Titchfield Spirit
There is something larger than life about Titchfield. Looking back through the various archives as far as photographic techniques allow unveils evidence of its community spirit. It is amazing on canival day how impressive floats appear overnight, the tremendous patrionage at the church fete or the support for any single event. Perhaps it is because there are a number of families who have inter-married over the years and are therefore very close.
Larger Than Life
In 1911 Titchfield organised its own celebrations for the coronation of King George V. There were magnificent street decorations and a procession led by a very impressive mounted troup, quite an achievement for a small village.
Titchfield Carnival
The actual date of the first Titchfield Carnival is shrouded in the mists of time. The Titchfield Bonfire Boys Society (TBBS) who now run the event have adopted 1880 as the date of their foundation, but another account mentions 1882. Their first meeting was recorded in the Hampshire Telegraph was at the Temperance Hall in 1887 to decide on the date of they event. The chances are that only by that time had it gathered enough interest to need careful management.
During the war just a few folks wheeled around a simple display as a reminder. When the hostilities were over it was back and bigger than ever, drawing crowds of 29,000 to 30,000 revellers. As well as walking entrants, articulated floats, visitors from Knotting Hill, the finale is a very impressive firework display.
Titchfield Community Centre
The Drill Hall became Titchfield Community Centre. A stage went into the
west end whilst carefully arranged doors and curtaining provided a
back stage area for shows. Over the years it has seen all manner of concerts,
contests, dances and pantomimes. The honour of becoming Carnival Queen was
once so desirable that TBBS ran a whole series of dances to accommodate several
heats and a final to choose a winner. Titchfield Panto Players produce both
a pantomime in January and a summer show.
Drama at Titchfield Abbey
In the 80's the Green Theatre staged a number of plays such as 'The Red Barn' which were well applauded.Titchfield Festival Theatre stage their season of classical plays in July and August works such as those of Shakespeare are very successful and draw good regular crowds. TFT's talents are being recognised far and beyond, for they are now receiving awards and invitations to appear elsewhere.
In July 1993, the ‘boys created ‘Blues at the Abbey’, an annual rhythm and blues night featuring artists from the international Blues scene. It was started in 1993 by the Titchfield Bonfire Boys Society to bolster the flagging finances of the annual carnival. It features some of the best rhythm & blues artists on the scene such as Otis Grand, The Blues Band and draws audiences of over 1500 fans.
Not content with a successful blues event in 2003 they established "Folk at the Abbey" but it didn't draw sufficient numbers so after two attempts it was scrapped.
