Michael Martyn, of Cedars Road, Exeter, writes:
As an organiser of the carnival queen's coronation in Newton Abbot on the last three occasions, I was pleased your correspondents enjoyed the 2008 ceremony, but the more surprised, therefore, that they should have found so many aspects of this year's event less enjoyable.
For a start we had fine weather this year compared with rain and strong winds last time, and the ceremony was almost precisely the same length as last year, with hymns replacing part of the previous ceremony rather than being straight additions.
Furthermore the carnival queen had the same number of attendants as last year, and the presentation of bouquets which seems to have so irritated your correspondents actually involved fewer persons than last year and therefore took less time.
The contribution by Steven Sheldon as lay reader of Highweek Church was an addition, but a definite plus; while Rachael Smith's reading of the coronation ode was word perfect as last year, and our new carnival queen was surely every bit as charming as her predecessor.
In the not so distant past the coronation ceremony was a rather brief affair, with just one or two attendants, no public participation and small audiences, and seemed hardly worthy of the town or of the charming carnival queens of the time.
The present ceremony allows many more young ladies to take starring roles, with consequent attendance by relatives and friends, and enables local organisations and the public actively to participate, resulting in an event that gets carnival week off to a really grand start.
I cannot help thinking that what prompted the letters you received was the dancing which followed conclusion of the ceremony, and then only because it followed so closely as to appear part of the ceremony.
The dancing was separately organised, and resulted from a late request by the dancers to a senior member of the carnival committee.
I dare say in future such entertainment can be arranged for after the coronation procession has left the scene, when it can be enjoyed on its own merits.