1980 "THE BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE"
One could never visualise being able to complete a book on the history of the Club, with such a perfect ending. That perfect ending happened at approximately ten forty-five on the evening of Bridgwater Carnival.
For it was then, that word came back to the pub that the Club had been awarded first place in the "Local Features Section" for only the third time in their history. During the early part of the year, in fact, just after the 1980 theme had been voted in, a relative of a Club member arranged for a visit to the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, where it was hoped that more information could be found out about the theme. Their three representatives of the Club were to meet pensioner Jack Benbow, who proved to be a tremendous help, regarding the accuracy and detail of the idea. Such was the friendship that blossomed between Jack and the Club members, it was arranged that he should come down to Bridgwater over the carnival period, as VIP guest of the Club.
It appears that Jack had seen the carnival in 1947, and he was able to offer vivid descriptions of how it was just after the war.
Fund raising during the year centered around the "Twenty Week Draw," together with another successful run of "Cabaret Showtime" at the Chilton
Trinity School and finally, the now familiar hot dog stall outside the Valiant Soldier during fair week.
The stage show must have set a record for the number of song titles used at the concerts. In all, thirteen numbers were used, with some tunes just involving the chorus. Again, character portrayal was vitally important to the success of the scene.
Almost four thousand bulbs were used on the float and for the first time two generators were required to light them.

The Club was to continue building their float at the Halfway Inn, where the co-operation and understanding of mine hosts Viv and Alec Bosley, certainly contributed toward the Club's success.

1980 STAGE 4th POSITION
The Club was to open the 1980 Concerts as the first feature to appear on stage. It is worth mentioning again, that by coincidence, the "Sydenham
Club" was the first feature to appear at the concerts some twenty-one years previously.
The show opened with "Le Reve Passe" (The Soldiers Dream) during which the stage was filled to capacity by the entrance of those sprightly pensioners. Then into "Here We Are Again", followed by a chorus of "The Old Brigade."
The marching routines, displayed by the Club, would have made any Chelsea Pensioner feel proud, but to keep them young at heart, the next song used was "Parade Of Pretty Girls", then into "Something About A Soldier"
This was followed by a lighthearted portrayal of these lively gentlemen, with the "Wibbly Wobbly Walk". The routines were very effective with those bright red coats set against a white and blue background.
Flowing straight into the second half of the show, the Club then sang that popular oldie "The Army Of Today's Alright", this was followed by "The Laughter Parade". At this point, the setting changed to a dimly lit stage, while the Club sang a heart rendering version of "There's A Long Long Trail", during which a gunfire effect could be heard by the audience. The stage effect was brought to a peak, with the aid of spotlights searching their way across the backcloth.
The final two minutes were taken up with a well rehearsed "Tommy" scene, while the younger members of the Club performed a rifle drill to those popular oldies "Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty", then "Pack Up Your Troubles", followed by a chorus of "Long Long Way To Tipperary" and closing the curtain with "Goodbye Dolly Gray".

1980 CART 1ST POSITION
The float, entitled "The Old Brigade On Parade" was very much an open design cart. Featuring a forty-eight foot long roof, that contained over two thousand white bulbs, which was bordered by some four hundred blue bulbs on the sides of the roof.
The floor of the cart sloped steadily upwards from front to back, while on the sides of the float, archways were cut out and covered in yellow Perspex.
This was then lit from behind with strip lighting. Inside these archways was depicted a silhouette scene featuring "Tommy's"
On the front of the cart was an eleven-foot diameter version of "The Defence Medal" which had been designed from plastic flowers, while at the rear of the cart could be seen a seven-foot diameter model, of the reverse side of "The War Medal," again finished in flowers.
The focal point of the float was eight gold roses set in the roof of the cart by means of scaffold tubes that were to act as stems. These were set in two blocks of four, and were situated approximately a quarter and three-quarter of the way back.
No red was used during the painting of the float, which was hardly necessary, for when the members climbed aboard in their bright red coats, the setting appeared to be complete. Crowds of some one hundred thousand were to greet the carts, as they slowly made their way up through the town. Ten Club members each side of the float gave just the right effect required, without blocking out any cart detail.
They were kept warm by the brisk movements set to such numbers as
"Pack Up Your Troubles" and "Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty"
At the end of it all, the lads made their way back to the Valiant Soldier, to settle down with a pint, and wait for the results to come through.
Then at around a quarter to eleven, while everyone was quietly enjoying a drink in the Clubroom, a steady rumbling could be heard coming up the stairs. Everyone turned to the door in expectation, just as the beaming faces of some very excited Club members appeared at the door, shouting just one word, that made this 21st year a story book ending "FIRST"... No more need be said as to what happened after that!!!

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OFFICIALS, COMMITTEE, MEMBERS AND
VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE MARKETEERS
CARNIVAL CLUB 1980
SECRETARY: M. Wills Esq.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY: R. Tozer Esq.
MINUTES SECRETARY: J. Webb Esq. E;
CAPTAIN: F. Mead Esq.
PRESIDENT: T. Green Esq.
CHAIRMAN: G. Dunster Esq.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: G, Chidgey Esq.
TREASURER: C. Mockridge Esq.
ASSISTANT TREASURER: K. Witts Esq.
FUND RAISING SECRETARY: D. Stone Esq.
STAGE MANAGER: K. Witts Esq.
VICE-CAPTAIN: S. Wood Esq.
GANGS & FEATURES REP: R. Tozer Esq.
SOCIAL SECRETARY: G. Daughton Esq.
PONTOON PROMOTERS: K. Briffett Esq. & S. Paynter Esq.
20-WEEK RAFFLE PROMOTERS: M. Bawden Esq. & B. Mullins Esq.
MEMBERS:
T. Baker, S. Clarke, P. Collard, Jeremy Dibble, John Dibble, P. Elson, M. Godfrey,
A. Harvey, S. Harvey, M. Hedge, D. Lewis, S. Paynter, S. Salter, P. Smith, R. Stoodley,
P. Stubbs.
VIC E-PRESIDENTS:
I. Amor, R. Anthony, M. Bell, W. Biffen, A. Bosley, P. Brazewell, A. Bryant, A. Chidgey,
G. French, D. Gore, B. Griffiths, C. Hocking, S. Holland, R. Jeffree, G. Lornax,
C. Mockridge, Mrs. P. Reed, D. Risby, B. Slocombe, P. Taylor, J. Tozer, B. Villis,
J. Williams, M. Williams, R. Williams, T. Winter & T. Wood.
HONOURARY MEMBERS:
T. Blake & T. Pickett
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:
R. Brown, M. Biddiscombe, R. Chidgey, J. Froude, J. Hooper, D. Horsey,
S. Payne & P. Winter.
STAGE MAKE-UP:
Miss L. McSweeney & Miss M. Wood
MUSICAL DIRECTOR:
Mr. T. Winter
STAGE CHOREOGRAPHER:
Miss T. Cummins
DRESSMAKERS:
Mrs. G. Davis, Mrs. S. Dunster, Miss L. Gore & Mrs. S. Mead
TRACTOR DRIVER:
Mr. G. Higgins
HELPERS:
A. Butt, A. Elson, J. Farrance, F. Lewis, C. Mockridge, A. Rawle, K. Rawles,
A. Trunks & T. Upham.

BRIDGWATER
1st MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"
2nd CRUSADERS CC "Johnny Reb"
3rd LIME KILN CC "The Vikings"

NORTH PETHERTON
1st BUCCANEERS CC "My Grandfathers Clock"
2nd MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"
3rd CRUSADERS CC "Johnny Reb"

BURNHAM & HIGHBRIDGE
1st MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"
2nd RAMBLERS CC "Voodoo Warriors"
3rd CRUSADERS CC "Johnny Reb"

SHEPTON MALLET
1st BUCCANEERS CC "My Grandfathers Clock"
2nd MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"
3rd RAMBLERS CC "Voodoo Warriors"

WELLS
1st BUCCANEERS CC "My Grandfathers Clock"
2nd MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"
3rd RAMBLERS CC "Voodoo Warriors"

GLASTONBURY
1st BUCCANEERS CC "My Grandfathers Clock"
2nd MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"
3rd RAMBLERS CC "Voodoo Warriors"

WESTON-SUPER-MARE
1st BUCCANEERS CC "My Grandfathers Clock"
2nd RAMBLERS CC "Voodoo Warriors"
3rd MARKETEERS CC "The Old Brigade On Parade"