Our Carnival History: 2009-2012

On the road to becoming the Chinewrde Carnival Collective

In 2008, Carole had a heart bypass and although it went well and she made a full recovery it was obvious that walking the Carnival in 2009 was not a safe option. So that year, Louise gathered a few of the previous Kenilworth Carnival stars along with some new participants under the group name of ‘Louise’s Family & Friends’ and they became ‘The Travelling Carnivale, circa 1932’.

Carole was a fortune teller; Louise was a snake charmer; Craig was a he-she; Fran was a dancer; Dennis was the world’s strongest man; Sarah was the Bearded Lady and Dean was the Lion Tamer.

Those of us who had been in the Carnival previously remembered how much we missed it, those who were new to it realised how much fun it could be and altogether as a group we enjoyed the planning; making props and creating characters.

The Travelling Carnivale had a hint of naughtiness; it was a little risky and slightly dark in tone - but fun! We made the Carnival Spectators laugh and in the process enjoyed ourselves and the Carnival day buzz! The Travelling Carnivale may not have been bought together by the Chinewrde Carnival Collective (the group that did not exist yet), but it had the stirrings of what our little group was about to become, it was indeed the first step in the Chinewrde Carnival Collective years.



The Travelling Carnivale, circa 1932

 In 2010, some of us from the Travelling Carnivale and a few former ‘Harris Family’ members met up to discuss being in the Carnival again. After almost ending up with a ‘straight lorry’ an old idea evolved into something quite spectacular. A very simple, sophisticated and visual idea bought out the dark side of our imaginations with just a hint of fun!

We sat together and discussed what Carnival meant to us, why we wanted to be in it and we created a manifesto and a group name:

We aim to be Avant Guarde with a twist

Use our Sense of Humour and Theatrics

We keep it Sophisticated and Simple

Subversive and Offensive

With some Cross-dressing of course!

The Chinewrde Carnival Collective was formed.

In 2010, The Chinewrde Carnival Collective entered the Carnival as Zombie Carnival Queens 1925-1945, and consisted of Carole, Louise, Craig, Ley, Jac, Sara, Dean, Elicia, Abba, and Sarah



Zombie Carnival Queens, 2010

In 2011, we met up and discussed ideas for the Carnival; we were on a roll and were excited by what we could achieve. After some discussions about how we could push and pull the ‘rules’ of Kenilworth Carnival in a creative way - another excellent idea evolved.

Conscious of how the Kenilworth Carnival had been lacking in bands and the ‘right’ kind of noise (in recent years), we decided to tackle the lack of accompanying bands head on by entering as one ourselves. It is our hope that this might encourage Marching bands in the local area to become involved with Kenilworth Carnival again – we need you!

We created a ‘marching band’ from nothing, and shaped an accompanying blog to build a history in order to add credence to our little Troup! http://ccmarchingband.blogspot.co.uk

The blog was complete with characters who would be involved in that year’s carnival (played by ourselves), there was a history and back-story written for the band that did exist and even specially doctored images of each Chinewrde Carnival Collective member as their character!

In 2011, the Chinewrde Marching Band consisted of Carole, Dennis, Louise, Craig, Veronica, Abba, Sarah, Dean, Elicia, Ley, Sara, Jac, Graham, Ryhs and Uncle Peter drove the 4x4.



The Chinewrde Marching Band, 2011

2012 – Not our best year!

This year, things did not seem to go smoothly for the Carnival, at a couple of stages it even looked as though there might not even be a Carnival anymore. Meanwhile, as we were desperately trying to help the committee ensure the Carnival continued for the future, our little group was also struggling; we were still over excited by the Chinewrde Marching Band entry and a little astonished at how much of a success it had been – these two things created a slight hiccup!

The problem is that it is difficult to ‘poke a little fun’ at the Carnival when it is struggling so much to continue, and it is even harder to find an idea after you’ve been involved in something that you don’t know how to ‘top’.

We spent some time working on our blog, and ideas for our logo. After going over the manifesto repeatedly we realised that we are sort of modern day jesters! We poke fun (but not in a malicious way), so the logo’s were created and the blog was updated… but still no idea to ‘top’ 2011!

Finally, we resolved to entertain this year, and we became to royal family doing ‘Strictly…’

Strictly Royal involved four judges (Dennis as Fergie; Carole and the Queen of Hearts; Sara and a High court Judge and Craig as the Arch-Bishop) and a selection of the Royal family dancing (Elicia as Kate; Abba as William; Veronica as Charles; Louise as Camilia; Sarah as the Queen; Onur as Philip; Ley as Harry; Jac as Anne; Dean as Beatrice) the ‘dances’ were all silly routines, including YMCA; Superman; Time Warp; Vogue and Thriller.

Strictly Royal, 2012

 We had a laugh, it was fun but it wasn’t quite right, there were elements of the Chinewrde Carnival Collective manifesto such as the corsets on show during the Time Warp and Vogue and of course the ping pong balls! However, it was not naughty enough, it did not have a slight dark element to it and it was a little too ‘nice’.

But do not worry… we have a meeting coming up very soon and we will be back next year with a much better carnival entry!

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Our Carnival History: 1995-2008

Unfortunately, no one has accurate dates or ‘titles’ for the following period: 1993-2008. We have tried to piece together a rough chronology of what the family entered the Carnival as during this period, below is what we think happened:

In between Glenn Miller and the Blue Danube.

In 1993, Joan entered as a fancy dress walker. She was dressed in Walker’s Crisp Packets and was called Mrs Walker’s Crisp.



Mrs Walker's Crisp (1993)

 In 1994, Carole and Fran entered as a couple of fizzy drinks can’s, one was Pepsi and the other was Pepsi Max (they came 3^rd place)

Post Blue Danube:

Circa 1996, Alice, Fran & Carole entered as fancy dress walkers (with Bikes) as something to do with looking after your health, one was a heart, one was vitamins and one was a balanced diet.



Fran, Alice and Carole

Circa 1997-2008, includes some of the following entries:

•     Carole as ‘Tropical dress’ (potentially 2006)

•     Carole as ‘Clowning Around’

•     Carole and Joan as ‘We are Rubbish’
•     Joan was ‘Sweets’ the same year that Carole was ‘Patchwork’

•     Fran & Fred with ‘The Trinket Box’ using the trailer as the musical box the lady spins around on.

•     Fran & Fred as ‘Swanning Around’, Fran was dressed as a match girl with giant matches on her back while Fred was in a giant packet of Swan Matches

 

Fran

The following dates and titles are a little more confirmed:

In 2001 Fran & Fred entered with their interpretation of ‘Typical English Weather ‘

Meanwhile, the same year (2001), Joan was ‘The big Breakfast’ and came 2^nd; while Carole was ‘Rag’s to Riches’ and came 1^st place.

In 2002, Joan entered as ‘The Four Seasons’, while Carole was ‘Jubilee Dress’ and came 2^nd.

In 2005, Carole entered as ‘It’s My Party’ and was also “Highly Recommended” that year.

In 2007, Carole entered as ‘Leader of the Pack’.

And for her final fancy dress Walking year, in 2008 Carole entered Kenilworth carnival as a huge Carnival type extravaganza!



Carnival Dress



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Our Carnival History: 1990-1995

Continuing into the 1990’s the Harris Family seemed to be on a roll…

In 1990, the Harris Family entered Kenilworth Carnival as ‘Classical Strings’. Each member of the family was dressed in a black suit with a red cumber-band, each with their own ‘musical instrument’. The family ‘performed’ as though they were a real orchestra (on the back of the lorry). As an extra, every time the wedding tune came on the family threw confetti into the crowd.

Kate Conducted the orchestra, Joan was the Percussionist playing the Piano and the Drums, Jac, Ley, Fran, and Carole all played the Violins, Alice played the Violin and the Triangle, and Louise played the Cello.

This year’s entry meant lots of practice, in order to make it appear that the members were actually playing the cardboard instruments!



Classical Strings, 1990

In 1991, the Harris Family were back with their interpretation of a ‘Garden Party’. Based on the lyrics from the song ‘The Ugly Bug Ball’, each member of the family was a insect from the garden.  

Joan was a Bumble Bee, Carole was a Butterfly, Fran was a Lady bird, Alice was a Beetle, Kate was a Caterpillar, Louise was a Woodlouse and Sarah was a Spider. In the photographs we seem to have a Gardener on the lorry – I’ve no idea who that is!!

This is the first year that Sarah participated in the Carnival.



The Garden Party, 1991

In 1992, the Harris family entered as Glenn Miller (no one remembers the actual title for this year).  

Alice was Glenn Miller, Joan, Fran, Carole and Sarah were women, and Ley, Louise, Kate and Nicola were men.

This was Nicola’s only Carnival with the family, Kate got to wear a sailor’s uniform, and Louise ended up looking like Gomez Addams from the Addams Family, while Ley looked like GI Joe!

There were lots of practices for this theme too – as the family danced all the way round the Carnival procession to the sounds of Glenn Miller.

Glenn Miller, 1992

After Glenn Miller, for many reasons, the Harris family decided not to enter the Carnival together again. However, in 1995 the Harris Family did reunite for one last Carnival entry.

So in 1995, for their last ever Carnival as the Harris Family they entered as ‘the Blue Danube’.

Alex, Ley, Jac and Sara were the men, while Joan, Alice, Carole and Louise were the women.

Again, there were lots of practices learning how to Waltz, and the family danced all the way around the procession - this time to Strauss.

The Blue Danube, 1995

 From 1995 onwards, the majority of the family went back to being spectators and supporters.

A few members of the family (Alice, Fran, Joan and Carole) continued participating in Kenilworth Carnival as Fancy dress walkers, but that’s another chapter in the story…

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Our Carnival History: the 1980's

After a break between the 1960’s and the beginning of the 1980’s, the ‘Harris Family’ slowly started to get involved in Kenilworth Carnival again. After spectating each year, with their children and enjoying it, it became apparent that they just could not stay out of it!

Meanwhile, a now current member of the Chinewrde Carnival Collective had a go at Kenilworth Carnival Fame too!

The Kenilworth Carnival Queen Float;

Kate, who went onto join the ‘Harris Family’ floats, was chosen to be an attendant on the Kenilworth Carnival Queen Lorry, in (circa) 1981.

Kenilworth Queen Lorry, 1981

Dean, who is now a current member of the Chinewrde Carnival Collective, was chosen to be a page boy on the Kenilworth Carnival Queen Lorry, in (circa) 1985. I am told he was chosen because while the judging was taking place he was calling out and waving to his mum and the audience thought he was cute!



Kenilworth Queen Lorry, circa 1985. Dean is in the front row (right)

Fancy Dress Walkers:

Then In 1986, Fran and Carole asked their daughters if they would like to be in the Carnival that year. They said yes and entered as fancy dress walkers. Kate was Fergie and Louise was Andy entering that year as ‘The Royal Wedding’. This entry did not gain them a cup unfortunately (they were only runner’s up) however, they did manage to get in front of the procession by walking too fast and therefore led the Carnival around the streets right in front of the Carnival Queen Float! The Police on duty that year thought they were cute, so they let them carry on!!

Kate and Louise, 1986

The Harris Family Years:

Then in 1987, the Harris Family decided that they missed being in the Carnival and it was time to revive the family tradition. So Louise entered the Carnival that year with St Barnabas 5^th pack Brownies, as Fancy Dress Walkers comprised of walking Road Signs (they Came first in their class), while the rest of the family entered on a float.

In 1987, the ‘Harris Family’ entered Kenilworth Carnival with their interpretation of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The group comprised that year of Joan; Carole; Alice; Fran; Tracey; and Kate. The family members were each dressed as the Zombies, (Joan was dressed as a Zombie Michael Jackson) and they performed the Thriller dance routine all the way around the carnival procession. Other members of the wider family supported in their own ways, Louise helped with costume; Jac helped with make-up and props and Ley helped with photography.

Thriller, 1986

In 1988, Louise decided she would rather be with her family than the Brownies and therefore joined the ‘Harris Family’ for their entry as Video Boom, Ley & Jac also joined in that year.

Each family member was a character from a Blockbuster film. Joan was Michael Jackson (From the Bad Video); Carole was Superman; Alice was Rambo; Kate was Madonna (from Who’s that Girl?); Fran was the Bunny Boiler (fatal Attraction); Ley was Indiana Jones; Jac was Freddie Krueger; Tracey was Tina Turner and Louise was one of the wild children (both from the same film Mad Max, Beyond Thunder-dome).

Video Boom, 1988



In 1989, the group entered as the Harris Family Rock Concert. The family members were all dressed like giant boulders / rocks (in huge potato sacks sewn together and painted, with little hats with moss on the top!) and performed ‘Rock music’ on their various instruments. Joan and Kate played guitars; Carole was the singer; Fran and Alice played the Sax and Louise Played the drums.



Rock Concert, 1989

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Our Carnival History, 1950's and 1960's

It seems our Carnival career started in the 1950’s with some Arthur Street floats.

Years ago families, friends, work colleagues and streets would enter the Kenilworth Carnival.

The Harris family grew up in Arthur Street, and although we do not have confirmed dates and theme titles, we have a pretty good idea of the floats the young family were involved in.

Some of the Arthur Street Lorries:

Circa 1953 – The old woman who lived in a shoe

(Carole)

Early 1950’s - Nursery Rhymes

(Participants tbc; Andi Pandi etc)

Later 1950’s – Arthur Street’s book of Nursery Rhymes

(Carole – Queen of Hearts; John – Little Boy Blue)

1950’s – Yellow Rose of Texas

(Peter, Fran)

Carole remembers being on the float the ‘Old woman who lived in a shoe’ and this was perhaps one of her first Carnivals. She was very young at the time. The float has a giant shoe on the lorry and the children, including Carole were sat around it.



Arthur Street Float: The Old woman who lived in a shoe



We believe that Fran and Peter were more than likely on the ‘Yellow Rose of Texas’ float. Carole may have been Andi Pandi one year, perhaps on the earlier Nursery rhyme float; and then on the later nursery rhyme float she was the Queen of Hearts, and we suspect that John was Little Boy Blue on this later nursery rhyme float with her. Carole has actually been the Queen of Hearts twice in Kenilworth Carnival: once when she was younger on one of the nursery rhyme floats with her siblings and then again in 2012 for Strictly Royal float with the Chinewrde Carnival Collective.

At some point the Harris Family were involved with the float ‘The Black and White minstrels’ (Circa 1968-70), we believe that this was the first Harris Family float and not another Arthur Street float – although we are not sure... if anyone remembers being on that float, email us and let us know. Those we know to have been on this float were Winifred, Eric, (The parents), Jac and Philip, we believe other members of the family were on the float too but we are unsure who.

Winifred and Eric on the Black and White Minstrels float

After contracting the Carnival bug as a young child, Carole was also in Kenilworth Carnival during the 1960’s. During this time she entered a few years as a fancy dress walker.

Fancy Dress Walker years:

1967 – Mike’s Bikes

(Carole & Ley)

1960’s – Safety Pins, Buttons and Bows

(Carole & Friend)

1960’s – Fools Pools

(Carole & Avril / Fran)

In 1967, Carole and Ley were part of Mike’s Bikes entry – with Bikes! Looking at one of the photo’s from that year, it seems that John was also taking part in the Carnival; although none of us can work out what he was meant to be!! (Again, if anyone knows, email us).

Carole with either with her friend Avril or sister Fran when she did Fools Pools – we have no photos of this year; but Carole remembers it was to do with the Vernon’s pools / spot the ball weekly competition at the time.

And also, with a friend Carole entered one year as ‘Safety Pins Buttons and Bows’ – Carole made the costumes herself, and from this point onwards she has continued to make her costumes for each Carnival year she has entered.

Safety Pins, Buttons & Bows

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Kenilworth Carnival 2012

The Chinewrde Carnival Collective Presents – Strictly Royal

Strictly Royal, 2012

For this year’s carnival let me set the scene:

After months of the Kenilworth Carnival Committee struggling to get Kenilworth Carnival back on its feet, the Royal Family have decided to do their bit for this important Kenilworth tradition, and so they have agreed to a special celebrity Strictly Come Dancing live on the back of a lorry during the Carnival Procession - for Kenilworth Carnival Relief!

For this year’s entry, we had a dance floor, judges panel, two corgi’s and a mirror ball.

We were various relevant characters for the day, as follows:

Judges:

Dennis was Fergie

Carole was the Queen of Hearts

Sara was a High court Judge

Craig was the Archbishop of Canterbury

Royal Dancers:

Elicia was Kate

Abba was William

Veronica was Charles

Louise was Camilia

Sarah was the Queen

Onur was Philip

Jac was Anne

Dean was Beatrice

And Ley was Harry

We rehearsed various dance routines and we danced for the whole duration of the carnival.

As part of this entertaining carnival entry we did a sponsored dance (where the proceeds are donated to the Kenilworth Carnival Committee, to help towards the cost of next years’ Carnival) – we have managed to raise £211.40!

Dancing to Jump In the Line, K Carnival 2012

The soundtrack for Strictly Royal was:

1.    Superman - Black Lace

2.    The SCD theme

3.    YMCA – Village People

4.    Birdie Song

5.    The Blue Danube – Strauss

6.    Jump in the Line – Harry Belafonte

7.    Dancing Queen – Abba

8.    In the Mood

9.    Top Hat & White Tails

10.  Thriller – Michael Jackson

11.  Vogue – Madonna

12.  Time Warp

13.  Boogie Wonderland

14.  Sway – Shaft

We were tame this year, due to a feeling of making sure the Carnival went smoothly and was a happy event for its Birthday!

Kenilworth Carnival is important to us, as it is to lots of people. It is an important part of Kenilworth's history, traditions and its future... so make sure you're there next year supporting it in whatever way you can!

Next year, we will be supporting it the way we do best - we will be following our manifesto, not so tame, with a twist, a little dark, a little sick, slighty offensive and highly amusing!

You can follow us on twitter... and find us on facebook (there will be more photo's on facebook!)

Carnival Day 2012

Kenilworth Carnival - 2012

The final preparations are in place, props are almost finished, paint is drying, costumes are being ironed, wig’s are being set and final rehearsals are Wednesday evening!

We are getting ready for this year’s Kenilworth Carnival – the 80^th Birthday Carnival!

The Carnival this year starts at 1pm, from Brays car park on Saturday 7^th July.

I have been issuing clues (to help work out our theme) via twitter and facebook in the run up to this week, here are the clues so far:

·         Glitter

·         Pink

·         Silver

·         Our props: Barry & Dave

·         Handbags at the ready

·         Dancing: shake and strike a pose!

·         Ping pong

·         Three jackets have been modified!!

·         Give me a ‘Y’

We have also been raising sponsor money by dancing the whole carnival (within reason, obviously we will have breaks), and will donate this money to the Kenilworth Carnival Committee to help towards the costs of organising the actual Carnival.

Come along to Kenilworth on the day, and support us by donating all your small change for this wonderful event... keep Kenilworth Carnival going for another 80 years at least.

Sponsored Dance: Sat 7 July 2012

To coincide with Kenilworth Carnival this year, and as part of our theme we are proposing to do a sponsored dance in aid of Kenilworth Carnival Relief.

We understand that there are some financial concerns surrounding this year’s carnival, so we are trying to raise funds to help with costs.

There are 9 of us on the float taking part in the sponsored dance, the other 4 members of the Chinewrde Carnival Collective will be offering us support, criticism and making sure we are ok for the duration of this challenge. We will ‘dance’ for the entire procession (apart from the official breaks, and the gaps in between our music obviously!).

We have some sponsor forms and are happy to take donations in the run up to the big day. All the money raised will be given to the Kenilworth Carnival Committee towards the carnival costs.

If however, you do not know any of the collective or indeed do not get the chance to sponsor us before hand, please come along to the Carnival on the day and ‘throw’ your sponsorship money onto the float!

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Sarah

Travelling Carnivale, 2009

Growing up in Kenilworth the 1^st Saturday in July meant one thing, peering out of my parent’s bedroom window trying to see what my best friend (Louise) and her family were doing that year in the Carnival. The lorry would arrive and a hive of activity would start from early morning and each year I would crane my neck to see out of the window what fantastic creation would slowly come to life.

Imagine my happiness when I was invited to join the Ugly Bug Ball (The Garden Party), instead of just watching I got to be part of the Carnival. Who knew being a spider could be so much fun!

When Louise decided a few years ago to start entering the Carnival again I didn’t hesitate to join in. That same feeling I had as a child came flooding back, entering the Carnival is like being a child again. You get to be someone else for the day, have fun and be silly all for charity.

Though I was a little unsure at first about being the Bearded Lady in the Travelling Carnivale, I soon forgot any misgivings as the procession started and the crowds cheered. My inner actress came flowing out and I enjoyed every second of it. The following year the Chinewrde carnival Collective was officially born and I am proud to be a member. How else could I ever be a Zombie Queen, a Trumpet Player in a Marching Band and the...

...sorry 2012 is still a secret!

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Craig

The Travelling Carnivale, circa 1932. 2009

As a child growing up in small town Southam, the annual local Carnival was a big deal. My sister Rebecca and I would attend each year as spectators and would look on the floats congregated in Pendicke Street. Accompanied by our neighbour Mrs Morgan, we sat on the grassy banks from where we would eagerly throw pennies and tuppences to the passing procession. We would pick dropped coins off the road before throwing some more.

The Carnival atmosphere remains a vivid memory from my early childhood years, and I remember clearly the excitement and expectation on Carnival day. We’d always catch the procession a second time on its route to the recreation ground before heading on to play on the fairground rides and throw darts at goldfish.

In 1990, I entered a schools competition to design the front cover for the annual Southam Town Carnival brochure. I was 12 years old at the time. Inspired by the theme of music, my design featured a whole host of musical instruments which spouted notes and details of that year’s event. I was delighted when my design was announced as the winner and that feeling has never left me. In fact, I credit the experience as one of the formative moments of my growing up, and a building block for my chosen career working in the arts.

The Southam Town Carnival still happens today, although it is a shadow of what it once was, with fewer floats and fewer crowds.

Having moved to Kenilworth, my then girlfriend Louise (now my wife) invited me to join in with the Kenilworth carnival. After years without involvement she was keen to enter a float again, in part to support her Mum Carole’s return to good health following a heart bypass, and partly to satisfy her own urge to have another go! This was 2009 and I was familiar already with Kenilworth Carnival having spectated alongside Louise and her Nan for each of the preceding few years. But I’d never participated. I duly took up the role of Thomasina in the Travelling Carnivale, and sported half a beard among other things as the resident but indecisive transvestite (see picture). Cross dressing has become a bit of a recurring motif ever since and I’m rarely shy to don a dress in aid of a good cause and to share a wonderful day with my family and friends. In 2010 my youngest sister Abigail joined the collective, followed by my Mum in 2011. So the carnival has become a truly family affair! It’s a wonderfully special occasion and I’m very happy to be involved through the Chinewrde Carnival Collective.