Coventry Carnivals / Godiva Processions

NormK. Before the war carnivals were a great showpiece, crowds flocked to them, and my father entered all of them, Coventry, Longford, Bedworth, Nuneaton, Bulkington, every year he would make the newspiece of the year, assemble it on the 'pram', one year the Coronation Coach, Queen Mary ship, Bluebird, The Flying Scotsman, whatever was that year's news he made it. Bits of plywood, brolly spokes, Meccano, whatever it took, we little ones if we got tired walking we would swop places in the pram. So NormK on the day of Bulkington Carnival, rain or shine we would walk from Tusses bridge to Bulkington, walk round in the show, then walk back down that damn lane home. If the 'White Lady' had appeared I think he would have made her help push the pram.

Oh what memories! We used to go to my gran's house in Lower Ford Street and watch the carnival from her front bedroom window! Had a great view. I think I would have been about seven or eight at the time.

1970. No prizes for guessing where this is - a topic of its own! That's me far right drummer! Anyone who took part in the procession on foot knows it was fun but no walk in the park. Not only did I have blisters on my feet but also on both hands from constant drumming. We did have occasional breaks though, one of which was just a few feet further forward on the photograph. Memorable days, not seen any of my fellow cadets or officers since. The Sea Cadet Corps was then based at the Royal Navy depot in Smith Street off Red Lane.

There's quite a bit about Lady Godiva processions on this page, about 5th of the way down. These are the early ones: 1907 Patsy Montague 1911 Viola Hamilton 1919 Gladys Mann 1929 Muriel Mellerup

My wife and I were discussing the Coventry carnival, does anyone remember the year it ended?

You mean it still doesn't happen? What a surprise!

Morning Forum members! I really want to include the Coventry Carnival in my forthcoming book- it's about the 1980s in Cov, a follow up to the one I did on the 1970s. Any memories or pics of the Carnival in the 1980s would be gratefully received and duly acknowledged. Thanks in advance! Best wishes, Ruth

I have just found this video on YouTube of a number of Coventry carnivals since 1900 on a site called 'Cov videos'. It was interesting to see the first one in 1902. There isn't a wheeled vehicle in sight but plenty of horses.

Great find, argon

Did the Carnivals have a theme each year or were the subject depicted in the floats just random?

Harrier, CHARITY, random. I think my first Carnival was 1930 and I was pushed round in a pram, but have no idea what we represented that year. It was for charity, Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital Saturday Fund, but there were different classes for exhibits and prizes (rosettes) but every year through the thirties we entered, it was great fun If you look at 75 on this topic I'm the middle one standing. We had a boat made of plywood, string and wire and matchsticks, that my father built, the boat had been taken to the start ahead of us when the photo was taken.

Just watched another YouTube video on the 'cov video' site and noticed that the Pathe Film title was 'Annual Coventry Hospital Carnival'. So it seems to me that it was the same charity every year.

The wonderful David Gee painting.

Forget Lady Godiva, look at the young kid on post 75, middle front row, still proud of Coventry and its people.