In the summer of 2012 the Carnival Archive Project documented the Northampton Carnival, this included commissioning videos and photography of the events.
We’re the Royal Blue Lancers Majorettes from Wellingborough and we’re at Northampton Carnival, whoa.
[ Carnival images 0:30 – 1:12 ]
[ Interviewing crowd 1:13 ]
So we’re at the beginning of Northampton Carnival 2012 and we’re with a gentleman here, what’s your name?
Derek Carr.
Do you come to the Northampton Carnival often?
I’ve been several years.
Are you quite relieved they’re actually going to go ahead with it today?
It’s a very good idea to go ahead with it.
Despite all the heavy rain we’ve had over the last couple of days?
Yes it’s very good for the Committee to put it on.
What are you looking forward to seeing at this carnival?
All the young people and all the effort they’ve put into decorating the floats.
[ Images of floats / background preparation / participants 1:48 – 3:00 ]
[ 3:00 ]
It’s the Wellingborough Royal Blue Lancers Majorettes.
[ Interviews lady from Wellingborough Royal Blue Lancers Majorettes 3:15 ]
Your name is?
Diane.
Who are you here with today?
We’re here with the Royal Blue Lancers from Wellingborough.
Is this the first time you’ve been in Northampton Carnival?
Yes it is.
How have you found it today?
Very good.
Do you think you’ll be back again next year?
Yes definitely.
And if people want to find out a bit more about the majorettes how can they do that?
We’re actually based in Wellingborough and you should be able to find us on Facebook.
[ Carnival images 3:42 ]
There you go, celebrating summertime between 1993 and 2012.
Here come some more lovely children, looking like a celebration of the Queen and her Jubilee.
Here comes some live music now, steel band from Luton.
A very old fashioned gypsy trailer.
[ Carnival images 4:42 - 5:40 ]
[ 5:41 ]
At the moment we’re seeing the bikes which are the summer of cycling, a summer long celebration of cycling in Northamptonshire on very strange looking bikes. Looks like the Hells Angels have turned over a new leaf and they’re not using engines any more.
Here come the Delapre Dragon Majorettes.
Here’s Wellingborough Carnival Court in Northampton.
Future England players by the looks of it.
This is the Sunbeams Pre-School.
Here comes the Northamptonshire Black History Association.
[ Interviewer approaches Canvey Island participants 7:33 ]
And where are you from?
Canvey Island in Essex.
And who are you representing today?
Heart.
Rival radio station. Are you enjoying yourselves?
Yes, having a great time.
Could you teach me some dance moves?
You want teaching some?
Can you teach me some?
Yes if you want.
Go on then.
Boogie shake.
Boogie shake like that, yes?
Yes.
Right, well you’re holding the carnival up you better go.
See you later.
[ Carnival images 7:57 – 8:11 ]
[ Interviewing crowd 8:13 ]
Gentleman here, your name is?
Nick.
Do you come to the carnival often?
It’s my first time actually.
Your first time, are you quite glad they’re actually carrying on with the carnival this year, because they were thinking about cancelling it again because of the heavy rain we’ve been having?
Well it’s a shame they had to cancel the carnival in the park, but it’s nice to see that the parade’s been able to go ahead, so it’s really good.
[ Carnival images 8:37 ]
There you go a taste of the Caribbean.
[ Carnival images 8:40 – 9:15 ]
[ Interviewing participants 9:16 ]
Are you enjoying yourself?
Yes.
Where are you from?
Leicester.
And what are you representing today?
I don’t know < laughs >.
Leicester!
They’re here in Northampton all the way from Leicester. You’re enjoying yourself?
Yes.
Brilliant.
[ Carnival images 9:31 – 9:53 ]
[ 9:55 ]
And here comes the Big Gay Bus.
[ Interviewing Big Gay Bus participant 10:15 ]
Hi.
Hi can I help?
How are you?
Marvellous darling, marvellous.
Where are you from?
Originally Newcastle.
Okay and what are you doing here today?
I’ve come down for the Northampton Carnival.
Are you enjoying it so far?
Out of this world.
You love it down here in Northampton?
I certainly do.
Will you be back next year?
Too right I will be.
I shall see you back down at the party, see you soon.
Indeed you will. Baroness Von Camp, Northampton and Newcastle’s international top cabaret artiste.
See you later.
[ Carnival images 10:48 – 11:00 ]
[ Interviewing participants 11:00 ]
Hi where are you from?
Northampton.
Are you enjoying yourself?
Yes, thank you.
[ Carnival images 11:06 – 11:23 ]
[ Interviewing participants 11:23 ]
Hello there can I have quick word?
Yes, sure.
Whereabouts are you from?
Greece, we’re the Northampton Greek School.
What are you hoping to achieve today, what are you trying to represent?
Well we’re trying to represent the Olympic Games, the Greeks, the Greek culture, the Greek language.
Are you looking forward to the Olympics?
Yes of course.
Are you going to be back next year to do this all again?
Yes of course.
Looks like someone’s stolen your torch, so I’ll let you go and fight him off and see you later.
Thank you.
[ Carnival images 11:54 – 14:33 ]
[ Interviewing participants 14:34 ]
I’m from Inspiration FM. What are you here representing today?
We’re here to spread the gospel of God.
Explain to me how you’re doing that.
We’re handing out flyers for a pre-gospel concert on Sunday.
Tell me a bit more about the concert.
We’re just basically promoting God, we’re youthful music and trying to get the youth to go out so they get to know Jesus more, the Lord and Saviour, so we’re just handing out free flyers with the location and the type of music we’re going to play, and hope that people will show up.
What time is it on tomorrow?
It’s tomorrow at 5.30pm.
5.30pm, I’ll see you down there then. Are you enjoying today?
Yes definitely and the weather’s good.
The weather’s good. It has been very indecisive, but it’s turned out really nice.
Yes.
Speak to you soon.
[ Carnival images 15:26 – 15:41 ]
[ 15:44 ]
If you want to find out a bit more go to www.phnorthampton.com.
[ Interviewing crowd 15:56 ]
Hello little one there.
Hello.
So we’re here with?
Annalisa and Jessica Ameera and her grandma.
Are you enjoying today’s carnival?
Yes very good.
Did you hear about all the weather and everything?
Yes it got rescheduled didn’t it?
It got rescheduled and it nearly got rescheduled again, but it’s turned out to be a really nice day, so you’re enjoying yourselves?
Absolutely. We’ve been to see it twice, we think it’s that good, and she’s loved it.
What have you liked the most?
The music and the costumes I think.
Are you hoping to see a bit more next year hopefully?
Yes that would be good. Definitely more costumes.
Are you local to Northampton?
Yes.
So you haven’t travelled that far?
No.
What about yourself?
I’ve come up to visit her. I’ve come up from Essex.
Is this better than what you get down in Essex?
I’ve never heard of one like this down in Essex.
There you go; it’s your first up here in Northampton.
Yes it is definitely.
Are you going to be coming back up here next year?
Probably yes.
Hopefully we’ll see you then.
[ Interviewing crowd 16:50 ]
Just watched the end of the carnival for 2012 and we’re with?
Sharon.
Have you enjoyed today’s carnival?
Yes we have we’ve loved it, it’s been really nice. The music’s been good.
What exactly have you liked about today?
Well seeing all the children to be honest. The children were really good.
Could you have seen a bit more today?
Yes.
It’s all due to the weather really.
Yes a lot of it’s been cancelled I heard.
But it did turn out quite nice.
Yes lovely, it’s quite warm now in the sun.
Who do we have down here?
Ben.
Did you enjoy today?
Loved it.
Did you have any friends here today with you?
No not really.
When you go to school you can tell them they all missed out on a really good day.
Yes.
What was your favourite part of the carnival?
All of it actually.
You liked the drums didn’t you?
Yes.
Steel drums; yes I loved the steel drums. I was just saying before as they were going past that I really want to learn the steel drums. Would you like to learn the steel drums?
Yes.
You’ll have to get your mum on it. Tell her to buy you steel drum, or better still go and find a metal dustbin and start using that, that’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to annoy people with that. Are you going to be back next year to see it?
Yes definitely.
[ Carnival images 18:07 – 18:20 ]
[ Closing credits 18:20 – 19:31 ]