History of Uncle Tom Cobley in Combe Martin

Uncle Tom Cobley has become a traditional entry into the Carnival of Combe Martin since 1911.

Combe Martin is a quaint little village in North Devon, England which once a year hosts a Carnival parade. The Carnival procession runs though the main street of the Combe Martin and is the climax of a week of fund raising events. Money raised from these events go to help various local charities.

The Uncle Tom Cobley 'float' is based upon the old story of seven gentlemen travelling by horse to Widdecombe Fair.

The first entry into The Combe Martin Carnival was in 1911. The riders were: Tom Reed, Tom Gubb, Hercules Parkin, Jack Sanders, Tom Charley, George Parkin and Phillip Squire.

The early construction was built on a garmentry, which consists of a frame, two wheels and shafts for the horse to pull it. The ensembled visited other local Carnivals and it was whilst in Barnstaple that the mayor of Exeter invited them to the Exeter Carnival in 1936.

In 1939, on their way to Ilfracombe, the horse became a bit frisky and tilted the cart depositing all the riders in the road at Hele Bay, thereafter a tractor and trailer replaced the horse and cart.  Mr Conner, licensee of The London Inn, contributed to the cost of a new 'horse' which was used during the 1950s. At this time the riders were: Leslie Walters, Percy Rook, Arthur Collacott, Erbie Knill, Herbie Dovell, Parky Smith and Nigel Darch. This continued until the Carnival petered out.

The new Carnival was formed in the early 1970s and it was in 1978 when Gerald Walters and Tony Rook hit upon the idea of rebuilding the present day horse. Gerald Walters, Des Smale, Derek Smallridge, Tony Rook, Nagi Burgess, Julian Beer and Gordon Johnson carried out the construction of the horse at Lower Leigh Farm, by kind permission of the Johns family. The horse is 'stabled' there during the 'closed' season.

Dick Jarvis and family had always kindly loaded the trailer until the horse's future was jeopardised when the new legislation pertaining to all Carnivals was adopted.  Thanks to the kind donation of an old coach chassis by John Lovering a new trailer was built which complied to all the new legislation, this along with the help and co-operation from the Johns family over many years has ensured the continuation of this village tradition.

The present day riders are (left to right): Gerald Walters, Darren Smallridge, Norman Sanders, John Webber, Trevor Laramy, Jimmy Norman and Graham Rice.

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