Higham Carnivals 1964 to 1967

Yes, we appeared to have favoured a pirate theme for 1964. Once again we never heard mention of a prize for anything. Still, it was the taking part that mattered.

Higham Carnival 1964

From left to right, Margaret George, Patricia Maple, Rachel Nott (standing), Mike Kent, Barbara Britten, Julie King, Anton Britten, Phil Leeson,Sue Kent. In the front Malc Redsell & Jon Bardoe.

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The Higham W.I with their new Rock Band the “With Its” (W.I. ;geddit?).

Beatie Baker (what an appropriate name!) in the foreground with Vera Clark on her left. My Mother Joan on banjo (no way was she borrowing my guitar for this – so she had to make do with my old banjo). So it was more of a folk-rock group.

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Miss Higham 1965 was Lorraine Addicott. Note the dodgy pond made from aluminium foil. Now who was the Runner-Up in attendance?

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No need to be in any special organisation to enter the carnival. Just coming from Lower Higham was odd enough.

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A touch of glamour from the British Uralite (probably). I hope she wasn’t too dusty.

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Who’s that peering out of the window of the shed or pig sty? He might be able to explain who had entered this float. As if we cared.

1966

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Miss Higham 1966 was Carole Feast. Here with the winner in 1965 (Lorraine Addicott) and err. someone else. I might have forgotten her name but she was a real beauty. As were all the entrants at the Miss Higham Dance in the Memorial Hall, as I recall.

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Junior Youth Club leaders, Michael Barton & John Bardoe on their float. The topic was, well, confusing.

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1967Miss Higham: June GammonRunners-Up: Sue Kent & Sally White

 

Hunch Magazine

Higham had a youth magazine for short while thanks to Michael Barton who for a short period enlisted the help of a fellow called Tom Parry who lived for a short while in St John’s Road. I recall him because I went o his house to  interview Barbara Britten and he gave us orange squash in jam jars because he had packed all his glasses ready to move away.

This allowed the more literate to show off their skills as this article by Les Baker illustrates; this one being ostensibly aimed at explaining the phenomenen of Mods & Rockers to a bemused older generation.

Double click the frame below to enlarge:

An article by Les Baker in Hunch Magazine 1964

Programme

The Hicoey had strong links with other youth clubs.

Staring (in order of appearance) Margaret Dakin, Ann Murden, Janet Stone, Peter Jones, Trevor Bausor, Alan Cook, Jane Elkington, Anna-Marie Munday, Christine Salt, Brian Reeves, Harry Hanshaw, Lesley Clayton, Caroline Timmins, Lynne Milner, John Wightman, Michael Leadbeater with chorus of Joan Almey, Erika Davis, Sheila Ford, Ann Harrington, Caroline Timmins & Alison York.

St Augustines Youth Fellowship

Please click on photograph to enlarge this shot of the finale of Puss In Boots..

Taken in January 1966 along with many more.

These were taken without the aid of a flash gun or any high intensity lamps. So how was it done in the days before digital media?

St Augustine’s Youth Fellowship, Derby. Annual Pantomime

13_30289 17_30293Make up. All very professional.

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Clotilde – Janet Stone

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The Chorus Girls

Mandrake – Michael Leadbeater.

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Jason – Jane Elkington & Whiskey his Cat – Anne-Marie Munday

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Finally the Sing-along.

Back in 1965

Frankie Coxon in Make-up.


Ugly Sisters (Mick Wright & Harry Hanshaw)

Thelma thinking about?

Why would anyone be interested in this old stuff?

At the Institute
At the Institute

Back row: Ian Holliday, John Bardoe, Anton Britten, David Green, Malcolm Redsell, Steve Ditchburn, Phil Leeson.

Middle row: Geoff Allen, Jack Watson, unknown, Sue Kent, John Goldsmith, Carole Winslade.

Front row: Les Baker, Heather Hearn, Theresa Thomsett, Rachel Nott, Margaret George, Barbara Britten, Barbara Driscoll, Adrian Hearn, Pat Driscoll.

Well many wouldn’t be but you have landed on this site so you might just hold a passing interest.

Remarkably enough the Higham Village History Group is often interested in anything to do with this rather unexceptional Kentish village; even the antics of a few young people who can remember the 1960s better than anyone who was really cool at the time is supposed to.

I have a lot of photographs that some people might like to have on their screen saver to remind themselves of how wonderful they looked when they were teenagers. I will put various snaps on this site so long as I get a bit of feedback to reassure me that there is someone out there who is interested.

Mike Kent

Finally a document from the archives found by Anton Britten.

File2784]File2785

O.K.. So it’s not exactly an original idea.