A GYMNASTICS coach from Rhiwhiriaeth has been chosen as Llanfair Caereinion’s new Carnival Queen.

Sarah Jayne Astley is a talented athlete who has represented Wales at the UK Sports Hall Indoor Athletics Final in Manchester.

When she’s not studying for her GSCEs and BTEC in agriculture, Sarah coaches budding little gymnasts at Llanfair Caereinion Gymnastics Club, where she’s been a dedicated member since she was four years old.

For the last couple of years Sarah has been working at The Goat Hotel, Llanfair Caereinion, as a waitress and also enjoys helping out at a neighbour’s farm on weekends and holidays. When Sarah was younger she loved to sell fruit and vegetables around Llanfair and at Welshpool Market Hall on Saturdays with her Nan and Grandad.

During Llanfair Carnival 2016, Sarah shaved her hair off and donated it to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment. Sarah raised £8,000 from generous donations made by the community. The money went to The Lingen Davies Cancer Trust which is a charity very close to her heart. The Trust cared for her Grandad when he was diagnosed with cancer and helped her family come to terms with the illness.

“It just shows what a great community we have in Llanfair,” said Sarah.

“It is a great honour to be chosen as Queen this year, for an event that I loved as a child!

“Llanfair Carnival has been a day that I’ve always looked forward to and it’s a chance for the whole community to get together in a fun way.”

Joining Sarah on the Queen’s Float will be Jamie-Lee Reed, Tommie Lindsay-Jones, Rowan Barlow, James Miller, Mared Haf Ellis, Mollie Peate, Bronwen Burns and Daisy William-Lloyd.

Llanfair Carnival is on Saturday, June 16, from 12.30pm.