A meeting held at the Sydenham Community Centre in early 1960 was greeted with great enthusiasm as this was to elect members to serve the newly formed Sydenham carnival club thus giving a realistic chance of challenging for major awards in Bridgwater carnival.

Elected were
PRESIDENT: Reverend E. A. E. Gill
VICE-PRESIDENTS: C. Mockridge, R. Rawles & C. Swain
CAPTAIN: R. Stoodley CHAIRMAN: B. Nicholson
VICE-CAPTAIN: K. Crouch SECRETARY: T. Hooper
JOINT TREASURERS: R. Hooper & B. Davis
DRESSMAKERS: Mrs. Green & Mrs. Parsons GENERATOR: B. Villis & B. Dibble
PIANIST: Mrs. F. Paisey AMPLIFICATION; R. Hill
TRACTOR DRIVER: I. Keirle
M EMBERS:
R. Antony, Miss P. Bazire, M. Bullied, R. Burrows, L. Callard, G. Dunster, Miss B. Finney,
Miss S. Firth, S. Green, P. Hawkins, Miss B. Husecroft, L. Larson, Miss J. Richards,
D. Snook, T. Temblett & T. White.
FIRST YEAR HELPERS WERE:
Mr. Bob Bell, R. Carver, Mrs. G. Davies, B. Dennison, R. Fournier, Mrs. Hooper, S. Lewis,
R. Paisey, C. Redman, B. Snook & J. Williams.


Money was extremely hard to raise but as carnival time drew nearer, it was announced that the club had earned the princely sum of £450 . When you relate that to the fact that in 1960 a new Ford Zephyr convertible would have cost you £1300 and a year old Hillman minx 1500 deluxe for £600 to raise this sum of money in it first year was no mean feat.

The Stage 4th Position


Not only was this the club's first proper year in Bridgwater carnival, but as fate would have it they were the first local feature to appear on stage after two single acts.
21 years later, the Marketeers carnival club were the first feature to open the Carnival concert for the 1980 season.
For a first attempt at the stage cup, the members were portrayed right in character dressed as Hawaiian natives, alongside grass-skirted Hawaiian girls in the presence of American sailors.
The very first song to be used on stage was "in the middle of an island" followed by "milk from the coconut", then into Frankie Vaughan`s hit of the early Sixties, "what a Kookie brittle paradise". It would appear that a more suitable last choice of number could have been made rather than "we will make love" sung by Messrs T hooper, D hamblin, K crouch, B Nicolson, S Green and B Davies!
The stage was set to very good effect and colourful costumes. A neat note was struck by the presence of American sailors among the grass-skirted girls.

The Cart 5th Position



In 1958, the Hardy Spicer club disbanded with a wish that the first new club to form in their absence would have the opportunity of using their Cart and generator to further the cause of Bridgwater carnival. This rather fortunate stroke of luck just happened to fall on the Sydenham club thus giving them everything they need to partake in the great event. The following is a press report based on the club's first attempt in the big recession.

"Having a rip roaring party on a Pacific island were the Rock and rolling "Gay Hawaiians" from the newly formed "Sydenham carnival club". Last year they entered as a juvenile feature on foot, and the confidence and experience they gained, plus help an and encouragement from other gangs in the town, saw them launch their first big show this year. There was a vitality and sparkle about this happy go lucky musical show, that brought the Pacific sunshine flooding into the dimly lit streets of Bridgwater "