Click on the green play button to see a slide show of photographs taken at the event.

The onlookers who lined the kerbs between West Park and the pier enjoyed the parade of what could have been the last of the bank-holiday weekend occasions.

They watched as the ten entries did their best to ensure the gala survived in spite of being among the event's smallest turnouts in its near 30-year history.

The prize winners, who were rewarded for their imagination and keenness to take part, were:

Floats: 1, 1st Aldwick and Pagham Sea Scouts; 2, Dirty Low Down Dubbers; 3, Ravin' Roller Crew.

Walking: 1, Regis Troopers; 2, Antique Broadshow; 3, Southern Starlights.

Effort and achievement: 1, Party Princesses; 2, Ellie Walsh (8) as an Hawaiian girl; 3, Stretch fire engine. Best walking collector, Barbara O'Connor.

Leading the parade were the 45 immaculately turned out members of the Horndean Marching Band in their red tunics and white pith helmets.

At the rear, 14 minutes later, was the equally distinctive sight of the Ramsay Caledonia Pipe Band with its 12 members ensuring the swirl of the bagpipes and the beating of the big bass band left the march ringing in the ears of those watching.

A variety of costumes and coloured displays based on the theme of children's stories came in between.

The Party Princesses, the Ravin' Roller Crew, the Antique Broadshow ladies as the Ali-Baba Wives' Club, the Regis Troopers and the Dirty Low Down Dubbers with their seven VW vehicles decorated as the various members of the Mr Men and Little Miss family.

Mr Happy, Mr Grumpy, Mr Forgetful and Mr Busy were among those who took part with the cars and camper vans cleverly decorated with variously-coloured illuminated hands, hats and eyes.

Also present were the Southern Starlights, the Stretch fire engine and an array of walking characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine, one of King Arthur's many knights, an Hawaiian girl and an oversized London 2012 Olympic athlete complete with torch.

But there was again a complete lack of the traditional floats on the back of lorries with intricately-constructed sets brightly illuminated and adorned by vividly dressed individuals.

These seemed to have passed into history in spite of the organisers' willingness to arrange lorries for any willing participants.

Last year's procession also lacked those set pieces but still attracted 16 entries. In 2006, there had been 17 groups taking part.

The fireworks which ended Sunday's enjoyment were as good as ever, however.

The ten-minute display from the pier rocked the seafront with its loud rockets and dazzled the sizable watching crowd with its vivid colours against a starlit night. It earned applause and cheers from those along the seafront.

DONT LET GALA DIE. NEXT PAGE

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