Brazilian rhythms will make Ross Carnival procession sparkle on Saturday, August 5th, whatever the weather.

Members of the Ola Samba Club, based in Cheltenham will be leading the procession.

And one of the members will know her way around the route very well as she lives in Ross.

Pam Meakin has been a member of Ola Samba since 2014 and the band had already been going for about four years when she joined.

She said it is great fun and you don’t need to be musical or able to dance to join, but a sense of rhythm is vital.

Pam explained that the Leader, Dave Walter composes the rhythms so they are specific to the band.

Pam was looking for a dance class to join and visited a Samba workshop, but when she heard the drums being played she knew she wanted to join the Samba marching band.

She said: “We can either take part in processions or on a stage, there are three big drums called Surdu, which is Portuguese for ‘deaf man’s ears’, then there are tambourin, which is the only instrument not traced back to Africa, this is a small instrument like a tambourine, but without bells - it makes a high clicking sound and is played very fast.”

Pam added that there is a lot to think about when they are in a procession, she said: “It can be difficult to remember to smile when you are playing an instrument and dancing, but every year we are getting better.” She said they have played at Monmouth Carnival, the Wychwood Festival and private events but they dream of getting to Glastonbury one day.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition.