Christine Fisher-Lathwell – Packs’ carnival floats

Simon: What do you remember about … ‘cos the Carnival Floats are well remembered aren’t they?

Christine: Yes, I think I remember … we didn’t have to build them. The Display Manager usually built them with maybe a hired Carpenter, possibly Ray Langdon. They would build them and we didn’t really get a chance to try the clothes on until the day, so you couldn’t really do a dress rehearsal. So, none of us that were chosen were real models, we didn’t have any clue as to how you stood and what you did, and I remember being totally disappointed when I was chosen to the Lion Tamer in a cage and all the girls were wearing furs and leathers, and I thought trust me, I get that silly hat that on safari people wear (laughs).

Simon: Oh right, the pith hat, helmets or whatever they’re called, right.

Christine: I had that with a whip in my hand, and I also remember being pleased because I was chosen to wear the raincoat, the Mary Quant raincoat, the plastic black and white one. That I bought eventually and it was all Mary Quant. There was a name for her brand, ‘Mary Quant just’ something. And so, everybody wore Mary Quant on that particular Carnival Float.