Berry Hill Carnival
Courtesy of: Maurice Thomas. Uploaded: .
Left
to right: 1 Mrs Harris, 2 Mrs Dorrington, 3 Mrs O White, 4 Mrs
Harris, 5 Mrs Baglin, 6 Mrs Harris, 7 Mrs T Jones, 8 ? , 9 ? , 10 Mrs
B Hawkins, 11 ? , 12 Mrs Howells
, 13 Mrs
E Thomas, 14 ? , 15 Mrs R Watson, 16 Mrs Short.
Maurice recalls that "The Berry Hill Carnival took place on the then
August Bank Holiday Monday. It was in its' heyday during the 1930's until
the outbreak of World War II. It recommenced after the war but declined
and ended during the 1950s. The procession began and ended at the Y.M.C.A.
Institute after wending its' way around the district lead by the local
band with most of the participants on foot and lorry floats. The festivities
continued in the afternoon on the Recreation Ground with many stalls
and competitions such as "singing with a pig" with entrants required
to sing with a pig held under the arm. An athletic sports, mainly track
events took place with considerable money prizes. Competitors came from
a wide area including South Wales. I was considered one enthusiastic
entrant in the early post war years.
The Coleford Carnival took place on the following day. It was a much
grander affair with many floats and Bands. After passing through a very
crowded town it made its' way to the Buchannan Recreation Ground where
events such as motor cycle displays took place in the arena. An aerial
display by a Gloucester pilot, Rex Walwyn in his biplane was a highlight
one year." (May 2006)
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