Hanwell Carnival - 10 things you might not know

14th May 2013

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Many people do not realise that the carnival is an event, run entirely by volunteers for the community. Indeed, here are 10 lesser-known facts about the Hanwell Carnival. 1. It is a free event – participants do not have to pay to enter the park 2. It is London’s oldest, first taking place in 1898, and it was established to raise money for the Cottage Hospital (now Ealing Hospital) 3. The inaugural event was a cycle carnival with a lantern parade 4. Along with many other community events up, it foundered during WWII and was only revived in 1961 5. Celebrities of the time who opened the carnival include comedians George Formby (1938) and Tommy Trinder (1942) 6. It helps scores of charities and voluntary groups by giving them a stall in the park to raise their profile and money 7. Last year, some 20,000 flocked to Elthorne Park 8. The car used in the procession to transport the royalty is a Railton and it is believed to be one of only two left in the world 9. It dates back to 1934 and was built by Hanwell-based Coachcraft. It is understood the workshop was on the site now occupied by Access Storage on Boston Road 10. A baby show used to be a popular draw at the early carnivals