PICTURES: Knight in shining sports car saves day for Chapel St Leonards carnival royalty

A knight in shining armour – well actually driving an open topped sports car – saved the day when the horse pulling the carriage taking Chapel St Leonards carnival royalty to the parade shed a shoe.

By Chrissie Redford

Published 8th Aug 2022, 12:58 BST

Updated 10th Aug 2022, 14:28 BST

Organisers say they can’t thank the driver, John Hodges, enough for saving the day allowing the prince and prncess, Aaron Rose, 6, and Ella Duncan-Cramp, 10. to travel in style.

"He’s a newcomer to the village and we can’t thank him enough,” said committee member Malcolm Pool. “He really saved the day.”

Crowds lined the streets for the parade on Sunday, which was part of a two-day event on the Village Green.

Inspire Urself dance arts group added a Notting Hill flavour to the parade and the local care home also got involved by creating some “electric cars” by decorating their wheelchairs.

"It hasn’t been easy organising it after Covid – many of the brass bands hwere just not ready to perform,” said Malcolm.

"But overall a lot of people had a lot of fun.”