Non-profit firm set up to organise Trevithick Day

An army of unpaid volunteers are behind a Cornwall town's annual festival celebrating the famous inventor Richard Trevithick.

It will be the 41st Trevithick Day with crowds gathering to see the Puffing Devil, a replica of Trevithick's first high-pressure steam locomotive.

This year the festival, which also celebrates the industrial heritage of the Camborne area, is being run by the Camborne Trevithick Day Community Interest Company (CIC) for the first time.

The event includes steam engines, street entertainment, dancing, vintage buses and stalls.

Trevor Brookes, chairman of Camborne Trevithick Day CIC, said the event was funded with grants and sponsorship with an army of volunteers giving their time for free.

He said Trevithick Day was important to the community in Camborne.

"The focus is primarily Trevithick, the great inventor, but it's not just about Richard Trevithick, it's an opportunity to give Camborne an uplift," Mr Brookes said.

"For one day a year this event reaches out to all aspects of the community."

Camborne school children, dressed in period clothing, will be dancing to entertain the crowds. There will also be local entertainers, musicians, jugglers and theatre groups performing throughout the day.

Steam engines are due line up in Basset Road and parade through the town at 3.30pm.

Mr Brookes took over running the event four years ago and said forming a CIC, a non-profit company, was the best fit for the event.

Mr Brookes said the CIC worked in collaboration with Camborne Town Council to share responsibility for various aspects of the organisation, including road closures, security teams and first aid provision to make sure people are safe.

Mr Brookes said organising the event started nine months in advance and was a complex process.

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