Puriton School Katie Ensures Carnival's Future Is In Safe Hands
December 2011
A budding future carnivalites from Puriton Primary School has won an official Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival competition to design and build a model carnival cart.
Katie Harris beat off tough competition and took 1st prize in the unique competition, which was sponsored by Gerber Juice Company Ltd.
Her spectacular entry titled ‘all day and all night’ depicting model suns and moons wowed a prestigious judging panel, which included Gill Slocombe, chairman of Sedgemoor District Council, Pete Slocombe, chairman of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee (BGFCC), Pat Parker, Bridgwater Town mayor, Alan Parker, personnel director of Gerber Juice Company Ltd and Pete Bastin BGFCC president.
The aim of the competition was to encourage younger people to take an interest in the carnival tradition and to help them learn and develop associated practical and social skills. It was open to schools in and around the Bridgwater area, and entries were received from Sedgemoor Manor Junior School, St John and St Francis VA School, Puriton Primary School and St Mary’s C of E School.
Alan Parker, said: “The standard of the entries was incredibly high, and it was a difficult competition to judge considering the amount of work the children had put in.
“Capturing the interest and commitment of younger people is key to ensuring that carnival thrives, and if this competition is anything to go by, the Bridgwater Carnival future is in good hands.”
As well as receiving a winner’s shield for herself, Katie has won £250 for her school, courtesy of Gerber Juice Company Ltd. She said: “I worked very hard on the carnival cart and when I went into the carnival centre after the judging, I closed my eyes and when I opened them I was really shocked that I had been awarded first prize.”
And like a true carnivalite, Katie has already started to look towards the future. She added: “Already I am thinking of ideas for next year’s competition.”
2nd place in the competition was awarded to Katie Woodward, and in 3rd was Christian Davies, both from St John & St Francis School.
