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Events & Celebrations
Huthwaite Carnivals
Huthwaite Urban District Councillors arranged their first carnival August 1932, with very honourable intention of
raising funds behalf Mansfield Hospital. Their next 1933 effort not only raised £60, but added future interest from crowning Miss Betty Oxley as the first recognised Huthwaite Carnival Queen.
The annual success of these spectacular occasions grew each year, to be additionally recognised as a Red Rose or Flower Carnival. They lasted up to four days offering various family entertainments including sports days and fancy dress competitions that managed to attract entrants, competitors and visitors from further afield.
Mrs J. Truswell - Mr S. Stones - Mr A. Wilkinson - Mr E. Spencer - Mrs IballMrs J. Maltby - Mr Truswell - Mr W. Clark (Sec.) - Mr J. Davies C.C. (Chairman) - Mr J. Iball - Mr E. Oxley
Mrs G. Brailsford - Mrs S.A. Clarke - Mrs E. Oxley
A monumental 1935 carnival saw the Duchess of Portland performing the crowning ceremony.
1935 & 1936 Queens Entourage
The 1937 carnival came to an abrupt halt on Saturday night, when enthralled crowds witnessed a terrible tragedy. Spectators turned their heads skyward from the events held in fields below the Welfare Park, when a passing Sutton pilot gave an impromptu aerobatic display leading into a steep dive.
Excitement turned to shock however, when the aeroplane failed to pull out its speeding dramatic plummet. Crashing to earth in an adjacent field found its two occupants had little chance surviving that fatal impact.
Happier times did nonetheless annually resume, after crowning Joan Faulkes that years Carnival Queen, as proudly revealed by Granddaughter Evonne Fazakerley.
Marlene Shaw shares one of the various carnival displays, and fondest memory of her 1950 Carnival Queen crowning for collecting greatest penny sponsorship.
Huthwaite CWS hosiery factory often gained proud recognition in thematic fancy dress costumes, although into latter years a titled Coal Queen reflected this once prouder and prospering mining community.
Events reached a climatic ending with final ceremonial crowning of a Coal Queen furthermore introducing a few well known national celebrities.
Year 1951 had been particularly well remembered by Bill Harrison. His interest didn't recall name for that young lady, when clamouring across a very crowded Huthwaite (Roker Park) just to get a glimpse of guest boxing celebrity Randolf Turpin. He was for a short term still the current world middleweight champion.
A young Miss Midge Fox proudly sits beneath, furthermore presenting 1955 fancy dress costumes. Sister Betty adds their 1954 participation, when their Sherwood Street Methodist Sunday School floats a nativity scene past the Workpeoples Inn. Same year that actor Derek Bond made guest appearance. It was by no coincidence that the Huthwaite Lyric promoter was featuring one of his film appearances to escort a new Coal Queen entrance.
Three wise men would no doubt raise concerns these days about the health and safety issues of carrying a lorry load of young children or ladies. But amid those innocent years are more delightful scenes of the Queens carriage through the Market Place.
Huthwaite carnivals had been so well organised and widely appreciated, they'd quickly set unmatched acclaimed example for similarly held events in the larger adjacent towns of both Sutton and Kirkby. All later merged under one Ashfield District Council, so it seems these were the forerunner to the combined Ashfield Show. That began annually attracting everyone onto larger Sutton Lawn grounds from 1981.
14 Nov 11 by Gary Elliott Updated 08 Jul 23