ALMOST 50 years after she was crowned Miss Crimdon, grandmother Louise Allen yesterday returned to the scene of her triumph to meet three other former title holders.
Joining Louise, who won the Crimdon Beauty Pageant in 1955, were the 1964 winner, Pat Jamieson, Michelle Horn who won in 1978 and 1983, and Andrea Robinson, who also won the title twice, in 1988 and 1991.
The beauty queens from across the decades were brought together to help celebrate the regeneration of the area where the seaside pageant was held.
The competition was launched before the Second World War, when Crimdon's wide sandy beaches attracted thousands of miners' families and day trippers to the east Durham resort
Held in a tranquil setting in the scenic dene, the competition was the highlight of the summer festivities, but in recent years the location has become run down.
A £700,000 regeneration programme is under way to improve Crimdon Park, and the search for former title holders is just one of a series of community events planned for the ambitious project.
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