THIS year’s Thelwall Rose Queen procession and crowning was a dry and warm event despite a dreadful weather forecast.
Leaving the Parish Hall carpark led by Lymm town crier, Peter Powell and the pipes and drums of the Manchester Phoenix pipe band this year’s floats were decked out in the theme of ‘the Inn Names’.
These included the Church Green, the Horse and Hound, the Mad Hatter, The Holiday Inn, the George and Dragon, the Unicorn, the Wellington, the Farmers Arms and the Fireman’s Arms.
Thes parade was joined by the retiring Rose Queen and attendants float, the 2018 Rose Queen float and her attendants. Also parading through the streets lined with locals were Thelwall Morris Men, the Batala band and various vintage vehicles.
This year’s Rose Queen was 10 year old Lola Coulton who has lived in the village all her life. She loves sport and dance and has never missed a Rose Queen event, even as a baby. Her attendants were Poppy Coulton, Lily Hanson, Kate Yarwood, Ava Fotherby Packer, Evie Leigh and Milijana Miseljic. Lola took over from last year’s retiring Rose Queen, Maddison Shaw, aged 12.
The winners of the best walking float were the Thelwall Rainbows and Brownies who were a riot of colour decked out as’the Unicorn.’ Best motorised float went to Cheshire Day Nursery with their amazing depiction of ‘the Mad Hatter’. Also announced was the winner of the best scarecrow competition which went to Joanna Storey for her superbly artistic ‘beware, children playing out’.
After the parade it was time to perform the crowning ceremony which was carried out by Maggie Taylor and then on to the fun and festivities.
The large and happy crowd were treated to an afternoon programme of events which included The Thelwall Junior Choir, Warrington animal welfare dog show, the Batala Liverpool drum band and the Thelwall Morris Men.
Activities included donkey rides, assault courses, birds of prey, remote control car racing, a coconut shy, crazy golf and some fabulous fairground rides.
The local hostelries, the Little Manor and the Pickering Arms catered for hungry and thirsty revellers and the Little Manor had a gin fizz and Pimm’s tent, a BBQ and live music to entertain the crowds.
Events such as these take an awful lot of organising and this year special thanks should go to Philip Young, Chairman of the Thelwall Rose Queen Committee and all his volunteer colleagues. The local PCSO’s and the St. John’s ambulance were also on hand to ensure that all went smoothly.
For more pictures by Gareth Brimelow CLICK HERE
Click here for more images from the day by Paul Jackson
