What is it with Lambeth, Stockwell and Pineapples?
Well in 1600’s John Tradescant who was botanist and importer brought Pineapples to the UK for the first time. His botanical garden was in Stockwell, and included the ground that we now know as Larkhall Park.
Now you know this, you’re going to start seeing Pineapples all over Lambeth!
This certainly was the case for some unsuspecting motorists on a sunny Saturday morning on Stockwell Road back in 2008.
With funding from Arts Council England and European Union regeneration funding Stockwell Festival were given a grant for further outreach projects to support the annual Stockwell festival.
Stockwell Festival worked with local Lambeth carnival arts company Mandinga Arts to create the costumes and Art Community Exchange a local arts company based in Brixton ran schools programme and co-ordinated the parade. Bureau of Silly idea also based in Brixton made the Pineapple car.
Everyone gathered at Stockwell Primary School. The local bloco samba carnival band created the soundtrack and then the pineapple parade too to the street with the support of the festival stewards and local met police officers.
People joined in along the way and all arrived onto Larkhall Park to enjoy a full day of music, food, theatre and lots lots more.
I still remember standing on Larkhall Park at 12:30 having just got the festival open. Music was on the stage, people were milling around the festival site and stalls were open and slowly the festival was coming alive. Then in the far corner the procession burst onto the park and all of a sudden there were dancing pineapples and lotus flowers, music and laughter. It was one of the best parades and festival days I’ve had the pleasure to be part of.
What I would have given to have seen peoples faces on the street as the pineapple parade had passed them by.
If you were one of the many people who saw the pineapple parade in 2008 then do send us your story.
