Leeds West Indian Carnival

The carnival is held in the Chapeltown and Harehills parts of Leeds every August bank holiday[1] weekend.

[2] It is a three-day event, climaxing in a carnival procession on Bank Holiday Monday, which starts and finishes in Potternewton Park in Chapeltown.

[5] Its founders were Arthur France, then a Leeds University student from Nevis, who is longstanding Chairman; Ian Charles, who was still Co-ordinator in 2008;[6] and Gertrude Paul, a teacher.

[7] Arthur France proposed what would be the first Caribbean-style outdoor carnival organized by people of Caribbean origin in Europe.

As the local Caribbean association was not forthcoming, he formed his own committee, and Ian Charles's home became a factory for costumes.

[8][9] The decade saw increased professionalism by the now very experienced Carnival Committee and the introduction of lorries to carry bands.