People don't know the history or significance of Carnival. It is more than a party

Founder's widow and son on famed Notting Hill celebration

- BY SHANNON MILLER

The Notting Hill Carnival is Europe's largest street party and, after more than six decades of celebrations, it shows no sign of slowing down.

More than two million people are expected to attend the West London event tomorrow and Monday, and fabulous floats, shimmying dancers, steel bands and an electric atmosphere are all guaranteed.

A few arrests each year notwithstanding, the three-mile parade is a dazzling occasion filled with joy.

The event has deep significance for Allyson Williams MBE and her son Kevin, for her late husband, Vernon 'Fellows' Williams was a founder member of the Notting Hill Carnival.

The event began as the Caribbean Carnival or the West Indian Gazette Carnival in 1959, in St Pancras Town Hall, right, and moved outside in later years. Kevin tells the Mirror: "It started with a melting pot of Caribbean immigrants who never intended to make history but were celebrating their shared culture in the UK."