Will we see Good King Hal walk the streets at this year’s Ilkley carnival? (From Ilkley Gazette)

Will we see Good King Hal walk the streets at this year’s Ilkley carnival?

1:03pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

The people of Ilkley have voted – and that means history will be brought to life as part of one of the town’s biggest annual events.

This year’s Ilkley Carnival will have the theme of British history after 80 per cent of people selected it from a choice of five in an online public vote.

It means the likes of Henry VIII, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare and Queen Victoria could all be walking along the streets of Ilkley as part of the popular carnival.

Themes from previous years include children’s literature, nursery rhymes, heroes and villains and our wonderful planet, while the summer of celebration was the theme for last year’s event.

Now the title has been chosen, carnival committee chairman Andrew Stacey is encouraging everybody who is planning to be part of this year’s event on the May 6 bank holiday to get their thinking caps on to help make it the best in carnival history.

He said: “British history is a really good theme and will give people lots of ideas and things to work with ahead of the carnival, which is fast approaching.

“There is such a wide scope for the theme of British history. I’m hoping people will surprise and amaze us this year and make Ilkley Carnival 2013 one to remember for many years.”

The carnival was established to raise funds for social projects to benefit generations of schoolchildren and local families.

In just 15 years around £80,000 has been raised. Last year, £3,800 was raised for good causes and the target this year is £10,000 Applications by groups to become a 50 per cent beneficiary of this year’s profits will be considered later this month.

Visit ilkleycarnival.org for details, or follow their Twitter page via @ilkleycarnival.