Double Diamond Anniversary

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the first Ventnor Carnival and in the past Carnival Histories were published. The first was produced in 1949 and has turned up in Carnival programmes at every significant anniversary since, with relevant addendum like - into the 70’s etcetera (appropriate because the first Carnival was at the end of a decade.)

So once again, we repeat this process by reproducing the 1989 version. However, this time (2009), a new History is being produced so we will no longer have to trot out this poor tired old document. There are to be two more significant anniversaries in the near future - 2014 which will be the 125th and 2017 which if the Carnival carries on will be the 100th Carnival! It is envisioned that, on those dates the New History will be revised .The History should be available alongside this year’s Carnival Programme and will be on sale though out the year. It is written by the New Carnival Scribe.

CARNIVAL HISTORY (the 1989 version)

England’s Second Oldest Carnival with 54 events in 82 years. Carnival time in Ventnor has been going on since 1889, making it the second oldest carnival to Ryde in the country.

Before that time regattas were the great attraction at the seaside resorts, when rowing and swimming events always topped the programme and although there were some raised eyebrows at the possible ‘rowdyism’ of a carnival, the first one in this fair town was held on September 10th, 1889. A torchlight procession commenced the pro­ceedings followed by “a vast procession embracing numerous tableaux, cars and three bands of music”. The route around the town to the Park remains much the same as it is today. The procession was said to have exceeded anything of its kind hitherto attempted on the Island and set the seal on future carnivals during the succeeding years.

Mention must be made of the fact that when all (those parading on foot arrived at the Park and were joined by thousands of spectators, they promenaded in the bright moonlight and the costumes were given an added glitter from the lights of 3,000 Japanese and Chinese lanterns. The first carnival concluded with a masquerade ball at the Assembly Rooms, later the Town Hall, where a very large attendance danced until 4.40 am.

In the years which followed, there were 33 carnivals up to the last in 1938 before the 1939-45 war. Some of the carnivals were as successful as the opening even!, others were either postponed or curtailed because of ‘inclement weather’ and some were missed because of only “lukewarm “support or ‘lack of enthusiasm. “Good years included 1890,1897 and 1899 but in the following year Wroxall upset the applecart by running their own carnival. Ventnor carnival seemed to have lapsed until 1909 when “all the old successes were repeated”. On this occasion the procession was a large one and took about 80 minutes to get into any sort of order. The park illuminations were the best ever. The first skating carnival was held in the Pier Pavilion in 1910 and a ‘Ventnor Week’ was organised to include both a carnival and a regatta in the Coronation Year of 1911. At the carnival about twelve or thirteen thousand people above the normal population were in the town. The 1913 carnival was arranged at very short notice but the spectacle “surpassed in pic­turesqueness and pageantry anything of the kind ever seen in Ventnor.

Two Wars Interruption

After the war years of 1914-18, the renowned Carnival of 1919 set the seal on a long succession of unqualified successes, with attendance estimated at 25,000 -30,000 and increasing receipts. Those not affected by dull or wet weather or for other reasons were described as the “best carnival ever” or “outstanding. “The last carnival prior to the last war in 1938 was again highly successful and the 1939 arrangements were well in hand when a meeting on August 28th reluctantly decided to abandon the event owing to “the abnormal circumstances prevailing.” When things began to return to normal after the last war, a group of townsmen and including several of their wives under the title of the “Wardens of Ventnor” banded together in 1948 with the idea of promoting entertainment for the residents and visitors and although the idea of reviving the carnival was uppermost in their minds, they felt they had to feel their way with smaller events, including their highly popular miniature regattas on the Canoe Lake, before getting down to the major object. Thanks to the voluntary hard work of the Wardens and the goodwill of a large number of townspeople, the carnival was revived on August 31st, 1949 and the attendance constituted an all time record. The carnival took place during a heat wave and the highlight of the day was the appearance in the main procession of the Smith Brothers from Yarmouth, whose crossing of the Atlantic in their small boat Nova Espero was the feat of the year.

Unfortunately the 1950 carnival was marred by heavy rain, when it was disheartening to see months of hard work on some of the decorative tableaux ruined by the weather. The patience and good humour of the holiday crowd helped the organisers to smile in spite of the difficulties. The Wardens were again responsible for the 1951 carnival and made it a special effort for Festival Year. In the succeeding years, the Wardens disbanded on having fulfilled their objective and the Ventnor Carnival Association was formed A large number of people have served in its ranks during the years, giving wholeheartedly of their time and energy in putting on an annual Carnivals now extended into a Carnival week -for the enjoyment of residents arid visitors.

Into the 90’s

Our predecessors would look askance at the growth of the infant they started in those far off days and which now is recognised as one of the finest events of its kind in the South of the Island, attracting competitors and visitors from far and wide.

It is a satisfying thought that more and more people book their holiday to coincide with the Carnival and whole families enter in to the spirit of the festivities.

Carnival time is always a great occasion for the children and Ventnor has always sustained their important place in the proceedings. In the post-war years, the number of children taking part has almost tripled and the main events have attracted more and more tableaux from all parts of the Island and practically all the Island “Royalty.” On at least two occasions Ventnor has won the ‘Queen of Queens” title and this year Ventnor’s Centenary Carnival Queen, Miss Sally Berry also holds the “Queen of Queens” title. One former Ventnor Carnival Queen has also gone on to win BBC television’s “Miss South Today” contest. Of all the former Ventnor Carnival Queens many of those beautiful women joined the 1989 carnival main procession being transported by Shanklin ‘s Pony, the famous open-top bus. All that remained to be said was to wish the 1989 Ventnor Carnival Committee good luck in their efforts for Ventnor’s Centenary Carnival and hope that it is remembered as the most successful year yet.