Carnival History

" I thought the carnival idea sprang from the old Field Days that were held in Victorian times when teams of cricketers (Photo Below) and footballers of both sexes would compete and running races were held.

I believe these were organised by both chapels and the Parish church. Almost all the ladies of a young age joined one of the Girls Friendly Societies."

Mick Vernon

At the turn of the century, 1900, these field days became known as The Infirmary Effort.

Each village had to raise funds for the Leicester Royal Infirmary which was not then state funded.

These went on until the start of World War II and it was from these efforts that the idea of the carnival came from, after the war, in the late 1940’s.

We are unsure of the year of the first carnival but Mick had memories of one held in 1949. The event was held in the field opposite Mountsorrel Cottages on Station Road, which is now houses.

All the village ladies gathered in a huge circle, dressed in overalls, and a young pig, covered in grease, was released. The winner had to catch the pig and hold on to it, she could then take it home. The winner that year was Mrs Dave Webb.

The field days in the late 1930’s were similar to the carnivals of today. Mick remembered the one from 1939 – The parade was led by The Stoney Stanton Silver Prize Band, all dressed in their green and gold uniforms. The drays (floats) were all horse drawn by the Shire horses from the farms and the Clydesdales from the quarries. (You can see in the pictures, although barely any exist as people didn’t have cameras then!)

At the front of the marquee – Stoney Stanton Fields Day 1908

Back Row L-R: Beatrice Knight, Sarah Peters, Min Woodward, Isobella Brown, Lizzie Robertson

Seated L –R: Elsie Stevens, Emma Taylor, Norah Disney*, Jenny Stevens, Polly Bowes

Standing on the left: Eveline Disney*

*Daughters of Canon AED Disney

NOTE: Many of these surnames are now road names in Stoney Stanton

With gratitude and thanks to Mick Vernon, who generously looked back over the last 87 years and kindly gave us the photos and shared his memories from these early Carnival days.