Just a few decades ago, sporting a jaunty hat on Sandown Regatta day was an absolute must in the Island seaside town. It’s still a fondly remembered summer tradition for generations of residents. Now, thanks to an Arts Council grant secured by Sandown Carnival, Regatta hats are set for a comeback in 2023.
This year’s Regatta will see a series of free hat-making workshops launched in the run-up to the main event in August. New headwear designs will be created by Island artists in collaboration with the public, including local primary school children and care home residents.
The results will be shown off in High Street shop windows and a Grand Hat Parade on Regatta day itself, Sunday August 13th.
Long-time Sandown resident and councillor Heather Humby, 88, remembers when everyone picked up their Regatta hat from one of the stalls lining Pier Street as they headed down to the Esplanade, she said:
“It was part of the great fun of Regatta day with all sorts of hats on show…silly tiny ones, big ones with tassels, flowery ones’ says Heather. ‘It’s terrific that Sandown Carnival has found a way to revive one of our town’s great traditions and I can’t wait to wear my hat again this year”.
One innovation, with sustainability and the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO Biosphere status in mind, is to create this year’s hats using seed paper. The idea is to plant the headwear after use so the seeds germinate and produce floral displays.
The Carnival’s great hat revival also celebrates the town’s connection with legendary hatmaker Gertrude Shilling, famous for her outlandish hat designs at Ascot races. Half a century ago, Mrs Shilling’s creations were paraded on the Esplanade and she was invited to crown Sandown’s Carnival Queen in 1975.
Island artist Teresa Grimaldi will devise the hat-making workshops, aiming to recreate several spectacular hats in the Shilling style, she said:
“I’m delighted to be leading the Regatta Hatters into a madcap making of hats to intrigue and to nod to Sandown’s rich heritage.
“The Gertrude Shilling connection is thrilling, and her outrageous creations provide the perfect inspiration for us to come up with a display of Regatta hats to remember.”
No experience is necessary if you want to help Teresa create her showstopping Regatta hats at a series of workshops in July.
Welcoming the project, Sandown Carnival chair Paul Coueslant says:
“It’s hats off to the Arts Council England Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting our idea and to everyone who’s told us they’re excited to be involved. It would be fantastic if Sandown’s tradition of donning eccentric headwear became an annual feature of the Regatta once again”.
The state of Sandown I don’t know how they have the cheek to hold a Regatta,
maybe the will flash off all their derelict hotels.
Starting with the Ocean Hotel