THE last-surviving village carnival in Essex is threatened due to a lack of volunteers.

The popular event, which attracts thousands to Great Bentley every June, has suffered the impending loss of Chairperson Sara Maunton, plus Treasurer Angela Wright and Secretary Jo Warboys.

“We have found it very difficult to juggle family life and working commitments along with organising the carnival this year,” said Sara, a working mum who has twins.

Sara said has enjoyed being on the committee for the past four years, also finding it hugely rewarding and satisfying.

“It is great when it all comes together on the day and you see the people of our community, and further afield enjoying themselves and having a good time. It’s also a nice feeling raising money for the children’s groups in our village who are the beneficiaries,” she said.

At the Carnival Committee’s AGM next month, the 1st Great Bentley Rainbows, Great Bentley Guides, Methodist Toddlers and Methodist Adventurers will again receive £500, the proceeds of this year’s 40th carnival. A similar amount was given last year.

Sadly, for the carnival to continue it needs a new volunteer chairperson, plus a vice-chair and also a Treasurer and Secretary. The committee also needs someone to organise the selection of the village Queen/Princesses, ordering their dresses, the decoration of the floats and so on.

“Our committee is a great team of people who all work together and the new members would be fully supported by those of us standing down, as we were when we took on these roles, by our predecessors,” Sara continued.

“I will help as much as I can but this year we have lost so much support. It’s too much. It’s too hard,” she said.

“I have heard on the grapevine some volunteers may come forward but I don’t know who will take the role of chair. It’s a bit of a waiting game. If the carnival doesn’t go ahead next year, it will be greatly missed. We get loads, thousands turning out for it, and we do help those groups in the village,” Sarah added.

Selection for the committee will be during the AGM at Great Bentley Village Hall on Thursday October 6 at 8pm.

Potential volunteers are asked to ring Sara on 07503-164260 or email sara.maunton@gmail.com.