FOOTAGE of a town’s creepy carnival from decades gone by has been viewed by nearly 20,000 people online.
With this year’s Harwich Guy Carnival having been cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, a former media officer has uploaded video footage of the carnival from 1999, 2001, 2007 and 2010 for residents to reminisce.
Paul Diggens, from Elmstead Market, filmed for Colchester Hospital’s TV channel for 21 years and produced more than 640 programmes in that timespan.
During that time, he helped film the Guy Carnival on the streets of Harwich and Dovercourt.
Footage - Paul Diggens
The carnival, which has been running in October for 165 years, sees Big Heads parading through the streets alongside satirically decorated floats poking fun at current events.
Mr Diggens said: “I am delighted that so many people have watched the videos of the Guy Carnival online.
“There has been so much interest.
“The audience is now far greater than it was when we used to show the videos at hospitals.”
Mr Diggens added: “As the carnival was cancelled this year due to Covid-19, I wanted to put it online for everyone to see.”
The footage can be seen by visiting Colchester History Channel’s Facebook page.
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