2011 Goostrey Rose Festival

Young dancers were the stars of Goostrey Rose Festival where 12-year-old Honor Hocknell was crowned Rose Queen 2011.

Children from Goostrey’s twin school in South Africa performed a series of routines following the traditional maypole dancing by pupils from Goostrey school and then a local street dance academy entertained the crowd.

Ten children and teachers from the Elizabethfontein School, in the Western Cape, had been in Goostrey, staying with local families, for 10 days before Rose Day. As well as joining in lessons at the school, the South African children visited Harlech, London, and the Cheshire Show where again they entertained the crowds with their dancing.

The Maypole dancing was performed by Year 2 pupils from Goostrey School who have been practising under the guidance of teacher Anne Wheatley, who was this year’s Rose Day President.

Earlier, the crowd of nearly 1,000 heard the public rendition of the Goostrey Song, especially composed by Dave and Amy Hext to mark the visit of the South African children.

Honor, who was following in her elder sister Emily’s footsteps was crowned in front of the retiring Rose Queen Georgia Wootton.

Over 200 children took part in the procession from Booth Bed Lane to the school field, made up of floats and walking groups and led by a steam traction engine driven by Terry and Des Bostock. Vintage tractors also took part in the procession through the village.

The print version of this article appeared in the August 2011 issue of Cheshire Life 

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