Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Veronica

The Chinewrde Marching Band, 2011

Having watched a fair few carnivals in Warwickshire over the years, I have supported this long held tradition. When I was young, I used to watch the Leamington Carnival and the Kenilworth Carnival – which was my Dad’s favourite. When the family moved to Southam, I took my children to see the local carnival and they participated a few times too over the years.

In 2009 my son and his girlfriend were in Kenilworth Carnival as The Travelling Carnivale, circa 1932, and I supported them by throwing coins and cheering them on from the crowd. The following year, they had formed the Chinewrde Carnival Collective and my daughter had joined them too. As the Zombie Carnival Queens, I again cheered them on and supported from the crowd.

I was asked if I would like to be in part of the Chinewrde Marching Band in 2011, and I am happy to say that I agreed. So that year I formally joined the Chinewrde Carnival Collective, went to the meetings and rehearsals and became Freda the Flagbearer! With an improvised flag I bore the badge of the Chinewrde Marching Band at the end of a broom - and the streets of Kenilworth never sounded so clean!

Currently I am searching for my costume for this year, and we are rehearsing like mad with only four weeks to go! I really enjoy the meetings, and the social aspect of spending time with family and friends, but mostly I enjoy supporting my family and having fun on the day.

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Sara

Sara, The Blue Danube, 1995

20 years ago, having just met my new family via my partner, I wandered down to Redfern Avenue where an excited posse of people were dressing a huge lorry, having make up applied and laughing hysterically each time someone stepped out in their costume. It was my baptism into the Harris fraternity. The float was Glenn Miller 1992! What a strange and wonderful world.

Somehow, and I can't ever remember saying yes but, 3 years later I had grown moustache, got myself into a dress coat and was learning to waltz for The Blue Danube 1995.

I suppose now is the time to admit that I really enjoyed myself but don't tell anyone. As well as the procession I enjoyed going to the fair afterwards still in costume much!

In 2010 I was recruited into the newly formed Chinewrde Carnival Collective and debuted as a zombie page boy, not quite as refined as an 18th century aristocrat dancing to Viennese waltzes. The Zombie Carnival Queens.

The fun bit is the skills we have to learn, and with dancing the waltz under my belt, I now had to learn how to play the snare drum for the Chinewrde Marching Band in 2011. Apart from winning, the most memorable feat was actually walking the carnival that year instead of slumming on a lorry.

But my most vital role is cooking and supplying 20 bacon rolls to the collective, really early on the morning of the carnival as the team dress the lorry and then themselves. I love it, thank you for letting me be part of the family.

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Jac

Zombie Carnival Queens, 2010 (Jac's the one sat on the chair!)

For me, it all started in the late 1960’s…

I wanted to be like my cousin Phil, dress up in trousers and be black! I was about 6 or 7 years old at the time. Instead, my debut appearance was as a little white girl in a black skirt (The Black and White Minstrals, Harris Family circa 1968-70).

From childhood, Carnival Day was always something to look forward to and get excited about, being with the all family at once. It was a tradition that started a few decades earlier with my grandparents, or was it? We had a Great-aunt who also lived in Arthur Street. Must ask mum about it, I’m sure she remembers every year. Although sadly now retired from the carnival, in her illustrious career she played Glenn Miller (1992) and Rambo (1988) amongst many others.

Having the memory of a fish, I remember playing Freddie Kreguer in a suffocating latex mask on a blazing day sometime in my early 20’s (Video Boom, Harris Family. 1988). And what I thought was going to be my last appearance as an androgynous lead-violinist (Classical Strings, Harris Family. Circa 1990). I came back in the mid-1990s dancing in the eighteenth century, for the Harris Family's last carnival together (Blue Danube, Harris Family. Circa 1995).  

In between times I really preferred and enjoyed being more active behind the scenes, prop design and make up.

As for cross-dressing I’m bi.

After a long absence, in 2010 I played a woman, Miss 1940 (The Zombie Carnival Queens, Chinewrde Carnival Collective). Last year I played a man, Blind Smokin Toots, the Tenor Sax in The Kenilworth Marching Band. My sister Stixx Malone said I looked like our dad, I reminded myself of my older cousin Steve. Interesting thing is, my dad and cousin don’t look remotely like each other.

This year I’m playing a sporty princess from the 1970’s, groovy baby, yeah.

I love group creativity, I love acting, I love disguise and I love my cousin Lou, for reviving an old and nearly forgotten family tradition.  

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Dean

Zombie Carnival Queens, 2010

My Kenilworth Carnival debut was as a page boy on the Kenilworth Carnival Queen lorry (circa 1985 – the half penny was in circulation back then). I managed to bag the spot by waving at people and smiling innocently, at the auditions. After a long day on the float, I then cleared the lorry of the remaining uncollected coins and promptly blew the lot at the fair - I had a marvellous time! Unfortunately, the Chinewrde Carnival Collective won’t allow me to do this, so your donations are safe!

My next Carnival outing was as Claude the Lion Tamer in the ‘Travelling Carnivale, Circa 1932’ with friends in 2009. The lorry was a lot smaller than anticipated and I really did not get to use my whip as much as I would have liked; I still managed to break the whip, but the busted lion was definitely not down to me!

I, like the rest of the group, joined the Chinerwde Carnival Collective in 2010, and this year was my personal favourite lorry - The Zombie Carnival Queens. I think we subtly called the lorry ‘Past Queens’, so that the full shock and horror could be realised on the day itself. The crowd seemed to love it. I didn’t quite get my dress right for this float, as it didn’t exactly cover my hairy legs when I was sat down - maybe it all added to the effect? Most unsettling was when one spectator winked at me, I can’t say I find Zombie’s that attractive myself but each to their own.

The following year we did the Chinewrde Marching Band. This one was immense fun, just like the inflatable breasts that I wore on the day, which started to get slightly uncomfortable as the day progressed. The only disappointment I had for this one was that I was meant to at least get some notes right on my clarinet, this proved impossible after I knocked and damaged the reed before we set off; the only noise my instrument seemed to make was a really unpleasant screech. I am sorry for that, Kenilworth.

Now for 2012, all I will say is that I am never making a hat again!

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Ley

As Stixx Mallone in the Chinewrde Marching Band, 2011

My Family have been in Kenilworth Carnival for approx. 50 years. For several years we entered family floats (the ‘Harris Family’) and won several prizes. Then a few members entered as fancy dress walkers, so combined we have quite a few trophy’s.

During the years entering the Carnival, I have been a violin player in a classical band, a jiving army officer, a zombie page boy, and Indiana Jones! Worryingly there is a common denominator in most of the characters I play - I cross dress as a male!

In 2010 we formed the Chinewrde Carnival Collective, and I love the argumentative meetings we have where we decide a theme, then all the rehearsals.

The actual Carnival day is the biggest buzz of all, rushing around and wondering: have we got the time to dress the lorry? Will the music be loud enough? What if we fall of the lorry? Then the rush of thinking will we get a trophy? Have we won in our class? Where shall we display the cup if we are lucky enough – which we have been in the past!

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.

Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Carole

I have been entering Kenilworth Carnival since I was a child. My first Carnival was in the 1950’s as a young child. In these early years I was on the ‘Arthur Street’ floats and have been Andi Pandi; the Queen of Hearts and as a child on ‘the old woman who lived in a shoe’.

During 1960’s, I entered the Carnival as a fancy dress walker for Mike’s Bikes and also in a different year, entered with a friend as ‘Safety Pins Buttons and Bows’.

During the 1980’s, my family entered the carnival as a group called ‘the Harris Family’. During these years I have been a Zombie; Superman; a butterfly; a ‘rock musician’; a classical musician and one of Glenn Millers groupies!

In approx. 1995, the Harris Family Floats ceased, and from then on until 2008, I entered the Carnival as a fancy dress walker, either on my own or with my sisters. During this period, having been in the Carnival for so many years, I was awarded with a high recommendation certificate.

I enjoy coming up with ideas for the Carnival, making costumes, making props, dressing up and of course I really enjoy the actual day itself. I do not think I could miss being in the carnival unless it is unavoidable.

After recovering from a heart bypass I became aware that I would not be able to be a fancy dress walker and walk the whole procession anymore, and therefore I need to be on a lorry or other mode of transport. In 2009, my daughter organised a lorry with some of our friends and family so that I could be in the Carnival that year, and we did the Travelling Carnivale, circa 1932 – I was a fortune teller!

After the Carnival in 2009, we realised that we all enjoy it so much that we would enter again the following year. We formed the Chinewrde Carnival Collective in 2010 and were the Zombie Carnival Queens. Last year we were the Chinewrde Marching Band and had such a laugh! I am now working on my costume for this year.