Ashley Fox, the Member of Parliament for Bridgwater, recently visited the Bridgwater Carnival Centre to meet with Dave Croker, President of the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, and Dave Creedy, Chairman.
During the visit, the discussions centred around the extensive preparations for the Bridgwater carnival, the oldest carnival in the UK that draws tens of thousands of visitors to the town each year. The group also delved into the rich 400-year-old history of squibbing, a tradition unique to Bridgwater where over 200 large fireworks, known as Squibs, are ignited simultaneously and held aloft by Carnivalites on coshes in a spectacular display. An amazing finale to the Bridgwater Carnival day!
Dave Creedy said, “It was a pleasure to meet Ashley to explain a little on the history of our carnival and what it means to so many "Carnivalites" within our town, to see his genuine interest and enthusiasm to support the event, and to also continue the long-standing tradition of our sitting MP to take part in the "Squibbing display" on carnival day.”
Ashley expressed his strong support for the event and offered to assist in any way possible to ensure the success of this year’s carnival. He emphasised the importance of the carnival to the local community, not only as a longstanding tradition but also as a significant boost to the town’s economy.
"I am incredibly proud of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival and all it represents," Ashley said. "This event is a vital part of our town’s cultural heritage, and I am committed to supporting it in any way I can. The dedication and hard work of everyone involved in the carnival are truly inspiring and I look forward to being part of the celebrations, particularly the unique and thrilling tradition of squibbing."
