The return of hat-wearing at Sandown Bay Regatta has won praise from a leading milliner to the rich and famous. David Shilling, known for designing eccentric headwear for his mother Gertrude at Ascot races, has given his thumbs-up to the initiative and welcomed the sustainable approach taken by the organisers. The 2023 Regatta Hats project by Sandown Carnival had sustainability at its heart and attracted the support of Arts Council England. Echoing the lost tradition of hat-wearing at Regattas in the past, hundreds of locals got involved in the project over the summer. Primary school pupils and care home residents worked with artists to make hats from seed paper, and a series of community workshops saw the creation of six spectacular hats as a tribute to Gertrude Shilling who had connections with the town. The ‘Shilling Showstoppers’ were seen by thousands in High Street window installations and at Sandown Illuminated Carnival. The hats also featured in the Grand Regatta Hat Parade in August, drawing admiring applause from the crowds. Now the project’s success is being celebrated in an exhibition at Boojum & Snark which runs until the new year. The exhibition features some of the Shilling Showstopper hats along with images from the 2023 Regatta Hat Parade by photographer Julian Winslow. The project’s creative producer Tracy Mikich says:
“Hat-wearing at the 2023 Sandown Regatta was a unique and fun tradition that brought the community together and gave the town a sense of identity. Reviving this tradition has not only provided creative opportunities for all, but it has also brought vibrancy, joy and light-heartedness to Sandown and that’s definitely worthy of tipping your hat to.”
