SHALDON Water Carnival is 50 years old this year and the hunt is on for memorabilia.The organisers are planning a display of old photos, 'royalty' dresses and parts of old floats, and are appealing for the loan of any potential exhibits.The carnival, believed to be the only one of its kind in the country, was started in 1959, in succession to a street carnival organised by the British Legion.Major Clarance and a small group of locals formed a committee, and the water carnival quickly became a popular annual event. For two years there was a carnival king, but it soon changed to a queen.There have been quite a few amusing incidents over the years, including 1981 when the horses in the mounted section bolted through the village when firecrackers were thrown.The 1964 arrest of two local men for smuggling led to a lot amusing themed entries, and a spoof seizing of the queen's float by 'customs officers', claiming the boat had been used for smuggling.One of the most memorable floats was the 1996 Men Behaving Badly entry, complete with a television, stereo, sofas, an ironing board and dancing men and women.The craft was made up of two boats, but half way through the parade, the floats split and the props sank into the river, never to be seen again.The carnival is always held on the first Saturday in August, but there are various fundraising events during the year, including barn dances, fetes, horse racing nights and the Boxing Day three-legged run around the village pubs.As well as providing fun for visitors and residents, the carnival has also raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities and organisations over the years – last year it was £1,800.Many showbiz celebrities and TV personalities have crowned the queens during the 50 years, and the organisers have quite a few photos of the events but could do with more.The decorated floats have included a diverse range of themes, including fire engines, churches, spaceships, diggers, Hogwart castles and trains, and at least two yellow submarines.Anybody with memorabilia of any kind is asked to contact Holly Gilbert on 01626 872216 or Chris Creasor on 01626 776900.