Original 1932 Hastings Carnival costume found

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Jancis Edmondson made the discovery when she was sorting through old boxes from her parents’ house during lockdown.

She found a cutting from the Hastings and St Leonards Observer dated Saturday, September 17, 1932, and at first, she could not work out why it had been kept.

Key moment in Hastings Carnival history revealed and archive photos uncovered

The costume worn by Martin Raymond Jeremy Harmer, known as Ben, when he was two

Jancis said: “Initially, it made no sense but then a photo of two small children in costume at a carnival caught my eye - my father and his sister.

“And now I had the explanation for the bag of tiny clothes I had also discovered. It was the costume my father was wearing in the photo, all handmade by his mother. She had kept it all her life.

“There is something very touching about finding clothes made by your grandmother and worn by your father when he was two. He is now approaching 90 and can remember the event.

“I have the shoes, hat, belt, tunic and cloak, a little moth eaten but still quite lovely and treasured by my grandmother.”

Ben Harmer, now nearly 90, and his late sister, Pauline Harmer, dressed for the Hastings Hospital Carnival in September 1932

Jancis’ father, Martin Raymond Jeremy Harmer, known as Ben, won third prize in the boys’ fancy dress and his late sister, Pauline Harmer, won a special prize.

Their family lived in Battle Road, Hastings, for many years and had a grocers shop. Some members of the family were teachers at local schools.

Jancis said: “My grandmother’s family had theatrical links and she was very handy with a sewing needle, hence the costumes.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

A page from the Hastings and St Leonards Observer dated Saturday, September 17, 1932, filled with carnival pictures

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