Cippenham Carnival History.
The Cippenham Carnival was established by Betty Turner.
It was part of the celebrations for the Royal British Legion’s Diamond Jubilee in 1981 and was held in June at the Brook Path site.
From then the carnival was held annually on Cippenham Village Green until 1995.
Over the years, Betty was joined by Mike and Maureen Pope, Joan Marisczak, Frank Harvey, Phill Hill, Tom Turner, Lew Lewendon and Chris Lewendon, Peter Burrows, Dave and Joan Howe, Gwen Hill and Loretta Burrows. Also Tony and Marion Stubbs, Beverley Poole, Wendy Ryder and Gary Lucas. (If I have left anyone out, please let me know).
A reciprocal arrangement with other village carnivals, all part of the Middlesex and Home Counties Federation of Carnivals, which included Heston, Hanwell, Greenford, Twickenham, Staines, Feltham and Bedfont, Battersea and Burnham, with Carnival Queens from each representing their village in the street parade, creating a colourful start for their carnival.
In 1989 Betty stood down as chairman with Mike Pope taking over the hot seat.
By this time residents had seen some magnificently decorated floats, enjoyed marching bands, majorettes, fancy dress, a range of games and treats on the many stalls.
In 1988 the Carnival Committee managed to raise £3,000 to distribute to local charities and give more than 100 elderly residents a Christmas party.
The Cippenham Carnival took place every first Saturday of July on the Village Green until 1995, when a fire at the village sports hall closed the facilities it offered. This coincided with a shortage of vehicles to use for the parade floats, increased costs for the band and attractions and restrictions on parking and availability of Police to managed the street parade.
Fourteen years later, in 2009, Andy Golding, who was chairman of the West Cippenham Tenants and Residents Association (WCTRA), at the time, managed, through Councillor Swindlehurst, to secure a grant to help restart a Cippenham Carnival.
A meeting was called for residents to get involved and initially there was a great response. However, for whatever reason, the proposed carnival never materialised
The grant money was held in a separate account by the WCTRA and stayed there until 2017 when a new attempt was made by the WCTRA to revive the Carnival. Unfortunately, the Village Green was not suitable to hold a carnival, so it was moved to the Mercian Recreation Ground where there was room for parking and toilet facilities. Hopefully this will be our home for the coming years.
The first carnival in over twenty years was a success, with the help of Tracy Harding and Bridget Orr, of the Cippenham Royal British Legion, and contacts with other local groups a Committee was gathered together to form the Cippenham Community Carnival Association (CCCA).
Carnivals have taken place in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022, with a break because of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
There is always room for new volunteers, to bring new ideas and skills to the Association.
