FORMER Halesowen Carnival Queen Joyce Knowles has been reliving treasured memories from 58 years ago as she helped promote this year’s revival.

Mrs Knowles was the last carnival queen when Halesowen was a borough in 1957 when the momentous occasion was topped with a meeting with children’s favourite Lenny the Lion and famous ventriloquist Terry Hall.

The 81-year-old joined the 2015 carnival queen, 18-year-old Grace Dunham, in the town centre last Saturday to publicise the carnival which is being revived after an absence of almost 30 years.

The pair posed for photographs and met shoppers at the carnival stall set up to raise the profile of the event planned for Saturday July 4 at Huntingtree Park, advertise for volunteer helpers and raise fund towards the costs.

Carnival vice chairman Councillor Stuart Henley said: “Joyce passed on so many stories from previous carnivals and talked about how popular they were with everyone.

“The feedback and interest about the carnival was overwhelming - from all members of the community across all ages.

“The carnival is on track to be a very popular one for this year and many more. There are numerous people coming forward to perform, volunteer, donate/sponsor and have a stall on the day. “

Mrs Knowles, a volunteer at the town’s British Heart Foundation charity shop for 20 years, will be a VIP guest at the carnival, when she will officially crown A-level student Grace Dunham.

Cllr Henley said a number of volunteers signed up on Saturday, but more offers of help and sponsorship would be welcome.

Chairman Simon Walker can be contacted via email at halesowencarnival@gmail.com or by calling 07884 061 724.