Carnival processions were popular events in Redhill and Reigate throughout the first half of the 20th century and beyond.
Many of them consisted of floats and parades reflecting the holiday mood, with prizes for the most imaginative and colourful creations that paraded through the streets.
Other processions were slightly different, their themes being the pageantry of events in our nation's history. One very large such processional pageant was organised in 1935 for the Silver Jubilee of King George V.
Members of various local organisations dressed up to represent historic scenes. Redhill Royal British Legion portrayed a scene from the time of Boadicea; Redhill YMCA the Romans; Redhill and Reigate guides St Augustine; St Mark's Club Alfred the Great; the Rover Scouts William the Conqueror; Merstham village the Canterbury pilgrims, Reigate Grammar School King John and the barons; East Surrey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Club Henry VIII; and so on through history, involving schools, women's institutes and many other groups and clubs.
The procession started in Garlands Road, Redhill, and proceeded via the High Street, Station Road, Blackborough Road, Bell Street and Reigate High Street to Reigate Heath.
It displayed scenes from the past in the days before television but today such public pageantry has become a thing of the past.
l Article and picture courtesy of Alan Moore, author of A History of Redhill, volumes 1 and 2, www.redhill-reigatehistory.co.uk.
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