Well, where do I start?  I guess an introduction would be useful! My name is Felina Merrifield, I am 25 years old and have lived in Preston all of my life. My twin sister and I were involved in Preston Carnival many moons ago from toddlers right up until the age of about 13. The story goes that the Preston Carnival concept originated at my grandfathers house some 33 years ago, with the aim of giving the growing Caribbean community a reminder of what they had left behind, and the existing  communities a taste of the Caribbean.

 

I remember the buzz of Carnival, in the months building up to the date we would have to go and get measured for our costumes, the back room at my grandfathers’ house would be full of cloth and trimmings and paper patterns. The constant hum of the sewing machine, transforming the pieces of cloth into spectacular costumes each one with a name tag on it.

 

The morning of Carnival day was the most exciting, arriving at the house where the whole band would be congregated, as a small child it would seem like there were hundreds of people in the house but the getting ready was carried out with military precision, costumes on in one area… then a bit of eye make up applied in another. Then there were pictures outside the house, me, Fiona, Peter and Wayne ready for the road march!.

 

The Procession seemed to last forever! It started on Moor Park Avenue Deepdale Road end, and I remember the procession ending on Moor Park Avenue from Garstang Road end. Your feet would ache for days and the constant sound of whistle blowing would ring on in your ears long after the procession had ended.

 

As we got older we no longer wanted to be in the procession, opting to be an observer with the rest of our friends on the day rather than a participant. In hind sight we should have recruited out friends and made them part of band too!! There came a time when the even my aunties no longer wanted to participate!! This was a real shame because her band was the best! It won first place in the procession year after year after year (have a look at the Isla Montgomery Cup!)

 

The Committee took many different forms in the years following my aunties’ withdrawal from the event. From thirteen onwards I noticed a steady decline in the quality of the event, there were less and less Caribbean people taking part. The whole atmosphere was different, It was losing it effervescence!! Members of my family would come over from Birmingham to the Carnival when we were younger and still involved, but they stopped, and I have to say I didn’t blame them!

 

A few years ago I decided it was time to lend a helping hand, Ronald Clarke had been chairing the committee and asked if I would like to get involved, I saw it as a chance to give something back, maybe try and rekindle the flame and bring back the Carnival I knew and loved as a small child. NEVER did I think it would be so difficult and stressful!! But slowly we are making progress with the Carnival of 2006 in my opinion being the best in a long time!!. It is a constant up hill struggle and if I could wish for one thing it would be that the Caribbean community of Preston would be more supportive in what we are trying to do as an organisation.

 

Preston Caribbean Carnival is a fantastic community event, but it is and will only be as successful as the community want it to be…………….. That’s all folks!!