Garstang and District Children's Festival
CHARLOTTE ARCHER
FESTIVAL QUEEN 2007
(2007 Festival Programme)
In previous articles we have looked at the origins of Whit walks and festivals. An exhibition at Garstang library which contained a story about our Festival Queen in 1938 provided the inspiration for last year’s story. Marjorie Nicholls, the Queen from that year, was still in Garstang and the opportunity seemed too good to miss. Marjorie and her close friend and fellow fancy dress conspirator, Marion (or more properly as she is respectfully referred to by generations of Garstonians), Nurse Ward, agreed to share their memories and the recordings they had done for the Lancashire archives to provide an insight to Whit Mondays, especially the Queen’s day, from all those years ago. As a result of a visit to the exhibition our local MP, Ben Wallace, expressed an interest in meeting some of our past Queens. He was subsequently invited to a coffee morning at the library, attended and responded in turn with an invitation to visit him at Parliament. Our two ladies were part of a small group who took up the invite and had a thoroughly enjoyable trip. Our ladies also took part last year in the parade, not just in the evening when we are accustomed to seeing them in their mischief in the fancy dress, but in their finery as guests of honour in the morning parade. They were driven around town in an open-top car having the time of their lives and looking very elegant. Lunch with the Festival President topped things off nicely!
When the layout and content of this year’s magazine was discussed, one of the most popular ideas was to talk to a younger person about their view of the event and their experiences. This seemed to me to be fraught with problems – talk to a teenager! Would they have a viewpoint? Would this make an article? Last year’s article with our two grand ladies had been fascinating and pleasurable. This year I was definitely nervous. The subject for the article, it was proposed, would be our current Queen, Charlotte Archer. First problem – would she even be willing? A quick word with her parents Karen and Stuart would she be willing to be written about – they thought that she would. She had enjoyed the experience and thought it was a good idea to talk about it. First hurdle out of the way! As it later turned out, this was the one and only obstacle. Charlotte had always wanted to be Queen and was more than happy to share her story. She has, like many local folk, a history of involvement with the festival. It has always been celebrated at home and Charlotte has been in the parade several times. Firstly, with St Thomas’, then as a Morris dancer for fours years and now she helps with the Morris dancing troop. Her duties, as retiring Queen, prevent her from appearing with the dancers this year but she intends to be with them the year after.
The Queen is selected by the drawing of lots and this was Charlotte’s fourth, and she had decided, her final attempt. She considers that probably the best age to be Queen is between 13 and 15 years old, to best appreciate it and to cope with the job. News of her success was greeted by tears! Her retinue was made up of her friends, neighbours and two of her cousins. David Walkden and Adam Rostron had always been aware of her ambition to be Queen and had promised to be her attendants, and now they had their chance. A special mention of one of her ladies and an apology - Hannah Slater, whose name was spelt wrongly in last year’s booklet. A committee member, Janet, helps with advice and information. Karen confirms that Charlotte knew what she wanted in the way of dresses for her ladies and outfits for her male attendants. She chose them all, detailing handbags and dress styles and the waistcoats and bow ties. Most of the finery was made by a local dressmaker. In fact most of the shopping was done locally and Karen says all the shops were extremely helpful, especially so when they found out what was going on. The Queen’s dress however came from a wedding dress supplier and this was bought by Gran and Grandad. It then had to be taken in from a size 16 to fit a much slimmer young lady. The Committee provide funds to assist with the costs but the parents of the retinue all chipped in and were a huge help. Karen and the staff from Oaklands organised fund raising, put together a hamper which was raffled there and made a substantial donation towards festival funds.
With a lot of hard work from Mum, Dad and everyone involved with the retinue, the day eventually arrived. The Archer household was up early – 6.30am. A quick peep through the curtains, an action shared by lots of others on this important morning, was met with a little disappointment. Not the warm, sunny day hoped for but it could have been worse. This was Charlotte’s big day and everyone was going to get on with it and make the best of it. Perhaps the sun will put in an appearance later! The dresses were all pressed and on a clothes rail. All the accessories were in neat piles with the wearer’s name card on them and everyone had a good luck card from Charlotte, together with a detailed schedule for the day. Karen’s friend, Angela, turned up to do everyone’s hair and Sandra and Paul to help with the preparations. People started to arrive as did a lovely bouquet from the Town Trust and gradually, amidst the noise and excitement, things started to take shape. Stuart provided a treat – glasses of Bucks Fizz (small ones of course). Photos were taken in the back garden by Barry Till and finally everyone was ready for the off. Was our Queen nervous at this point? A little, but once things got under way this soon vanished. For Charlotte the high spot of her day was being escorted down the High Street by the band to the Market Cross for the crowning. A slight hitch as Sarah, the retiring Queen, crowned her. The crown slipped as they adjusted it. A moment of panic, then it was straight and secure and her reign could begin.
Charlotte adored the reception from the crowd. All the way round town she was greeted with applause, cheering and good wishes, glimpses of friends and relatives, and encouragement for her and her retinue. After the parade came lunch with the president, mayor and guests, and then for her first official engagement she was to visit the local old peoples’ home at Bowgreave. This was supposedly for the Queen alone. The retinue were not standing for that. They were going too! So, off they all went, had a wonderful time and thoroughly charmed the residents and staff. No rest, they say, for the wicked, nor apparently for Charlotte and her gang and Mum also. Home to change, check all the outfits and before you know it, it’s evening parade time. This was not quite the end either. Football finals and one of her attendants was playing, so along went the Queen – her turn to support him. Finally, the end of activities and home for a rest? Early to bed? Not likely. Party time! Next door neighbours have a conservatory known as the Blue Room and this had been converted into a disco. Stuart and Karen meanwhile took the chance to slip quietly away for a thoroughly deserved pint. An altogether different day to the one enjoyed by Marjorie some 71 years ago. Different, but still massively enjoyable.
During the year Charlotte has attended Catterall Gala. Her grandparents live there and their Queen, Ruth, is a relative and so Charlotte sent her a good luck card for the day. Cockerham festival was a lot of fun and so was St Michaels. The opening of the Leonard Cheshire Home fun day was a high spot and Charlotte and her loyal supporters helped with the fundraising. Sadly, her year is drawing to a close – one more gala (Churchtown) and her duties as retiring Queen at our Whitsuntide parade are over. Still, like every previous Queen, she believes it is a time she will always remember and be proud of. She is going to keep her dress “forever” and to help with her memories she has put together an impressive album of photographs and keepsakes, the card that accompanied the Town Trust bouquet, the letter inviting her and her family to visit Ben Wallace. The wonderful day in London that followed with a visit to the Houses of Parliament and the generosity of Mr Wallace with both his time and his biscuits.
As with everything, without really knowing it is easy to take things for granted. The Queen’s appearance on Whit Monday seems so easy, so normal. Well, it is but with a lot of effort from Mum, and Dad, friends and neighbours and, in this particular instance, Charlotte and her grandparents and the retinue and their parents. You only need to look at the impressive collection of photographs taken by Barry to see the proud parents enjoying their daughter’s special day, but everyone else “had a ball” also. One of the worries for any event, club or organisation is always the attitude of younger people and whether they want to be involved and carry things forward. After meeting Charlotte this is surely not a worry for the festival. Over the years the event has given a huge amount of pleasure to local folk and this gradually translates into volunteers, committee and all manner of helpers. When I left Charlotte, she was preparing letters for her friends, detailing instructions and timetables for their final duties. After realising her ambition to train the Morris dancers when Angela retires, what then? In future years, a place on the committee, secretary or chairperson. Do not bet against it.