Chris Huhne

Eastleigh Carnival Kicks Off With Crowning Of Queen

Eastleigh’s carnival has begun its 122nd year with a crowning ceremony for the Eastleigh Carnival Queen who is Lucy Ann Phillips.

Ms Phillips, aged 19, is pictured with her supporting princesses Shannon Newsom, aged 10, and Taylor Harder, aged 11, plus outgoing Carnival Queen Jessica Rogers and her princesses Lacey Kerley and Bethany Warne.

The new Carnival Queen will undertake many official duties during her year, including pride of place in the procession in Eastleigh next Saturday 22nd August.

Ms Phillips and her princesses will also visit Disneyland near Paris sponsored by Angela Holidays. Ms Phillips announced that she would be raising money for the Countess Mountbatten Hospice.

The ceremony held at the bandstand on Leigh Road recreation ground was attended by Mayor of Eastleigh Pam Holden-Brown and her consort Terry, Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne and carnival sponsors Paul Capper and Colin Hearn of Angela Holidays (pictured).

Chris Huhne said: “Eastleigh’s carnival association is now more than a hundred years old, and still going strong as a great series of community events that involves many local people in both a celebration and a useful way of raising money for charity.

“All those involved in the committee like chair Penny Alford, vice-chair Maureen Sollitt and Secretary Barbara Patchin work so hard to make the carnival a success, and they deserve a lot of praise”.

Events this year include a children’s dog show, local history rambles, barn dance, carnival bowling, teddy bears’ fancy dress, children’s karaoke, bingo, under 14s’ disco and the Grand Procession.

Full details are available on the Eastleigh Carnival Association website at http://www.ecass.org/