BRIDGWATER Guy Fawkes Carnival has won the 'People’s Choice Award' with the cart that joined the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The carnival’s Jubilation cart won the Creative Lives Awards for the ‘People’s Choice' category thanks to a total of just under 12,500 votes cast by members of the public.

 

In 2022, the many clubs that make up the carnival procession put aside their rivalries to collaborate on Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

Over 200 people of all ages from across the carnival community volunteered their time to make it happen and enable new friendships to be made.

The royalty-themed cart was then shortlisted for the award that the carnival won yesterday (Tuesday, March 7).

Dave Stokes, publicity director for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, said: "We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to win such a prestigious, national Creative Lives Award.

“It makes it even more special for us knowing it’s been voted for by members of the public.
Bridgwater Mercury:

"There is no doubt that Jubilation really captured the mood of the nation at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, and following the sad passing of Elizabeth II just a few months later, the royalty-themed carnival cart brought an even greater significance and purpose.”

“The ‘carnivalites’ involved with the Jubilation project will never forget the experience and have fond memories which will last a lifetime.

“The cart represents everything which is great about Bridgwater Carnival, the Somerset Carnivals, and the South West, and on behalf of everybody involved with the project, we would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who voted for Jubilation. Your help and support are very much appreciated.”

At a ceremony held yesterday (March 7) at the award-winning event venue Aspire, twelve creative groups across the UK and Ireland were recognised for creative engagement within their local communities.

Other winners recognised in the awards ceremony included Mental Inkness, joint winner of the Peer Award for Excellence along with Bristol Beacons: Different Beginnings, voted for by groups on the shortlist; and African and Caribbean Elders in Scotland, who won the Celebrating Diversity Award, chosen by Creative Live's Equalities Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Panel.

For more information about Creative Lives visit their website 

To find out more about the Creative Lives Awards click here.