Each year since the early 1960’s the  UK’s Notting Hill Carnival brings summer to a close on the streets of London. It’s a spectacular celebration of music and the very unique amalgamation of peoples being the foundation of British culture.  Residing in Los Angeles means I have regrettably been unable to participate in the revelries for sometime. I am convinced that most of my readers are well informed, cultured individuals quite familiar with the phenomena Carnival.  With that in mind I began rummaging around hoping to find a less featured view of the event to highlight. I stumbled across this incredible footage of The Notting Hill Carnival in it’s formative stages by Dick Jewell. I sat riveted in front of the computer screen whilst watching rarely seen Super Eight footage of familiar London streets. What struck me immediately was how even in those earlier years of Carnival were the signs of revellers from varied backgrounds embracing the festivities, which today is enjoyed by over a million people each year. Carnival then was a crucial form of expression for the Caribbean community in the UK and I think this video captures the very essence of Notting Hill in the late 1970’s –80’s. What do you mean it doesn’t look anything like the movie! Enjoy.

The link below provides images of Notting Hill Carnival 2013

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2013/aug/26/notting-hill-carnival-2013-in-pictures