Local History

local history by Stephen Guy, West Derby Society

Carnival Summer

Hundreds of people lined the route of the West Derby carnival procession meandering its way around the district. It was Saturday 24 June 1933 and the area was still comparatively rural although new housing estates were springing up during a massive building programme. Britain was coming out of economic depression and war clouds were not yet on the horizon, although Hitler had come to power in January. America was also enjoying a boom - 1.7 million new jobs had been created in the previous two months. June events at home included the opening of the World Economic Conference in London, Iraq’s King Feisal on an official visit and Britain winning the Ryder Cup. Just three years earlier Hugh Molyneux had become seventh (and last) Earl of Sefton upon the death of his father Osbert. Dashing Hugh, described as “the handsomest man in the House of Lords”, was one of the Britain’s most eligible bachelors. He was a close friend of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, who stayed at Croxteth Hall. Hugh, aged 35, loved the historic hall and its fine country estate. He is thought to have reversed his father’s plans to sell off the land for housing. The new Lord Sefton may also have vetoed the proposed West Derby Village bypass to protect the approach to Croxteth Hall. Hugh opened his grounds - then off-limits to the public - for celebrations at the end of the colourful procession. Festivities included music and dancing, sports, stalls and side shows. Traditional games featured coconut shies, aunt sally, hoopla, bagatelle, skittles and slashing the ham. A group of brightly garlanded girls are pictured during a brief pause in the procession in Eaton Road. One, in flowing robes, carries carefully arranged flowers on the end of a pole, perhaps to guide those following behind. A marshal, in smart blazer and fashionable trousers known as Oxford Bags, gives instructions. The official 14-page carnival handbook cost two old pennies (2d) and is crammed with information. Advertisers included T R Young, quality fruit stores of Mill Lane and Town Row, A Bage & Son, paint stores Eaton Road and W D Busby, funeral directors and wedding specialists, Muirhead Avenue East and branches. Busby’s could provide horses or motors: “For over a century we have led the way with the excellence of our wedding equipages”.

Visit the West Derby Society web site: westderbysociety.wixsite.com/westderbysociety

west derby & croxteth park

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