A TAUNTON woman’s 50-year exile from the throne of Carnival Queen ended in 1989 when she travelled in a 1935 Rolls Royce to be crowned at a special ceremony.

Delia Trott (then Hawker), or Monkton Heathfield, was first voted Queen in September 1939. But the outbreak of the Second World War led to the carnivals cancellation - and she was waiting to be crowned ever since.

The 1989 50th anniversary prompted Delia to write to the County Gazette with her sad tale. And when we contacted the carnival committee they decided it was about time the record got put straight.

Committee secretary Colin Critchard, said: “This is an incredible story. We had no idea of the circumstances.

“The pre-war carnivals were run on behalf of local hospitals. When restarted in the late 1940s the constitution was changed and it seems the new organisers were not aware that Delia was uncrowned.

“But now we intend to make amends. Delia is certainly a lady in waiting who will become a Queen.”

Delia said: “I can’t believe its going to happen.”