She’s waited a long time but 13-year-old Cate Clayton – who should have been the 2020 Goostrey Rose Queen – will definitely be crowned this year.
The organising committee of the event was forced to cancel most of the 2020 rose day events due to the pandemic but is determined to do as much as possible in 2021.
But there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding the exit from lockdown with step four (lifting of final restrictions) scheduled for no earlier than 21st June – only five days before this year’s event is due to take place – on Saturday, 26th June.
Announcing the 2021 plan, Rose Day Committee chair Christina Burgess said: “Although we are hoping lockdown will have been lifted by rose day, the uncertainty has made 2021 planning problematic.
“Nevertheless, we are confident we can conduct the crowning ceremony for Cate, accompanied by her attendants, as well as that for rosebud queen, Rose Worsley.
“The exact format and location of the ceremony will be decided later once the overall situation becomes clearer.”
She added: “We will conduct all the usual competitions, although how they will be judged will be determined nearer the time but online judging, which was used to such good effect last year, will no doubt play a part.”
Following last year’s successful Rose Day At Home, there will again be a special programme broadcast on Dane Sound Radio and the Goostrey Archive Group will be organising another treasure hunt.
Villagers will be encouraged to decorate their gardens with banners and buntings as usual.
Lockdown exit uncertainty has meant the organisers cannot commit to the more costly aspects of rose day and so there will be no full procession with floats, the main event on the school field with maypole dancing, stalls and marquees, or the evening ceilidh.
As a result, there will also not be a 2021 Rose Day programme.
Mrs Burgess added: “We may be able to organise a scaled down procession, but we will have to wait until nearer the time before we can make that decision on its precise format.
“There will be no rose queen or rosebud queen selection this year, but we will find roles for two rosebud queens in 2022, one from year three and another from year two in order to ensure no cohort misses out.
“Rose day is incredibly special and everyone in Goostrey, especially the children, looks forward to it but I am sure they will understand why it cannot happen in all its glory this year.”
She said the people of Goostrey remained “extremely supportive” and said that last year, despite the main event having to be cancelled, many people continued to support the event.
She added: “I am delighted to report that we continue to attract new patrons, whose financial contributions will not only help support the event but will help to meet the costs of a new website, which is desperately needed to keep everyone informed as to what is happening.”
While there is no fixed fee to become a patron a commitment of at least £30 a year for a household “would help enormously,” she said.
Anyone interested in becoming a patron is asked to email rose day treasurer Peter Gomes at peter@qualicum.co.uk in the first instance.
