Record crowds flock to Goostrey Rose Day

Casey, who was crowned in front of last year's queen Samantha Drucker, was accompanied by her attendants, Amelia Hunt-Mason and Lilianna Hamer.

The Rose Bud Queen was Matilda Few and her lady in waiting was Isobel comb. There were five attendants – Olivia Pearson, Emily Ball, Rose Saunders, Madeleine Farrar and Eva Macleod.

Farmer Ray Brown marks one of milkers to celebrate a century of the herd

This year's Rose Day president was Lyndsey Saxton, a teacher at Goostrey School for many years and who helped develop the strong links between the village and the Elizabethfontein School in South Africa.

Lyndsey invited one of the students, Garcia Oliphant, who first came to Rose Day in 2011, to fly to the UK to join her for her big day.

The Golden Queen, who was crowned Rose Queen in 1969, was Margaret Street, nee Dakin, and the Master of Ceremonies was Alison Wright.

Budgie Burgess's War Horse and First World War army

Large crowds lined Main Road to watch the procession, which was made up of a series of floats and walking groups led by a steam traction engine driven by Terry and Des Bostock, accompanied by Jack Carbutt’s steam roller.

Visitors were entertained by children from Year 2 at Goostrey School with their superb Maypole Dancing, the Alderley District Scout Band and the Audelu Brass band. There were also numerous stalls around the field and a craft tent.

More popular than ever were two of the adult entries, Goostrey Gooseberry Society with the theme the Peaky Blinders, and Budgie Burgess, who recruited a First World War army, including Margaret Kettle, arguably the village's oldest resident, as he sat aloft a large-scale model of War Horse.

As in previous year's Budgie retained the trophy after being judged best on parade, but not to be outdone the gooseberry growers provided a real challenge with mean-looking 'Peakymen and boys' and also included Margaret Kettle, a former rose queen, in a life-sized photograph on their float.

Visitors peruse the Goostrey Parish Archive Group display

One of the most popular displays was Goostrey Parish Archive Group (GosPA) which reached back into its files to show pictures of local interest from the past including many from the Smallwood Collection and also featured the penny-farthing bike owned by villager Peter Squash that was recently on TV.

A newcomer 'Wild About Goostrey' which offers plaques to people pledging to maintain their gardens to retain and attract bio-diversity had its own display as well as being featured on Goostrey Parish Council's stand. The organisers of the non-competitive award scheme received nine pledges as well as an invitation to speak to pupils at Goostrey Community Primary School.

Another newcomer with a popular field stand was farmer Ray Brown and his family who brought along one of the milkers from their Bidlea Herd founded 100-years ago. They recently launched Bidlea Dairy to deliver fresh milk direct to shops and on the doorstep by Sheldon's from Knutsford.

Congleton MP Fiona Brown was among visitors to the stand who congratulated Ray on establishing the new enterprise.

Farmer Ray Brown with Congleton MP Fiona Bruce

After several years of hard campaigning, Friends of Goostrey Station (Fogs), showcased pictures of the completion of the scheme to restore the Victorian station by Network Rail at a cost of around £40,000 and discussed hopes of the station becoming a centre for the arts and artisan workers in the near future.

The winners of the plank walking competition, which again proved extremely popular with the bumper crowd, was for the second year running the all-women team called Always Right.

The profits from the teas served in the village hall will be split between the Remembering Nell Foundation and Unicef.

The day was rounded off by a Ceilidh in the marquee which was attended by more than 100 revellers.

On Sunday, a special service was held at St Luke's Church where the children were encouraged to attend wearing their Rose Day costumes.

Chairman of the Rose Day committee Christina Burgess said: “We thought it was hot 12 months ago but this year it appeared even hotter. However, that didn’t stop the people of Goostrey turning out to support us.

“We have been heartened by the number of new patrons who have come forward to help ensure this traditional village event, which has been held for well over 100 years, continues,

“Yet again it was a great success, but it would not have been possible without all the hard work put in by the committee and countless other volunteers.”

Gooseberry Society's float themed as Peaky Blinders had a mean crew on board

The Jon Lee Cup for the best decorated children's float went to Under the Sea.

Children of the World won the best decorated banner and the best community float went to Budge’s Warhorse which featured 96-year-old Margaret Kettle.

Best visiting Queen's car went to Lostock Green

The Festival Bowl, awarded for the best single Rose of any variety, exhibited in a container of the competitor’s own choice, was won by Hannah Stirling, Jill Whailing came second and Mark Bowers, third.

The Luke Brothers Trophy, for the three Roses of one or more varieties, went to Jill Whailing, Ann Turnock took second place and Kate Fowler was third.

The Chairman's Vase, awarded for an arrangement of garden flowers, was won by Sarah Bowers, second was Jill Whailing and the third prize went to Margie Raynes.

The Hodgson Cup, for a Wimbledon themed table arrangement including at least one rose, was won by Laura Hemming, Laura Knighton was second and Joy Booth was third.

The First World War army including one of the oldest former Rose Queens on parade, Margaret Kettle.

The Edward Simpson Cup, for the best flower arrangement of garden flowers in a jam jar by a child under eight, went to Ruby Hemming with Martha Sant, second and Isla Kingsbury, third.

The Jim Schofield Memorial Cup for the best garden flowers in a jam jar by a child aged 8-11 went to Katie Hicks with Cate Clayton, second and Ella Wilford, third.

The children's competition of a potato in the Under 8s category was won by Reggie Green. Elie Howson came second and Noah Hemming was third.

The 8- 11 class was by Max Howson with Luca Pacitto second and Carlo Pacitto, third.