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Big Ears role for Times news ed

It’s not often councillors in the Fenland town of March get to agree on anything unanimously – but they did when it came to the town’s annual carnival procession.

Councillors decided there was only one candidate to take the role of Big Ears to accompany the Mayor’s Noddy Car during the parade…

And that was John Elworthy, news editor of the town’s weekly paper, the Cambs Times.

So John appeared fully attired as Big Ears during the big day in March which saw the Mayor, Coun Jan French, being driven in a replica Noddy car by her husband Mick, suitably attired, of course, as Noddy himself.

Accompanying them was another councillor, John West, on duty for the day as PC Plod.

John said afterwards: “It was, I have to admit, one of the best days I can remember.

“The town was packed – and there’s something surreal about parading through the town, with crowds cheering, while you wave a bucket for charity donations and hand out sweets to the kids.

“Over the years I’ve encouraged my staff to take part and dress up for several events, so perhaps it was time they caught me.”

Reporters Ian Ray, now at the Ely Standard, and Louise Hughes, now working in Reading, had already been e-mailed the photos by John’s collagues.

“After all,” he said, “It was only last year I had them dress up as superman and superwoman for a stunt involving getting the local Fenland Council to remove some household rubbish.”

John believes his true reward for the day came later – when he picked up a story about a council ‘jobsworth’ being over zealous in applying the letter of the law to bring the carnival night’s entertainment to a close. The story made the front page splash after councillors kicked up a fuss and complained to the ‘jobsworth’s’ bosses.