Deanna will wear Crawley May Queen's crown

Central Sussex College student Deanna Day, 18, of Ifield, applied to be the fayre’s 2016 May Queen after she noticed a friend’s Facebook status calling for applicants.

She thinks her voluntary work with First Ifield Brownies helped impress the panel choosing the May Queen.

Deanna said: “I was absolutely ecstatic when I found out.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was little.”

She will ride to the fayre in an open-top cart pulled by a tractor, supported by several young attendants.

Deanna will then be crowned in an opening ceremony at the Ifield Barn Theatre.

“I’ll be more nervous than anything, but I think I will be excited as well,” she said.

“It’s like a wedding but without a groom.”

Deanna’s dress is being made specially for the event by a member of the Ifield Barn Theatre.

Luckily, Deanna enjoys dressing up.

During her childcare course she has entertained children by dressing up as a minion.

As a Brownie leader, she dressed up in a Santa costume for Christmas.

She said: “I just love it - dressing up for charity, that sort of thing.”

Deanna tries to go to the fayre every year with her dad.

She said he was over the moon to find out she was the new May Queen.

The May Queen Parade will leave St Margaret’s School in Ifield at 11am.

It will then make its way to the Ifield Barn Theatre, where the May Queen will be crowned at 11.30am.

There will be maypole dancing, competitions, homemade treats and fun inflatables among the entertainments.

A raffle with a first prize of £300 drawn at 4.30pm.

Proceeds from the day will go to St Margaret’s Church Building Fund and the Ifield Barn Arts Centre.

The day’s sponsors include The Plough Inn Ifield, the Ifield Village Association and King & Chasemore Crawley.

For more information see www.ifieldmayfayre.co.uk.