Carnival fever comes to Paulsgrove and Leigh Park

The annual Paulsgrove carnival took place today and it saw nine different groups enter floats.

Hundreds of people watched the parade as it made its way from King Richard School to Paulsgrove Park, where a variety of stalls, music and activities took place until 4pm.

This year saw a sports theme, and people in the parade wore outfits inspired by football, the Olympics and various other sporting activities.

The event is run by the Portsmouth and Wymering Carnival Association.

David Horne, association chairman, said: ‘It has been fantastic as usual. It has been brilliant. We have had a lot of the local schools take part and they all put in 100 per cent.’

Activities such as donkey rides, a free bouncy castle, bacon butties and a visit from a rabbit sanctuary were taking place at the parish church St Michael and All Angels’.

Reverend Ian Newton said he was pleased to see the whole community come out in support.

He said: ‘It’s all very positive. We want to promote Paulsgrove to be a positive place – and it is a positive community. ‘There’s a lot going for it. It is a really good place to be.’

He added: ‘The carnival is fantastic. It is one of the highlights of the year.’

Rev Newton was manning a stall to promote the Proud to be Paulsgrove campaign.

Watching from Allaway Avenue was Stu Williams, 28, with his partner Hannah Haynes, 26.

They were with Stu’s three-year-old daughter Lola and they were cheering on Hannah’s daughter Evie, six, who was marching with the mouth club dressed in a Rio theme.

Hannah, from Fareham, said: ‘It’s great to bring everyone together and have a nice family day out.’

Also with her family was pensioner Patricia Stevens, 77, from Paulsgrove.

She was with her husband Henry, 84, and their grandchildren Shearon Russell, 13, and Ava Russell, nine.

Patricia said: ‘It is a good event. I came last year too. It’s good for the kids and to bring the grandchildren to.’

Groups that took part were; Hillside Youth Club, Beacon View Primary Academy, Portsdown Primary School, The Victory Primary School, Little Paws Nursery, 53rd Portsmouth (2nd Paulsgrove) Scouts, the Volunteer Police Cadets, San Zaru Bikes and TS Intrepid.

Also taking place today was the Leigh Park Carnival, which saw people leave from Park Parade, and proceed to the Greywell Centre.

The carnival was in a 60s theme, and there was a range of be fun activities held throughout the day in Park Parade.

Tina James, 40, of Hursley Road, Leigh Park, had brought along her three children.

Reese, three, Faith, nine and Maisie, two, were all sporting impressive outfits after their mum spent a week designing and crafting them.

Little Reese was Bobby Charlton, Faith was a spacewoman – in honour of Neil Armstrong – and Maisie was decked out in Woodstock hippy clothing.

Tina said: ‘We do it every year, we enjoy it.’

Cllr Beryl Francis added: ‘We always have a community event this time of the year, usually at Stockheath Common but we decided that this year we would have it in the precinct so that we could deal with bad weather.’

The carnival set off with Mayor of Havant Councillor Faith Ponsonby in the procession and the Denmead Navy Cadets providing rousing tunes.