'FANTASIA' was the theme and there could not have been a more apt title for the Southampton Carnival over half a century ago.

Back in July 1965, everything the organisers had hoped for – such as the all-important fine weather, the crowds and the procession itself – was fantastically good.

Thousands of Sotonians, buoyed by the spirit of fiesta time, thronged the streets of the city, with vantage points along the route, standing six deep in places.

As the mammoth mile-long procession, with nine bands and over 60 floats passed by they cheered, waved and threw their pennies as scores of small children sat on the edges of the pavement determined not to miss a moment of the spectacle.

Taking pride of place in the procession was Southampton’s Carnival Queen Miss Janice Whiteman, and her attendants Miss Marion Whitehorn and Miss Vivienne Sprakes. Their colourful float – decorated by the British American Tobacco company – was described as one of the best ever seen, while other carnival queens in the procession included those from Eling, Eastleigh and Basingstoke also provided touches of glamour to the proceedings.

Earlier that year, in April 1965, the tension was almost palpable when the contest to select that year’s Carnival Queen reached a nail-biting conclusion at the city’s Royal Pier.

Back in the Swinging Sixties, beauty contests, then still seen as a bit of innocent fun and not frowned upon as in these politically correct times, were hugely popular and often featured as part of an evening out at venues such as the Mecca Ballroom on the Royal Pier, and the former Top Rank Suite.

After due deliberation, the panel of three judges chose 20-year-old Janice Carol Whiteman from Totton as Southampton Carnival queen for 1965.

The judges with the heavy task of choosing the right entrant for the regal job of reigning over the carnival procession, were the then Saints’ captain, Tony Knapp, Judith White from the BBC, and Peter Clark, of Southern Television.

The Daily Echo report the following day said: “Janice, an attractive, 36-24-35, with a permanently-tanned complexion, beaming smile and twinkling eye, was picked from a dozen entrants at the Royal Pier last night.

“She travels from her Morpeth Avenue, Totton, home each day to work as a cashier at a Shirley supermarket.’’ Her two attendants at that year’s carnival, who were also selected on the night, were Vivienne Sprakes, aged 18, of Carlton Road, Southampton, and 20-year-old Marion Whitehorn of Franklin Avenue, Sholing.

Although the tableaux entries were believed to be slightly down on previous years, the quality was as high as ever as the theme conjured up visions of travel in outer space for many of the entrants, with the emphasis on Daleks and men from Mars. But there was plenty of variety and humour, especially with the Beverley Hillbillies who trundled the streets in a suitably antiquated vehicle spraying the crowds with water as they went.

The tableau that really prompted the ‘oohs and ahhhs’ from the crowds was the ‘News of the World’ challenge trophy winner , Toy town Express, entered by St John’s Nursery School Parents Association of Hedge End, which saw nursery toddlers depicting nursery rhyme characters in a beautifully colourful tableau.

The fantastic festivities continued into the evening with a fun fair and a fireworks display that brought the perfect day to a close.