The Three Runners-up Married.

It was a great night for the housewives last night. Three out of the first four in Northampton Carnival Queen contest for 1960 were married - and the new queen, 22-year-old Patricia Patching is engaged to be married.

Willowy, dark-haired Patricia won her title at her first attempt on this competition and against a record entry of 43 girls. On Sunday she celebrates her 23rd birthday.

She is reigning Northampton Football Queen, lives at 6 Adams-avenue, Northampton and works in the closing room of a Northampton shoe firm. She has been placed in two other contests she has entered.

Maids of Honour
Last night's contest was judged at Northampton General Hospital Nurses' Home and after a large board of judges had whittled the field down to 12 finalists, the decisions were left to an all-male pannel of five judges.

The maids of honour chosen were 20-year-old Mrs Gillian York of 13 Melville-street Northampton, and Mrs. Patricia Faulkner of 45 Kingsthorpe-road, Northampton, who is 18.

For Mrs York, who is a wages clerk. It was repeat success for she was a maid of honour last year. She was also Cricket Queen for the Northampton area last year.

Mrs. Faulkner, mother of a four-month old daughter, was Football Queen last year and did not defend her title.

Prizes' value
Mrs. Deanna Haywood (19) was another girl repeating last time's placing, for she was the 1959 reserve, too. Reigning Miss Battle of Britain for Northampton, she is a typist and lives at 49, Avon-drive, Northampton.

The value of the prizes to the Carnival Queen is about £40, to the maids of hounour £20 and to the reserve £5.

Every girl taking part in the contest received a prize - given by Northampton tradesmen - and the 12 finalists each received a large box of chocolates, presented by Mr George Civil vice-president of the Carnival Committe.

Mr John Sears (president) announced the result and the contest was organised by Mr. H. C. T. Dyer, secretary of the Northampton Hospitals Guild and of the Carnival Committee, and his staff.
Most of the refreshments had been given by local tradesmen and the decorations provided by Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital.