The organisers of Lowestoft Carnival parade are reconsidering their decision to cancel the carnival parade through the town this year after unexpectedly being offered funding to meet some of their expenses.

But first they need the people of the town to clearly show that there is a strong desire for the event to go ahead.

A carnival spokesman said that for at least one year they have been promised financial support to meet a significant part of their costs.

But he said “this is only part of the equation. We need to know that businesses, organisations, families and individuals will enter into the carnival spirit by taking part in the parade, hopefully with a decorated float.

We also need lots of extra manpower to work with the organisers to make the event happen and we need to know that the public will turn out to watch the parade.”

The organisers had previously said that it was not viable to hold a parade following the traditional route through the town because of red tape and increasing road closure charges and traffic management costs.

When local businessman John Stannard read the story in the local press he realised that he might be in a position to help. John is one of the four trustees of the Gwen Baker Trust. Gwen had been the chairman of the Friends of Lowestoft Hospital who had run the parade for over forty years and was the group’s president at the time of her death.

Mr Stannard said ”I approached my fellow trustees and we agreed that Gwen would have wanted us to do whatever we could to keep the Carnival alive in the town. If that meant using some of her legacy to pay for the expenses that were cited as being one of the obstacles to the event going ahead – then we should offer to fund them” 

John added ”this is a Jubilee and Olympic year – not just an ordinary year. I think this gives a special reason why the parade should go ahead. Young people especially enjoy taking part, dressing up, letting themselves go and generally having a good time. It would be a real shame if the parade could not be saved”.

The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Lowestoft Hospital is being held at 7.00pm on Monday 14th May 2012 at the Hospital in Tennyson Road and a final decision will be made then. 

Friend’s Chairman Pat Rayner said “if we get strong public support, particularly with extra help to organise the parade, then the decision to go ahead with a parade, probably on a Sunday in September, could be made for us.”

To let the organisers know that you either want to take part in, spectate or help to organise the parade please e-mail [email protected], send a facebook message or a letter to Pat Rayner, c/o Lowestoft Hospital, Tennyson Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1PT.