IT WAS a mammoth effort from the committee who made a special event go off without a hitch.

When members of the Totton Carnival committee announced they would hold a four-day carnival to take place in November 1925, it was met with scepticism from those who believed public interest could not be held that long.

On the Saturday afternoon a comic costume football match took place in The Downs Park.

The teams marched to the ground under the escort of The Dark Horse jazz band, and on arrival the married men opposed the single men in a strange interpretation of football.

There were no set rules, but the jovial antics of the players provided much amusement to more than 600 spectators.

That evening there was a concert at the New Hall, which served as the winding-up effort for the carnival.

Over 700 people danced to jazz music, laughed at humorous acts, were enthralled by clever monologues and were dazzled by a soprano.

Mr A Brown of the Hygienic Bakery was presented with the Silver Challenge Cup, awarded for having the best decorated tradesmen’s tableau in the carnival.

As well as the football and concert, there was a children’s fancy dress parade, a main evening procession, a ball, a whist drive, a penny trail and a jazz band contest.

Not only did the huge success of the the four days prove the naysayers wrong, but also provided a rich harvest for local organisations with the money raised.