Carnival Glows in Summer Sunshine

Thousands of people lined the sun-soaked pavements to watch the Ulverston carnival on Saturday 2nd July. A burst of bright colours and music signalled the start of the parade, which featured more than 100 different floats, bands, dance troupes and decorated vehicles, from Ford Park.

Clog dancers, a fiddle-player and Ulverston Town Band were just some of the carnival participants getting the party atmosphere going and it was alive and kicking as revellers began dancing alongside those taking part in the parade. The usual array of colourful costumes from dancers could be seen, along with Ulverstonian hallmarks the Sons of the Desert, members of the Laurel and Hardy fan club.

After the procession made its way through packed town centre streets, it finished in Ford Park, where a gala got underway. Swarms of families descended on the park all day to enjoy fairground rides, stalls and the dancing competitions.

Zoe Guest, Funding & Operations Manager, who took part in the parade, said: “It was a lovely summer’s day, and the town centre was packed. It is hoped that we will have raised lots of money for St Mary’s, which is this year’s chosen charity for the event. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought the whole day went really well and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.”

In a show of true carnival spirit, Ulverston Mayor, Councillor Pat Jones took to the stocks for a soaking in the town square before the parade kicked off. Other local dignitaries, including Reverend Alan Bing of Ulverston Parish Church and Mr Spours were also pelted with wet sponges in the name of fun, raising £1,850 for charity in just 30 minutes.

Sunflower Cupcakes help raise a smile :)

Two years ago in Ulverston, Windy Ash Cupcakes was set up. The cottage business had the sole intention of providing delicious homemade cakes using only the finest natural ingredients. They wanted to produce cakes that tasted as good as they looked.

Friends kept telling them that they should sell their cakes so in April 2009 they took the plunge. At the beginning they offered just four flavours. They now have over twenty and are still looking for new ones.

They only use organic flour, local free range eggs and unrefined sugar in their cakes with absolutely no artificial colours or flavours whatsoever!

All cakes are baked in small batches in the farmhouse kitchen and then each cake is individually hand decorated using fondant icing, buttercream, chocolate ganache and toffee toppings, which are again all homemade.

St Mary’s were delighted to have on sale sunflower cupcakes each day during Ulverston Carnival Week in The Orangery Café. The cakes were freshly prepared, delivered and donated FREE to the charity by Windy Ash.

We are delighted to announce that during the week the sale of the Windy Ash Cupcakes raised £200 for St Mary’s, which is wonderful. We are extremely grateful to Windy Ash Cupcakes for helping us to raise additional funds for St Mary’s.

Pictured: Bob Cheetham from Windy Ash Bakery with Zoe Guest from St Mary's