CARNIVAL is at the very heart of the community in Bridgwater and one club which has has enjoyed outstanding success during the 2023 season is the Ramblers Carnival Club, who are based at the Bunch of Grapes in St John Street, writes Richard Walsh.

The Ramblers, who were first formed back in 1961, made their first entry the following year with the Vikings, and they recently held their annual dinner and presentation evening to celebrate their record breaking achievements during 2023. 

The evening was a huge success, and was enjoyed by the 150 club members and their families who attended.

The Ramblers would like to extend grateful thanks to Vagabonds Carnival Club for supplying an excellent meal for the event that took place at Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Club.

The guest speaker at the dinner was Andy Bennett from BBC Radio Somerset, a self confessed carnivalite who gave a presentation as part of his speech showing the BBC TV archive records covering of Ramblers CC over many years.

During the 2023 season, Ramblers won 59 trophies, the major awards of which  were the White Hart Cup for being first on stage at the Carnival Concerts and the Ker Cup for being the best feature cart at Bridgwater Carnival. 

The Ramblers were also the Overall County Champions and won the Midsomer Norton Cup for best feature, as well as winning every Carnival Procession and all the major trophies at each event on the circuit.

Brian Sweeting, a life member of the club, who has been involved right from the start back in the early 1960s said: “Our achievement this year is unprecedented by Ramblers CC and, as far as I can see, are the best results ever achieved since records began by any Bridgwater Carnival Club across the entire carnival season.” 

Plans are already well underway for the 2024 season a theme has been chosen and cart building has started in addition to which preparations for the stage show have also already begun.