KNUTSFORD’S big day went off without a hitch as the town celebrated the 146th Royal May Day festival on Saturday.

The procession got under way at 2pm as hundreds of children set off from Marshall’s Yard to march the route through the town centre in front of thousands of spectators.

Meanwhile, this year’s May Queen, Saskia Pinnington, 12, was busy getting ready to leave at the Sessions House with her court in attendance.

But there was one man who had to miss out on the day.

Ken Gresty, chairman of the May Day committee, has been seriously ill recently after suffering a stroke.

Anne De Ruiter, secretary of Knutsford Royal May Day, said Ken was recovering well, but it meant he had to miss out on the day for the first time in more than 30 years.

“Ken has been making good progress,” she said.

“He is still in hospital but was very poorly. He has been on the committee since 1974, and I think this is the first one he has missed, so it is a long record.

“Everyone was determined to make it a good one as he wasn’t there.”

The crowd enjoyed performances from Warrington Brass Band, Warrington Pipe Band, horses from Robinson Brewery, while watching the Cheshire Wheelmen wind their way through the streets on their antique bicycles.

Ann added: “Everyone worked really hard, and all the bits came together.

“It is like a jigsaw, and everybody has there bit to do. We had a lot of support from Inspector Kate Woods at the police and Diane Smith, the town centre manager.

“I sat with Saskia at the dinner we have on Saturday night and she told me she had had a lovely day even though she was really tired.

“She enjoyed it and all the family were very happy and her grandparents were very proud.”

On the Heath the spectators enjoyed the Highland fling and Morris dances before King’s School pupil Tom Baston crowned Saskia as the 2010 Knutsford Royal May Queen.

For more photos from May Day click on the Buy a Photo link at the top of the page.