The Ottery St Mary Carnival

On Saturday 19^th October, Ottery St Mary were pleased to welcome back the much anticipated Carnival to the town.

In anticipation for this year’s Carnival, the town organised a window competition for all local businesses. The competition was in memory of Phyllis Baxter, Ottery’s much-loved Tourist Information Centre Manager and Citizen of the Year 2017, who sadly passed away last year. Gilbert Stephens were delighted to participate and decorate the Ottery window with shamrocks, leprechauns and pots of gold to adhere to this year’s theme… ‘The Spirit of the Irish’!

We are very proud of our Ottery window, complete with a green, white and orange balloon garland, some green shamrocks, and a leprechaun cut out. Whilst we did not win the competition this year, we would like to congratulate winners Abbotts DIY for their very impressive Irish display!

Terry Bastyan, Managing Partner, says “Phyllis Baxter was very well known and did a great deal to promote the town. It’s fantastic to hear that the Carnival ran the competition in her memory, and I am very pleased that the firm could participate”.

The Carnival kickstarted at 2pm at the Institute with the Crowning Ceremony. Many also came to watch the Children’s Fancy Dress competition. The grand procession started at 7:30pm at Finnimore Industrial Estate and travelled along through Mill Street into the town centre.

The firm look forward to next year’s Carnival and getting involved in decorating the Ottery office window.

Photography by Alex Walton Photography.