Malcolm Ross
Island Carnival Memories.
Malcolm was born in Ryde and as a young boy remembers watching the spectacular sight of Ryde Carnival with his brother from their house in Swanmore Road as the parade passed.
Ryde Carnival Letterhead.
Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
At age eleven Malcolm remembers being quite excited by the Carnival and would go round the town with his school friend watching the floats being prepared for carnival. In 1959 Malcolm’s interest in Carnival was such that he began collecting Carnival programmes from many of the Island’s Carnivals. When Malcolm was twelve he joined Ryde Carnival Committee - initially helping to construct the Queen’s float along with his friend Simon, then moving on in 1964 to become Publicity Officer. Malcolm left the Island for college, returning some time afterwards to re-join the committee and is still a committee member today helping to make Ryde Carnival happen each and every year.
Malcolm’s Carnival memories are abundant and stretch from the holiday camp heyday of the 1950s and 60s, through to the regeneration of Carnival in the 2000s. Malcolm is currently thinking of ideas for future Carnivals involving laser lights and pedal powered floats!
Buccaneers board the Hugin Daily Mail 1949. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Buccanneers board the Hugin Daily Mail 1949. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Daily Graphic 1951 Ryde. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Daily Graphic 1951 Ryde. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Daily Graphic 1951 Ryde. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Daily Graphic 1951 Ryde. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Daily Graphic 1951 Ryde. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Daily Graphic 1951 Ryde. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Donkey Serenade Ryde 1957. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1949. Photographs belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1949 Ryde Carnival Revival. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1949. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1950. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1950. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1950. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1950. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1953. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News 1953. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News Portsmouth Ryde 1951. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News Portsmouth Ryde 1951. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News Ryde 1952. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Evening News Ryde 1952. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
IW County Press 1957. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
IW County Press 1957. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
IW County Press 1957. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
IW Times 1970 Ryde Carnival. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Buccaneers make Ryde brighter 1954. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival in Southsea and Portsmouth 1952. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival IOW Times 1970. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Malcolm remembers watching as a boy with his brother from their house in Swanmore Road in Ryde, the floats constructed by Pontins Little Canada and Woodside Bay holiday camps.
Malcolm remembers his interest in carnival aged nine and starting his collection of Carnival programmes aged eleven.
Malcolm talks about his role on the Ryde Carnival Committee when he joined at age twelve with his friend Simon.
Malcolm remembers working at the Seagull Cafe on Ryde Pier, queues of holiday makers coming on the paddle steamers, Carnival atmosphere and memories of some of the Island's lost Carnivals.
Malcolm recalls the construction of the floats for the Ryde Queens over the years and the types if materials and skills employed.
Malcolm talks about some of the events at Simeon Rec (Arena), famous faces who officially opened the Carnival, prizes and cups and the demise of the events.
Malcolm talks about the categories you could enter, some of the organisations involved and the order of the procession during the 1960s.
Malcolm talks about moving through the ranks to become procession officer and recalls some of his predecessors.
Malcolm talks about why he has been involved with Carnival for so long and what he'd like to see in the future.
Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
East Cowes programme 1975. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
East Cowes programme 1960 & 1961. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Fun fair advert Ventnor 1975. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Newport programme 1982 & 1984. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Programme 1959 - Diary of Carnival. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Programme 1964 & 1965. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Programme 1966. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Programme 1973 & 1976 Photographs belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival 1967. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival 1971 back. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival 1971 front. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster 1966. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster 1988. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster 1992. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster 2003. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster c 1960's. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival poster. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival presents Robin Richmond show poster 1974. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival programme 1888. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival programme 1974 & 1975. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival Programme 1994. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival Queen selection poster 1964. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde Carnival Queen selection poster. Photographs belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde programme 1959 - A few facts. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde programme 1959 & 1967. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde programme 1979. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ryde programme 1981 & 1982. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Sandown programme 1962. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Shanklin programme 1960. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Shanklin programme 1961 & 1962. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Shanklin programme 1973 & 1975. Photographs belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Shop window competition Ventnor 1975 back. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Shop window competition Ventnor 1975 front. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
St Helens programme 1970 approx tokens. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
St Helens programme 1970 approx. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
The Islander 1967 cover. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
The Islander 1967 Ryde Carnival. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
The Islander 1967 Ryde Carnival. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ventnor programme 1960 & 1964. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ventnor programme 1961 & 1963. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ventnor programme 1975 & 1962. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Ventnor programme 1992. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.
Yarmouth programme 1966 & 1960. Photograph belonging to Malcolm Ross.