Town can take pride in fantastic carnival

The vibrant tones of Notting Hill's world-famous Carnival brought an exotic finishing touch to a week of success for the hard-working nine-member committee which annually stages the town's celebrations.

A week which had started with Carnival chaplain the Rev Trevor Buxton leading open-air hymn singing at the Colonnade brought an estimated 4,000 crowd for Friday's live-band Party In The Polegrove.

On Saturday, happy Carnival committee chairman Nim Whitmarsh said as 47 entries formed-up in Turkey Road:

"It's a very good turn-out this year. Everything has gone nearly according to plan...!

"The Party In the Polegrove was the best we have ever had. There were thousands of people down there.

"Now people have really responded by putting in procession entries."

Eastbourne Scottish Pipe Band led the sun-soaked procession from Sidley to the Polegrove past cheering crowds.

Bexhill's Carnival Queen, Charlotte Spinks, 18, her Deputy Queen Kerry Gunningham, Princesses Chimene Carrick and Rebekah Herring together with Junior Princess Fern Denney had pride of place aboard a float evoking the town's landmark Colonnade.

Old Town Preservation Society's May Court were conveyed in a phaeton social drawn by the noble Charlie and Murray, gaining them a class third.

After helping judge procession entries, Town Mayor Cllr Eric Armstrong and his wife and Mayoress Jeanette rode on the back of a classic Mercedes sports car with the third-placed Senlac High Steppers close behind.

Almost inevitably, "transport" included a Summer Holiday bus. The double-decker won All Saints' School a class first, just reward for months of work. Teaching assistant Vanessa Adams said planning started in February and children from all year groups had been involved in decorating it.

A hovercraft is Leading Seaman Dave Roberts' means of transport when performing rescues with Shoreham Harbour unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service over mud-flats. The Bexhill unit were exhibiting their new fast motor cruiser, used for training purposes.

No expense spared, the Raks Habibi Belly Babes' drummer Tony came from Gambia! The girls shimmied their ample curves to Polegrove where they gave a well-received encore.

Hornsey carnival court's float sported a working water mill while the Pebsham Community Association court, Abbie Leary and Jade Prince, both eight, rode between Sean Carr's prancing horses pick-up truck.

Bexhill Classic Car Association fielded a 1969 Bedford J-Type lorry, a 1959 Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire, an MGB, a Humber Super Snipe and a 1953 Morris 8 van - all publicising their September 3 show at Eastbourne in aid of Bexhill Hospital Irvine Unit.

Bexhil Glitter Stars won a class third for their turn-oput.

Time Travel with Dr Who was King Offa School's theme with a whole-school effort having gone into the decoration of the float under the direction of Sue Conaway, Jackie Dorey and Jane Jenner to earn a class third.

Sheila Child Close and Mepham's Terrace Residents' Association made a corporate effort of space travel.

Their class-winning float was five months in the planning and two weeks of hard graft with children doing much of the decorating. Materials were kindly supplied by Wickes' store.

More than 60 trophies graced East Sussex Twirlers' support vehicle.

The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway steamed into Bexhill with reproduction of its Dr Syn loco.

Three weeks of inspired work had gone into Potman's Lane Residents' superb Golden Hind galleon. But though they were sailing round the world with Sir Francis Drake they failed to capture the judges' eyes.

A combined playgroups entry involving Bexhill and Battle Under Fives Association, Little Angels, Patchwork took in everything from rail travel to space travel- including a class second.

Ethnic costume was sported by supporters of Bexhill's Fairtrade committee for their journey to a fairer world. and a second prize.

Bexhill in Bloom Princess Lucile Eldridge, 11, brought the message home to Carnival crowds and Charters Ancaster College pupils told of the long road private education in Bexhill has travelled in a century.

With a hot water tap for a radiator cap and the side-lights off an Austin A35, Bexhill 100 Motoring Club's third-placed "Bexair Fastback" reversed from Sidley to Polegrove - scene of the club's August Bank Holiday classic car show.

Dyamond Dance street dancers strutted their stuff despite the heat.

The 3rd Bexhill Scouts' St Michael's Airbus and its questionable air "hostesses" had an escort of Spitfires flown by Cubs and Red Arrows' Hawks flown by Scouts - with a marauding "Red Brian" triplane in hot pursuit. The cardboard air armada flew first in class.

The Eley family from Hastings Star Trekked their way to a third, courtesy of father Graham's Enterprise and daughter Claire's escort.

Fairlight Panto Group and Activity youth group gained a first, thanks to an impressively professional Mississippi stern-wheeler.

The Wizard of Oz's Yellow Brick Road was trodden to a second place by East Sussex School of Performing Arts.

What not to wear on one of the hottest Bexhill Carnival days in memory - Nick Highfield accompanied Candy Corner's Ark dressed in gorilla costume. Sure Start Friends also adopted an ark as their means of travel. Both arks sailed to class firsts.

Hay by the bale encouraged Pebsham 1066 Riding For The Disabled's "horse" to lead a cart to Polegrove and class first.

"Beat the jams - bring back the trams" proclaimed Hastings Tramway Club with a quarter-scale model of car No. 10 which a century ago helped open the first tram link from St Leonards to Bexhill which gained them a third.

At the Polegrove prizegiving, Candy Corner, The Friends of Sure Start, Pebsham Court, ESSPA, Sheila Child Close and Mepham Terrace, Fairlight's stern-wheeler, All Saints'' double-decker and the 3rd Scouts lined up to receive class firsts

The Scouts' squadron flew circuits of honour after gaining Best In Show.

For Chris James, Polegrove commentator for 30 years, there was a surprise when Carnival veteran Enid Houghton announced a special award. Rother chairman Cllr Wendy Miers - ex officio president of Carnival, presented him with a glass tankard engraved with the Bexhill Carnival and National Carnival Guild crests.