Ilkeston - Return
Of The Carnival
w/e 10 June 2007
All
this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
The Carnival in 2006 had to be cancelled due to unavoidable
circumstances but it returned this year and defied the weather
forecasters on what turned out to be probably one of the hottest
and sunniest days of the year so far.
The street parade was led, as has become the custom in recent
years, by the Long Eaton Militaires but the appearance of the
Breaston Highlanders brought back memories of over half a century
ago when they were regular attendees. In those days there were
normally six or seven marching bands and numerous floats and
whilst I was walking up Bath Street and through the Market Place
to take these photos the most common phrases I heard contained
the words "used to". The parade "used to"
start at one end of the town at Cotmanhay and conclude at the
Beauty Spot on the edge of Kirk Hallam at the other end. The
front end of the procession "used to" be on the Market
Place whilst the rear was still at the bottom of Bath Street.
In these modern times there are not as many participants and
the parade route is much shorter but when the sun shines and
there is a band passing by the Ilkeston folk still turn out in
their thousands.
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Once a common sight on Bath Street, a Midland General B2 bus
in its cream and blue livery looked in pristine condition whilst
an easy rider also drew almost as many admiring glances as the
young Carnival Queen and her pretty attendant in an open top
sports car.
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On such a hot day I didn't envy these three carnival characters
attired in their fancy dress costumes. Mind you the roller skated
clown did take it easy on the way up Bath Street hitching a ride
behind one of the floats! Anyone remember Michael Crawford's
escapades as Frank Spencer in similar circumstances?
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Whether in vehicles or on foot (or roller skates) the destination
of the procession was the Rutland Recreation Ground and crowds
of people followed the parade to join the large number that had
already assembled there.
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Drums seemed to be the order of the day. A steel band kept many
people happy with their Caribbean rhythms and the Militaires
(seen here on Bath Street) were first in the arena at the Rec.
to give an excellent and much appreciated marching routine. Another
drummer on the Gallows Inn float belted out more syncopation
to accompany the Wolfman Disco.
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The Ice Cream Van did a roaring trade in the hot weather but
you had to be patient. Most of the people in this image were
in the queue waiting their turn.
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And if ice cream could wait awhile there was much to do to keep
amused. You could hone your long bow skills with the Three Shire
Medieval Society, engage in a spot of Sumo Wrestling or "Play
Your Cards Right" with the Ilkeston Stroke Club along with
lots of other fun and games.
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And while all this entertainment was going on around them this
charming group from the 8th Ilkeston Rainbows of Christ Church,
Cotmanhay and Shipley found time after climbing down from their
float to pose for me. Then they were off to join in the fun -
hope they had their sunscreen on.
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