Forget the jubilee just for a minute, because today in at least 2 villages I know of was carnival day: no royalty, just a platform party of three school-girls in fancy dress reigning supreme for an afternoon; no T.V. coverage, just the odd digital photo taken by Dad. (And the bunting was already up – that jubilee came in handy after all.) Sadly my camera was out of action, but here’s the programme as far as I recall and a photo from last year’s event – a reminder that there’s still fun to be had without a celebrity in sight.
1.15 – village closed to traffic, high vis jackets on duty
1.30pm – procession of ‘floats’ sets out – floats being miscellaneously dressed groups of dragons/knights/musicians processing on foot, living proof of what can be done with cardboard, coloured paper and imagination. By the way, no lorries have been involved since an unfortunate accident some years ago. But with two vintage VW Beetles and a Brazilian steel band, who needs lorries?
2pm – procession assembles in the playing field for judging of floats. First adult prize won by the ‘Queen Clones’ Freddie Mercury look alikes (complete with wigs, pink blouses and vacuum cleaners – get the picture?) I think the children’s prize was won by the multi-person dragons, but as is always the case in a windy field, the P.A. system left something to be desired and I may have misheard.
Pause for sampling the hotdogs (£2 – no London prices here) the WI cake stall (Victoria Sandwich £2.50 – per entire cake, not per slice) and the beer tent, greeting friends, neighbours and interlopers (like me) along the way.
2.30 Arena cleared for
- acrobatic display by a troupe of young athletes (see above) who defied gravity and a landing on some very muddy grass
- Red Arrows being otherwise engaged, we had a fly-past by owls, falcons and other birds of prey
- Olympic dog show. Sorry, that should be Fun Olympic Dog Show, obviously.
Not much money was spent here (entrance 10p) but the effort was everywhere to be seen. In return, the sun shone and the whole village turned out to join in the fun.
Who could ask for more?
Ali Bacon, Author 