Express & Star

Royalty for carnival in Pelsall announced

Youngsters from across Walsall have been chosen to lead a carnival procession this summer.

Published
(Back - L-R) Hannah Smith 18, Elizabeth Cox 21 and Emily Stanton 18. (Front - L-R) Lola Jackson, 11, Sophie Willis, eight, and Kenzie Fellows, 10.

Five girls and one boy, three from Pelsall, were selected to go on the main float which leads the Pelsall Carnival parade.

It comes as part of a tradition which encourages people to enter a competition for the role.

Ian Rhydderch, who is secretary of the carnival committee at Pelsall Community Centre, said: "We're one of a few carnivals that insists on producing a procession.

"There's that many legal barriers that we have to get over to do it, but we do it for the community.

"Traditionally, leading the procession is a special float that we made many years ago that contains six people.

"It contains the carnival queen, two made of honours, a princess, a rose bud and a page boy.

"It came about because we wanted to try and bring in every younger member of society."

Elizabeth Cox, 21, was chosen to be carnival queen, with 18-year-old Hannah Smith and Emily Stanton being chosen as the made of honours.

Lola Jackson, 11, was chosen as the princess, whilst eight-year-old Sophie Willis was named as rose bud and 10-year-old Kenzie Fellows as page boy.

All six spots were chosen and judged by people from outside of the area to ensure the competition is fair.

"We're very careful that no one can be accused of favourtism – the judges are not from the area and it's all done by the numbers," the 77-year-old said.

"It's a lovely competition and they will all now go forward to join in the float on carnival day and lead the procession through Pelsall."

The carnival itself will take place on July 6.