WITH Royal May Day just around the corner, Knutsford Heritage Centre is planning a celebration with a difference as it hosts a special exhibition and a Canute Millennial treat for the procession.

The ‘May Day past and present’ display, opened on Saturday in the Musgrave Gallery at the centre on King Street and will stay open until Sunday, May 15 and celebrates 152 years of the festival.

In the Royal May Day procession itself, the centre is sponsoring a 30 foot replica Viking longship to celebrate 1,000 years since King Canute became the first King of England, which is also being celebrated by the Viking Warrior and English King exhibition which opened last month and will run until November.

2016 is an important year for Knutsford, who takes its name from King Canute and his fording of the River Lilly at ‘Canutesford’. The town appears in the Domesday Book as Canutesford.

Highlights of the Royal May Day exhibition include current May Queen, Sofia Chowdry’s, dress and crown as well as the dress of the very first Queen and a number of crowns from the 20th century.

In previous years 14-year-old Knutsford Academy student Sofia, has been in the procession as a damsel, a Cranford lady and maid of honour.

She said: “Being chosen to be Knutsford Royal May Queen was a fantastic honour. As well as Royal May Day itself, an event I will never forget was being with the mayor for the switching on of the Christmas lights.

“I was surrounded by a crowd of little girls. They were so excited. I realised I was being viewed like a role model. I am sure almost every Knutsford girl must at some point dream of being crowned Royal May Queen.”

Sofia’s ambition is to study to become a lawyer. Having had the opportunity to visit a law court and see a trial, she particularly enjoys arguing her case in school debates and says it is good practice for a legal career.

Val Bryant, heritage centre director and trustee, added: “We were delighted to have Sofia preview the May Day exhibition and give it her seal of approval.

“Every year the Centre stages and exhibition that tells the story of May Day.

“This year we’ve been able to take things further by sponsoring the appearance in the procession of the Viking longship.”

“The vessel is owned by Russ Scott of the Viking re-enactment group Traders, Raiders and Invaders. It was built by the same methods used by the Vikings and has been rowed or sailed at numerous events, including national celebrations on the Thames in London.”

“Russ Scott has a deep knowledge of all things Viking and will be appearing with others in full Viking costume at the Heritage Centre’s Big Viking Weekend on the June 18 and 19.”