by Sam Hawcroft
A Withernsea volunteer is preparing to take on what could be his toughest challenge yet – staying silent for nine hours.
Simon Skelton, 34, will hold a sponsored silence outside Poundstretcher, near the entrance to Aldi, on Saturday, August 1, to raise money for Withernsea Carnival.
Simon, who works for the Gateway Hub charity in Withernsea, hopes the challenge will help the carnival provide more activities for children.
He said: “I’m doing it for the carnival to raise money so they have money to do more things with the kids and put on more activities.
“They are finding it hard to get funding, so I said I would do a sponsored silence for the full nine hours.”
Asked whether it would be difficult because he enjoys talking, Simon said: “Yes – but I can do it.”
He plans to arrive at about 8am before setting up his table, chair, posters and a sign explaining why he is unable to speak.
People will be able to donate directly into a collection tub throughout the day, while Simon has already secured more than £200 in sponsorship before the challenge has even begun.
He hopes the final total could reach £400 or £500.
Simon has a long history of supporting charities and community events and estimates that he previously raised between £15,000 and £16,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
He is also a familiar face at Blue Light Weekend, where he will once again be helping out at the event’s Military Village attraction and helping to sell official event programmes.
Simon added that, should his carnival fundraiser prove successful, he may take on another sponsored silence next year to support the Gateway Hub.
Anyone wishing to support Simon can visit him outside Poundstretcher, near Aldi, during his nine-hour sponsored silence on Saturday, August 1.
Meanwhile, Withernsea Carnival is calling on community groups, clubs, businesses and organisations to help make this year’s parade one of the biggest and most colourful yet.
The parade will leave Withernsea High School at 2pm on Saturday, August 15, bringing floats, decorated vehicles, walking groups and fancy dress through the town as part of the annual carnival celebrations.
Carnival chairman John Patchett said all organisations were welcome to take part, whether they wanted to build a full-scale float or simply gather a group together, choose a theme and join the fun.
He said: “We want as many people as possible to get involved. You don’t need an elaborate float – you can walk, dress up, decorate a vehicle or just come along as a group and be part of it.
“The parade is one of the highlights of carnival week and it is always fantastic to see the streets lined with people. The more entries we have, the bigger and better the spectacle will be.”
Withernsea Carnival celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, and in 2025 a last-ditch social appeal for volunteer marshals ensured the traditional parade could go ahead.
Entry forms are available from the Gazette office at 170 Queen Street and the Gateway Hub.
Groups can also turn up at Withernsea High School on the day and join the parade, although advance entries will help organisers plan the line-up.