Large crowds packed the streets of Holsworthy last Saturday for the annual carnival processions and, with the Christmas lights switched on for the first time, Rowland's funfair in full swing in the Manor car park, it was as usual one of the most colourful and enjoyable events in the town's calendar, writes Christine Williams, our Holsworthy correspondent.

In the afternoon the children assembled on Well Park car park then, led by the Mayor, the Portreeve, the Town Band in cowboy hats, and, of course, the Fairy Queen, six-year-old Sophie Sleeman and her attendants, Tilly Daniels and Ellie Abbot, processed around the town.

The Holsworthy Majorettes were joined by the SLS All Stars Majorettes from Shebbear, Langtree and Stibb Cross and the Streetz Dance Crew from Torrington. The Holsworthy Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Beavers each had a float, and there were a good number of walking characters. Most of them had only a short rest before joining the evening procession.

The Town Band led the procession up Chapel Street, followed by the Holsworthy Carnival Queen, 12 year-old Peggy Kirkwood, and her attendants Hannah Clarke, Megan Furse and Tabby Kirkwood. There were visiting queens from Bradworthy, Bude, Camel­ford, Hatherleigh, St Breward and Okehampton and some rousing music provided by the Bideford Youth Pipes and Drums and the Barnstaple Marching Band in their colourful uniforms.

Topical news and entertainment provided themes for many of the floats notably the Credit Crunch, the Olympics, 'Postman Pat – Save Our Post Office', 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'Andrew Lloyd-Webber at 60'. Among the most colourful floats were 'Lollipop Parade' and 'Mother Christmas' and among the most amusing was 'Bill Harper 007 — Licensed To Feed'.

Young Farmers Clubs were well represented by floats from Bradworthy, Cheriton and Tedburn, Clawton, Launceston, Shebbear, Stratton and Winkleigh. The evening procession took half an hour to pass any one spot and, as they have done for the past 47 years, Henry Westlake with his loudspeakers and Trevor Sillifant with his roving mike, provided a running commentary.

While some towns are struggling to keep their carnival alive, last Saturday proved that in Holsworthy Carnival Day remains a popular and well-supported event. Thanks once again to Ron Ellacott (president) and John Rogers (chairman) and their hardworking committee for keeping a more than 100-year-old tradition alive.

Day results:

Class 1 — No Entries.

Class 2 — 1, Paddington Bear (Daniel Seymour- Smith); 2, Alien (Samuel Jones); 3, Dr Who (Nathan Jones).

Class 3 — No Entries.

Class 4 — 1, Lazy Town (Callum Yeo and Caitlin Allcorn).

Class 5 — Tom and Jerry (Yasmin Keyte and Isabel Mchattie).

Class 6 — No Entries.

Class 7 — 1, White Witch (Millie Paddon); 2, Toy Story 2 (Archie and Mitchell Harris, Finley Sleeman, Willow and Noah Sleep, Fraya Godfrey, Erin and Alesha Lewis); 3, Night Garden (Ty Wonnacott and Libby Piper).

Class 8 — 1, Singing in the Rain (Holsworthy Playgroup); 2, Lady birds (Pyworthy Under 5s).

Class 9 — 1, English Country Garden (Holsworthy Brownies); 2, Allsports Champions (Johns and Harper).

Class 10 — No Entries.

Class 11 — 1, Santa's on his way (Furmage and Brown); 2, Out of this world (Chidley family).

Class 12 — 1, Treasure Island (Holsworthy Beavers); 2, The Chronicles of Narnia (Holsworthy Cubs); 3, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys (Holsworthy Guides).

Evening results:

Class 1 — 1, Santa's on his Way (Furmage and Brown); 2, Out of This World (Chidley Family).

Class 2 — 1, 40 Years of Dads Army (Adam and Lydia Isaac); 2, The Chronicles of Narnia (Holsworthy Cubs); 3, Treasure Island (Holsworthy Beavers).

Class 3 — 1, Lollipop Parade (T Anstey); 2, Celebrate 60 Sir Lloyd Webber (Dilling and Squires).

Class 4 — 1, Tweenies (Launceston Guides).

Class 5 — 1, Strictly Come Dancing (Launceston YFC); 2, The Time Warp (Holsworthy Explorers); 3, Shebbear YFC Are Back (Shebbear YFC).

Class 6 — 1, Save our Post Office (Clawton YFC); 2, Strictly Come Barn Dancing (Stratton YFC); 3, 2012 Olympics (Lewdown YFC).

Class 7 — 1, Paddington Bear (Daniel Seymour–Smith); 2, Power Ranger (Ryan Seymour– Smith).

Class 8 — No Entries.

Class 9 — 1, Gym Will Fix IT (Anita Fisher and Friends).

Class 10 — 1, Wall Flowers (Claudia Dymond and Abigail Stone).

Class 11 — 1, Fairy-Lee-Cold and Fairy-Lee-Wet (Sarah Cole and Anna Chubb).

Class 12 Trade — 1, James Bond (Harpers); 2, White Hart; 3, Tetcott Garage Does Top Gear ( T Rooke).

Class 13 Vintage — 1, Vintage Rally Comes To Town (Morgan Allin and David Edwards).

Best Young Farmers — Strictly Come Dancing (Launceston YFC).

Best Paper Float — Lollipop Parade (T Anstey).

Best Evening Tableau — Lollipop Parade (T Anstey).

Queen of Queens — Bude (Mia Wicket).

Best Queens Group — Bude.

Best Fairy Queen — Camelford (Lauren Sim).

Best Fairy Queen Group — Bude.

Best Decorated Royal Tableau — Okehampton.

Best Decorated Royal Car — Bradworthy.