Our prayers had been heard.  The thunder-storms and rain of recent weeks had gone away Friday, 4th March dawned with a clear sky and sunshine.  The contingency plan was filed away.  What relief!  The final touches to transform St. Christopher's Cathedral car-park into a colourful carnival arena could go ahead.

The stage was set, literally - 50 blocks borrowed from St. Christopher's Infant School installed in front of the Alun Morris Hall.  The portico was the perfect backdrop for metres of multicoloured drapes.  Bunting and balloons were festooned around.  At noon, the Dean declared the Carnival open.  Some 300 performers - aged 5 -to 15 - were prepared.  Question:  would parents, punters and parishioners turn up in their hundreds to support this new venture?

The short answer is, yes they did!  By 12.30pm the compound was throbbing to the sound of music and singing, money changing hands at stalls, the skittle alley and children's games in full swing, pop corn popping, and pleas for back-up from the overwhelmed barbecue.

Four hours of almost non-stop entertainment enthralled the crowds.  Radio Bahrain's popular DJ, Krazy Kevin held it altogether.  Bands, choirs and dance groups from a variety of schools and youth-groups displayed their artistic skills.  For St. Christopher's Cathedral, it was an unprecedented occasion of community participation to celebrate young people's talents.

It was also a tremendous fund-raising success.  Due to the generosity of sponsors and supporters in a variety of forms, the net proceeds of the event were BD.7,500.

All in all, it was a wonderful day.  Even as the compound was being swept in the early evening the rain returned.  We had been well looked after that day, in so many ways.

Angela Murray

More pictures can be seen here........