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Monday, November 17, 2008, 08:00
BACK in Victorian times – the earliest record we have of a November carnival in Weston-super-Mare is 1871 – the parade assembled at Knightstone Island and then wended its way through every street in the town.
Carol Simms, who has been associated with the organising of the carnival for some 15 years, told Bristol Times that it finished with a bonfire on the beach.
“It was here that effigies were burned,” explained Carol, “not only of the traditional Guy Fawkes but of any unpopular national or international figure of the time.
“The carnival was led by ‘tin pot bands’ – blacked-up locals who would go through the streets banging on tin pots and pans and making as much noise as possible.
“In those days people wouldn’t just stand by and watch the horse-drawn floats – they would join in the fun. The road was lit by flares.”
As the London newspapers carried stories about the carnival during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it seems that visitors came from far and wide even then.
“World War I meant cancellation of the Somerset carnivals,” says Carol, “and, although they were revived in the Twenties, they disappeared once again when war clouds started to gather in 1937.
“After the war, although the other towns revived their carnival, Weston didn’t.
It was thanks to the Lions Club that the town got into the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals Association in 1969 and on the Bridgwater carnival circuit.”
Carnival was back at last.
Animals are no longer allowed – the carnival was once led by beach donkeys – but even in the Seventies there were oxen and horses to be seen on parade.
Tonight, approximately 100,000 spectators are expected to line the route around the town for the final parade of the circuit.
There will be about 109 entries, of which 50 will be large illuminated floats –
or carts as they are still known – up to 100 feet long and up to 17 feet high.
The procession starts at 7.15pm at the Locking Road car park, and ends at the Town Hall, where the final judging for the best Weston float will take place.
Final judging, and the prize-giving, of all the Somerset circuit carts takes place at Brean Leisure Centre in December.
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