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.
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!
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| Kenilworth Queen Lorry, 1981 |
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| 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!!
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| 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 5th 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.
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| 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).
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| 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.
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| Rock Concert, 1989 |
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