Making our marque(e) carnival style

Arriving on site at around 10.30 I joined the merry band of volunteers helping to set up the carnival.

After collecting my hi-viz I then walked round to make sure the stall holders had everything they needed to set up. This sent me on a mission to find spare ground pegs so we could get the better of a marquee flapping in the wind.

Wandering around all the stallholders gave me the opportunity to try a few early raffle ticket sales.

I then helped to put a few signs up - one at the farm animals signposting bags of animal feed for sale and one for the Royal British Legion poppy stall advising that donations were welcome.

As the gates opened and the Lord Mayor officially set off proceedings, I moved to the main information tent and took on selling raffle tickets duty. With a first prize of £300 in cash, there was a constant stream of customers hedging their bets on ticket purchases.

It was great chatting to so many of my local neighbours and community and supporting a worthwhile cause. All proceeds were being split between Slough Outreach (Supporting the homeless) and the defibrillator fund.

As the carnival packed up around us it was time for litter picking so with two laps of the arena and car park several bags were collected and combined with the stallholders rubbish bags a good pile had amassed leaving the recreation ground looking as litter free as its been in a while.

I finally headed off around 5pm, with aching feet, feeling tired, but fulfilled by experiencing a wonderful day full of community spirit. Next years carnival is 6th July so save the date if you want to be part of it!