History

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The Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals Association - How it all began!

 

The inaugural meeting of the “Somerset County November Carnival Committee”, later to become the “Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals Association” was held on 10th February 1951 in the Council chamber Bridgwater at the invitation of the then Mayor of Bridgwater, Councillor E. Wills . The meeting was chaired by Mr W.J. Hooper from Bridgwater. The organisations represented were:

 

Bridgwater Carnival Committee

Bridgwater Gangs & Features

Highbridge Carnival Committee

North Petherton Carnival Committee

Cannington Carnival Committee

Wells Carnival Committee

Nether Stowey Carnival Committee

Midsomer Norton Carnival Committee

Spaxton Carnival Committee

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It was explained that Glastonbury Carnival Committee had not yet held its annual meeting and the matter of representatives had not therefore been decided.

 

Mr Hooper gave the initial reasons for why it was considered that a County meeting was necessary as to avoid clashing of dates, liaison between committees and the Gangs & Features and to consider the possibility of some standard being decided upon for the various systems of judging in use.

 

Officers elected at the meeting were: -

Chairman – Mr W. J. Hooper

Vice Chairman – Mr E. W. Lewis

Hon. Secretary & Treasurer – Mr R. H. Hawkins.

 

At the meeting it was agreed that: -

Meetings would be held at each town and village in the order of their carnivals

Each Committee would subscribe £1. 1. 0 (one Guinea)

That the “Committee should not attempt to instruct, but to guide local committees”

 

Note – Information above taken from the original minutes of that meeting held by the current Secretary, Mr John Owens.

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