Goostrey Rose Day attracts bumper crowd and new volunteers

Hundreds of villagers lined the streets on Saturday for the annual celebration.

Schoolgirl Harriette Noonan, 12, was crowned Rose Queen on the school field.

READ > Wilmslow drivers clocked speeding on Knutsford Road

Goostrey Rosebuds (Image: Fenella Thorpe)

The spectacular, the largest village event of its kind in the area, relies on scores of volunteers.

Organisers are delighted that a whole load of new people stepped forward to help maintain the tradition.

Clowning around (Image: Fennella Thorpe)

Christina Burgess, chairman of the organising committee said: “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.

Bubbles in the air (Image: Fennella Thorpe)

“The support we received from the community was exceptional.

“I would like to thank every single person who helped in any way.

A Samba band kept the beat going (Image: Fennella Thorpe)

“It is most heartening that so many new volunteers have stepped forward to help this year which is very reassuring for the future of the event which has been taking place in Goostrey for well over 100 years.”

The procession of floats, walking groups and queens from other local villages was led by a steam traction engine driven by Terry and Des Bostock.

Five community teams competed in a tug-of-war (Image: Fenella Thorpe)

Almost 250 children took part.

The best visiting queen’s car was won by Astbury.

The Year 3 decorated lorry Space took the Jon Lee Cup for the best children’s float.

Young astronauts who won the best children's float for their theme on space (Image: Fennella Thorpe)

The best banner was David Attenborough and endangered animals.

Budgie’s surprise won the best adult float and Cynthia Bridgewood won the Mrs Kettle Trophy for the best adult fancy dress.

Harriette was crowned during the traditional ceremony by her brother Rupert Noonan who was the crown bearer.

Willy Wonka (Image: Fennella Thorpe)

Her attendants were Isobel Comb; Tilda Few, Brianna Hamilton, Sophie Henry, Isla Machin, Kate Pearson, Rose Saunders and Chloe Walker.

Romilly Wakefield was the Rosebud Queen and her lady in waiting was Thea Langley.

The attendants were Bethany Anderson, Bryony Brown, Chloe Dakin, Anvitha Mothe, Beth Solan and Amber Willmott.

This year’s Rose Festival president was Sue Mottershead.

The Gold Queen was Janet Smith, nee Blackhurst, who was crowned in 1974 and the Silver Queen was Sarah Le-Grys, nee Gilsenan, who was Rose Queen in 1999.

The pair were accompanied by the Crown Bearer from 1974 Stephen Walton and Adam Brown who performed the role 25 years ago.

On the field there were numerous stalls including the hoopla game, recently restored by the village archive group with the help of Goostrey Men in Sheds, which attracted a big audience throughout the afternoon.

The larger than normal crowd was also treated to Maypole Dancing from Year 3 at Goostrey school, the Audley Brass Band and five community teams competing in a tug-of-war competition.

The day was rounded off by a Ceilidh attended by almost 100 revellers.

On Sunday a special service was held at St Luke's Church where children attended in their Rose Day costumes.

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 Jean Fowler.

The Luke brothers trophy, for the three roses of one or more varieties, went to Lydia Copey and the chairman's vase, awarded for an arrangement of garden flowers, was won by Karen Wilson.

The Hodgson Cup, for a table arrangement to include at least one rose with an Olympics theme, 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 Elsie Richardson, aged six.

The Jim Schofield Memorial Cup for the best garden flowers in a jam jar by a child aged 7-11 was won by 11-year-old Noah Hemming.

The Queen’s Jubilee Cup for a garden on a plate by a child aged up to seven went to Tilly Fenner, seven.

Reggie Green, aged nine, won the Platinum Jubilee Cup for a garden on a plate by a child aged eight to 11.

The Rose Festival craft plate for a Victoria Sponge with jam went to Helen Hobday and the Smallwood trophy for the best decorated property in the village went to Chris Braddon from Booth Bed Lane.

Fenella Thorpe, a student at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, captured these photographs.

Student Samuel Lord, who took pictures of last year's Rose Day, used his portfolio and press cuttings in his UCAS application and starts a photographic course at Liverpool University in September.