British Pathe

C/U of some Japanese lanterns hanging from wooden beams outside, panning left to show some women attaching decorations to a carnival boat. C/Us of the women arranging flowers and hanging lanterns on the same boat; a pagoda seems to be the focal point. Commentator tells us the spectacular Venetian Fete...

C/U of some Japanese lanterns hanging from wooden beams outside, panning left to show some women attaching decorations to a carnival boat. C/Us of the women arranging flowers and hanging lanterns on the same boat; a pagoda seems to be the focal point. Commentator tells us the spectacular Venetian Fete is held every two years here on the Royal Military Canal at Hythe in Kent.

Various shots of floats being finished off including an Eskimo scene; a 'savages' scene, where a man is putting some face paint on a young boy; a 'Mayflower' pilgrim ship, the BUAV float, with two dogs being petted and a snack bar float called 'Exploso Bar'. C/U of a balloon with an African face painted on it. M/S people sitting on the river bank watching.

The fete has obviously started as we see a float being towed by a rowing boat along the river before a large crowd; M/S of the float carrying the Mayor of Hythe along with actor Donald Sinden (who opened the event; he lived in a cottage in Hythe, trivia fans - and might still live there!) and two unidentified women (NB: Donald is not seen in C/U). The next float carries thirteen Mayors of Kent in full regalia, and lots of greenery - quite a comical sight! We then see the float carrying the Carnival Queen in a pink net dress, with two Carnival Queenlets in white at her feet.

Various colourful themed floats drift past: 'A Tale of Two Cities'; 'Madame Butterfly' (this is the one with the pagoda - it apparently took two months to build); what looks like a French Can-Can cafe scene; 'The Mayflower'; Edith Cavell leaving prison to face the firing squad; Arabian Nights scene (one of the best); 'The old woman who lived in a shoe' (I think it's a man); family watching television; 'School For Beatniks' (I think - sign says 'Down with Elvis'); 'Andy Capp at home'; 'The Ten Commandments'. All intercut with audience shots; children in the crowd eating toffee apples, holding balloons and so on.

Note: On file is a press release, descriptions of all floats in the fete, a list of the Mayors seen, correspondence and a rather snooty newspaper review. Cuts exist - see other record.