Caribbean steel band and the girls of St Trinians at carnival (From Cotswold Journal)

Caribbean steel band and the girls of St Trinians at carnival

10:42am Thursday 9th June 2011 in Past

POLISH folk dancers and a Jamaican steel band were among the highlights of a village carnival 40 years ago.

The Journal of 1971 reported: “Big crowds gathered at Upper Quinton village green for the carnival organised by the Quinton branch of the Royal British Legion.

“Although cool, the weather stayed fine, and it was more like an autumn day.

“Led by the Alcester Victoria Silver Band and the carnival queen, Deborah Clegg, aged 13, the procession made its way from the green to the playing field where the carnival was opened by Mayor of Stratford Paul Sainsbury.

“Alderman Sainsbury said he was not unfamiliar with Quinton as he had many friends in the farming community and he mentioned Quinton’s latest achievement of the prize for the best kept village in Warwickshire. He added: ‘The village has a marvellous contact with the community at one end and the Army at the other.’ “He pronounced the carnival open by releasing the first balloon in the balloon race.

“The Exhortation in an act of remembrance was pronounced by Brigadier N Cariss, national vice-president of the Royal British Legion and president of the West Midland Area. “There was plenty to see and do during the afternoon with numerous stalls, competitions and displays. The Polish Folk Dancers and the Shakespeare Morris Men gave displays of folk dancing, and music was provided by the Roy Jacobs Jamaican Steel Band.

“Although the carnival closed at 6.45pm, the activities continued for the teenagers during the evening with a dance in the village hall.”