FIRST Goostrey Scouts’ new base celebrated the Queen’s official birthday on Saturday with an interview with the village's most famous Rose Queen and post mistress.

Group Scout Leader, David Giles, interviewed Margaret Kettle about her long life in Goostrey, with an audience of more than 100 people hanging on to her every word. 

After the 75 minute 'Michael Parkinson style' interview, visitors enjoyed tea and cakes,  and the event helped to raise more than £500 towards paying off the outstanding loan on Goostrey’s new Scout Hut and Youth Centre.

Mrs Kettle chatted with David Giles about growing up in Goostrey in the 1920s and 30s, and how, after leaving Goostrey school at 14, she worked on the family farm and at the Crown Inn before marrying her husband George in 1946, after his return from the war. 

They opened a village shop on Main Road in 1960 and subsequently took on the post office, which Mrs Kettle has only relinquished in recent years.  

Referring to old photographs of Goostrey School and Goostrey Rose Day, she displayed an amazing memory of names and faces of local people, many of whose families still live in the area.

David said “The interview with Mrs Kettle was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable event for both the audience and for me. 

"I was honoured to have interviewed her and extremely grateful to her for sharing her memories to help the Scouts. Her sharpness of mind, wit and loving disposition at 95 is an example to us all."

He continued: “I am thrilled to announce two new donations to the Scout Hut in the past week. We have just received a cheque for £600 from last year’s Simon Weston Trophy Football Match – on top of the £900 raised from this year’s event. 

"The proceeds from the 2017 match between East and West Goostrey teams were originally pledged as a contribution to a defibrillator at the Booth Bed Lane sports facility, but since other funding was secured for the defibrillator, we are very grateful that the money raised has kindly been remitted to the Scout Hut fund.

“Furthermore, it gives me great pleasure to announce that 1st Goostrey Scouts has recently received a generous £10,000 grant from the Columbus Fellowship.

"This charity, which has ceased operating,  used to run residential summer camps and other outdoor–based venture activities for 11-16 year olds. It is in the process of distributing its remaining financial assets to voluntary organisations with similar aims and I am delighted that 1st Goostrey Scouts’ grant application was successful. This generous £10,000 grant makes a very significant reduction in  the outstanding loan on the Scout Hut.”