Goostrey Rose Festival 2021 set to go ahead!
The good news is that Goostrey will celebrate Rose Day on Saturday 26 June even though there will not be an event on the school field because of the uncertainties surrounding the exit from lockdown.
Instead, the Rose Queen Cate Clayton and Rosebud Queen Rose Worsley will be crowned in a short ceremony which will take place at 12.30pm on the grassed area off Booth Bed Lane, opposite Meadow Avenue.
The girls, wearing their crowns and accompanied by their attendants, will then form a small-scale procession which will begin at 1pm and go down Main Road to the Church where the vicar Heather Buckley will say a prayer before a wreath is laid at the War Memorial.
We hope the village will support the procession and line Main Road whilst maintaining all Covid restrictions, such as social distancing and mask wearing, if they are still in place on the day. Please be aware that Main Road will be closed from Booth Bed Lane to the Church from 1pm until 2pm.Villagers are encouraged to decorate their gardens with banners and bunting as usual and there will again be a prize for the best garden banner.
Following on from last year’s successful Rose Day at Home there will again be a special programme broadcast on Dane Sound Radio on the Saturday afternoon and this will repeated the following day for those who are unable to listen on Rose Day. The usual prize draw will be taking place with a fantastic array of prizes generously donated by local businesses. Look out for tickets in the run up to Rose Day. The Goostrey Archive Group will be organising another Treasure Hunt.
One of the successes of last year was the delivery of small cakes, on behalf of the Rose Queen to residents who were isolating because of the Covid pandemic, and so the committee has decided to repeat the exercise again this year. If you know anyone who would benefit from a delivery, please let Martine Nicholson know by calling 532375 or e-mailing martine.nicholson@yahoo.co.uk before 20th June.
Competitions
The competitions will still take place. The children’s craft competition for those aged up to eight and those from 8 -11 is Pebble Art (up to 25cm size). Entries for both age groups should be taken to the Orchards Farm, Twemlow (opposite Bidlea Dairy) on Saturday 19 June between 9.00 am and 10.00 am. Judging will take place at 10.00 am. Entries to be picked back up between 11.00 am and midday. There will be sweets for each entrant on pick up and a photo of the entries with the child’s first name and age displayed, will be put on the Rose Day Facebook page.
This year’s theme for the Rose Festival Craft Plate is a Garden Door Wreath (up to 40 cms wide). Entries should be taken to The Orchards Farm, Twemlow on Saturday 19 June between 1.00pm and 2.00 pm. Judging will be at 2.00 pm and entries to be picked up between 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm. The committee would like to thank Jill & Ray Brown for the kind use of their property.
The Hodgson Cup competition to create a Plant Pot Garden (up to 1 meter high and to include at least one rose) will be judged in the gardens of entrants.
To enter ring 07799 058198 leaving your name and address. Last entry is at 5.00pm on Tuesday 22 June and judging (in your garden) will begin at 2.00pm on Wednesday 23 June. All winners will be announced on Dane Sound Radio
Chair of Rose Day Chris Burgess said:
“This year’s Rose Day will be on a smaller scale than usual, and the uncertainty surrounding around the Government’s Roadmap out of the pandemic has made it very challenging for the organisers. We have adopted a cautious approach, with the safety of children and villagers always the number one priority. However, we are confident that the people of Goostrey will make the most of this special day and we hope that families will organise their own celebrations.”