Parade

Ilkley Carnival organisers resisted the temptation to theme their parade around Star Wars, despite the May Day event falling on May the 4th this year.  

Instead we had colourful troupes of schoolchildren dressed as characters from famous children's books; Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and yes, Harry Potter. The appearance of He Who Must Not Be Named accompanied by a phalanx of dementors lent a nice edge to the proceedings.

Bringing up the rear, a motley crew of semi-classic vehicles: a modern kit-built Beauford pretending to be a 1930s tourer, an MG, a 1970 Cadillac and a 1965 Leyland double decker in Southdown livery more used to carrying celebratory football teams.

Carnival season is underway.