ONE of the biggest dates in Didcot’s calendar is set to be revived under plans to bring back the town’s carnival.

Didcot Town Council wants to re-introduce the once-annual event, which last filled the streets 30 years ago. But it insists it will only be possible if enough volunteers are willing to help.

The idea of reviving the carnival was first mooted in February, and the town council has suggested staging it in summer 2010.

John Flood, leader of Didcot Town Council, called on volunteers to help the event return.

He said: “It needs local firms and businesses to show their support by providing vehicles for floats, and for local organisations like Scouts and Guides and other groups of young people to construct the floats.

“It requires a community effort. And we would need an organising committee of volunteers like the Christmas Street Fair. Other historic market towns have traditions going back hundreds of years, but we have to start our own traditions.

“It would be a good event to bring back. It would be a fun day out and we could all do with one of those every now and then.”

Each summer while the carnival ran, floats passed along Wantage Road and the Broadway, drawing crowds of hundreds.

Tony Keefe, of Mowbray Road, Didcot, has fond memories of the carnival – which started just after the end of the Second World War.

The 74-year-old said: “It used to be down on Fleet Meadow and they used to have Cossack horsemen.

“The carnival should have a bit more of an international flavour to it – and they could bring the Cossacks back as well.

“This is something that Didcot needs as a town. It would attract more people here. Though I am not sure where it would be held.”

Anna Fisher, 37, of Hagbourne Road, Didcot, said: “We need something different in the community – we want something exciting and non-conservative.”

It is not known how much a carnival would cost, but Mr Flood said that would be looked into depending upon public reaction.

Didcot mayor Tony Harbour said: “It’s something that I totally back. I think that a town of this size needs a carnival.

“The street fair is a great success and if we brought back the carnival it would be even better.

“The problem is trying to get people to volunteer, as I know everybody is very busy – I would urge everybody to get involved to put this event on the map.”

About 20,000 people each year turn up for the town’s main festivity – the annual Christmas Street Fair.

However, Glyn Hall, president of Didcot’s Chamber of Commerce, said: “To revive a carnival sounds good but, in reality, health and safety rules now make it virtually impossible to have floats.

“The chamber’s experience of getting funds to run the street fair, especially in these hard times, suggest it would be very difficult to make a carnival happen.”

To volunteer or to find out more about the carnival, contact the town council on 01235 812637.

didcot@oxfordmail.co.uk