Welcome to a brief history of Hornsey Carnival (2005).
HORNSEY CARNIVAL – A Brief History
By Gordon Rathbone, Chairman
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Hornsey Carnival has records as far back as 1907, when the procession took place in September that year travelling through Highgate, and Turnpike Lane, taking four and half hours. The funds raised were in aid of building Hornsey Cottage Hospital. After that, carnivals took place to celebrate certain events, such as the Queen’s coronation; it was not until 1959 that Hornsey Carnival was established in its present format. Hornsey Carnival is organised by a small committee, all voluntarily, and my thanks go to: Paul Houghton - Vice Chairman Christine Bennett - Secretary Paul Bennett and Pat Cole. |
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In 1959, the Mayor of Hornsey, Ald. George Watson’s charity that year was to raise funds for the extension of the Hornsey Y.M.C.A., and together with their president, Sir Brett Cloutman, organised the Hornsey Carnival, finishing at the Y.M.C.A. Since then Hornsey Carnival has organised annual parades, all with the aim of raising funds for the local charities. In 1960, the chairmanship was taken over by Mr. Gale Webb, and continued in that position for 10 years, until moving from the area. Whilst chairman, Gale founded the National Carnival Guild, which is a national body of carnival associations.
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Over the years there have been many Hornsey Carnival Courts elected to represent the Borough, on the (LHS) is the 1963 Carnival Queen, Gail Ansell, with her princess’s Marion Burgess and Lesley Tweed. Gail is now Mrs Gail Lilley, wife of the former Conservative Party Deputy Leader, Peter Lilley. Over the years Hornsey Carnival has raised many thousands of pounds for the local charities these included, the Mayor’s Benevolent Fund, Haringey branches of Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, “Roundabouts” Youth Club, British Legion, Sickle Cell to name a few. The 2005 elected Hornsey Carnival Court, Queen Zoë Berkeley, Princess’s Sara-Jane Perryman and Willow Handyside are seen here looking forward to a full year of activities. (RHS) |
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During the years Hornsey Carnival has participated to many notable events, taking part in the “Easter Parade”, Battersea Park, attending the “Navy Days” both at Chatham and Portsmouth, raising funds for “King Georges fund for Sailors”, Princess Jackie Williams is seen here receiving the Navy Days Shield from HRH Prince Phillip, at the Mansion House. This was awarded to the carnival association for collecting the most funds. 1968, Carnival Queen, Joyce Borra is seen here enjoying the fun of Battersea Park, when one of her prizes was an evening as their guest. In more recent years, the Hornsey Carnival Court were honoured by leading the Haringey section of the London Borough’s procession celebrating the Queens Jubilee at Copthall, Barnet, in front of Her Majesty, and HRH Prince Phillip.
Hornsey Carnival has also participated the last two years; in “London’s New Year’s Day” parade starting at mid-day at Westminster, travelling the streets of London to Green Park. In 2004 members of the Kowlencher Schangelcher carnival club of Koblenz joined them. Koblenz being one of Haringey’s Twin Towns.
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Hornsey Carnival has been honoured with the support of many celebrities, both locally and further a field. Lord Coe attended Hornsey Carnival crowning, when he was a runner for Haringey. Not only being Chairman of Hornsey Carnival, I have been elected as Chairman of the National Carnival Guild, and seen here together with Earl Spencer, when judging a carnival event in the South Midlands |
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It was in 1967 that the newly formed “London Borough of Haringey” twinned with Koblenz, Germany, this being the first of Haringey’s town twinning. The Hornsey Carnival chairman immediately contacted the Koblenz Carnival organisation, and invited them to participate in the Hornsey Carnival, starting a long relationship with Koblenz. Hornsey Carnival has been represented in their carnival parade, nearly every year since then. In Germany Carnivals elect a Carnival Prinz, and their carnival takes place between the 11th November, and Shrove Tuesday, being the beginning of Lent. Koblenz have 44 different carnival committee’s and Hornsey is twinned with the Kowlenzer Schangelcher, we are proud that there will be seven of their members attending Hornsey Carnival this year. In 2004, Hornsey Carnival attended the celebrations in Koblenz, seen here are the Hornsey Carnival Queen 2003/4, Verity with Princess Willow, and also pictured are Prinz Kurt and the 2003\4 Mayor of Haringey Cllr. E. Prescott. The Hornsey Carnival Float is seen along the banks of the Rhein preparing for the parade.
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Hornsey Carnival is well under way in preparations for this years carnival, and in addition to the parade, there are many extra attractions taking place during the weekend of 5th July 2008. There is the “Carters Steam Fair” in Priory Park, fireworks Saturday evening, together with the support of the Hornsey High Street Traders Association. who are arranging for stalls, bands, and school fetes to take place.
This years carnival is looking well for a bumper event, and if any person or organisation wishes to participate in the parade please contact our Parade Marshal, Paul Houghton on: - 01920 872940.
Other contacts of the association are
Chairman: - Gordon Rathbone
54, Rokesly Avenue, Hornsey, N8 8NR
Tel; 020 8340 7339
email: gordon@hornseycarnival.co.uk
Secretary: - Christine Bennett
Tel: 01727840091
email: christine@hornseycarnival.co.uk
Looking forward to your support and seeing you on 5th July 2008.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL MONEY RAISED ALONG THE ROUTE IS DONATED TO THE LOCAL CHARITIES.