Members of the Carnival Committee are already preparing for this year's event and are hoping for a record turnout. Last year there were 47 entries in the parade and the target this year is to top 50 floats, bands and other entries. We reckon that the Otley parade is the largest town carnival in Yorkshire – unless anyone knows any better! The crowd was huge last year and apart from the length of the parade (when the beginning arrived at the Bridge End, the final floats and bands still hadn't left the Leeds Road Mart) the number of stalls in the field led to the largest field gala ever.

Last Friday 32 girls and their parents turned up at the Civic Centre where the judges – Betty Syril from Guiseley and Anne and Colin Whiers from Harrogate - talked to them all and after much careful consideration came to the following conclusions for this year's 'royal' team:

The Carnival Queen will be Helen Winpenny, aged 11 years who attends All Saint's C of E Primary.

The Deputy Queen will be Sydney Blackwell, aged 10 of the Whartons Primary.

The Attendants will be Sophie English, aged 9 of Askwith Primary, and Imogen Leather, aged 8 of Westgate Primary.

The Crown Bearer will be Scarlet Hannan-Webber, aged 7 from All Saint's C of E Primary.

The judges and committee members present offered their thanks and congratulation to everyone who attended and offered their best wishes to the Queen and her team for the coming year.

Another very important part of the preparation for the Carnival is the poster competition as not only are the best designs used for posters but the winning entry is used for the front cover of the carnival programme. All the local primary schools were invited to ask their pupils to prepare their design based on a carnival theme. A record total of more than 600 entries were received which caused the independent judges (Judith Tomlinson & Barbara Towers) some headaches before they reached the following decisions:

Overall Winner Megan Sweeney, aged 11 of The Whartons Primary
Age group winners Aged 4 Mia Hall Green, The Whartons Primary
Aged 5 Caitlin Winder, Ashfield Primary
Aged 6 Maddison Graham, Pool C of E Primary
Aged 7 Joseph Groves, Pool C of E Primary
Aged 8 Elizabeth Clegg, The Whartons Primary
Aged 9 Tegen Hoare, Westgate Primary
Aged 10 Sydney Blackwell, The Whartons Primary
Aged 11 Hollie Reynard, The Whartons Primary

Well over 1,000 copies of the programme were sold last year, at £1 each, and the proceeds were passed on to the beneficiaries. The programme is a quality product and many local traders, pubs, restaurants fish shops, etc enable us to cover the cost of printing by taking out a reasonably priced advert. If anyone has not been approached about advertising and would be willing please contact Sue Lambourne on 01943-466413 and she will happily explain how to advertise and demonstrate your support for this very popular children's carnival.

Now is the time to start to plan entries for the parade. Last year every local school participated

and rumour has it that they are once again working on some novel ideas! The parade is also a good opportunity to advertise any organisation or business and we will accept entries from anyone or anything that is decorated and it does not have to be local. For details contact Diana Allen 0n 01943-462498.

The Carnival is a day for children and the many stalls, sideshows and fairground attractions

together with the attractive field programme make for a great afternoon for the family. Many organisation bring along a stall or other attraction to raise funds for their their cause or business. The contact is June Galling on 01943-467549 but don't leave to too late as we were fully booked last year!

Last year we handed over £4,000 to the beneficiaries and this year's activities will be in aid of :

Otley Action for Older people
the Otley friends of Martin House,
the Otley branch of Arthritis Care.

Attached is copy of a Carnival leaflet which is being distributed around the town.

For further information contact:
Wendy Corden, Chairman. 01943-463954,
or
Geoff Wright 01943-465179