WITH double the number of entrants of last year, the Astwood Bank Carnival team had their work cut out choosing the final carnival Royal family to lead the parade.
Rather than an interview for contestants, the selection team held a talent show instead, allowing them to have a more informal chat to help them choose this year’s winners.
The team were presented with a wide variety of skills ranging across singing, musicians, reading stories with puppets, Tae Kwondo, cricket skills, and Irish dancing before making the final decision.
This year’s Astwood Bank Carnival Queen will be Storm Cox aged 12, with Emily Flower aged nine being Princess. Both girls are students at Ridgeway Academy.
Astwood Bank First School student Jack Walker, aged seven will be Carnival Prince, whilst fellow pupil Eden Smith, aged six, has been appointed the new Royal position of Rosebud.
The Royalty will be leading the procession of floats, walking groups, marching bands and even the odd steam traction engine at the carnival on July 8 starting at 12noon from Edgioke Lane.
It will then wind its way around the streets of Astwood Bank before returning to the carnival field at 2pm where the royal family will officially be crowned. They will then get the chance to enjoy all of the traditional summer fete activities.
Vicky Johnson from the Carnival committee said: “We were overwhelmed with the response this year.
here was so many people who applied and there was such a wide variety and quality of talents on show to us matched up with some great personalities.
“It was a real struggle to narrow it down, but we want to thank everyone who took part and hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did.”
Visit astwoodbankcarnival.co.uk for more information.
