.PREVIOUS CARNIVAL COLLECTIONS:
The amount collected at the Highbridge & Burnham Carnival in recent years:
2014 – £11,645
2013 – £10,765
2012 – £9,400
2011 – £11,298
2010 – £9,400
2009 – £10,332
2008 – £9,600
2007 – £11,000
A record total of £11,645 was collected from spectators at Monday night’s Burnham-On-Sea Carnival – an increase of almost 10% on last year.
Organisers have thanked spectators for their genorosity, which will help to finance the carnival and support local charities.
The announcement came after dozens of volunteers, pictured above, spent much of Tuesday counting the tens of thousands of coins that had been thrown into collecting carts and buckets along the carnival route. A further £2,131 was also raised at Sunday’s fireworks display.
“The collection of £11,645.73 is well up on last year and we’ve reached a new record, which is fantastic,” Carnival Treasurer Jonathan Walter told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“The crowd were fantastic and really made the carnival this year – the atmosphere in Love Lane was electric. All the carnival committee members can’t thank the public enough for their suppport this year.”
Carnival Chairman Phil New added: “It was a great event – we had a fantastic evening and are delighted with the collection amount.”
Organisers believe the final tally was higher due to the high turnout of spectators and the higher number of collectors along the route this year. The funds will be used to help pay the insurance and running costs of next year’s carnival, while the rest will be split between local charities.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club’s collection at Sunday night’s fireworks was also a success. Rotary Club President Jane Gibbs said: “£2,131 was collected from a record number of spectators. This amount, less £45 expenses, will be shared, as usual, on a 60/40 basis between the Rotary Club and Burnham & Highbridge Town Council, to support their respective local charities. We are most grateful to the generosity of spectators and to all our collectors, especially the army cadets, who assisted us on the evening.”
Volunteers during Tuesday’s big count-up of the carnival night donations
Official collectors received the donations during Monday’s Carnival
MORE COVERAGE OF THE 2014 CARNIVAL:
Photos of the 2014 Carnival
Video of the 2014 Carnival
Results from the 2014 Carnival
Hillview Carnival Club celebrates success