By Laura Goldsbury Noy

Thousands lined the streets of Sidmouth on Saturday night to watch the grand carnival procession make its way through the town. <?

Residents as well as those from further afield such as Crediton and Bridgwater entered this year’s carnival making it one of the best yet. 

Following the trend of other carnivals in East Devon this year, entry numbers were high from all over Devon and with the fine weather on Saturday, Sidmouth’s walking entries were amongst the busiest and the best. 

There were around 25 floats in the procession and three groups of majorettes also joined in the procession. 

 Lyme Regis Majorettes, Karisma Majorettes from Axminster and Seaton Majorettes added much colour to the procession and were warmly applauded around the route. 

The carnival procession was led by Sidmouth Fire Brigade, Sidmouth Lifeboat Crew and this year’s Carnival Queen and Princesses.

This year’s Carnival Queen was 13-year-old Rosie Davis Stokes, who alongside her princesses, 10-year-old Jasmine Dorman and 10-year-old Taylor Beavis, led the carnival procession starting in Woolbrook Road, in Sidmouth’s famous old car- “The Toast Rack”.  

There was triumph for Sid Vale Carnival Club when judges voted their spectacular “Yee Ha” western themed float as the best in procession. 

Other significant winners this year were Sidmouth Brownies and Guides who pulled out all the stops with their Alice in Wonderland walking youth entry, complete with a giant walking caterpillar, tea party tableau and mass of costumes.

Other local groups who took part in the procession included Sidmouth Scouts with an exciting rendition of “A Knights Tale” complete with suits of armour and medieval dress and Sidmouth Youth Centre’s “The Circus” wheeled tableau with a projection of the latest animation and art work the youth of the town had created. 

Sidmouth Amateur Dramatics Society also took part in the procession dressed to promote their upcoming production “When we are married” as well as this year’s pantomime “Treasure Ireland”.

Terry Clarke, chairman of Sidmouth Carnival Committee, said: “This year has been a huge success and we have collected more money than ever before with around £2,600 so far. 

“We would like to thank the huge amount of both motorised and walking entries which were of an extremely high standard, that took part in this year’s procession as well as the many local groups and organisations that got involved and helped out to make the procession as exciting and colourful as ever.”