Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Louise

Zombie Carnival Queens, 2010

As a child, I watched Kenilworth Carnival with my Mum and went to the fair for my yearly goldfish afterwards. I loved watching the Carnival, and my Mum would regale me with stories of when she used to be in the Carnival with her family and her friends.

In 1986, my Mum and Aunt asked my cousin (Kate) and me if we would like to be in the Carnival that year – we both excitedly said yes! Kate and I entered as fancy dress walkers and we were ‘the Royal Family’ that year, I was Prince Andrew and Kate was Fergie, It was so much fun!

In 1987, I was a ‘GO’ road sign with the Brownies (another year of being a Fancy dress walker) but in 1988, I joined my Mum and other members of our family on a float and was part of the ‘Harris Family’ floats between the years 1988-1995.

After the ‘Harris Family’ floats ceased (approx. 1995) I helped and supported my Mum (Carole) with her entry each year. I made sure she had a refreshment or sandwich when she got to a certain point of the procession, I took photos of the rest of the Carnival for her, and I helped her make her costumes and props when she asked.

I missed being in the Carnival, and each Carnival day would come around and I would feel a little down at the prospect at being just a spectator. I know that the spectator’s role is an important one, and we need the crowds to line the streets, and spectating is still a way to support this wonderful annual event – but it was not the same for me.

In 2009, Mum was recuperating from a heart bypass and it was proving difficult for me to try and keep her out of the Carnival! It was obvious that she was unable to be a fancy dress walker again now as she would not be able to walk the entire procession. I realised that I needed to put her on a lorry if I wanted her to be safe. So that year I asked some of the family members (from the ‘Harris Family’ years); my partner, and a couple of my friends if they would like to be in the Carnival – they all said yes.  So, in 2009 as a family & friends group we were ‘The Travelling Carnivale, Circa 1932’

After the fun of the travelling carnival our group realised how much we enjoyed it. For those of us who had been part of the ‘Harris Family’ we wanted to be in the Carnival as a group again, so we formed the Chinewrde Carnival Collective (2010) and entered as Zombie Carnival Queens!

Last year we (the Chinewrde Carnival Collective) entered Kenilworth Carnival as the Chinewrde Marching Band, fooling a few people into thinking we were a real (terrible) band – it was so enjoyable! We are currently working on this years Carnival and having so much fun rehearsing.