History
Its founders were Arthur France, then a Leeds University student from Saint Kitts, who is longstanding Chairman, Ian Charles, who was still Co-ordinator in 2008 and Willie Robinson a medical student from Trinidad. His wife Rasheeda, despite being in her 70s refuses to stop wining down the place every year at Carnival. 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. Five contestants entered the first Carnival Queen Show, won by Vicky Seal as the Sun Goddess. They joined bands and dancers in a procession from Potternewton Park to Leeds Town Hall, where a steel band competition was followed by a dance. About a thousand people attended. The Leeds performers were invited to participate in the Notting Hill Carnival later the same year.
In the 1970s a procession route was established from Potternewton Park and back again via the city centre. The steel bands were on human-powered wheeled platforms. In 1977 crowds of 10,000 were reported for a largely trouble-free 3-day event (in contrast to the Notting Hill Carnival of the same time).
The 1980s established a shorter route around Chapeltown and Harehills, and also sponsorship by local organizations. A Carnival Prince and Princess (children 3 to 13) were also chosen. Attendance reached 40,000 in 1988.
In 1990 the Carnival was essentially trouble-free, but 3 people died in violence in the area afterwards. The decade saw increased professionalism by the now very experienced Carnival Committee and the introduction of lorries to carry bands. 1997 was the 30th anniversary and Arthur France received the MBE for his work with the local community.
2007 was the 40th anniversary, with crowds of 100,000 for the first time. It was also the 25th anniversary of the Leeds West Indian Centre, and the bicentenary of the abolition of transatlantic slavery. Ian Charles also received the MBE.
Read more about this topic: Leeds West Indian Carnival
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