CHEERFUL children at a tiny village school are the first to get behind this year’s Weymouth Carnival and Air Show 2011.

Pupils at Portesham Primary School are busy planning their farming-themed float which will take part in the grand procession – the highlight of this year’s summer extravaganza on Wednesday, August 17.

Carnival organisers sent out letters to schools inviting them to get involved and Portesham was the first off the blocks, responding in a couple of days with an enthusiastic YES PLEASE.

Not only is it the first school to apply, it is the first float entry.

Procession co-ordinator Stuart Bainbridge is delighted with the early response from such a small school – Portesham has only 70 children – and he is now encouraging other schools and groups to sign up.

He wants to make the procession a big and colourful affair with contributions from as many individuals and groups in the community as possible.

Several marching bands have been lined up for the parade including the prestigious Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.

This year’s carnival will be a ‘dry-run’ for the 2012 event which will be a grand affair with a potentially bigger audience than usual, falling as it does in the week between the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mr Bainbridge said: “Having sent out invitations to all 24 secondary and primary schools in the Chesil Education Partnership I was delighted to receive the first entry from one of the smallest schools in the area.

“Portesham is showing its larger neighbours how great community spirit and teamwork can prevail over the challenges of being small.”

The Parents of Portesham School (Pops), led by Karen Todd, decided a float would be an exciting opportunity for the pupils.

She sees the project as educational but also as a way to show the community how well a small school and village can work as a team irrespective of population, size or availability of finance.

Headteacher Vicky Prior said: “This is a typical reaction from the parents.

“I am never surprised by their boundless enthusiasm to support worthwhile projects for the pupils.”

Mr Bainbridge added: “The challenge has been firmly thrown down.

“The question is whether any others out there are brave enough to show us what they can do.”

How you can get involved

WEYMOUTH Carnival and Air Show is on Wednesday, August 17.

The title has been changed to reflect the increased amount of aerial events now included in the programme such as the Red Arrows.

For more information about the event and to get involved call carnival chairman Shaun Hennessy on 07970 850068 or visit weymouthcarnival.co.uk Procession entry forms can be downloaded from the website or requested through bainbridgestuart@hotmail.com