CROWDS came out in force for a poignant Rose festival event missing two of its stalwarts.
Saturday, June 24, saw the first Goostrey Rose Day held since the deaths of 100-year-old Margaret Kettle, last December, and former village vicar Heather Buckley, earlier this month.
Margaret supported the festival thoroughout her long life and in recent years, Heather enthusiastically got involved.
Chairwoman of the organising committee, Christina Burgess, said: "Margaret grew up in the village and supported Goostrey Rose Festival throughout her long life.
"There are photos of her as a child in the wedding party and as Rose Queen.
"As an adult, she loved dressing up for the procession and she was our President on two occasions.
"At her funeral, we were touched to hear that she felt that she would be able to enjoy at least one more Rose Day.
"When she became our vicar, Heather knew nothing about Goostrey Rose Day. But she joined in with enthusiasm.
"She helped to choose the new Rose Queen, she led the ceremony at the war memorial, and she organised a service of celebration. Last year, she took us all by surprise when she travelled on a float as the vicar of Dibley."
In honour of Margaret, a new trophy was presented to the adult with the best fancy dress costume.
The winner was Dave 'Budge' Burgess who walked the length of the procession as a stilt walker as part of the Budge’s State Circus float which also won the prize for the best community float.
Visitors lined Main Road to watch the procession, which was made up of a series of floats, walking groups and queens from other local villages, led by a steam traction engine driven by Terry and Des Bostock. In all more than 200 children took part.
Then Ella Wilford, aged 13, was crowned Rose Queen during the traditional ceremony, by last year’s retiring queen Lucy Boardman, and had two attendants, Eleanor Stutfield and Nancy Napier.
The 2023 Rose Bud Queen was Phoebe Sharman, accompanied by her lady in waiting, Isabelle Spencer. There were six Rose Bud Queen attendants: Jessica Beardsworth; Elora Clifford; Scarlett Devey; Ruby Hemming; Hannah Pearson and Bronte Rushton.
The silver queen was Vicky Crouch, who was Rose Queen 25 years ago and the gold queen was Beverley Elton. This year’s festival president Hazel Challinor was also the diamond queen having been crowned 60 years ago.
And for the sixth time since 2004, the event was enhanced by a visit of children and teachers from the Elizabethfontein school in South Africa.
The school, which is twinned with Goostrey Community Primary School, has taken part in Rose Days and the group entertained the crowd with their award-winning dancing.
n the field there were numerous stalls and the bigger-than-normal audience was treated to Maypole Dancing from year three at Goostrey school, the Audley Brass Band and a bog stomping competition, where teams of four raced around the arena on specially designed planks of wood.
The day was rounded off by a Ceilidh, attended by more than 100 revellers.
On Sunday, a special service was held at St Luke's Church where again the South African children danced.
Christina added: “Everyone seems to agree that this year’s Rose Day was a great success but it would not have been possible without all the hard work put in by the committee and countless other volunteers.
"The support we received from the community was exceptional and I would like to thank every single person who helped in any way.
"A child recently described Goostrey Rose Day as the best day of the year and as far as I am concerned it certainly was."
The Jon Lee Cup for the best decorated children's float went to the Dinosaurs from Year two.
The pupils from Elizabethfontein School in South Africa won the best decorated banner and the best visiting queen's car went to Byley, with the Hobday family on Booth Bed Lane winning the Smallwood Trophy for the best decorated property.
The Festival Bowl, awarded for the best single rose of any variety, exhibited in a container of the competitor’s own choice, was won by Rachel Garnet.
The Luke Brothers Trophy, for the three Roses of one or more varieties, went to Lydia Capey and the Chairman's Vase, awarded for an arrangement of garden flowers, was won by Elizabeth Edwards.
The Hodgson Cup, for a table arrangement to include at least one rose to celebrate the South Africans' visit, was won by Ann Turnock.
The Edward Simpson Cup, for the best flower arrangement of garden flowers in a jam jar by a child up to seven went to Thomas Garnett, aged six, while the Jim Schofield Memorial Cup for the best garden flowers in a jam jar by a child aged seven to 11 was won by 10-year-old Noah Hemming.
The Queen’s Jubilee Cup, for a handmade crown by a child aged up to seven, went to Jessica Beardsworth and Millie Jeavons won the Platinum Jubilee Cup for a handmade crown by a child aged eight to 11.
The Rose Festival Craft Plate for a handcraft to celebrate the coronation was won by Ann Turnock.
The Smallwood trophy for the best decorated property in the village went to the Hobday family in Booth Bed Lane.
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