Carl Brown(Ipswich, England) visit to Notting Hill Carnival, London, England - August 2000

Nottinghill -August 2000

The first thing to hit you is the sound. Its everywhere. Piercing whistles, shrieks of laughter, horns, booming soundsystem. The colours are quite amazing as well. From bright yellows to dark Oranges; to bright silver customs and that worn by the general public let alone the Carnival floats.

This year I arrived (on the Monday of the the Notting hill Carnival) is supposed to be the most busiest time of the whole event. Entering the Portobello Road, Nottinghill, London, I noticed a high proportion of young children being escorted by parents in being in their buggies, or being held in sturdy hands and moved along that way.

I got stopped as I started to make my way towards the carnival.

"A Whistle for the Carnival sir?"

I nodded a firm "No" to him and continued on my way. I had enough stuff on me as it was to worry about. Mobile phone, Camera, drinks. I didn't want to bogged down any further then I felt at this moment in time.

Police on Horse back became more common as the crowd that I had been following headed to the heart of the carnival possession. I stopped as the crowd itsself stopped in front of me, about 15 feet away. It seems that the people at the front were not being allowed to go any further. A police barricade had been set-up. They were now pointing to go through to a redirected path that had secured for us. Many took this as an infringement of our rights, and were arguing with the Police. But I was not in any mood to waste time and be amoungst all that.

I just followed the new route that had been laid down by the Authorities and continued on my way.

You could hear the booming systems were near by, but you couldn't place your eyes on any of them. So near, but yet so far I thought. "Watch my kid man nah man!!", said one father to an over enthusiastic reveler trying to get the carnival route too quickly.

"Legalize Cannabis", was another mans cry that I heard being broadcasted nearby me. At the same time I then saw this gentleman was handing out leaflets on the same subject. He had a small crowd around him. He seemed to be getting people to notice and and what he was trying to say. However, I hadn’t the time to spend and discuss this with him. I really hadn't today

Turning around one corner, or street. Please don’t ask me where. I nearly got trampled. I came right out onto one of the main roads of the Carnival possession. I nearly got run over by a couple of kids dressed as Red Beetles. Behind them were a fleet of about 20 more Red Beetles not in the mood to stop of stopping for no one.

Camera’s were flashing like I was a movie star going to the latest to office Movie premier.

I stood back, got my camera out and started taking pictures myself at this point. The possession was followed soon by a large decorated lorry that had a number of other dressed up participants on top of it together with a Soca band on the Steel Drums. Very impressive.

I had no choice, but to stay there for the next 10 minutes as a couple of other Carnival floats and their helpers went by. Dressed in garments that resembles butterflies to martians we all revelled in the sound colour and splendor that was whisked in front of us.

I managed to maneuver myself over to the next side of the road, whereby I had to say about 50 sorry’s as I squeezed my way through to the end of the crowd. This allowed me to have a free passage to reach the end of that particular road, and being able to enter a next one.

From there I was looking down on where I wanted to be. I asked a Policeman if I was far from "All Saints Road".

"No, just follow the road straight and you will go pass 4 turns on your right. On the 4th turning you will see "All Saints Road", he replied confidently.

I followed the instructions however, it wasn’t going to be easy. As you had some many distractions, and things to notice as you were heading there.

From the smells of Western Indian Cooking, to the "Yard tapes and Video stores. To stores selling soft drinks and Cans of beer and lager for £1.00 to £".50 per can, etc, etc. You eyes never had a moments rest..

Of course the ladies made you turn your head more than once or twice.

I didn’t make it to All Saints road. I wish I did but I didn’t I stopped at this Sound Systems called, Music Incorporated based on one the side street which the officer said I would need to pass before I finally got to the All Saints Road. I can’t tell you where they were based. Sorry.

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carl@garage-music.com

carl@anglianet.co.uk