Working at Hinkley Point B, I was fortunate to be at the power station earlier this month when it ceased generation after 46 years of supplying zero carbon electricity to the nation.
It was a very symbolic and proud moment for everybody associated with the power station, and I found myself reflecting on 1976 - the year Hinkley Point B first started generating electricity.
It was the year of one of the UK’s warmest summers. A pint of beer cost just 32p, Liverpool were flying high in football’s first division, space hoppers and Raleigh chopper bikes were the latest craze, and the legendary south west-based band, The Wurzels, were top of the music charts with The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key).
What has this got anything to do with carnival, I hear you ask?
Well, 1976 has personal significance for me, as it was the year my parents took me to Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival for the very first time.
Even though I was barely out of a push chair, one of my earliest childhood memories was standing in the High Street, outside of what used to be Hoopers fabric shop, wrapped in a warm coat and scarf, and watching the carnival go past.
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I can vividly remember being absolutely mesmerised by what I was watching. Little did I know at the time how big a part carnival was going to shape my life over the coming years.
Back in those days, workplace carnival clubs were very common, and Hinkley Point was no different.
Hinkley Point Carnival Club was formed in 1967, and in an ironic twist of fate, the club consisting of Hinkley Point employees won the tableau class in 1976 with Samurai.
This started a run of four consecutive wins at Bridgwater Carnival for the popular club, as they followed up their success with King Ludwig’s Journey of Fantasy (1977), History of Capo-di-Monte (1978), and Regimental Glory (1979).
For those of us old enough to remember, who can ever forget the spectacular models that used to adorn the club’s entries?
These undoubtedly helped secure them a legacy and a much-deserved place in the history books as one of the town’s most successful tableau carnival clubs.
The club changed its name in 1980 to Bohemians, and 27 years after first forming, it sadly folded in 1994 due to a lack of members and resources.
Like the many hundreds of people who have come and gone at Hinkley Point B over the years, other carnival clubs like Bohemians Carnival Club have suffered the same fate.
Clubs such as Pig and Whistle Carnival Club, Grenadiers Carnival Club, Fleur de Lys Juvenile Carnival Club, Aces Carnival Club, Cross Rifles Colts Carnival Club, and of course the club I was involved with, Young at Heart Carnival Club, all spring instantly to mind.
Even though these clubs are no longer active, they have all put their indelible stamp on Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival in one way or another, and for the members involved at the time, they will have made magical memories which will last a lifetime.
I am sure this is also true for my Hinkley Point B colleagues as one chapter of its life ends and another begins.
And finally on another note, there has been a lot of interest in recent weeks on a new carnival film called ‘Give it Rice’.
Produced by local documentary maker, Richard Ridout, the film follows the exploits of a group of carnivalites in 2018 and tells the story of that year’s battle to win the Bridgwater Carnival procession.
It is without doubt the best carnival documentary I have ever seen, and as you can imagine, I have watched a few over the years.
If you would like to find out more about this documentary, visit https://www.giveitrice.com/ and sign up for the email updates.
Until the next time…
Dave Stokes
Publicity director, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival
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