Rogerstone Directory - Community Topics

 

Rogerstone Carnivals and Fetes

Carnivals and fetes have played a big part in the social history of Rogerstone, always raising money and spirits when most needed.

The British Legion Sports and Fete Prize Drawing results, found in the South Wales Argus of September 1928, stated prizes were to be claimed within seven days. The ticket holder with the number 10 would have no doubt found good use for his prize – a cockerel! The fete was probably held on the Castle Field.

Ten years later, September 1938, the South Wales Argus carries an article about the carnival of that year that “was held to collect funds for the establishment of a bed in the Royal Gwent Hospital, in memory of the late Sir Leolin Forestier-Walker”. (Sir Leolin was the MP for this area for many years.)

In 1946 a carnival was planned to celebrate Victory Day; school children, ex-members of the Forces and parishioners over 60 years of age being entertained to tea.

In the forties and fifties the Rogerstone Silver Band was responsible for organising the annual fete to raise money for band uniforms and instruments. In 1956 one of the big attractions was a television set in a local trade show exhibition set up in a large marquee at the Welfare Grounds. The visitors to the fete were able to enjoy the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Finals as well as the many other attractions! The money collected that year was put towards the building of a new hall in which the band could hold meetings and practise.

During the sixties and seventies the carnivals were organised by the Senior Citizens Committee to raise money, which was distributed to the pensioners of the district at Christmas.

This was certainly an annual event much looked forward to by the people of the village. The seventies even saw the opening of the carnivals by some celebrities of the day. Those of you who are long standing Coronation Street fans will know the names Pat Phoenix and Bernard Youens. Mr Youens, alias Stan Ogden, certainly seemed to have enjoyed himself in 1974 when he was invited to open the Rogerstone Carnival that year. I believe Pat Phoenix, alias Elsie Tanner, may have opened the Carnival in 1973 but as yet have found no confirmation of this – so if anyone out there can help, please get in touch.

In 1975, Welsh folk singer Max Boyce was the celebrity of the day and proved to be a huge success. In 1976 it was the turn of Vince Saville, brother of the well-known DJ Jimmy Saville.

Not everything went according to plan when in 1970 the Carnival Queen, Wendy Roberts, ended up making her own carnival float with the aid of Committee members. At the last minute they were let down with the float they had been promised, but everyone pulled together to decorate the lorry and they completed it just in time.

I like to think that this comment I found on the front page of the South Wales Argus, dated 1st September 1971, is still true of today:

Carnivals “continue to play an important role in the social life of the community. They are not maintained merely because of the nostalgia of an older generation for more simple amusements; young people take leading parts in these functions and this is sure evidence that they will be continued.

“Most of these fetes and carnivals are for some worthy cause and many a charitable organisation has benefited from them. The sums of money which some of these affairs raise are quite surprising and are an answer to those who say that we are now a nation of takers and not givers.

“That people are still willing to put their hands in their pockets and organise and take part in such events to help community projects or those less fortunate than themselves is a sign that we as a nation are not as self-centred as some would have us believe.”

Hopefully carnivals and fetes will be a tradition that will carry on, bringing the people of our much-expanded village together for a good cause and a good time.

Rogerstone Silver Band led by Jim Morgan c1965 at Rogerstone Power Station Fete

Kim Fry
kimfry@tiscali.co.uk

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