“No need to tell me, I’ve already heard” said my client as they walked through the clinic door for their treatment. A few weeks earlier during their appointment they had been enquiring as to whether we were expecting to win a 1st prize again at the Kenilworth Carnival. “I don’t know” I replied. We had won twice in a row and they were right, a third win would be a nice hat trick. It got me thinking about why we started doing a float at the carnival and the journey we have been on thus far.
We entered our first float in 2022, the Kenilworth Carnival was keen to get more people joining in and we thought, well we always watch it…why not be in it? We are a local Physiotherapy Clinic, based in Kenilworth and love to get involved in the local events. When I say float of course I am using the phrase in the widest possible sense, our plan?…a push bike towing a small float, it seemed to fit with the physical and exercise elements of our work, and so it was born.
Kenilworth Carnival 2022
Our first float was simply a portable treatment couch with ‘Sid’ the clinic’s life size model skeleton sitting on it. I fitted small wheels from a pull along shopping bag and connected it to my bike with a few modification to our sons now long disused, Tag-along bike. A couple of Banners made up for us by the ever so helpful Moseley Signs were strung along the sides and off we went. Looking back now it was almost disastrous, but amusingly so.
As I towed it from the Physiotherapy Clinic at Thickthorn Orchards, all the way to Abbey Fields for the start. It became clear that the wheels were far too small and it was a struggle to pull. Cornering needed great care as it had a habit of tipping completely over on sharper turns. In addition it was almost impossible to get back onto its wheels whilst by myself, but people always ran to help out during the Kenilworth Carnival procession.
On a plus point, the float caught people’s eye and all the way round I could hear people, especially children getting really excited about ‘Sid’. Rosemary Hill was a challenge, but the members at the Priory Theatre were most encouraging. We managed to finish the carnival, despite the couch and Sid barely being intact, and I still had to get the whole set up back home to the opposite side of Kenilworth.
Kenilworth Carnival 2023
This year lessons had been learned. We constructed a wooden frame based trailer on which to mount our offering for the Kenilworth Carnival. Wheels from a golf trolley were now fitted, it was wider and inherently stable. We kept the, modified, tag along bike as the method of connection to my bike. This year we took both of the Physiotherapy Clinics life size skeletons ‘Sid & Fred’ and had one sitting in a chair whilst the other was giving a shoulder massage.
This was a lot more successful, but was still hindered by wheels that, whilst larger than the previous year, were clearly still way too small and the weight was significantly up too. However, with the more stable trailer I was able to concentrate less on the control and enjoy the parade more. Kids still got very excited at the presence of the skeletons and we collected a fair amount of money in the collection tins.
Rosemary Hill was hard again but this time I was getting a cheer from all the wonderful spectators in Kenilworth, so couldn’t even consider stopping and letting them down. I still had the hard work of getting it all back home to the other side of Kenilworth again, but this time it was sweetened by the unexpected presence of a first prize certificate and cup!
Kenilworth Carnival 2024
This year was going to be better! The trailer had worked and was stable and infinitely adaptable due to its wooden construction….and this time I has secured two 20 inch bike wheels! This time around we went back to one life size skeleton ‘Fred’, the more colourful of the pair riding on a Mountain bike with his little nephew skeleton ‘Eddie’ hitching a ride on the back holding a collection bucket.
This was the first time that I heard lots of spectators starting to say “ooh, look, it’s the skeletons”, the kids still absolutely loved it. Although we had collection tins on board it was easier for people to throw money into the bucket and we collected a lot. Rosemary hill beckoned once again, the trailer was pulling well with the bigger wheels but was even heavier than the previous year.
I stopped and waited at the bottom of the hill to get a clear run at it. This was a mistake as we collected so much loose change at this point, it became heavier still. The crowd literally roared as I made my way up the hill and towards the top, three people ran out and gave me a push. I have no idea who it was but if you are reading this, Thank You.
This time as I wearily made my way back home I had a lot of great conversations with people I met on the way…and we had a first prize certificate and cup…again!
Kenilworth Carnival 2025
This year we went all out. Using the same trailer set up that was now working so well, we mounted a sea kayak on it which ‘Fred’ paddled whilst ‘Eddie’ sat on the back. We cut the sea and waves out of plywood and bolted them to the side of the trailer. For the first time I felt it actually looked like a traditional carnival float rather than a bike and a trailer with something on it. Whilst it looked good I was not unaware of the fact that this year it was truly heavy.
I had to do a lot of adapting of the connection to the bike to prevent it from actually bending the tow bar, as well as making its way past the bike on any downhill sections that involved braking! The decision to leave the trailer on two wheels was based on the fact that, if it were to come adrift, it would tip forwards and scrape itself to a halt. This year all I could hear was onlookers now recognising the skeletons and there was plenty of back and forth banter between myself and the crowd.
At Rosemary Hill I really went for it, as always the Priory Theatre members were outside. Thank You Dan for the drink of water as I passed. I found out later that they had also, as it was a hot day, planned to throw water over me, but at the last minute decided not too as it might not actually be welcome. If it’s a hot day next year I can assure it would be most welcome. Although nobody came out and pushed me this time, the noise from the crowd was phenomenal, and kept me going at the point where, without it, I would undoubtably have stopped for a rest. As it was, you all helped me to the top, Thank you, although I didn’t feel too well when I got there!
This year we put the collecting tins in the rear deck hatch which we left open. When I got to the finish, it appeared most people had thrown coins straight into the hatch. As I dispensed it into the two collecting tins, they quickly became full so I had to put the rest into a bucket. Amongst it were £5 notes, along with one and two pound coins. As a rough estimate I would say there was easily more than two hundred pounds and all going to local charities. Thank you so much to everybody. And, did we win that first prize again….yes we did, making it a hat trick.
2026???
Thank you so much Kenilworth, we will be back next year. Plans are afoot and again we will try to improve our offering. If all goes to plan, you may just see the skeletons sledging and skiing!!
