FANTASTIC! ? that was the verdict following last Saturday?s carnival day in Okehampton. Carnival chairman Stan Stormont said everybody involved with the carnival was delighted with the way the big day went. ?We were extremely pleased ? it couldn?t have been better,? said Stan. ?It was a lovely day and there were loads of people in the town to watch the procession ? there must have been at least 2,000 people watching during the evening.? There was an increase in the number of entrants in the children?s fancy dress competition and the parade of more than 100 children led by the Prince and Princess Ryan Dowding and Connie Jayne Bailey during the afternoon was well received by the large crowd who had gathered in Fore Street. The town centre was closed to traffic during the evening for the grand procession, in which 26 fantastically decorated floats took part ? an increase on previous years. The evening procession was led by Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band and the Queen, Vicky Stevens, and her attendant, Alice Walters. The fantastic sum of £2,000 was collected during the day, which Stan said he was delighted with. He paid a big thank you to all the committee members who helped organise the carnival each year, also Avery?s and South West Highways for their help with the road signs. After a short rest, the carnival committee will be starting preparations for next year?s big event, which will be on October 21. l Colour pictures, pages 40 & 41. Results, page 42.
