Chris Miles.
Notting Hill Carnival 1974.
Second printing.
The Notting Hill Carnival is traditionally held over the bank holiday weekend at the end of August in West London, passing by brutalist icon Trellick Tower. Starting in 1959, low key and indoors, 1973 was the year school teacher Leslie Palmer answered an advert in Time Out for people who cared about the carnival – it was in real trouble at this point, by 1974 he was firmly at the rudder shaping the carnival into the world’s second-largest. He was honoured with an MBE for his efforts.
‘I went to blues dances and found out about the Jamaican sound systems. I said ‘Let’s bring in the Jamaicans and they were very keen. I also went to Harrow Road and found the Dominicans and St. Lucians. I knew they drink in a certain pub’
Photographer Chris Mills captures Notting Hill Carnival in 1974…
and those sound systems!
Café Royal Books (founded 2005) is an independent publisher based in Southport, England. Originally set up as a way to disseminate art, in multiple, affordably, quickly, and internationally while not relying on 'the gallery'. Café Royal Books publishes artist's books and zines as well as a weekly series of photobook/zines. The photographic publications are part of a long ongoing series, generally working with photographers and their archives, to publish work, which usually falls into 1970–2000 UK documentary / reportage.
