Doubts cast on the future of Bewdley Carnival

The historic summer shindig has been a part of the town's calendar for more than fifty years.

But the committee behind the carnival has been struggling to find committed volunteers who will help with its organisation months in advance.

The committee has confirmed that this year's carnival will not be going ahead, with a meeting being held in September regarding interest in the event going forward.

Bewdley Carnival in 2017 The last carnival was held in 2019, with the previous two instalments being cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Angie Pitt, who has been carnival secretary for 37 years, said: "We are just a small committee and some members have decided not to carry on anymore, so if we do decide to keep the carnival going we need more committee members who are willing to give their time for meetings & the weeks events.

"A lot of work goes into putting it on & people have to be 100 per cent committed it’s not just turning up on carnival day to help there is so much to do months beforehand.

"I have to start all my organising in January. It does take an awful lot.

"It's always the same every year. We get a lot of people who come forward, they come to the first meeting then you don't see them again.

"Some will come along to help on the day - they don't realise it's the cleaning up afterwards and everybody disappears."

Far Forest WI with their parade float at the 2018 carnival. PIC: Angela Pitt Angie says some of the 12 committee members are getting older and unable to help like they used to.

She says she wants a new generation of volunteers to help carry the carnival into the future.

She added: "It's going to be such a shame if we do have to finish. We don't want to."