PREPARATIONS are already underway at the Knutsford Heritage Centre for next year’s 150th anniversary of Knutsford Royal May Day – and the volunteers need your help.

As well as staging an exhibition looking at the history of Knutsford May Day, the Heritage Centre is planning to run a special competition in conjunction with the town’s retailers.

Details of the competition are being kept under wraps for now but, in order to make it a success, the volunteers need to track down as many May Queen crowns as possible.

Val Bryant, Heritage Centre volunteer and event organiser, said: “We’d like as many previous May Queens as possible to lend their crowns as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations.

“Many Queens will have moved away from Knutsford but if their families are still in the town we’d like them to see if they can find the crowns. Maybe their daughters are at university or working away and have left their crowns at home.”

A new crown is commissioned every year for the new Knutsford Royal May Queen and once crowned on May Day, the Queen keeps her crown.
Royal May Day is an enduring part of the town’s history and plays a big part in its present.

Every year it brings the children of the town together to dress up in historical or legendary costumes and parade through the town.

The parade is led by Jack-in-the-Green and includes Morris Dancers, a Chinese Dragon, a town crier and officials, and the May Queen with her Court attendants in horse-drawn carriages.

Val added: “It’s a day which brings everyone together – friends, families and tourists who love to see the pageant.

“Knutsford just wouldn’t be Knutsford without May Day.”

Anyone who can help with the May Queen Crown appeal should get in contact with the Heritage Centre on 01565 650 506 or email info@knutsfordheritage.co.uk.