The Miss Ramsgate Organisation

Following the lack of events during 2020-2021 because of COVID and the lockdowns, last year seems to have been very busy for the Ramsgate Town Court.

The Girls of the Court took part in the Selection Dance held in March 2022 at the Manston Sports and Social Club, and although the number of entries was down, the Judges had a difficult choice to make as to who to choose as Miss Ramsgate or as a Princess. Eventually after two rounds of judging, the winner was Lucy Woodward who was chosen as Miss Ramsgate 2022-23, with Charley Bowell and Lana Pearce as joint Princesses, Madeline Le Mare as Deputy Princess and Alyssa Redford as Deputy Miss Ramsgate. Alyssa had already held the title of Miss Ramsgate 2020-2022 and it is the custom to invite the retiring Queen to stand as a Deputy the following year.

Unfortunately, a couple of weeks after the crowning of the Court by the Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor Raushan Ara, at the Selection Dance, Princess Charley had to stand down owing to personal commitments and we welcomed Madeline to take up the position of Princess of the Court along with Lana. The Town Court took up their duties the very next week when they represented Ramsgate at the Isle of Sheppey Queen’s Selection and from then on, they were to have a busy year.

The beginning of June of course saw Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, and Ramsgate, like numerous other towns, wanted to celebrate the event. The Court of Lucy, Lana and Maddie were by the Harbour at 2pm on Thursday June 2, 2022 to join the Mayor and the Chairman of Ramsgate Town Council on the dais when the Declaration was read out by our Town Sergeant, Mr Mac Wilkinson. The Declaration was read at exactly the same time in each town in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. It was an honour for the Court to be there at this memorable occasion. Later that evening they saw the lighting of the Beacon and the spectacular firework display.

The following day the Court took part in the town parade, where lots of children and adults had made costumes and drums to create a colourful spectacle through the town. On the Saturday the children were rewarded with a street party in the town on Harbour Parade, and the Court were there to help serve the food and help the children. It was a celebration they won’t forget.

Continuing through the year the Court took part in 11 carnivals in Kent and Essex. During the Carnivals the Court and individual members of the Court are always judged against one another for titles such as Queen of Queens, Princess Pairs or for the Best Court of the Day, and I am pleased and proud to report that our Ramsgate Court have won 28 awards this year, including seven Court of the Day awards including five first prizes. Lucy won three Queen of Queens titles with Lana and Maddie taking six prizes in Princess Pairs, four of which were first prizes. We have also taken awards in the Queen’s Float, Queen’s Tableau, the Games (see below) and even Best Chaperone categories.

The Court took part in church services for Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Sunday, laying the wreath for our organisation. We visited the Hythe Venetian Fair as a special outing and the Court took part in the Inter-Carnival games organised by the Association of Kent Carnival Organisations, and I am pleased to say that the Ramsgate Court won first place and had a lot of fun. They helped out at the St Laurence Church Summer Fair and at the Ellington Park Summer Fair.

Of course, we were all very sad and upset to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and we paid our respects in a fitting way at Aylesham Carnival which took place during the period of mourning. The Court all wore black bands and bows across their sashes and the Chaperones wore black arm bands.

As I am writing this in November 2022, we still have some events to attend before Christmas and we start again on the second week of January 2023.

The current Court will stand down on March 4, 2023 and we will be looking for some new girls to join the Court. If you think you have a member of your family aged 14 and 21 years, who live in postcodes CT11-CT12 and you think they might like to represent Ramsgate, then please contact the Court Manager, Marion on 07798 677140. Please remember this is not a beauty pageant, you do not have to do any modelling nor wear a swimsuit, but must want to represent your town and enjoy yourselves.

Written by:
Marion Pearce
Miss Ramsgate Court Manager