The Miss Ramsgate Organisation held a Selection dance on Sunday March 4 at the Elms Social Club, Elms Avenue, where six lovely young ladies competed for the title of Miss Ramsgate and Ambassador for the Town. They were interviewed by five judges in the afternoon who assessed the contestants personality and knowledge of the Town, and again in the evening where the contestants dressed in evening dress, gave a short speech introducing themselves to the audience and were then asked general questions by the Master of Ceremonies, Mr Ralph Hoult. This gave the Judges the opportunity to observe the contestants deportment, confidence in public speaking and appearance.
The new Miss Ramsgate is Paige Barkham, who is 17 years old and attends Canterbury College. Paige had been a Ramsgate Princess in 2017. Her two Princesses are 15 year old Elysha Mason, who attends King Ethelbert School and 16 year old Pasha Obbard, who attends the Royal Harbour Academy. The Miss Ramsgate Organisation Committee had previously asked Louisa Taylor, who was Miss Ramsgate 2017, to be Deputy Queen for 2018 as is normal practice.
The event was attended by town and carnival courts from 14 towns across Kent and the Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor Trevor Shonk and Mayoress, Mrs Mandy Shonk were present both to assist with the judging and to Crown the winning Court once the results were announced by Chairman Mr Roger Pearce. The other judges were; Mrs Rebekah Smith, Ramsgate Town Promoter; Mr Steve Redford, Co-owner of the Elms Social Club; Mr Mac Wilkinson, Ramsgate Town Sergeant and Mrs Carol Bailey, Court Manager for Minster Carnival Court. Mr Roy Bailey, Chairman of Minster Carnival Association and Chairman of the Association of Kent Carnival Organisations acted as an Independent adjudicator for the judging.
The new Ramsgate Town Court are looking forward to a busy year, attending formal events in the town, helping charities to raise funding and assisting in the community as well as taking part in some carnival parades across Kent. Their first event was in Sittingbourne on Saturday March 10.