The Beginning
In 1972 after several years participating within the November Carnival Circuit with the Mendip Hospital Carnival Club, Mike Ford, S
ue Ford and Maureen Banford decided that they did not have the time and commitment to remain members of the carnival club and left.
In November of that year as Carnivals appraoched they all became restless and felt that they were at a loose end, realising very quickly that the reason was they were missing carnivals, and most importantly realising that they would not be able to get into the Winter Gardens after Weston's Carnival they decided that they would put a group of walking masqueraders togehter.
After discussing this with Peggy Reed (Sue Ford's mother) Peggy agreed to make them costumes to portray the three Gorgons from Ancient Greek Mythology, several hours later; hairspray, spray paint, tights and any other odds and sods Peggy could find were being sewn and glued together to make the three costumes.
As the three were trying thier costumes on another ex-carnivalite from the family walked in from work to find them dressed up, on finding out their plan he was quite upset that they had not included him in their plan to access tickets to the Winter Gardens, within minutes Peggy was at it again and this time sheets were flying as she created a costume for Persius the nemesis of the three Gorgons.
On seeing the four of them dressed up, Peggy was disappointed that she would not see them in the Parade at Weston Carnival, saying that it was a shame that they could not enter the Wells procession the following Night, Calls were made and very soon the group had entered the Wells Carnival.
All four members had to endure a customised make-up design (the gorgons having thier faces painted in Green poster paint which was secured on with layers of glitter and hairspray) and completed both Wells and Weston Carnivals that year winning several prizes the group were required to go on stage at the Winter Gardens to collect thier prize cards and trophies to the roars of local carnival clubs calling out "Gorgons"
Following the short lived success Mike, Mike, Sue and Maureen used the prize money which they recieved along with some of their own personal money to start a carnival club, which they named the Gorgons.
The Present
In 2009 the club is still going strong (with obviously a few stumbling blocks along the way) the club's Secretary and Vice Secretary are Shelly Ford and Sharon Pickford (Sue and Mike Ford's Daughters).
Mike, Mike and Sue are still active members and we have made many friends along the way.
Peggy Reed and her husband Ivor who were both heavily involved with their support and help for the club unfortunetly passed away in 2005 and will be greatly missed by all, but the club lives on in their memory.
Gorgons now build thier entries within a customed build Shed on the Herb Butler building site and raise funds to purchase the required resources by marshalling and stewarding at local scrambling events, providing outside bars for functions and also providing a helium balloon decoration service for events and parties.
The Future
Hopefully the club will continue into the next decade and continue to try hard, get better and above all have fun and enjoy the great tradition which we are all involved within. We are always looking for Fundraising ideas and New members, please feel free to contact us.