Lawrence "Stretch" Noel, carnival pioneer and band-leader of Trinbago Carnival Club. Lawrence was born and grew up in Trinidad. He migrated to the UK in 1959 to pursue an engineering course.

Lawrence’s involvement in Notting Hill Carnival goes back to the 1960s. In 1973 he brought out the first costumed band at the Carnival. Within a three week period he designed and constructed two large costumes and 38 others on the theme: Head Hunters. The costumes were made in his house in Leytonstone with the help of his wife, Joan, and some of their friends. Lawrence led the band. Ebony Steelband accompanied Lawrence’s Head Hunters costumes on the streets.

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Over the years Lawrence and his band have created thousands of spectacular costumes. He was a master craftsman. His skills at wire-bending were unsurpassed. His costumes have featured on TV programmes e.g. Top of the Pops. His band also participated in the Lord Mayor’s annual parade and in the parade down Pall Mall for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.