Man who saved Exmouth Carnival aims to make it the biggest in Devon

The man who saved Exmouth Carnival last year wants the town's carnival to one day be the biggest in Devon.

Gavin Roberts stepped in at the last minute in 2019 to ensure the town had a carnival event.

Despite heavy rain thousands of residents lined the streets to watch the carnival. Exmouth Nub News' video of the event has had more than 13,000 views.

In a message on social media Gavin has given the town an update on the carnival and appealed for more volunteers for this year's event. In particular, the carnival needs people who work on the roads and have a Chapter 8 Certificate as this would help the carnival committee cut costs.

Gavin said: "I am now on the committee taking over the chairman role after relieving the previous chairman of his duties. Some of the committee members at the time were also looking at pulling out but I am glad to say, that they are on board with the carnival and also agree it needs change.

"New members have also joined the committee and together we seem to work well. Time will tell on that one but I hope so."

Gavin went on to appeal for more volunteers for the carnival as the 2018 carnival was cancelled, mainly due to a lack volunteers, and the 2019 carnival had to be saved at the last minute.

"I want to keep people involved with the carnival, and how it's all pulled together," said Gavin.

"In the hope that people will be more likely to get involved on carnival night. In all honesty this year's carnival was going to be cancelled due to lack of volunteers to help on the night. To help keep roads closed and spectators at a safe distance from the floats.

"Our carnival, along with many others suffer with lack of volunteers. It threatens to kill off an historic carnival. It would be such a shame to lose it, after all most of us enjoy carnival night."

Gavin is also confident that the carnival is in a good financial position to put on a carnival this year, as long as fundraising events are successful.

"The biggest costs go towards road closures really," explained Gavin.

"If we can get people on board who work on the roads with a Chapter 8 Certificate this would reduce costs a bit.

"Money which could be saved towards our own float. Which, I hear we used to have. Any one know what happened to it? Is it sitting in a yard somewhere? It would be nice to have our own float."

Gavin has big ambitions for the town's carnival, he said: "If Exmouth is the biggest town in Devon, why can't we give it the biggest carnival in Devon? I aim to, one day.

"It's not going to happen over night. Maybe not for a few years but hopefully one day we can put Exmouth's carnival on the map, so to speak."

If you would like to find out more about this year's carnival or would like to get involved, click the red button below.