This year’s Totton and Eling Carnival WILL go ahead after a public appeal for financial support was answered by one of the town’s leading retailers, Healthy Pet Store.
The carnival, which has been delighting the people of Totton and Eling since 1914 with thousands of people lining the route of the parade, had been at risk this year because of a funding shortfall.
The end of a sponsorship deal with Totton College meant the carnival committee had to raise £1,000 to pay some of the bills that needed settling by March 10.
Fundraising had taken the total raised to £287 when we stepped in and paid the £713 balance required to hit the £1,000 mark and mean the June 24 parade can go ahead.
Our Managing Director Deborah Burrows said that when her team alerted her to the risk that the carnival may not go ahead this year she decided to step in and do what she could.
“The carnival and the parade of floats through the town is one of the highlights of the year for Totton, and I know a lot of our customers get a huge amount of joy from it,” said Deborah.
“The thought that it might not go ahead this year because of this cash shortfall seemed such a pity to me. We are proud to be part of the Totton business community and we live in the town too – so we knew that if we could help we should help.
“I am delighted to have made the money up to the £1,000 that was required to ensure that, once again this year, the show will go on.”
Carnival Committee member and Town Councillor Dave Hills said insurance, first aid cover, licences, road closures, and many other things needed to be paid for this year’s event.
“We are so grateful to the generosity of Deborah and the whole team at Healthy Pet Store in Totton who really stepped forward and provided us with the funding we needed to ensure the Totton and Eling Carnival will go ahead as planned this year,” he said.
“Traders like Healthy Pet Store are the beating heart of the Totton commercial community and their generosity means the biggest community event of the year for the town will be going ahead once again.”