The First Kenilworth Carnival (page 2)
Kenilworth’s Working Men’s Club arranged an annual treat for its members’ children. On Saturday 11th July 1925, starting at 2 p.m., no fewer than 418 children took part. Headed by the band of 7th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, the children paraded through the town; Priory Road, Waverley Road, Warwick Road, Abbey Hill and Hyde Road, where they entered Mr Ragg’s field, that which is known as the School Lane Meadow. Two vehicles headed the parade, one included the tableau, ‘King Carnival’. Here the children took part in sports until 4.20, when they marched back to the club.
Tea was served in the club grounds at 4.30, each child was presented with a box of chocolate, balloons, and ‘headgear and ornaments’. After tea, prizes were given for the best fancy dress, and a concert was performed. At 8 o’clock, ‘King Carnival’ was burned on a bonfire. The event ended at 9.00 p.m.
Children dressing up and parading through the town to raise funds was a regular occurrence. This one was in the summer of 1925 by the Council School, in the Blundells near to the Working Mens Club, to raise funds for its own sports equipment, and if there was an excess, a wireless set.
The Hospital Saturday movement continued after the Great War. The Committee was made up entirely of working men. However, in 1926 Warneford Hospital made new arrangements for funding, introducing a scheme where members paid 2d a week directly to the hospital and in return received medical care when it was needed. Working people could not be expected to contribute to two schemes, and so at short notice this brought an end to the Kenilworth Hospital Saturday movement. However, Kenilworth’s working classes sought other ways in which they could raise funds and make donations.
An event in Coventry, held on the last Saturday of June 1926, provided the inspiration; it was the fifth Coventry Hospital Carnival. So many from Kenilworth attended that it was described as taking ‘a great toll on Kenilworth’s Saturday population’.
In the middle of July, as usual, a parade and party for Kenilworth’s Working Mens’ Club children was already arranged; the club committee decided to expand the event along the lines of the Coventry Carnival, and collect voluntary donations for Warneford Hospital. The new festival was planned in just a few weeks.