Congratulations for Mrs Barbara Jeyes (forth from left), chosen last night as Northampton's 1955 Carnival Queen. Her attendants are Miss Shirley White, second from left, and Miss Irene Kirby, third from right.

HOSEWIFE CHOSEN AS CARNIVAL QUEEN

Northampton's new Carnival Queen is a young housewife. She was chosen last night from a bevy of 34 lovely contestants, who went to the Nurses' Home, for the judging.

The judges awarded top marks for beauty, general grooming and deportment and speech, to dark curly-haired Mrs. Barbara Jeyes, of 41. Brecon-street, King's Heath, Northampton.

Mrs. Jeyes, who is 21 tomorrow is the mother of a thre-years-old boy.

"It was my mother who talked me into in," she told the "Chronicle and Echo." And, she added: "My husband, who is a commercial traveller, doesn't even know about my entering. I didn't tell him in case he wouldn't agree, but I hope he'll be pleased about it now that I've won!"

THE TWO ATTENDANTS

Her attendanys are 18-years-old Miss Shirley White, of 66, Reaburn-road, Northampton, a switchboard operator for Raphael Tuck and Sons Ltd., and 17-years-old Miss Irene Kilby, of 25, Pembroke-road, Northampton, who is emplyed as a typist by P. Jeyes and Co. Ltd.

And employes of Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons Ltd., have completed a hat-trick so far as beauty is concerned - last year one of the maids-of-honour was an employee, Miss Eileen Ingram, and this year, besides Miss white they can also "lay a claim" to Mrs. Jeyes, who takes up employment with the firm on Monday.

There should have been 45 contestants, but the bad weather deterred some of them from attending. As the girls paraded before the judges in the preliminary round, it was no easy task to select the eight finalists. They were each presented with a box of chocolates by last year's Carnival Queen Miss Joy Hammond.

"We all agree," said Mr. W. T. Grose (chairman of the Carnival Committee) "the girls of Northampton, like Don Cockell, take a lot of beating."

The judges in the preliminary round were: Councillor and Mrs E. F. Tompkins, Mr. and Mrs. M. Aldrich, and Mr. and Mrs. L. Dorricott. In the final round they were: Mr and Mrs. R. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Grose, and Miss M. E. Coombe (matron of Northampton General Hospital)

CROWNING CEREMONY ON JUNE 10

A crowning ceremony will be held at the Carnival Queen Ball at the Salon on June 10. Prizes for the queen include £10, her dress, stockings, gloves and shoes.The attendants received £5 each and their dresses and accessories.

A quartet, under Mr. L. Andrews, played last night while the girls paraded.