Norden Carnival brings in the crowds

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 19/06/2006

Carnival season continued this weekend with the Norden community enjoying some fun in the sun. Hundreds took to the streets to enjoy the Norden carnival which departed from Caldershaw School on Edenfield Road and went as far as the Hutchinson Road bus terminus before finishing at Norden School. People young and old enjoyed the afternoon, which proved that the Rochdale Carnivals are still as popular as ever.

Pupils from local Primary School Whittaker Moss enjoyed clowning around with their youngsters all dressing up in circus costumes, whilst the Norden C.P.S children gave a mystical outlook to the carnival by wearing elf, wizard and witch costumes. Of course football was a popular theme with the World Cup being played at the moment and many youngsters were showing their support for England.

It wasn’t just the kids that were having fun as the ladies from sheltered housing group "Friends of Moss Rowe’ proved, as they were represented by a group of women, all over 80, sat on hay bales aboard a milk float! Indeed, one of the members, Ivy Jepper, aged 93, was surely the oldest person at the carnival and this prompted cries of "Who says old folk don’t know how to have a good time," as they set off on the parade!

As the carnival set off up Edenfield Road the crowds were entertained by the Wardle High School band, who led the parade, and the young dancers from the Norden Twirlers. Meanwhile bringing up the rear were a range of old vehicles which included an army jeep and plenty of old motorcycles and alongside them was Norden’s very own "self preservation society’ with four Italian job style mini coopers. Thankfully the drivers didn’t blow the doors off!

Organiser David Wilshaw spoke to Rochdale Online about the success of the carnival, "It was an absolutely fabulous turnout with over two thousand people lining the streets. It was great how everyone took part in the fancy dress and in the parade. The weather helped make it an excellent afternoon and everyone had a great time."