By LLONELLA GILBERT

Bahamas Information Services

LITTLE CHALFONT, United Kingdom — The Junkanoo invasion of the United Kingdom continued Wednesday, July 16, in the town of Little Chalfont.

The people could not help but get into the act as they got a taste of the sounds and the sights of Junkanoo, and one or two persons were sorry that they missed it.

Lillian and Vic Podbury, an elderly couple heard that a contingent of 33 performers from various A and B Junkanoo groups and members out of Grand Bahama and Eleuthera were to perform in their area. However, it was only when they heard the sounds of the cowbells, the trombones, the scrapers, whistles and the horns that the two decided they had to come and see for themselves what was going on.

Vic, who uses a cane, had to walk slowly with his wife for a quarter of a mile and arrived just as the performance had ended. Upon finding out about this, Quentin "Barabbas" Woodside, leader of the backline group decided that they would do a special performance just for the couple. Those that were able to see the first performance said they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gushed about it with excitement.

Callum, a young man who saw the performance said, "I was going pass my car, I saw you guys preparing to perform. I live near here, so I quickly went to park my car and ran back with my camera."

Then describing what he thought of the act he said, "It was amazing - it is not quite something you see everyday. I had to get me pictures and experience it, especially when they crossed the road, it was amazing. Everyone just stopped and watched, it was amazing."

Still visibly excited, he added, "It was the most unexpected thing - it just made my whole week."

Another enthusiastic lady noted that the costumes were lovely, and that she loved the brightly coloured shoes the group members were wearing.

Silvia, an owner of a store, said she actually was able to experience a big Junkanoo Parade in Nassau two or three years ago.

"There were lots of people out there, much bigger than this," she said. "We really got into it. It was hypnotic and you feel yourself moving. It was wonderful with all of the colourful instruments."

The group is able to make this tour with the sponsorship of Arts Council England. Partnering with the Council are the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, the Ministry of Tourism and Zena Burland, a frequent British visitor to The Bahamas.

The Ministry of Tourism helped with getting this venue for the group. District Sales Manager Bahamas Tourism Office (UK) Giovanni Grant said his office asked Rendezvous Travel Agency to help with getting the necessary approvals to perform in Little Chalfont.

He said, "We are going to basically take over the High Street, grab anyone that is around and bring some crowd to the stores and generate some interest. We have some Bahama Mamas here, a couple of Kaliks, Bahamas flags, and travel brochures basically to raise awareness to get people interested in The Bahamas."

Angelique McKay, project manager of the Junkanoo Live initiative and manager of the National Junkanoo Museum of The Bahamas, said only 15 members of the group were supposed to perform in Little Chalfont.

"But once the guys realised that we were coming to a travel agency," McKay said, "they amongst themselves decided they really wanted to push the culture of The Bahamas a little bit further. So, they collectively decided they would come as one body to give a larger presence at the travel agency."

She added, "I thought that was quite commendable of these guys who are part of the troop, although only half of them were identified because of the space. We totally blew the crowd away by our presence, by our size, the colours of the costumes and the volume of the music - it really shook up the town."

Lynden Miller, one of the lead bellers of the group and a member of One Family, said it was the best performance he has ever had off of the island.

"It really came together now that we are relaxed and free," Miller said. 'So everybody is feeling it now; it is Junkanoo."