STOURBRIDGE Carnival organiser David Harcourt MBE hopes this weekend’s 31st instalment of the event will cap an unforgettable few weeks.

Mr Harcourt last month travelled to Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE for services to the community.

Chief among those services is Mr Harcourt’s work organising Stourbridge Carnival which will once again attract thousands of people to the town this Sunday (July 8).

But he admitted the honour of receiving his MBE from the Queen, in front of his wife Sylvie, son Jonathan and daughter Nicola, a few weeks ago was still sinking in.

Mr Harcourt, 65, who is also the president of the Stourbridge Chamber of Trade and figurehead of the town’s ‘In Bloom’ campaign, said: “It’s a great honour, a privilege for sure, and I am very proud.

“It was lovely to have my family there because they have been massively supportive given all the time you have to take out to do these things.

“Also, the business people, volunteers and teams that have supported me, I have to thank them too.”

Mr Harcourt will be relying on such support again this weekend to ensure Stourbridge Carnival goes off without a hitch – and he believes this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever.

He said: “The carnival has grown and grown in the 30 years it has been associated with the town and I think we have more stalls than ever coming this year.

“The addition of the Black Country Festival has really enhanced it and it’s a good family day out – and, as I keep reminding people, it’s free!”

Central to the carnival, which runs from 10am to 5pm and has a ‘Stourbridge By The Sea’ theme, will be the parade which assembles in the Lower High Street at around 12.30pm and then arrives in town at 1pm.

One of the earliest activities in the day will see young girls gather for the Carnival Princess and Rosebud competitions at the radio show opposite the town clock.

Rosebuds (aged 4-6) and Princesses (aged 7-10) must register by 10.15am and the competitions begin 15 minutes later.

There will be a number of other events taking place around the town clock throughout the rest of the day, including dance groups and martial arts displays.

Additionally, there will be a street market, face painting and wild birds to enjoy on the High Street, plus classic vehicles on the Lower High Street.

There will be bands and music throughout the day in Duke Street and Coventry Street, along with Black Country crafts and demonstrations.