Carnival queens take to stage again

WE asked for your memories of carnival queens from the past and they just keep coming!

The belles of Lowestoft are once again remembered as we take a look at some former Miss Lowestofts.

Janet Ellis, of Pakefield, helps turn the clock back the furthest with a picture that was originally donated to her charity shop. The picture was amongst a number of frames handed in.

The glamorous girl is Gladys Hazel, nee Harvey. Janet found out that Gladys died late last year, aged 95, although does not know what year she was Miss Lowestoft.

Another former winner of the crown is Linda Spillings, nee Thompson, of Kessingland. Her sister Wendy Dunn, of Camps Heath, brought in a photograph of her sister's big win,

Linda was 16 years old and still at Kirkley High School when she won the occasion at the old Co-op hall in April 1976, ahead of Julie Batch and Christine Hannant, who were named as her attendants.

'We all went to a dinner and dance, and were persuaded to go for it on the night. I was very surprised when I won it,' she said.

Today Christine is married to John and together they have two daughters, Laura, 23, and Carlie, 21.

Five years after Linda, Jacqueline Jones was named Miss Lowestoft 1981.

Jacqueline entered many similar competitions during a 10 year span which saw her named Miss Pontins on six occasions and Miss Norfolk Broads.

In 1981 she entered the Miss Lowestoft competition for the first time. Jacqueline, who was 24 at the time, was number 13 in the competition, and that almost proved unlucky for her as she nearly failed to make it to the contest in Kessingland Holiday Village when her car failed to start.

As Miss Lowestoft, Jacqueline open fetes, presented flowers, attended Lowestoft Lions meals and, as her claim to fame, her face was used by the EDP when it underwent a change of size that year.

Today, Jacqueline is a mother to Lewis, 19, a granddaughter to Miya Lexie, and works as a self-employed hairdresser.