Llandrindod Wells Carnival 2019: Hundreds turn out for parade

In all it was an amazing day as many lined the streets and later joined in the fun on Temple Gardens after the carnival procession around the town.

The event starting with the gathering of floats, walking floats and fancy dress at the car park at Powys County Hall. There were 16 floats and walking floats and 11 entered the fancy dress competition.

The imagination and effort put in to creating the costumes and floats made it difficult for the judges to make their selections. There was a tremendous amount of colour and It has to be said there was an amazing amount of work put into all the floats and costumes.

The judges were the Llandrindod Wells Mayor, Cllr Steve Deeks D’Silva and his consort Lauren, along with Powys County Councillor Martin Weale. They had an almost impossible task of deciding who was to win the various prizes and awards.

The best overall float and winner of the Gordon Phillips Cup was Underhill Riding Stables with the Pony Club’s 90th Birthday celebrations, which is also this year. First place in the adult section was taken by members of Howey Women’s Institute with their entry of Calendar Girls. In the children’s classes first place went to Ysgol Trefonnen Primary School with its very topical entry of Save our Seas and ridding them of plastic.

Amongst those also joining in the day’s parade and activities were representatives from the twin towns of Llandrindod Wells, Bad Rappenau in Germany and Contrexeville in France. A large contingent joined the parade wearing their traditional costumes and they were also joined by local Welsh representatives from the town’s twinning group. The organising committee thanked them for joining the event.

The parade through town was led by Llandrindod Silver Band and followed by Carnival Queen for 2019 Jess Swabey, along with her attendants Demi Roberts and Molly Pugh and the younger attendants. They were followed by the Rhayader Carnival Queen elect Ellie Hughes, who kindly deputised for Rhayader’s current carnival queen who was unable to attend due to ill health. Following them all the other floats and walking groups moved through the streets of Llandrindod.

The day continued on Temple Gardens with the fete and entertainment where the carnival queen Jess Swabey was crowned by the Mayor, Cllr Steve Deeks D’Silva and his consort Lauren. Her attendants included Molly Pugh, Demi Roberts, Sophie Weale, Harrison Withington, Caitlyn Brittain, Thomas Bufton, Poppy Ramsden and Tyler Davies-Jones.

Magic Ash worked the green with style and panache and was joined by Kris Katchit who walked with the parade on stilts and who made balloon animals for everyone. There was also had a wealth of local talent performing on the bandstand during the afternoon.

A carnival spokesperson said: “Thank you to all the local groups and businesses who ran a stall on Temple Gardens. We had a fabulous turn out with a wide variety of things to do and buy. Thank you also to the various food and refreshment stalls and Penmaenau for the bar.”

The afternoon ended with Beth Coles doing a zumba set on the Bandstand. That was followed by the traditional lorry pull on Middleton Street which again was entered into with gusto by the townsfolk.

A large number of people stayed on for the evening entertainment which started with local singers Angharad and Cerys Gough singing on the bandstand followed by local Band Out of Order. They played a wide variety of music as everyone joined in with the singing and dancing giving the end of carnival a truly spectacular atmosphere.

Carnival chairman Michael Gough said he had never seen so many people on Temple Gardens at any one time and he paid tribute to all those who participated and made the day possible. Many of those watching said it was the best carnival yet in the town.

The Llandrindod Wells carnival day is organised by Llandrindod Ladies’ Circle and Round Table and the organisers would like to thank everyone for “making Llandrindod an amazing place to live and play in.”