THE new president for this year's Hatherleigh Carnival is Brian Doidge, who performed his first official duty last Saturday with the opening of the carnival fete.
Brian has been a key figure in the manufacturing of the carnival's tar barrels and torches since he was 15 and is always to be found running beside the evening and 5am barrel runs on carnival day.
The difference this year is that he will take pride of place at the front of the procession.
The carnival now also has an applicant for the role of carnival queen and the selling of carnival queen draw tickets has started.