ST Mary’s Church in Mellor celebrated the diamond anniversary of its Rose Queen Festival with nearly 40 former rose queens.
To mark the milestone invitations were sent to all 60 former rose queens and 18 rosebud queens inviting them to attend the crowning of this year’s queen Matilda Holroyd.
Parishioner Rita Gorman was the second ever rose queen in 1952, and the oldest to appear at the ceremony on Saturday.
She said: “Some of the former rose queens live in Australia, in South Africa, in Dubai.
“We made them badges with roses and went on a procession of witness with the church people and banner around the village.
“With a lot of help from a very good friend I put together photos of the queens since 1951 in a DVD presentation.”
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