typical tory behaviour, they were going to stop the carnival, the labour group found out and started an effective campaign, and now the tories are throwing money at the event claiming they had no intention of scrapping it. someone should remind the tories that its 'Hayes Carnival' and the community groups have not been helped by the council have they? despite all the flash things they are 'buying in' still doesnt show the Hayes local people that there is any reason to believe the carnival will happen next year.

Lowereing the carbon footprint? by transporting 4 shire horses from Essex to Hillingdon! I don't know the science for calculating carbon footprinting but the horses will save using vehicles to cover a couple of miles while the horses will have tavelled 40 - 50+ miles by heavy lorry, me thinks that the equation seems a little heavy on one side. I applaud any effort to lower the carbon footprint but please make real efforts not showy statements that don't mean anything

Horses! On our roads and streets...this sounds very dangerous to me, what if one gets free and bolts, it could bite a child or even chew the flowers in someone garden, i don't think this is a good idea at all! have the council been informed of the dangers and liabilities here?
I wont be going out on carnival day tats for sure, it sounds all to casual and i would be taking my life in my hands, fancy being chased by a pack of wild horses.
No thanks!

After all the arguing of recent months, It was a dream come true for two Showmen's children, as they led the way in Hayes' new Carnival procession ... two of the Show-children - daughters of the Funfair Owners: Mackenzie Mayne as princess & Olivia Whittle as Hayes Carnival Queen were treated like royalty as they climbed aboard a 100 year old horse-drawn carriage so gracefully
Both Show-children aged 9 are lifelong friends, with Olivia's birthday falling during the Hayes Carnival Fair's visit. Olivia was actually born on Hayes Carnival day itself, on Saturday 10th July 1999 and always celebrates her birthday here.
It has always been her ultimate birthday dream to celebrate this, by being Hayes Carnival Queen in 2010, when her 11th birthday will fall on the Saturday that the Carnival is due to take place.

However, her hopes were nearly dashed when the carnival looked like not taking place and while the very future existence of the carnival was temporarily in the balance, there was not a Carnival Queen appointed.

Once the carnival was back on, a new opportunity arose as the organisers, the Events Team from the London Borough of Hillingdon, on hearing the plan for two year's time, were keen to bring the 'Regal' appointment forward and celebrate both Olivia's birthday and the renaissance of the carnival this year.

It was a celebration indeed, as had the carnival not taken place this year, not only would an unbroken tradition of celebration lasting 60 been lost, but with it the funfair at the event's home, Barra Hall Park, which is a vital summer trading week for up to 30 show families including those of Olivia and Mackenzie.

Therefore it was fitting that Showmen's children should take a central role in the carnival's continuance.
Olivia Whittle is daughter of Tina Whittle, who attends with her foodstall and Olivia's grandfather, Monty Hammond, is overall organiser of the fair for the past 34 years for The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain.

The significance does not end there; Mackenzie Mayne (the Carnival Queen's Princess) is the daughter of Jason and Tracy Mayne who are long-standing tenants at the fair (for the last 15 years) and this year presented their new 'Ultimate Ghost Train' in addition to their Splash Mountain funhouse.

It was actually Mackenzie's great grand-father, (Jason's grand-father) Dickie Mayne, who first brought the fair to Barra Hall Park for Hayes Carnival 60 years ago.

In the end. the Showmen were all delighted to be back doing what they do best - entertaining children and families from the area and in so-doing raising the funds (in the form of rental income) that the Council and the community need to keep the carnival viable.

In common with everyone else The Hammonds and The Maynes along with their Showmen colleagues are looking forward to next year's event"

Incidentaly, the horses were all remarkably well-adjusted to the conditions of roads and crowds and were extremely well cared for and groomed meticulously.
They are well-trained for their occasional work and it was a delight to seee the young childten stroking them and their reacting so well.
this was a marvellous event of which the whole town can feel proud - especiallly as so many similar events up and down the country have been previously curtailed.