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Post date: Sep 13, 2015 2:17:6 PM
Thank you to Mrs Patricia M. Rendall of Grimsby for her reminiscences about Cleethorpes old bathing pool and carnival time in the 1930s and also for the wonderful photographs which accompany this story.
Carnival time in the 1930s was always an exciting time for us children. We would decorate our old bikes with coloured crepe paper and together with the clowns, stilt walkers and all manner of people in fancy dress we would join the parade at the Pier.
All the major businesses in the town had their lorries dressed to a theme, some with shire horses pulling carts, their gleaming harnesses decorated with brasses.
Before the parade left the Pier, the Carnival King and Queen were crowned (pictured are Raymond Bennett and Molly O’Hara, the King and Queen in 1938/1939). Resplendent in their red and gold regalia, they would be carried in an open horse-drawn carriage to the bathing pool, or the Olympia (later known as the Winter Gardens) if it was raining.The pool would already be packed with spectators waiting for the arrival of the Carnival King and Queen and for the main event, which was to elect that year’s Beauty Queen and Princess. The “Beauties”, mainly local girls, would parade around the pool in their swimwear (no bikinis then). The Carnival King would then select the three winning girls, one of whom would be crowned Miss Cleethorpes.
During this time, antics would be going on in the pool to keep the spectators entertained. A greasy pole
extended out over the water and anyone could take up the pillow fight challenge, straddled across the pole. There were also lots of swimming races and comedy antics going on around the pool, usually on a theme such as cops and robbers or damsels in distress. The whole team usually ended up on top of the diving board, with the cop, robber or damsel being thrown off to the great enjoyment of the cheering crowd. Water polo matches were also taking place.By today’s standards, this was simple fun, but for us it was the highlight of the Summer in Cleethorpes.
To view more of Patricia's photographs of Cleethorpes in the 1930s, click here
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