Historic Bridgwater carnival photos for sale

A wonderful archive of 25 years of superbly lit official photographs from Bridgwater carnival is to be put up for sale for £1 a print.

You can almost hear and feel the passion and razzmatazz of the world's largest illuminated parade as you look at some of the 2,000 images that photographer Peter J Nicholls has donated to the town's carnival committee.

From 1980 to last November's magnificent show, the spirit and sheer imagination of carnival leaps out of each shot. Photographs of the town's famous carnival stage shows and concerts are included in the archive, which features every cart, photographed from each side, from 1980-2003.

Mr Nicholls has handed over the archive after clearing out the storeroom of his photographic shop in the town, but will keep all his negatives.

It takes two photographers, and banks of lights on scaffolding towers, to achieve the images.

The sheer size of the biggest floats, 100ft long, makes life difficult, but Mr Nicholls, his son, Alex, and nephew Jason Tanner, do a precision job even though they may be working in lashing rain, sleet, or wicked winds.

Mr Nicholls, who has been covering the carnival for the committee since 1977, said: "We put up the lights between the towers to spread the light along the cart, and photograph every float and every walking entry.

Some carts use strobe lighting which really hits the camera and we have to try to time it so that the strobe isn't hitting it when we take the picture, and of course there are moving parts and people on the carts are moving, and we try to make sure we get people looking up rather than down.

"My nephew, Jason, 30, has been helping me since he carried the bags for me when he was four.

"My favourite float is from 1982, Land of Make Believe, by Marketeers carnival club, because it moved carnival forward. It was the first to have major moving parts."

Some pictures show clubs which have passed into history such as Young at Heart, Grenadiers and Pig and Whistle.

The carnival committee is keeping some images to create its own archive, and over the coming months they will appear on the official website, www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk but carnival fans will have the chance to buy many more at two sales next month. The first will be at Bridgwater Sports and Social Club and 8pm on February 10, and the second at the Busman's Club in Wells at 8pm on February 11. Photographs sized at 10in by 8in will cost £1 each, while some much larger prints will be available for just £5.

Dave Stokes, publicity officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, added: "This is a marvellous gesture by Peter, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his generosity.

"We have started to build up a comprehensive archive section on our official website of the Bridgwater Carnival tradition, and these photographs will now join old programmes and the video clips already on view."