Pennard Carnival

We were invited to dance at the Pennard Carnival again this year and we enjoyed a largely rain free day. We were driven to Kittle Green in a splendid vintage open top South Wales Transport bus which operated out of Ravenhill bus station back in the 70s and we did a time restricted dance set there. Memory confirms we did British Grenadiers, Speed The Plough, Vandals, Valentines and also Bonnie Green to finish but there may have been a couple of others that we did. Look closely at the photos and you may see Minnie Mouse who looked resplendent in her outfit.

We were next driven back to Pennard Stores at Fox Hole where the Carnival floats were gathering for the procession which set off promptly at 1:00pm. We were placed at the head of the procession, where we walked, with sticks in hand, for the better part of a mile. Unfortunately, we could not dance the procession due to recent injuries that had forced our musicians and some dancers to travel back on the bus. We would have found it very difficult dancing, trying to compete with the excellent tunes that the Full Phat Band were playing, just behind us!

We were introduced at the Carnival Field by the compere, did a victory lap of the field to polite applause from the appreciative crowd, and, after watching the award ceremony where the Hook Float deservedly won first prize, we made our way to a Tee Pee tent where we were directed to give our performance.

We danced Rose Tree, Country Gardens, Valentines and Brighton Camp which we followed with two sets for volunteers, eager to give the dance a go! A short, sharp, shower had pushed several people into the tent to watch us finish our set with Bonnie Green Garters. We met a lad who had close associations with Thaxted Morris Men, but sadly would not entice him to join us.

A good dance out at a well run carnival (hope we get invited next year) and some of us were well happy to be able to buy tickets for the excellent Disco Panther gig later in the evening!

Words & Pics by Paul Tarrant & some by Stewart Wright