Huw Thomas crowns Stourport Carnival Queen

Stourport on Severn's annual carnival takes to land and water.

Huw Thomas was a familiar face in the late 1950s as a newsreader for ITN. That small-screen fame catapulted him into the role of guest of honour at the 1959 carnival at Stourport on Severn – and perhaps having an ITV personality in town inspired the spoof commercial television float, complete with OMO detergent ad. and cardboard camera. With the Severn such a key part of the town a river pageant was a natural watery accompaniment to the land-based celebrations.