One of the leading carnival lights in Pewsey, retired oil industry head of public affairs, Roger Pope, is to take a back seat after launching one of the event’s most successful money making ventures.

In four years the Cossor’s Shop charity shop has made over £100,000 for Pewsey Carnival funds enabling it to pay off the mortgage it had taken out to pay for a new storage building on the Salisbury Road Business Park.

Cossor was the nickname of the late Cliff Goldsworthy who took over running the annual sale and auction which has been a highlight of the Pewsey Carnival scene for many decades.

Following the death of Mr Goldsworthy four years ago Mr Pope, who had been a member of Cossor’s Gang for many years, took over running the annual sale held on the last Wednesday before the procession each year.

Mr Pope also hit on the idea of opening a charity shop in aid of carnival funds and calling it Cossor’s Shop, finding premises in the Market Place and subsequently moving to even larger premises a few doors away.

All of the staff in Cossor’s Shop have worked for nothing so every penny raised, after rent and council tax, has gone to the carnival.

On Saturday Mr Pope said: “I reckon we have made a profit of about £100,000 which has all gone to the carnival.

“Pewsey carnival is special and for a community of this size to put on a fortnight of carnival activities as we do is remarkable.

“The success of the Cossor’s Shop is down to team work and I have had a hard-working team and it is amazing what you can do.”

Another Cossor’s Gang member, Wayne Hawkins, paid tribute to Mr Pope’s service and the success of the charity shop.

Mr Pope said that although he was retiring from the shop he would continue to be a member of Cossor’s Gang and help run the annual auction.