WITHAM carnival needs your help to save it from folding.
For nearly a century Witham carnival has entertained and enthralled the generations of the ancient market town.
With queens and princesses recruited from its local communities, the youngsters of Witham, their parents and grandparents have long delighted in the annual event that harks back to the 1920s.
However, with an ever-dwindling number of committee members and with an aging force of volunteers, the carnival has encountered such severe problems that it may have to come to an end.
Rob Williams, who has recently had to stand down as chairman of the carnival committee but is still a member, said: "If we don't get the procession manager and marshals, there will not be a carnival – that's where we're at unfortunately."
At present the committee has 14 members, of which only 10 are able to actively partake in the carnival, which donates hundreds of pounds to local charities every year.
"The group that's looking after this are a little bit older and for the last carnival everyone was stretched and people were saying that they can't do the same again this year," said Rob.
"Ideally we need people who can spare some time to join the committee, who can do jobs on the day and who have got some new ideas."
Without these volunteers it will be the end of a long-running tradition in the town.
"The carnival means an awful lot to Witham," said Rob.
"There has been a carnival running since the 1920s and on carnival day there's a good four or five thousand people turning up to see what's going on.
"To take that away – it's one of the few free things to do in Witham – it would be a great shame."
As a member of the committee, it would be necessary to attend the group's monthly meeting and spend the majority of carnival day, which is the second Saturday of July, helping out.
The committee's next monthly meeting will be held on November 22 at Monni's in Newland Street at 8pm.
For more information, contact Rob Williams on 01376 510845.
