Photos from the Carnival Princess selection day can now be viewed here. Our thanks to the Rotary Club of Crowthorne and Sandhurst for organising the event, Ken Foan for taking photos, and of course, the judges for selecting this year's Carnival Princess and attendants.
From a former Carnival Princess, Katherine Loudoun
I am currently in the lower 6th form at Ranelagh school in Bracknell studying: Maths, Geography, Graphics and Art. For the last year I’ve been fundraising for my trip to Zambia coming up this July. I will be camping and cooking in the wilderness for a month doing trekking and conservation work with 13 other members in the 6th form. Just as I was back in 1999 when I was the princess, I’m really into my dancing at Jayne Coleman Academy of Dance in Crowthorne. The only difference is that it has got a lot more intense with more classes and rehearsals to schedule in. I have been fortunate to be able to compete at the All England finals twice now. My favourite subject at school is probably Art, and despite what many people think it’s not a subject to be taken lightly. Our house is full of my canvases, paint and general ‘art clutter’. I have just come back from an art trip with Ranelagh to Florence for the last week, where we sketched and studied many famous paintings and sculptures including ‘David’.
I’m hoping to pursue a career in Architecture at University. It’s a long time of studying, but my enthusiasm for art and design should hopefully keep me going.
On July the 3rd 1999, Michaela, Emily and I were taken to ‘Patricia Hurst’ to get our hair curled and styled. By chance Emily was one of my best friends through dancing, and she knew Michaela from her school. So we all got along really well and shared the excitement together. We were then taken to ‘Monica’s’ by Gale Robertson who was our guardian throughout our big day. All 3 of us were given the same style dress but in different colours. I can’t say it still fits me but I still have it and the matching purse for memories sake. We were driven down the High Street in our Toyota sports car by our chauffeur. We continuously waved and smiled for the whole journey, which was a long time bearing in mind we were travelling at 2 mph!
I found the whole event in Crowthorne to be such as great experience, after all I was going to have my face in the newspapers. Being just 9 year old whilst it was only the local papers it still made me and the other girls feel really special.
If I wasn’t 17, and could fit into the dress sure, I’d do it again!
group
