CARNIVAL
Photos from Pony Eager
By Sylvia Woolford/Ginny Smith
Pony Eager
Pony remembers the days when there was a carnival week in Newhaven. It ended on the first Monday in August with an event at Fort Road recreation ground. His dad, Alfred "Tipney" Eager, started it after the Second World War. Each carnival week he remembers hiring a barrel organ from Hove which they collected in a lorry and then toured the town with it asking for donations. One particular year they collected for a T.V. for the workhouse, then housed at the Down's Hospital, Church Hill. Sadly, the carnival week came to an end during the late 1960's as people couldn't afford the time and commitment involved in running it.
How did Pony get his name?
Pony (real name Alfred) got his nickname in the 1930's - he was always getting into trouble and getting the blame for everything. An uncle started calling him Al Capone, (who was in the press a lot at the time regarding his escapades) - this got shortened over the years to Pone and then Pony!
All from the private collection of Pony Eager