Sorry, this is essentially a local blog. No idea why I’m writing it, really because no locals will read this blog – well maybe one, at the very outside.
The thing is, Gloucester Carnival procession has been cancelled for this summer.
The tall ships festival has been cancelled this summer.
The cheese rolling at Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester has been stopped because it’s too popular.
Why does everyone take the easy option when logistics get a bit challenging?
It’s pure laziness. There are ways and means of making things happen.
It just takes a little vision and flexibility and the ability to think outside the normal confines.
As far as the procession is concerned, it’s been cancelled ostensibly because of road works around the area of the Gloucester Quays, the newish shopping outlet.
Why is this being allowed to happen? Why can;t they do the essential roadworks at night rather than make the city a traffic-tortured no-go zone?
The visitors who venture into the area certainly won’t return and the poor long-suffering locals deserve better.,
Gloucester could be a very fine city indeed. The Cathedral, the Westgate area, the Docks, the river – all range from absolutely splendid to quite good.
But nothing seems to go right for Gloucester. The city centre is just about surviving but over populated with charity shops and with many prime units still waiting for occupation.
Economically, Gloucester seems to be bumping along on its ass anyway so it could really do with all the events it can muster to keep the place on the map generally and get people in and preferably spending.
But the cancellation of the carnival is primarily a loss for all the long-suffering locals.
The Mayor Chris Witts is reportedly “weeping with shame.”
I was shocked to read this as a Gloucester Mayor hasn’t wept since the 1960’s and the scandal of a Mayor having carnal relations with Miss Gloucester. Actually, thinking about it, I’m not sure the tears were associated with shame at all but were rather drops of undistilled macho joy at pulling a gorgeous leggy girl at least forty years his junior.
But I digress. When the Mayor weeps, it serious. But Chris is a Liberal Democrat and unlike France, where a lacrimose Mayor could move mountains , I fear that all his tears and hand-wringing won’t change a thing.
The carnival parade is a free event and it’s a summer tradition. People who haven’t a bean, children who go nowhere except McDonalds can be taken to the carnival a walk away from their homes. They can enjoy the colour, the music, the spectacle.
They line the streets for hours before waiting to be entertained. Children on shoulders or at the front so they get a good view. When we moved up from Wales, my family always went into town to see the action.
In those days it was spectacular. The big stores used to pull out all the stops with their floats.
I remember a giant foil elephant – twice life-size, at least – on a trailer attended by scantily clad girls in shiny foil ra-ra skirts trying to make it’s way out of Gloucester Park at the start of the procession. It was so tall that telegraph wires had to be moved to allow it on its stately course.
There were marching bands, clowns on trailers chucking chocolate bars and sweets into the crowds, balloons, roars of approval and scores of very happy kids. It was all very exciting and rough and ready in the way that medieval entertainments must have been. When you’re a kid, it’s precisely the stuff that sticks in your memory… that and being desperate for a pee and being told I’d have to hold it because there was another half an hour until the procession and we couldn’t move now or we’d never get another view which was as good!
The truth is that there aren’t many spectacles in Gloucester – especially now the tall ships festival has been cancelled. A pal sent me a totally peachy bit of film of two of the main attractions – the Earl of Pembroke (wonderful schooner which is the star of many movies) and the Kaskelot (which spent years in Gloucester Docks being refurnished by Nielson’s yard and then just moored up) – coming up the Gloucester Sharpness Canal and under the bridge into the Dock basin. Stunning viewing – especially as I missed last year’s festival.
Magnificent though the Cathedral is, few poor people would take their kids to see the sacramental processions.
So Gloucester is effectively closed. No cheese rolling, no tall ships festival, no carnival procession.
Oh hang on…they’ve just said on the radio that the Gloucester Cricket Festival will go ahead. Right. That should ensure two solid weeks of rain.
Only Superman can save Gloucester now.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Whew. Nearly forgot about the “cut” thing there for a second.
Jan, more than local interest, I think. Sad to see such things disappearing. I remember carnivals from my own childhood, especially one in Marget where my sister was a, (not ‘the, note,) carnival queen. My Grandchildren always enjoy the carnical in Limassol – a pretty naff affair, really, but not to a child 🙂
Make the locals read it Jan!
This should be sent to your local paper and the the local BBC TV news thingy and local radio. CERTAINLY WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
Jan,
A sorry tale but if it helps you are not alone.
We used to have craft fairs and jumble sales, they died when the H&S mob insisted every stall must have public liability insurance. The money grabbing in-sewer-ants companies saw an earner and now no-one can afford the insurance. No stalls.
We had easter parades where the scouts, guides, boys brigade, youth clubs, brass bands and many others all marched through the town. Now it seems the logistics are too complex and all the kids just want to drink cider and smash bus stops to bits anyway.
We had massive fireworks displays at the rugby club, now there are overpriced beers available while they show a big screen movie of a bonfire and light a few sparklers 2 miles offshore.
We did have an open top bus procession for that useless tosspiece who won Pop-X-Idol-Strictly-Who-Gives-a-Shit nonsense. I would mention his name but everyone has forgotten all about it.
I am sure all this local flavour and celebration would return up and down the country if only someone in gubmint had the cajoles to tell the ambulance chasers and injury-leeches-for-us-not-you blood suckers to take a long walk off a short pier. What was wrong with public attends at their own risk?
Grrrrr
Oops typo there, I meant Cajones. 😦
Stoopid furry mustelid.
Nice blog. Towns need festivals … something a bit different to break up the routine, cheer people up and give children things to remember, as you have. I think they’re very important psychologically. And economically, of course.
Shame about Gloucester rugby club. Every year it seems to think it’s on the cusp of European greatness. Every year it’s wrong.
This is all sheer stupidity, we should all band together and put the shows on anyway;
A slippery slope beckons.
Val can we have a picture of a beckoning slippery slope please?
Ah well, back to work. See you.
isobel, I’ll have to think about that one 😉
Why not just move the festival away from the new shopping centre and the road works?
Hey folks, has no-one clicked on the link to the lovely bit of ship film. Yes *ship* film. It’s well worth it. Honestly!
Well exactly, Bravo. These things might look a tad naff to cynical old duffers but they have a lot of impact for little ‘uns. Also, it’s a family thing. They are few and far between for a lot of families these days. How lovely having a sis who was a carnival queen. I bet you were all proud of her 🙂
You reckon, Pseu? Maybe I’ll leave a sneaky link to this on the comments bit of the local newspaper website…. heh heh
Yes Furry One, Easter parades were a very big deal in Wales. So were Whitsun parades.
Blimey I can barely believe they just “show a big screen movie” of a bonfire?!!! Jeez that really IS caving in to Elf&Safety.
Actually I think that’s a very catchy name for a programme.
Dunno who you’re referring to, but I know the type.
Also, getting a bit serious (always a mistake) the kind of events we’re talking about foster a community spirit. Everyone feels part of the bigger thing – and surely that’s got to have some positive effect?
Yep, good points Brendano. Kind of agree about Glawster. They show a bit of promise, then it all evaporates. Saracens game will be interesting on Saturday. No Tindall though. Still injured, I think. Left the field clutching his hospital parts.
Absolutely Val. Just say “NO” to the slippery slope 😉
Yes it IS that easy OMG! They will have a fair and stuff going on in the Park and they just have to work out a slightly different route and they could go ahead with the carnival procession. It’s as if no-one can be bothered and they give up at the slightest little thing.
Cheltenham on the other hand, is bursting at the seams with festivals – a new Festival of Guitar has just been announced. It’s only a matter of time before it gets a Festival Festival. Though I shouldn’t grumble. I go to most of them and feel fortunate to be in this area. But I hate Gloucester being the neglected poor relation! Whew. Rant over.
We had a huge bonfire on bonfire night. I think I wrote about it on MyT. No fireworks unless you brought your own which made me happy because I don’t like how they terrify the birds and other wildlife, and lots of excellently mulled wine.
We seem to have more parades rather than less here. On Friday I may go to a certain City church and join in with their open air service which includes eating hot cross buns. But if the rain is lashing down, I may not.