Carnival Association.
GAME FOR A LAUGH
(No, you're not seeing things! Claire Scrivens, Miss Herne Bay 88, Karol Ryan, Miss Cheriton 88, and Catherine Robertson, Miss Canterbury 88, decided to swap sashes for the evening at Westgate. The girls were ... game for a laugh!)
The Cheriton and Morehall Carnival Court and Committee have always been willing to take part in any fund-raising event, and were always more than willing to make fools of themselves in the name of Charity.
From the World Pillow-Sparring Championships in 1990 & 91, to an It's a Knockout contest in 2003, members of the Cheriton Carnival Association have got themselves wet and dirty, or plain worn-out, but had fun doing it.
Here are some of our 'Game for a Laugh' moments ...
The World Pillowing Sparring contest is something that those of us who took part in it will never forget. Those of you with less sadistic committee members will not have to face this challenge ... you sit on a greasy pole, suspended 4 feet above 6 feet of ice cold water, and attempt to knock your opponent off with a soggy feather pillow, before she/he sends you flying. Fun, eh? Especially during an English May Bank Holiday.
In 1990 we entered two teams - the C & M Sharks and the C & M Piranhas, and both teams managed to reached the quarter-finals, only to be beaten by the eventual Champions and runners-up.
In 1991 the Court had got wise to what went on, and so entered just the one team, the C & M Stingrays, reaching the quarter-finals once again. And our Queen Suzy, not content with the real contest, challenged her chaperone, Karol (me) to a one-on-one battle. She won, and I still haven't forgiven her!!
Our Queen in 1990, Kate Morley, proved she was more than game for a laugh when she voluteered to do a parachute jump for Cancer Research in the name of our Association and in memory of Elsie, our secretary who had died of cancer just before Xmas in 1989.
Sponsored walks - there have been plenty. One year we walked a total of 45 miles at three sponsored walks - Ash (10 miles), Maidstone (10 miles) and the Guild Regional Walk (25 miles). And we have taken these walks in all weathers, from scorching hot to pouring rain. Thankfully, there was always a first-aider on hand to apply sticking plasters or to massage tired muscles (bless you Dennis from Bexhill!)
Talking of sponsored walks, we were proud to help out at the Julie Rose Memorial 10k run in 1987 and 1988, handing out medals to the runners as they arrived back at the Ashford sports centre - and in the case of 1988 we did this in the pouring rain. Still, if the competitors could run in that weather to raise money for charity, the very least we could do is stand in it!
If you said the words 'free funfair rides' to any of our court, you would normally get killed in the stampede; and it usually didn't matter if they were wearing their dresses (or in Ben's case, his suit), and they definitely knew no fear!
But bouncy castles always remained our courts' all-time favourite ride.
And when Sittingbourne Carnival Association held their selection dance at the leisure centre in the early 90s, and offered the courts a chance to have a swim for charity, our girls jumped in feet first (as it were).
Bromley's carnival fetes always used to supply Queens with a challenge - particularly those organised by the Bromley hospital radio. Not a physical one this time, but mental and oral ... have you ever tried reciting Hamlet's soliquay in under 1 minute? Easy? Try saying 'Who would fardels bear?' at speed without it coming out rude! I managed it in 55 seconds in 1989, coming second to the previous year's winner (who did it in 35 seconds ... but how?!). Bromley Hospital Radio was also responible for the Gong contest in 1987 - try answering (leading) questions for 60 seconds without saying yes, no or maybe. Okay, so I won, but only because I was talking so much the DJ had no chance to ask me many questions (who said 'typical'?)
Talking of mental challenges, Mick and the girls were always keen quiz participants, despite not always winning prizes (and even winning the wooden spoon on several occasions) they were always provided a bit of fun. Along with four 3rds and three 2nds over the years we did win the Broadstairs quiz in 1996, the Ash quiz in 1998, the Kent Court Quiz in 1999, and no, we didn't cheat!
Folkestone's annual Trawler Race provided plenty of oppotunity to get into fancy dress, and get wet and messy, all in the name of fund-raising, as Vivien, our Deputy Queen in 1999, found out.
Ben didn't mind getting messy at the 2003 Canterbury Festival Big Draw, followed by a spot of 'clowning around' with Miki the Clown and Charlie Chuckle.
It wasn't the first time our Court had helped out Charlie Chuckle - in 2002 they had fun at the Ash carnival fete when they gave him a hand to do several of his tricks; and in 2003 Ben (centre) helped him at a Red Nose Day fund-raiser.
ANd Charlie was on hand to help Ben and Andy at the Dover Regatta circus skills workshop.
The FICA Get Together has one of the most 'evil' contests imaginable - apart from the karaoke contest - it's the hat contest. All you have to do is sit there and pass the hats backwards while the music plays; and when the music stops, the one without the hat is out, until you find a winner. Ha, sounds all right, you say - you're reckoning without the most competitive creatures on the planet taking part - carnival girls and committees; if you're not careful you will find your head ripped off in your opponent's eagerness to grab the hat off your head! Never again.
And as for the karaoke contest ... oh, the noise (don't give up the day job, girls!)
The FICA Get Together wasn't the only occasion when our court had the chance to show off their singing skills - at the Birchington 1998 Junior Selection our then Junior Princess Vicky joined the newly-elected Birchington Junior Court to perform a Spice Girl's number during the evening's Stars in Their Eyes event.
Sturry's carnival fetes gave us plenty of opportunity to make twits of ourselves in the form of the obstacle race. A change of clothes was always necessary as getting wet was inevitable. Still, we managed to reached the quarter-finals in 1995, 97 and 2003, the semi-finals in 1994 and 2001, and were second in 2000.
And Sturry Carnival Association's other speciality was the minicar race, which they took to other carnival fetes too. Our girls (big or small) were always willing to give that one a try!
Ben and Andy got involved in the Mini's Marathon at Deal's Carnival Week Saturday Funday during 1999, with Ben taking the Bronze medal ...
... while Karol gave the Deal Court a 'hand' in the Tug of War.
Staple's Country Fair in 2003 was a good one for fun - It's a Knockout (which we won), a junior tug-of-war (which we won), races, rides in a fire engine, Ben helped with the sheepdog display, and Tasha acted as the lure for a falcon.
And talking of tug-of-wars, Ben took part (and helped to win) the Alkham Village Fete 2003 tug-of-war, as well as many othe races.
The Buddy Challenge provided an irresistable pull to our Juniors - a Bucking Bronco contest. Tasha and Ben gave it a whirl (quite literally) and though they didn't win, they stayed on a lot longer than some of the adults!
Even though they had walked the parade in fancy dress, Ben and Danielle (far left) still had enough energy to help with the sheepdog display at Bearstead.
After winning the top prize at Lydd Club Day in 2003, the Court couldn't resist having a go at the circus skills.
Ben (right) gave the Splott Brothers a hand at the 2000 Dover Regatta ...
... and helped Captain Colin at the opening of the coastal park in Folkestone in 2000.
If you think it's just the Courts who are game for a laugh, see what Andy volunteered to do at the 1997 Beach Bus Bonanza ...
.. and in 1999 at the Deal 300 celebrations ...
... and in 2000 ...
... while Karol did these silly things ...
... but it wasn't the first time. Look what she had to do when she helped at the Beach Bus Bonaza in 1998 ...
... then what she did for the Dover TCM with their Easter Saturday Egg Hunt in 1999 and 2000 ...
(Karol's the one in the chicken suit!) ... then look what Karol took on in 2004 at the Deal Teddy Bears' Picnic ...
... Maurice and Karol had to hula-hoop at Collier Row in 2003 (and no you won't be seeing that picture, only Maurice and me with our certificates!) ...
... and the girls couldn't resist the chance for a hula at Sturry Carnival in 2002.
A big thanks to Rob and Alan at Aylesham, who made us chaperones sing (and do the actions to) that Rolf Harris classic 'The Court of King Caractacus' - I can still remember them, oh no, I'm singing it now!
PS Thanks for the Chaperone award.
And Gary and Tam were always game for a laugh ...
Andy and Karol learnt how to Jitterbug for the World War II event at Dover Castle.
Ben will hate me for putting these on, but he took part in the Deal Lions Bungee Jump in 1999 (fortunately he got his teddy to do it) ...
... and he and Scampers won a Cute Couple award at the Walmer Dog show in 2002 ...
... but it wasn't the first time members of our Court braved a dog show, as Natasha and Heidi took their pooches along to the Folkestone Show in 1996.
Rose-marie helped at the Pets As Therapy Funday in 2000 - handing out prizes and walking the dogs.
There have been some moments of glamour for the girls - like when they were asked to take part in a charity fashion show, organised by the wedding dress shop, Beau Monde in Folkestone.
All the nice girls love a sailor - and our girls certainly did when they helped out at the Chatham Navy Days in 1999.
But our strangest prize? When Luan and Linda won Nicky's Nutty Award at Westgate Carnival in 1989 (for being the nuttiest princesses!)
I have to finish by mentioning Luan Leigh, our Junior Queen in 1987 (who eventually became our Senior Queen in 1990). During her Junior Queen year, Selwyn Gauden from Canterbury dubbed her 'Rent-a-Princess', as she was always willing to help out other Courts by acting as a Princess if they were one down. On several occasions she helped out the Ash Carnival Court - the most memorable was at the Ashford regatta, sorry carnival, in June 1987 - that was the day it rained and rained and rained; so much so, that the all the girls bundled into their towing vehicles and the parade was cancelled. Luan remained on stand-by for Ash at the rescheduled parade in August.
Luan, 'Rent-a-Princess' 1987, we salute you!
Copyright © 2006 Cheriton and Morehall CA. All Rights Reserved.
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