Elland Carnival Saturday July 11th 1931

 

One of the delights of perusing through the booklets in the new History Room is finding a little gem like the Elland Demonstration & Carnival programme from 80 years ago. Where to start? Pages and pages of shops long gone...best saved for another day...so the admission is 1s for adults & 6d for children under 14 although you could benefit from cheaper prices – 9d & 4d – if you bought your tickets in advance. The tickets had numbers for a ‘Shopping Competition’, which offered prizes to the lucky holders. The benefiting societies for this year are The Royal Halifax Infirmary, The Elland District Nursing Association, The Elland St. John Ambulance & The Elland Men’s Own Brotherhood.

The Carnival President is Mr Halstead Marsden, who would wear a red, white & blue rosette. Mr Marsden is supported by seven Vice-Presidents (Red & white Bows), a Treasurer (Purple Bow), a Secretary Mr F Johnson of 2 Newcombe Street (Yellow Rosette) and a Prize Steward. There are four committees – Ambulance, Entertainment, Demonstration & Shopping. Prizes to be presented by Mr W E Dyson, CC. There is not a single female official!

The ladies are represented by Miss Kathleen Bower, Secondary School, Elland as Carnival Queen (later to run a shop where the Jade Garden takeaway is) and a visit by the Railway Queen at the invitation of the Elland Branch of the N.U.R.

The Carnival Procession would assemble at the South Lane end of Roseberry Street from 1.30pm and after a bugle call the Procession begins at 2.30pm and should arrive at The Rec from 4pm after snaking along Roseberry Street, up Catherine Street, down Langdale Street, along Southgate, up Westgate, along Jepson Lane, up Victoria Road then along Hullen Edge. (There’s a DVD containing some old clips of past processions).

The judging of the various classes taking part in the Procession would begin at 4pm. Carnival Rule – you had to complete whole course or you were disqualified. There were fancy dress classes and decorated horses, a Boy Scout and Fire Brigades competitions. The Dog Show was due to begin at 4.30pm (17 classes, top prize 10s). This was followed by the Crowning of the Carnival Queen, an introduction and speech by the Railway Queen and then a dancing display by the pupils of Miss Mildred Crossley, 73 Langdale Street.

Further delights followed...Mr Pearson and his Pyramid & Acrobatic Team, who were supported by Slip & Skid the knockabout clowns helping you forget daily knocks, Leo & Dorie artistic posing and balancing act, Frank Cooper escapologist and much much more. Not forgetting Elland Silver Band playing selections throughout the day.

Later ‘A Grand Dance’ 8pm to 12am is advertised at the Ball Room at Elland Constitutional Club, admission 1s 3d; the guest band was Elite Midnight Follies Band.

You can read the full programme at our History Room in Elland Library. Open every Tuesday & Thursday 2pm to 4pm.

 

David J. Glanfield

Greater Elland Historical Society