This is the event that residents and visitors to Wantage look forward to as charity champion Ray Collins invites you all to be part of his Charitable Trust’s Carnival on Sunday 9 June from 11am until 6pm.
The Carnival, which volunteers and members of The Ray Collins Charitable Trust has been running for many years, brings thousands into the heart of Wantage to be part of this important fundraising event. Money raised helps Ray and his team to support members of the local community in various ways throughout the year. Since 2013 (with the exception of during the Covid pandemic), together with the help of the town council, Trust members and volunteers have worked for months each year to ensure that they can put on a day for all to enjoy, filled with happy memories. The 2023 Carnival saw several thousand people come together for a day filled with entertainment, music, singing and delicious food and drink.
“All the community groups and traders who take part have a great day as do all of our visitors,” says Ray. “The atmosphere is wonderful, and everyone has so much fun all day long. This year’s Carnival should be as good, if not better, as previous years and the day always sees Wantage at its best. The money the event raises helps the Trust organise lunches and outings for our chosen causes and individuals in need who live in the local community. We also aim to provide important medical and necessary equipment for deserving people who live in and around the town.”
The Carnival does not include floats but instead gets underway at 11.20am with a short Parade led by the Wantage Silver Band, also featuring scouts, cubs, beavers and members of the Oxfordshire Rock Choir. The Mayor Cllr Angela Dunford will officially open the Carnival at 11.45am followed by Oxfordshire’s Rock Choir’s first performance of the day. They will be followed by The Undercovers at 12:.0pm. Later in the afternoon at 2.30pm the American Dance School from Wantage will put on a performance followed by Growler at 3pm. Mother Girth will be involved at 4:30pm with the conclusion of the day at 6pm.
Tickets for the Grand Raffle are available from Peter B Ledbury Ltd, and the draw will take place at 4:15pm on the 9 June. There are some fabulous prizes to be won with a 50inch LED Smart TV worth £500 as first prize, a 32inch LED Smart TV as second prize, a 12-place dishwasher as third prize, a Ninja Air Fryer as fourth and a Sony Soundbar as the fifth prize. It really is worth popping in and buying some tickets as all contributions go to exceptionally good causes.
For further information please visit raycollinstrust.org or follow their Facebook page The Ray Collins Charitable Trust
