Jo Treagus
Island Carnival Memories.
Jo moved to the Island in the late 1970s and remembers the massive crowds and buzz of Carnival at that time.
Jo’s children were part of the generation that were brought up on Carnival.
Jo Treagus IOW Pride Parade.
Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Ryde Carnival 1988 Treagus and Edwards family Dover Park School Oliver Twist.
Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Ryde Carnival 1989 Dover Park School Peter Pan Jo Treagus and family.
Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
When they were babies she’d take them in their buggies to watch, when they started school Jo joined the PTA and helped to make the school’s floats and when they were old enough her children were creating their own entries.
Jo was Adult Learning Manager at the Isle of Wight Council and became heavily involved in Carnival learning during a really exciting time of regeneration. Jo became a learner herself – taking the newly developed NCFE Carnival Arts Qualification in 2010 and parading in the Island Games. Jo and her husband Brian are founder members of RAW Samba which are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Jo is also a trustee of the New Carnival Company and a Committee Member of Ryde Carnival Association. Jo feels that Carnival is a really important part of our cultural heritage and identity here on the Island…..
“It’s important that it continues to develop and be successful……we’ve got to look at how it is going to change in the future, and it will do, it will have to….We’re very lucky on the Island to have two of the top Carnival organisations here and they’re funded by the Arts Council who see the Island as a strong cultural bed for developing Carnival skills….both those organisations don’t just work on the Isle of Wight, they work all across the world but they’re still working in the local schools, with the local community groups and putting on fabulous local events for us. That they are looking to work with our Community Carnival Groups I think can only be positive for everybody. So, I’m quite looking forward to what will happen next year.”
Jo Treagus granddaughter Clara in first Mardi Gras.
Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Sandown Illuminated Carnival Jo Treagus and granddaughter Clara.
Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Island Games 2011 Jo Treagus gold medal costume.
Photographs belonging to Jo Treagus.
Jo remembers Ryde Carnival in the era of the late 1970s, the crowds gathering on the Esplanade, finding your spot to watch, the fun of the Ryde Buccaneers and Keystone Kops.
Jo recalls the days of her children at Dover Park and helping to make their float and costumes and when her children were older creating their own entries for Carnival
Jo talks about her work in Adult Learning, partnership with the Arts Unit, the innovative work they did together - adding the sparkle!
Jo talks about the international tutors who came to the Island to teach and the interconnectivity between the Island and other Carnival communities.
Jo talks about work with Island Schools and Mardi Gras was born and developed.
Jo talks about the Magna Carta themed Mardi Gras and the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament.
Jo talks about the formation of RAW Samba with her husband Brian and the instruments she has played in the band.
Jo talks about her NCFE qualification in Creative Arts Carnival, making her costume for the Carnival Parade for the Isle of Wight Island Games.
Jo remembers the amazing feeling of being a professional performer.
Jo talks about what has been happening during the Covid pandemic and some exciting work for the future.
Jo talks about her motivation and why it's important the Island Carnival tradition lives on.
Rio costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rio costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rio costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rio costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rio costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Pink and green Samba costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rainbow samba costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rainbow samba costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rainbow samba costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rainbow samba costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Rainbow samba costume. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.
Backgammon costume Island Games. Photograph belonging to Jo Treagus.