In a timely look back at Biggleswade Carnivals past, Malcolm Key supplied these three photos of Drove Road pub the Hop Bine's floats in 1981, 1982 and 1983.
According to Malcolm, the 1981 float was "thrown together that morning" with pub landlor
d Harry Bailiff managing to obtain some smocks while the others decorated the float using straw bales.
In the back row from left are: Malcolm Key, Mel Charles (organiser), ?, ?, ? and Pauline Charles (Mel's wife); while in the front row seated from left are ?, ?, Pete Doland and ?.
St Trinian's was the Hop Bine's theme the following year which won the pub second prize.
Malcolm is pictured standing on the far left dressed up as the headmistress.
At the time, he had long hair and sideburns and explained: "The women shaved my sideburns off and put my hair up in two buns".
Apparently, Malcolm didn't have much choice in the matter!
Standing next to Malcolm is Ozzy - , ?, Mel Charles, Dave York, Steven Charles and ?; while kneeling/sitting in the front from left are Ozzy's wife, Pete Doland and David Rook.
The third photo was the pub's 1983 float, which won first prize with the theme Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The float was a real team effort with Mel Charles doing the painting using paint donated by Texas (now Homebase), Malcolm making the cut outs of bluebirds, butterflies, flowers and ladybirds for the side, and his mother Ellen Key making the paper flowers which adorned the top.
Said Malcolm: "We had a pump on the float which was rigged up to two barrels of beer!"
From left are Pete Doland, Stevie -, Malcolm Key (standing), Kieran - (in glasses), David Rook, Mel Charles, pub landlady Alison -, and David York.
The little boy seated in front is Aaron Charles.
Lorry driver was Bert Boness.
Thanks go to Malcolm.
This story appeared in a summer 2009 issue of Memory Lane.
