Official Leeds West Indian Carnival

Leeds is my childhood home. Lots of memories. I ‘go home’ for carnival every year. With friends and family still living there and meeting with others who also moved to other towns and countries
We all head for home at carnival time. Most of the community regardless of age colour creed are in or come out to watch Carnival. Nearly 50 years ago I was part of the first one. I have missed very few. Every year I go on a hired coach, national express or train. Sometimes I get There a few days b4 carnival and visit friends or sell my goods when i used to sell arts and crafts. Troupes come from Manchester, Leicester, Derby Birmingham etc. Professor Black with his troupe, Brandy with his music leave Birmingham every
Year to take part. They’d had their Carnival and come to Leeds with their friends and family. B4 the carnival there are dances and Shows e.g. choosing Prince, Princess, King, Queen. Names worth noting are Hughbon Condor whose spectacular costumes won prizes every year, Arthur France cofounder of Leeds West Indian Carnival when we were homesickfor what we had left in St Kitts Nevis; Michael and Hebrew. Brothers who have unique costumes every year. Potternewton Park was my local. We girls went there every Sunday to sit on the hill to watch the boys play football. The till is much smaller than when we sat on it because we were sitting on ahigh high with an unexploded BOMB under us. On Sunday there is a Black Music Festival and Bank holiday Monday the parade through the streets and show on Stage in the park. There are numerous stalls, arts crafts food information and advice. By the end of the night I would have had a lovely delicacies I’d not tasted all year unless I’d been to a West Indian christening wedding funeral or bday party; sugar cake, coconut tart, corn meal pone, washed down with rum. This year three generations of the family went from Birmingham. we planned to go to Joubert morning but we didnt hear the 5.30 alarm. We put out our towels slippers and were willing to go out in our pyjamas and dance through the streets but maybe next year…