History of Portishead Carnival

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This page is still being updated as new information & photos are submitted or discovered. 

We thank every member of the community who have and continue to contribute to this page

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The first article listed here is as far back as we can go, from this stating in 1904 that it was the 3rd annual carnival was held, a conclusion can be met, the very first one was held in 1902, making Portishead Carnival currently 123 Years old 

The 125th Anniversary will be in 2027!! 

This article mentions the third annual carnival, going from this information this would mean the very first one was held in 1902!

Source: The Western Daily Press Saturday 12th November 1904

Flowershow & Carnival mentioned in the Western Daily Press 2nd October 1909

A little birdy told us that the carnival was once in connection to the Raft Race
Western Daily Press, 1st September 1910

The carnival and the flower show was held on the 8th August 1914 by Portishead Horticultural Society 

Our huge thanks goes to Linda Hodgetts from Portishead Summer Show for sharing this information from the horticultural archives

The article reads in part 

‘the show has been in abeysnon since 1914, and probably many of those present in the show held looking over the sea, again lent by Mr A. T. Wilmott, retained memories of that August day of 1914 when war clouds were hanging over us and the future was blank’ 

• WW1 started 28/07/14 and ended 11/11/18 

Stewards standing in front the carousel 🎠 1919

        ~ Portishead Horticultural Society Archives 

Please submit your photos or clippings from this time period to admin@possetevents.com

Doreen Winsor Carnival Queen at the opening of the Flower Show in 1930 

Source: Olly Dixey with many many thanks 

Was Doreen the first Carnival Queen?

The Bessant Family Snow White themed float using Bristol Roads Brickworks lorry 1948 

Photo Source: Mike Turner, with thanks 

This newspaper clipping (presumably published in 1973) lists the carnival Queens from 1948-1973

Source: Wendy Watkins, with many thanks 

1948 Iris Evans 

1949 Joyce Wilco.
1950 Doreen Shearer 

1953 Valerie Hayman 

1954 Pamela Nisbett 

1955 Myra Westerman 

1971 Isobel Crees

1972 Rosalyn Adams

1973 Maria Rowley 

A huge Thank you to Debbie Charman for handing over her huge folder of Carnival Princesses & Queens history dating back to 1989-2018

1989 Carnival Organised by the Gordano Valley round Table and Ladies Circle. Sue Osborne

👑 Queen ~ Louise Comley 

👸 Princess ~ Samantha Anna Wilkinson 

👑 Queen ~ Claire Hinton 

👸 Princess ~ Julie Sperring 

chosen after a successful disco organised by Gordano Valley Ladies Circle 

Disco poster designer: unknown 

👑 Queen ~ Anna Marie Crabb

👸 Princess ~ Laura Leigh 

1991 Expenditure on the disco was a grand total of £127.30 

👑 Queen ~ Katherine Liddeatt

👸 Princess ~ Jenny Miller 

Portishead Primary Schools, Parade Entry 1992. 

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory 

Source ~ Emma Plow & Richard Plow, 

Richard Plow, Emma’s dad took these photos and also spent hours finding them, so Emma could send them to us 🙏 Thank you so much these photos are fantastic 

**We have had an update from Annette Hennessy in a local group and also confirmed with the sender, that ‘Portishead Primary‘ was on Slade Rd, and was known as Slade rd Primary 

Organisers notes pictured: used here as a shout out and Thank you to Ann Morley for making the reversible capes which are now in the procession of the new committee thanks to Debbie Charman 

👑 Queen ~ Sammy Bell

👸 Princess ~ Gemma Taylor 

Queen ~ Emma Clemence 

Princess ~ Claire Pennington

King ~ Adam McGarrity 

Queen ~ Natalie Charman 

Princess ~ Amy Chard 

6 entrants for Carnival Queen and 60 for the Princess & Flower Princess 

Queen ~ Vicky Curtain 

Attendant ~ Lottie Boyle

Princess ~ Louisa Arnold 

Flower Princess ~ Tanya Marriott 

Runner Up ~ Sam Savoury 

Queen ~ Jade Dilloway 

King ~ John Lane 

Attendant ~ Kaye Harvey 

Prince ~ Ollie Clarke 

Princess ~ Emily Williams 

Runner Up ~ Konnie Lockner 

King ~ Adam Williams 

Queen ~ Selina Chapman 

Attendant ~ Libby Coleing 

Flower Princess ~ Chloe OHare 

Princess ~ Kathryn OPinnell 

Queen ~ Elle Chandler 

Runner Up ~ Emily Wall 

King ~ Lee Rackham 

Queen ~ Konnie Lockner
Carnival Princess ~ Annie May Shorney 

Runner Up ~ Hannah Tovey 

Flower Princess ~ Amy Clay 

Runner Up ~ Megan Hicks 

This year seen 102 entries for the competition 

Queen ~ April Hughes 

Princess ~ Ellie Hallett

Flower Princess ~ Daisy Newth 

Queen ~ Emma Hopkins 

Princess ~ Georgia Hulls 

Flower Princess ~ Esme McGowan 

Queen ~ Natasha Clark 

King ~ Thomas King 

Carnival Princess ~ Claudia Linton-Butt 

Flower Princess ~ Lottie Anna Maggs 

King ~ Nigel Parker 

Queen ~ Molly Hatfield 

Princess ~ Gabriella Lockwood-Davies 

Attendants ~ Eloise Twyford & Harriet Wall

Flower Princesses ~ Jasmin Haskins 

Attendants ~ Evie Lewis & Skye Fowler 

Queen ~ Hannah Osment 

Princesses ~ Lena Parkins & Emily McCall 

Flower Princesses ~ Ellen Bowers, Lucie Harris, Charlotte Garrett & Isabelle Mitchell 

Queen ~ Joanna Lawrence 

King ~ Andy Luton

Duchesses ~ Frankie & Charlie Lane
Carnival Princess ~ Isabelle Morgan-Jones 

Attendants ~ Emma Shaw & Charley Pike 

Flower Princess ~ Summer Cox 

Attendants ~ Emily Birdsey & Hermione Rose Smith