect them from the rain at past carnivals, were put to the purpose they were meant for.
And almost 50 years to the day of the Queen's Coronation, Radcliffe carnival Queen Sarah-Elizabeth Wiles was crowned in the Queen's Arena.
The sense of good humour was everywhere and there was a real feeling of pride in the town. A good example of this was the Prentice family. Every year three generations of them enter into the spirit of things by donning fancy dress. This year they surpassed themselves with their Wizard of Oz theme.
And pictured going off to see the Wizard are (from left) Cath Prentice, Ken Hayes, Dawn Prentice and Brian White. Members of the extended family also dressed up as Munchkins, Fairies and the Wicked Witch of the West
The vintage car and commercial rally saw Del Boy's bright yellow Robin Reliant sharing field space with monster trucks and cars from yesteryear. Among the proud car owners was Eddie Evans, who exhibited his polished Ford Anglia. He mixed business with pleasure because he worked for 50 years repairing Ford cars.
The fun, though sadly not the sun, continued on Sunday (June 8) with the added attraction of a car boot sale and although the money from Radcliffe's 38th Carnival is still being counted, you can guarantee the local charities which stand to benefit will be very happy indeed this year!
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