Celebrating the Reigning Queens of Luton International Carnival!
Luton International Carnival returns to Luton town centre on Saturday 4th June as part of Luton's Jubilee weekend. As the town prepares for the historical celebrations to mark Her Majesty the Queen's 70-year reign, we look at some of the pioneering local women who helped shape Luton International Carnival over the past 70 years.
Marilyn Gearing crowned Hat Queen at Luton Carnival (then a hat fair) in April 1954
At 15 years old, Marilyn Gearing was crowned the Hat Queen at Luton Carnival (then a hat fair) in April 1954. Her crown, made by a Luton milliner, was a replica of the crown used to coronate Queen Elizabeth II just 2 years previously. Marilyn still takes part in Luton International Carnival annually, designing and making the Luton Samaritans float that traditionally ends the Luton parade as 'Samaritans are always at the end of the line'.
Margaret Matthew aka Auntie Margaret Luton International Carnival 2018
Margaret Matthew, lovingly known locally as 'Auntie Margaret', is one of the Windrush generation who brought the Caribbean flavour to Luton International Carnival. Leading the Luton based St Kitts, Nevis and Friends carnival group since 1984, Auntie Margaret, now 82, will still be on the road with her group on Jubilee weekend.
Janet Skepples daughter Amara at Luton International Carnival 2018
Janet Skepple has been involved in carnival since 1984 and in 2013, formed Luton's only children dedicated carnival band 'Scandalous'. Like many people from Caribbean backgrounds, Janet has been brought up in the carnival tradition and passed this to her children and grandchildren, with her daughters designing and making some of Luton's iconic costumes and her son performing as Saint Patrick in the annual Luton St Patrick's Festival hosted by the Luton Irish Forum.
Maureen Scarlet at Luton International Carnival 2015
Maureen Scarlet, praised in the carnival world for being one of only a few women in the UK who build their costume frames, is the leader of the Luton Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Care Forum (SCTCF) carnival band, formed in 2005. Luton International Carnival has given the group a platform to raise awareness of the disease and promote the group's support services for those affected.
Costume by Sarah Salim at Luton International Carnival 2019
Sarah Salim of ALIF New Beginnings is Luton International Carnival's newest queen. Sarah founded the group in 2019 to celebrate Islamic culture and traditional crafts whilst challenging negative stereotypes of Muslim culture in the UK and empowering women from her community. As well as preparing for Luton International Carnival, Sarah is also working with local groups on Luton's first Eid parade coming up in July.
Cllr Javeria Hussain, Chair for primary funder Luton Rising commented, “Luton Rising is proud to fund the iconic carnival showpiece which brings the town alive with an incredible array of colour, dance, music and creativity. The return to the town centre signals that our town is ready to party again after what has been a really difficult couple of years for the town. This year’s carnival coincides with the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and follows other wonderful events which bring our communities together and is why Luton Rising is committed to supporting the arts in Luton. Our schools, charities and local businesses have spent so much time creating incredible costumes and floats and I hope people come down and support this magical event.”
Everyone is welcome at Luton's biggest free family event; for more information please click here.
A big thank you to this year’s primary funder Luton Rising, without who’s support the carnival would not have been possible.
We would also like to thank our other funders and supporters including Arts Council England, Luton BID, Love Luton, The Mall Luton, and Luton Irish Forum.
Also a huge thank you to the hundreds of returning volunteers who took to the streets to support the parade, making it a really special day for thousands of families.