LIPHOOK Carnival once again broke records by attracting a 6,000-strong crowd, raising in excess of £3,000 for local charities.

With 17 floats joining the procession, including regulars and several newcomers, participants brought plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the annual event, now in its 116th year.

Revellers spread out across the procession route with many of them enjoying entertainment by the Pan Nation Steel Orchestra and refreshments from shops open in Station Road for the first time.

Carnival chairman Sally Cameron told The Herald: “We paid tribute to Den Osman, a supporter and participant in the Carnival for 66 years. His widow Lesley received a certificate from Pat Bell, president of the committee.

“We welcomed East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds to crown our Carnival Queen, Megan Shepherd and to meet our first Carnival Prince, Camaron Wilson, as well as Princess Cassandra Harris-Dibben and attendants Rose Salmon and Amy Wright.

“The support from local businesses has been phenomenal and our sponsors, including Old Thorns, Bramshott Grange Nursing Home, Barons BMW, who took part in the procession, Amesbury School, and Taylor Wimpey have made this year’s Carnival a great success.”

Mr Hinds said: “The support for the annual Liphook Carnival is amazing, and it’s a delight to see the tradition continue after so many years. Congratulations to Sally and her organising committee for putting on such a brilliant event.”

Pan Nation, from Tottenham, in North London, kicked off the evening’s entertainment in The Square, after holding two successful workshops earlier in the day at Bohunt School. They were supported by Carnival regulars, the Surrey Pipe Band, from Woking.

Spearheading the procession were Harley-Davidson Motorcyclists from the Hogsback Chapter, under ride leader Axel Thill.

Carnival veterans The Deer’s Hut pub’s Hillbillies float were Best Overall winners, and did not disappoint with their tribute to a barrel of rare Moonshine Whiskey, all the way from Kentucky.

Liphook Girl Guides set the theme by commemorating WWI, the Home Front and the Women’s Movement, which won them Best on the Move.

Liphook Junior School, together with the village’s Royal British Legion branch, performed songs from this year’s Canada Day celebrations, earning them the children’s category winners’ title.

Staff, clients and volunteers from Liphook Day Centre led by manager Penny Leigh, had made more than 300 poppies for Armistice Day, and won them second prize in the adult category.

Dad’s Army was represented by Carnival veteran, 83-year-old Trevor Moss, accompanied by his family, who announced he was taking part in the procession for the last time, while the Poole Field Gun Display team took part for the first time.

Liphook Scouts entertained crowds with The Greatest Showman circus tribute, picking up the Tim Wheatley Memorial Cup for good measure, while the Bicknell family chose to turn their 1910 Fowler Steam Road Loco into Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, winning first prize in the Steam show.

Best Newcomers in the parade were the Neon Crew girls, who enjoyed dancing to Abba’s Waterloo while debutants from Liphook United Football Club’s youth team, had a ball re-living the World Cup under England manager Gareth Southgate, complete with that waistcoat.

Claiming third prize were Northern Souls boys Sid Marshall, Kenny Kinch and Bob Lane who belted out Wigan Pier nightclub classics to get people dancing.

The Best Illuminated prize went to Liphook In Bloom, who installed a real fountain in their garden on wheels, also earning first prize in the adult category. The Ellis family terrorised revellers with their Scary Circus, featuring Alfie Scott as Pennywise, the scary clown from Stephen King’s horror film It, which won them first prize in the Trade category.

The LiDBA crew’s Meerkat Movies also won a ‘Push and Pull Oscar,’ while Findlay’s Flowers owner Katie Land’s girls were Dancing Queens in their Mamma Mia Abba tribute.

Other Carnival regulars included Simon and Alex Bridger’s Ashford Farm Turkeys float, the Twins of Liphook as well as the White Joinery team, whose family celebrated ‘Happy Hallowe’en’ in style.

Rattling their collection tins were ‘Ice Cool’ Bob Corner and regular fundraiser David Weeks.