FAQs
What is and who are Hoddesdon & Broxbourne carnival?
The Hoddesdon & Broxbourne carnival once ran through both towns on the 2nd Saturday of September every year. A committee would organise this event sorting out publicity, putting up banners, sharing out the street collection to various small local charities in the town, and a court would travel around the South of England attending other carnivals. In 2005 due to rising costs of insurance, road closures and policing, it unfortunately became too hard to fund. Sadly it came to an end on its 40th anniversary.
Then in 2007 a new committee was formed, with brand new members ranging in age from 20-75, with a fresh look on how to make the event as enjoyable to all age groups as possible (a hard task indeed). The committee is made up of volunteers who spend their free time organising press releases, sponsorship, insurance, advertising, and general organisation to create a carnival day and parade. This is all in aid of promoting the town, its businesses and services also to help raise much needed funds for Local charities.
What is a "Court"?
The Court is made up of 4 Female members ranging in age from 14-24. Each girl has a different title with a different role to for fill within the court, but their main role is to represent their town and help raise awareness and money at other charity events. They are also required to meet, greet and socialise with local dignitaries’ for example; local MPs, Mayors, Local councillors, Captains of industry, local businessmen, Representatives from charities, schools , associations and the public at large.
- Queen her title would be Miss Hoddesdon & Broxbourne. She is expected to lead her court in all aspects much like a real Queen, she performs all the speeches that are required, she accepts all the awards and will often make the final decision on functions they attend based on where the rest of the court wants to go.
- Deputy Queen this will be last year’s queen kept on for a further year to help advise and support the girls in how to do curtsies, speeches and the general behaviour of court members.
- Two Princesses the two princesses are expected to get on well together and work well as part of the whole team, they will be entered in princess pairs competitions but don’t often have to give any kind of speech. Their main role is to support the queen and to be of help in raising money at charity events.
The court will be expected to attend various events all over the South East e.g.: other carnival parades, Court crowning ceremonies, presentation ceremonies (where all monies raised on the carnival day are presented to the local charities or beneficiaries) remembrance services, charity events and Miss Disney UK (for the Queen). These events are attended throughout the year and go as far north as Nuneaton, Wellingborough and Kettering, and as far south as Deal, Ramsgate, Folkstone and Dover but to name a few.
Why have a carnival?
The committee decided that carnival was too good an event to just die out, like so many others in the region. We are currently the only one left in Hertfordshire. It’s also a brilliant way to bring the town and local businesses together and raise money for a good cause.
Who does the money go to?
Unlike previous years, rather than splitting the money between many smaller local charities and giving each a small amount, we now pick a different charity each year and all the money we raise that day in the street collection will go to them.
What do you need from us?
Support, assistance and or sponsorship.
Support: on the day you may have man power available, Vehicles we can borrow, venues we can use and expertise in different areas.
Assistance: professional knowledge, Design ideas, professional contacts and skills.
Sponsorship: we need many different forms of sponsorship, from money donations to loans of equipment. Please see our list below.
What can we sponsor?
It’s not just the insurance we need money for there are several other things we are unable to finance ourselves:
- Float design and maintenance
- Court dresses and sashes
- Court jewellery
- Crowns & maintenance
- Publicity
- Public liability insurance for carnival day
- Court insurance for all travel and parade throughout year
- Carnival day visiting court meal
- Trophies
- Signage
- Stationery & postage
- Photocopying
- Window space for advertising i.e. posters, flyers for the event
- Street decorations, entertainment
- Fireworks
- Catering
- Raffle prizes, gifts and flowers
- Parade entertainment
What can you expect from us?
We can offer you a link on our webpage, advertising on the float and in the carnival programme, coverage in the local news papers, Court availability for your own charity events e.g. in 2008 our court helped the local Rotary Club raise £3000 by selling raffle tickets at their annual dinner.
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