ANNIVERSARY PARADE: Plans are under way to celebrate a special anniversary in style in 2008.This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Lowestoft Carnival, and to mark the occasion the parade will be themed on “the past 40 years”.

ANNIVERSARY PARADE: Plans are under way to celebrate a special anniversary in style in 2008.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Lowestoft Carnival, and to mark the occasion the parade will be themed on “the past 40 years”.

The announcement was made at the annual meeting of the Friends of Lowestoft Hospital.

Chairman Pat Rayner confirmed that this year's fundraising events would celebrate the 40th anniversary of the carnival being organised by the Friends.

And Mrs Rayner spoke of the hospital's changing face over 40 years, with its transition from an acute to a community hospital role. She also mentioned the death of long-time supporter Rose Sampson, who had provided many bouquets and flower posies.

The meeting, attended by the Friends' trustees and representatives of many of the groups who raise funds for the hospital, unanimously re-elected Mrs Rayner as chairman, with Jill Eaton as secretary and David Hatton as treasurer.

Special thanks were given by the treasurer to the Friends of Lowestoft Hospital Ladies' Darts League, who in the past year had raised £15,000 for the hospital.

This top sum, in addition to the £5,600 raised by other carnival events, brought the total fundraising for the year to £20,600.

Praise was also given to the women who run the twice-weekly hospital trolley service and to the nursing staff who have continued to care for the patients.

An appeal for more help and support for fundraising activities had bought an encouraging response but more people were still needed particularly to help as stewards for the carnival parade, the meeting was told.

Plans for other fundraising events in the coming year include: Schools Swing on May 6, a Country Music Festival on June 22 and possibly a children's fun day.

The carnival parade, the climax of the carnival festivities, will take place on Sunday, August 10.

More information can be found on www.onesuffolk.co.uk/Lowestoft

Carnival. Anyone wishing to find out more or to offer help with carnival events can telephone Mrs Rayner on 01502 563847.

Plans are also being made for The Journal's carnival queen selection spectacular at the Marina Theatre in June, and details of the contest will be published in the coming week.

In our picture above, 2007 carnival queen Emma Cooper, centre, can be seen with Laura Foster, left, and Samantha Symonds in the procession.