History of Portishead Carnival
Est 1902
This page started in 2024 with a mission to find out how old Portishead Carnival really was, we knew it was hundreds of years old but how many ?
After extensive, a little obsessive research from admin and community contribution, we found out!
We thank every member of the community who have and continue to contribute to this page
•••
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.
The 125th Anniversary will be in 2027!!
Source: The Western Daily Press Saturday 12th November 1904
1909
Flower Show & Carnival mentioned in the Western Daily Press 2nd October 1909
1910
A little birdy told us that the carnival was once in connection to the Raft Race
Western Daily Press, 1st September 1910
1914
1914
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
1919
1914
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
1930
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?
1948
The Bessant Family Snow White themed float using Bristol Roads Brickworks lorry 1948
Photo Source: Mike Turner, with thanks
1952
Monica Holmes - Carnival Queen
most will know Monica as the landlady of Monz now Phoenix Bar, Portishead
1955
Carnival Queen ~ Myra Westerman.
A Carnival Love Story
The Carnival Dance was held at Folk Hall in 1955 and that very night the newly crowned Carnival Queen Myra Westerman met a gentleman named John Benjamin, who had come from London to work on the power station, soon after the carnival dance he decided to stay in Portishead and they were
Carnival Queen ~ Myra Westerman.
A Carnival Love Story
The Carnival Dance was held at Folk Hall in 1955 and that very night the newly crowned Carnival Queen Myra Westerman met a gentleman named John Benjamin, who had come from London to work on the power station, soon after the carnival dance he decided to stay in Portishead and they were married 2 years later in 1957.
The carnival has always been a very memorable event for the Benjamin family with their children and grandchildren taking part in celebrations for various organisations over the years and now their great grandchildren will be taking part in the 2025 Carnival parade.
Myra & John recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in September. Sadly Myra passed away December 2024 at 85 years old. She was so pleased when she heard the carnival was coming back this year and we can only hope that we do it justice for Myra and her family.
Story & Photos credit: Sharon Hyde, Daughter of John & Myra
Myra & the 1955 Royal Family
1955 Royal Float
1948-1973
1973
Gaye Smith on her carnival princess float
1976
Dawn Smith crowned as Carnival princess
1977
Dawn Smith crowned Carnival Queen
1977 Royal Float :O
1978
All the ladies in this family have been carnival Queen
Monica 1952
Dawn 1977
Gaye 1978
1989
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
1990
👑 Queen ~ Claire Hinton
👸 Princess ~ Julie Sperring
chosen after a successful disco organised by Gordano Valley Ladies Circle
1991
Disco poster designer: unknown
👑 Queen ~ Anna Marie Crabb
👸 Princess ~ Laura Leigh
1991 Expenditure on the disco was a grand total of £127.30
1992
👑 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 al
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
1993
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
1994
Queen ~ Emma Clemence
Princess ~ Claire Pennington
1995
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
1996
1996
King ~ Ryan Taylor
Queen ~ Vicki Harrison
Princess ~ Eleanor Yates-Round
1997
1996
King ~ Jonathan Fielden
Queen ~ Caroline Goddard
Princess ~ Sarah Bridge
1998
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
1999
King ~ Russell Heide
Queen ~ Grace Knight
Princess ~ Penny Brown
60 Tickets were sold with 32 entrants for the competition
2000
2000
2000
King ~ Richard Partridge
Queen ~ Elizabeth Laws
Princesses ~ Holly Ann Booker & Lottie Boyle
2001
2000
2000
King ~ Adam McGarrity
Queen ~ Natalie Charman
Princess ~ Amy Chard
2002
2000
2002
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
2003
2000
2002
Queen ~ Jade Dilloway
King ~ John Lane
Attendant ~ Kaye Harvey
Prince ~ Ollie Clarke
Princess ~ Emily Williams
Runner Up ~ Konnie Lockner
2004
King ~ Adam Williams
Queen ~ Selina Chapman
Attendant ~ Libby Coleing
Flower Princess ~ Chloe OHare
Princess ~ Kathryn OPinnell
2005
Queen ~ Elle Chandler
Runner Up ~ Emily Wall
2006
King ~ Lee Rackham
Queen ~ Konnie Lockner
Carnival Princess ~ Annie May Shorney
Runner Up ~ Hannah Tovey
Flower Princess ~ Amy Clay
Runner Up ~ Megan Hicks
2007
This year seen 102 entries for the competition
Queen ~ April Hughes
Princess ~ Ellie Hallett
Flower Princess ~ Daisy Newth
2008
2008
Queen ~ Emma Hopkins
Princess ~ Georgia Hulls
Flower Princess ~ Esme McGowan
2009
2008
Queen ~ Natasha Clark
King ~ Thomas King
Carnival Princess ~ Claudia Linton-Butt
Flower Princess ~ Lottie Anna Maggs
2010
King ~ Nigel Parker
Queen ~ Molly Hatfield
Princess ~ Gabriella Lockwood-Davies
Attendants ~ Eloise Twyford & Harriet Wall
Flower Princesses ~ Jasmin Haskins
Attendants ~ Evie Lewis & Skye Fowler
2011
Queen ~ Hannah Osment
Princesses ~ Lena Parkins & Emily McCall
Flower Princesses ~ Ellen Bowers, Lucie Harris, Charlotte Garrett & Isabelle Mitchell
2012
2012
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
2014
2012
Queen ~ Georgia Hulls
Duchess ~ Bethany Davies
Carnival Princess ~ Imogen Timbrell
Attendants ~ Libby Easterbrook & Phoebe Billing
Flower Princess ~ Blade Maltby
Attendants: Amelia Davies & Freya Lewis
2016
Queens ~ Daisy Waymouth & Ellie-Mae Ford
Carnival Princess ~ Charlotte McCleary
Attendants ~ Paige Cox & Rebecca Sealy
Flower Princess ~ Yasmin Prepell
Attendants ~ Summerleigh Nott & Darcy Wilson
2017
Queen ~ Daisy Weymouth
Carnival Princess ~ Boe Williams
Attendants: Mia Fudge & Mia Finch
Flower Princess ~ Martha Baker
Runners Up ~ Daisy Howell & Lydia Alderton
2018
Queen ~ Lottie Anna Maggs
Carnival Princess ~ Elizabeth Logan
Attendants ~ Ruby Villis & Amy Moss
Flower Princess ~ Charlotte Radakin
Attendants ~ Aoife Scanlan & Katelyn Fielden
2019 - 2023
New blood needed to run Portishead Carnival after organisers step down after 20 years
Event organisers Jemma Cooper and Wendy Watkins have announced that the 2020 carnival will be their last.
The duo, who both grew up and went to school in Portishead, took over the carnival in 2002
April 2024
April 2024
It started with a post on a FB Group: Portishead Postbox.