THIS year marks the 70th anniversary of the very first Sturminster Newton carnival and the Daily Echo takes a look back at the event twenty years ago.
The carnival itself was the climax to almost two weeks of festivities in the town.
Organisers pulled out all the stops to ensure the carnivals 50th anniversary was celebrated in style.
The programme on August 21, 2000 included a reunion for 50 former carnival queens and princesses.
Sturminster Newton's first carnival queen, Beryl O'Brien – nee Newman – flew in from the USA especially to take part.
Other carnival day events included a fancy dress contest, children's entertainer Known, music from Dorchester Band and the Gugge 2000 Band and dancing to music from the 1950s with Denis Holloway.
Earlier highlights of the carnival programme included a duck race that attracted 300 entries, a children's tea party, a junior fishing competition and a bingo event which made almost £500.
Profits were divided among charities.
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