Northampton Carnival

2008

Masque - Exploring Duel Identities

Saturday, 14th June

About Us ...

The Northampton Carnival has had strong traditions within the town from its great old history in the 1960's through the midsummer meadow times in the 1980's, to its short break in the late 1990's until its revival in the year 2005. The carnival aims to bring together all of the communities in the town to unite to celebrate and party to show each communities beliefs and culture.

The Carnival each year has brought colour, noise, amazing costumes and great charachters along for the family to see on each occasion. The atmosphere generated by the Northampton Carnival has led to huge crowds advertising the town as one of the best in the country for carnivals.

Each year the Northampton Carnival has brought a variety of culture, smells and great tradition to a town which has always showcased a selection of styles and wild float designs in recent years.

The Northampton Carnival was reinvented by a selection of people back in 2005, and based on the last few years performances has the potential to stay and carry on the carnival spirit shown, by some of the more established carnivals in the UK like Leeds, Notting Hill & Luton.

The carnival organisation team are:

Morcea Walker - (Bottom row, 2nd from the left) - Morcea works for the Northampton County Council in the education department and has a long history of working with communities for a common goal. This is the third carnival Morcea has helped to organise since it re-started three years ago and she seems to find time for everyone to help them prepare for carnival time.

Myrle Roach - (Top row, 2nd from right) - Myrle also works for the Northampton County Council, she has made it her mission to help plan finding the carnival queen for this year, as well as this she is also helping to plan the events of the carnival weekend.

Mark Dean - (Top row, 2nd from left) - Mark also has a long community history, helping to present, develop and run Inspiration FM  radio and associated events with Jenny Campbell (not featured above in pic) & Tyrone Dean (Bottom, 2nd from right), Mark currently presents inspirations on BBC Radio Northampton (104.2 FM) on Sunday's from 4-6pm. Both Jenny and Mark are preparing the radio station to start broadcasting from its own place in Sheep street Northampton when it achieves its radio licence soon.

Mary Clarke - (not featured in pic) - Mary is involved is helping to organise and prepare for this years event whilst working in her role at the Doddridge Centre in St James.

Janet Gordon - (Bottom Row, 1st from Right) - Janet currently works for Royal & Derngate Theatre, working with audience development, she too has got a great record of working with all of Northampton's Communities, she is actively helping to promote, and plan the carnivals events as they happen.

Liz Carroll-Wheat (not featured above in pic) - Liz actively works on a day to day basis with Northampton's Irish communities helping to plan, co-ordinate and provide admin support to them. Liz is enthusiastic and currently helping to plan the events of the carnival weekend from performers to logistical support.

Jayne West - (Bottom row, 1st from left) - Jayne also is helping to promote the carnival and support the organisation of the weekend's events, she is currently co-ordinating her efforts with Liz & Morcea to run the events of the day alongside her role as a director of the new fishmarket recently re-opened after a refurbishment.

Jonathan Cobb - (Top row, 1st from right) - Jonathan has a history of being involved in the Northampton Carnival having taken part from 1989-1995 with various youth clubs he has helped to run. Jonathan has designed and developed this site and currently works at Royal & Derngate Theatre with Janet. Jonathan is actively involved in promoting  & developing the website and the community events in the run up to the carnival itself.

John Richardson (Top row, 1st from left) - John & Colin Richardson (not featured above in pic), are actively involved in helping promote this years Northampton carnival through events being held on the market square over the weekend, they are also involved in Northampton Meets New Orleans at the Picturedrome, a jazz band from New Orleans is coming over to perform in Northampton and its the The Richardson's Group who are hosting them.

Janice Melrose-Brown (Bottom row, centre) - Janice's background is almost Northamptonian having moved here from America and being involved in saving business's and buying small companies  she is a great figurehead to help promote the carnival.