Festival Comes Of Age

Large crowds are expected to line the route through the village, as the procession sets off from Vicarage Lane at 1.15pm, following judging of the floats, walking groups and other entries.

The signs are that the jubilee spirit has boosted numbers in the procession, with a total of around 20 participants.

They include three bands, with the Arundel and Littlehampton District Scout Band leading from the front, the Phoenix Jazz Band marching in front of the VIPs' open-top double-decker bus and TS Implacable Nautical Training Corps Band bringing up the rear.

Stepping out in the parade will be two dance troupes, Explosions and the Wick-ettes.

Two cars for Festival Queen Caroline Bower and her Princesses Stevie Johnson and Grace Purcell will be provided by Peter and Jacky Burrell, while visiting "royalty" will include the Littlehampton Carnival Queen and Princesses and Rustington Carnival Princess and her attendants.

Prizes for the carnival competitions have been sponsored by East Preston Parish Council, while Graham Butt estate agents have sponsored Phoenix Jazz Band and John Cooper Garages and the festival committee are sponsoring the two other bands.

Charity collectors will be out in force along the procession route, which ends up at the village schools' site in Lashmar Road, for their combined summer fete, this year celebrating another golden jubilee, of 50 years' education at the schools.

For the festival itself, this is the 21st anniversary and another record breaker, with a total of 74 events.

The fun and entertainment continues right up to Sunday's closing event, the parish council's annual civic service, at St Mary's Church see our daily diary of festival events and buy next week's Gazette for the very best festival coverage.