BIZARRE creations floated down the river Wye for years as locals indulged their creative sides for the Hereford River Carnival.

Starting in the 1950s and running through until 1973, before being resurrected by volunteers in 2014, Hereford River Carnival was orchestrated by the City Council with many entries from local companies such as Bulmers, Denco, Smart and Brown, and Painters.

During daytime, an amateur race for tub fours would run, called the Belmont Plate, and then the carnival would entertain the evening’s guests. The Hereford Silver Band would play, and the night would end with a fireworks display on the castle green. Families flooded the riverbanks to see it all unfold on the late summer’s day.

Despite the dangerous mix of kids, water and darkness there is remarkably no evidence of any disasters or accidents occurring over the period it ran.

Many members of our We Grew Up in Hereford Facebook group remember watching the carnival as young children or friends and relatives working on the floats.

Some of the floats included a giant elephant that spurted water out of its trunk, a shoe house, a fairground ride, the Batmobile, and a windmill.

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Sharon Clarke wrote: “I was very little and thought the river carnival was magical! The floats were all so beautiful and full of lights and magic. The end of the show was amazing with fireworks from across the river on the castle green”.

Ex-Denco employee, Jill Hales said: “I still have friends who were on the windmill entry, they were dressed as Dutch girls”.

“Used to love the river carnival I think most of the boats were made by apprentices from the various city firms I know one was made by them at Smart and Brown great day out,” recalled Yvonne.

“I was an employee at Denco but at the time of the River Carnival I was an apprentice at Thorn Lighting,” wrote Huan Davies. “I was involved with Thorn Lighting Apprentices Entry the Batmobile and was on the float”

Lots of the members share fond memories of their time at the carnival with their families and friends.