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Carnival Week 2009
Preparations for Carnival Week got off to a dodgy start when no local girls put themselves forward for Carnival Queen. Despite posters and advertising on this and the parish council websites no one came forward. However the local newspaper - The St. Austell Voice - picked up on the problem from this site and gave a fantastic write up which led to great media interest with other local papers, national dailies and local and BBC radio becoming involved. The original article that sparked off the interest is appended below. The upshot was, that no suitable applicants came forward tin the time scale allowed - so it was decided the village would have a Drag Carnival Queen instead.
St. Austell Voice article
Carnival may turn to drag
News Archive > General > Carnival may turn to drag
Sarah Glayzer13/05/2009 
STICKER Carnival could be a drag this year if a Carnival Queen isn’t found by Monday.
Carnival organisers are considering opening up the royal role to men dressed as women after a dearth of suitable female applicants.
The literal drag queen would be expected to fulfil the traditional regal duties associated with the role, including taking part in the carnival on Saturday June 27.
For the last four years Sticker has failed to attract a queen from within the village, accepting instead applicants from elsewhere in Cornwall. However, it seems that with the county in the grips of the credit crunch monster, local lasses are opting to save their pennies and forego taking on the time-honoured role of carnival queen.
Chair of the Sticker Village Association Malcolm Vine said: "From my sources around one or two people have said other villages are in the same position as we are. I think we will manage to get a Fairy Queen but as for the Carnival Queen, we don't have many girls that age in the village.
“It's the economic climate as well. Once you become a Carnival Queen you represent Sticker at other carnivals and that has a cost and time implications so some parents don't want to do it.”
He continued: "We are going to advertise around the village just to see. We have added an extra class to our carnival of the Ultimate Carnival Queen so if we can't get a queen we will use some of the men who enjoy dressing up as women and they will do it instead."
Asked is he would be reaching for the lippy and competing to be Sticker carnival’s drag queen, Mr Vine said: "I am not one of the men who enjoys dressing up as a woman so no."
Former Sticker resident Christine Hancock has helped to organise the selection of Carnival and Fairy Queens in the Clay Area for several years.
She said: "My daughter has been doing it for three or four years and there's never been too much of a shortage, but a couple of Carnival and Fairy Queen choosings recently have only had two or three people turning up.
"I think everybody is feeling the pinch. There's a time commitment to it as well, but the biggest cause is the money side of it."
Describing the significant financial outlay young ladies have to make to perform the regal royal, Christine said: "A Carnival Queen's dress can easily cost £400 as it's pretty much a wedding dress. Plus they spend more money on the bits that go with it like shoes and the tiara. They have to buy their own flowers as well - it's pretty much a bridal bouquet that can cost about £75 or more. There's also the problem of insurance too now. Liability insurance can be as much as £50 for each carnival the queen enters. They go out to the Queen of Queens competition and to other carnivals - about six or seven - to represent their village."
Christine, who was raised in Sticker but now lives in Burngullow, added: "The allowances they get from the village, although they help, don't touch the total amount needed as the carnival is held to raise funds for the village."
During her daughter's four-year career as a Carnival Queen Christine has picked up a few useful money saving tips.
She said: "I tend to recycle and look on eBay where you can get the odd wedding dress or two that's quite reasonable. I bought the one she has now for £41 because it was damaged and I repaired it."
Describing just how important the Queen is to a carnival, Christine said: "Everyone is expecting one to be perfectly honest. I have been to several carnivals over the last few years and the royalty make up a big part of it. People expect to see a queen and a band. It's nice to keep the tradition alive but you can understand if people can't afford to do it."
Asked if she thought this year’s lack of female applicants could spell the death of the Sticker Carnival Queen, Christine said: "I think it will be an off year. There will be quite a few people that will go 'oh my goodness' and think it pokes fun at the carnival a little, but I wouldn't want to see Sticker go without. Maybe they could open it up to glamorous grans."
Christine’s idea of a more mature Carnival Queen could be the way forward for Sticker, which was described by Malcolm Vine as “more of a retirement village”.
Sticker Village Hall Administrator David Eastlake hinted that even if a female Queen comes forward, there might well be reason for the men of Sticker to reach for the leg wax and mascara.
He said: "It's not definite we are having a drag Carnival Queen - we are still after a carnival queen - but if we can't get one it will probably be a drag queen. The final decision will be made on May 20, when we are deciding what's going into the carnival. However, if the idea of a male Carnival Queen proves popular but we manage to find a female Queen, we may well include both in the carnival."
Young ladies aged between 12 and 20 who would like to apply to be Sticker’s 2009 carnival queen are urged to call 01726 74020 or email admin@kimilili1.demon.co.uk by Monday May 18.
Following the Cornish Evening on Friday the weather proved glorious for the weekend. On Saturday - a football match - the Hewas Veterans played Sticker Youth in the lower playing field and they managed to win by six goals to five!!
Later in the day a childrens' treasure hunt set off from the playing field - terminating at the Sticker AFC ground in time for the 1 mile fun run.
Saturday evening saw the Sticker AFC annual 5 mile road race set off through the village - no doubt their website will carry photographs. There was a record number of entries - 500 plus.
More good weather on Sunday for the fete/ party in the park. Again a record number of people turned out for an enjoyable afternoon - live music, police dog, fire brigade, bouncy castle, cream teas, barbecue, ices and drinks, stalls, displays and competitions. The only thing to marr the day was the failure of a band to turn up in the evening.
 
 
 
The last few days has seen a proliferation of scarecrows of all shapes and sizes adorning gardens in Sticker. Monday evening saw a large proportion migrating to the lower playing field where a large crowd congregated to watch them being judged with the best three winning prizes. Here is a selection.
 
 
The Winner (below)
 
 
 
 
Tuesday
The W.I. put on their annual carnival Bingo evening in the village hall attended by about 50 die hard "eyes down" fans.
Wednesday
In the early evening there was a walking photo treasure hunt organised by The Hewas Inn.
Later the Hewas Inn was packed for the Drag Queen competition that had courted such controversy and media attention over the last few weeks. The entrants all rose to the occasion ( the unknown blonde "lady" entrant in pink has since been outed - as an undercover reporter from The Cornish Guardian!!) and an enjoyable evening was had by all!
Judges: Sarah (The Voice), Sheila (St. Austell Bay Radio)
Dennis and the six entrants
 
 
 
and the winner was
BEN
(who's phone line has since been hot with interview requests from the Media)
Second - Damian Third - Dwayne
 
Our Drag Queen competition continues to excite the media with several local and national newspaper articles surfacing. One of the articles can be accessed here. It is interesting to note the reader's comments on the page - all enthusiastic - so far - although the "real" ladies in Sticker might disagree with the Redruth comment! (One now has!)
Thursday/Friday
On Thursday and Friday evening Sticker Village Players put on their summer review - Wish You Were Here!
Both nights were a sell out with every seat sold. An extremely fast moving and amusing show livened up an audience sweltering in the village hall more reminiscent of a Sauna! A few images follow but a fuller report and video clips can be seen on the Village Players' page.
Apologies for the quality but these were extracted as stills from the video of the show.
Wish You Were Here!
 
 
 
Saturday - Carnival Day
Another beautiful day and the the playing field was filled and Fore Street lined, with crowds of people eager to see the carnival queens, fairie queens/kings and of course - the drag queen and attendants. Two days before carnival, the booked band withdrew, but thanks to leads and help from friends three bands were rustled up at a moment's notice. The Pirates (mixed with brass and silver), led the procession, the Ragile were in the centre and The Air Cadets Pipe & Drum were at the end - so music all the way! Comments suggest that this was the best carnival for many years. There were possibly less queen entries - perhaps because of another carnival on the same day - or was it a boycott because of the drag entry? Whatever, it didn't spoil the day. Celebrations continued at The Hewas Inn until late evening!
The overall Carnival Queen winner was Eloise Adams representing Indian Queens
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sunday - Dilly Racing
The final day of Carnival Week reverted to normal carnival week weather - cloudy, windy with some showers. However it didn't dampen the spirits of those off to the Dilly Racing! The event was once again held courtesy of Michael Grigg in the field at the bottom of Modus Lane. Entry numbers were a little disappointing, but the competitors present put on good entertainment for the crowd. Of course everyone was looking for spills, but I only saw one which is recorded below. The Voice photographer, who was waiting hopefully, unfortunately had to leave before it happened so the only record is on my video. I have taken a still frame from the video - quality is rubbish but it's the best I can do.
Overall winners of the adult and junior races were presented with impressive cups and monetary prizes.
Adult - Mark Richard and Andy Caff Junior - Will Rowe
The poor weather ensured that the barbecue and hot drinks went well, but ice cream and cold drinks sales met some resistance!
So - that was carnival week 2009. Overall the best for several years with several new events during the week. The drag queen controversy has been followed by local and national dailies and local and national radio. There has even been comment from overseas.
Next year, we will again be asking Sticker residents to become involved with programming the week and invitations will go out in early spring. If there was something missing or something you didn't like this year - turn up and help organise next year. If you don't want to help decide the program - how about just turning up at events early in the day to help set up marquees, stalls, seating etc. Please don't leave it all to just a few people!
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