IT took 34,000 sheets of tissue paper for the best float in Southampton’s Carnival 1969 to win the holy grail of prizes.

It was June 28, when St Monica’s Sunday School of Freemantle Parish Church won first prize in the coveted “News of the World” Challenge Cup.

Their float depicted three large swans, made with the many-shaded sheets stuffed into wire mesh – a process which took a team of 12 two months to complete.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed peace effort was a popular choice – both with the crowd and competitors.

Although the numbers were down on the previous year’s entries, the quality was just as high as ever – if not higher.

The sound of music permeated the air as seven bands played along the route amid a showering of spectators coins.

After the procession, crowds thronged to the Common for Moto Ball –five-a-side motorcycle football, which was, at the time, a new form of carnival entertainment provided by the Southampton and District motorcycle Club.