History of Portishead Carnival

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We know it’s at least 100 years old…

but when was the very first one?

Where was it held? Who held it? 

If you can help us in anyway please do contact us 

***This page will be added to as new information is submitted or discovered 

The first article listed here is as far back as we can go, from this 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 earliest date currently known is 1914! 

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

That information alone will make Portishead Carnival currently 109 years old! 

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 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 Chapman 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 

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 Chapman 

👑 Queen ~ Sammy Bell

👸 Princess ~ Gemma Taylor 

Queen ~ Emma Clemence 

Princess ~ Claire Pennington

It appears that 1995 the Carnival had its first Carnival King as well as a whopping 60 entries! 

King ~ Kristian Oldfield 

Queen ~ Catherine Herriott 

Princess ~ Helen Wright 

King ~ Ryan Taylor 

Queen ~ Vicki Harrison 

Princess ~ Eleanor Yates-Round 

King ~ Jonathan Fielden

Queen ~ Caroline Goddard 

Princess ~ Sarah Bridge 

This year seen a poor turn out of 35, organisers notes advertising of events, no King was crowned due to the age of Simon who was 13 at the time 

Prince ~ Simon Fielden 

Queen ~ Claire Ponsford

Princesses ~ Jessica Rees & Emma Carys Smith 

King ~ Russell Heide 

Queen ~ Grace Knight 

Princess ~ Penny Brown 

60 Tickets were sold with 32 entrants for the competition 

King ~ Richard Partridge 

Queen ~ Elizabeth Laws 

Princesses ~ Holly Ann Booker & Lottie Boyle 

Queen ~ Georgia Hulls 

Duchess ~ Bethany Davies 

Carnival Princess ~ Imogen Timbrell 

Attendants ~ Libby Easterbrook & Phoebe Billing 

Flower Princess ~ Blade Maltby 

Attendants: Amelia Davies & Freya Lewis 

Queens ~ Daisy Waymouth & Ellie-Mae Ford 

Carnival Princess ~ Charlotte McCleary

Attendants ~ Paige Cox & Rebecca Sealy 

Flower Princess ~ Yasmin Prepell 

Attendants ~ Summerleigh Nott & Darcy Wilson 

Queen ~ Daisy Weymouth 

Carnival Princess ~ Boe Williams 

Attendants: Mia Fudge & Mia Finch 

Flower Princess ~ Martha Baker 

Runners Up ~ Daisy Howell & Lydia Alderton 

Queen ~ Lottie Anna Maggs 

Carnival Princess ~ Elizabeth Logan 

Attendants ~ Ruby Villis & Amy Moss 

Flower Princess ~ Charlotte Radakin

Attendants ~ Aoife Scanlan & Katelyn Fielden