What a day! This year’s Clacton Carnival was an absolute blast — and our Bluebird Care team (customers and staff alike!) were right at the heart of it - we hope you saw us!
In the weeks leading up to the big day, our office became a hive of creativity. With plenty of tea, cake, and laughter, we worked with our customers and staff to prepare decorations, make banners, and most importantly — help transform our customer Willy’s wheelchair into a brilliant Bluebird-themed blue racing car. This year’s carnival theme was Musicals, and with Grease as our inspiration, there was only one direction we were heading: full speed ahead!
As Vince from Grease said:
'And now, for you gals and guys, a few words to the wise. You Jims and Sals are my best pals. And to look your best for the big contest, just be yourselves and have a ball. That's what it's all about, after all. So, forget about the camera and think about the beat. We'll give the folks at home a real big treat. Don't worry about where the camera is, just keep on dancin', that's your biz.'
On the day itself, we gathered at the airfield to get everything ready, surrounded by excitement and smiles. Willy arrived with his wonderful family, Anita and Kieran, who have been right beside him throughout the preparations. Janice and Charles also joined us, brought along by their families to be part of the celebration. Jo kindly collected David, who walked the carnival in honour of his late husband, Gary — a moving and heartfelt tribute that meant so much to all of us.
Marie. S brought our lovely customer Jillian, while Nicky accompanied Addai. Marie. Sc and our Director, Melvyn, teamed up to collect even more of our customers so they could all be part of the big day. It was a fantastic turnout, full of love, community, and Bluebird spirit.
Our team members — including Amelia, Jackie, Marie, Sue, Becky, Abby, Adam, Marianne, Nikki, Gabriella, Chloe Ines and Charlie — brought the energy as the judges came round. Dancing, singing, and cheering — they made sure our Bluebird spirit was front and centre!
And we’re proud to say… we were awarded Second Prize!
With Willy leading the way in his showstopping car, we danced through the streets to Greased Lightning, handed out sweets, and soaked up the atmosphere with our customers by our side. There was real joy in the air — and plenty of wheelies from Willy too!
A special thank you to Janice, who handmade our beautiful Bluebird banner and baked delicious cakes for everyone. And thank you to Market Field School for kindly lending us a minibus to help us all get there safely.
We ended the evening at Clacton Pier, surrounded by the buzz of the crowd. Willy was still going strong, and our much-loved twins led us in their signature three cheers to wrap up a truly wonderful day.
It’s days like this that remind us how special it is to be part of a community like ours. A huge thank you to everyone who took part — it was a day to remember :)
