Festival Photos!
All of the official photographs for the 2019 Festival can now be found here!
Please take a look, and our thanks to the official photographers who worked so hard to make sure the day was captured perfectly.
Author: whitfestival
Festival 2019
Matilda Cowgill-Smith was crowned as this year’s festival queen at the Goosnargh and Whittingham Whitsuntide Festival (GWWF) last Saturday 1 st June 2019.
The procession started off at 2pm from the Grapes Inn after dancing by the village maypolers and the Carol May Academy of Dance and performing Arts, these together with the floats, fancy dress competitors, entertainers, and musicians added up to make a wonderful exhibition of a village pulling together and making a memorable day for everyone concerned.
Matilda and her retinue, took centre stage in the procession which led off on its way to the Square, Whittingham, by the Manchester Phoenix Pipe Band, the 1st Goosnargh scouts and the Apple blossom Children. On the Square the crowning took place in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of the City of Preston.
Both Matilda and retiring Queen Romilly Taylor paid tribute to GWWF hero Stephanie
Butters who lost her brave fight against cancer in March this year, in their speeches they remembered her for her tireless work over the last 24 years to make every festival day special for the countless children and adults of Goosnargh and Whittingham.
Tributes were also paid by David Butters, Chairman of the committee, to the dedicated band of volunteers, committee members and countless participants without whom the day wouldn’t be possible.
Chairman David Butters said: “We are delighted how this year’s festival ran, it was always going to be difficult with the loss of Stephanie but she would have been delighted with the outcome” he went on to say “we are so lucky that we have so many people from the village and beyond who willingly help to make the day what it is, from the volunteers who prepare The Square, clear up afterwards, to the people who manage the procession and road blocks, to the residents of The Square who welcome us, to the many workers who host the afternoon tea at the village hall, the bell ringers, the raffle ticket sellers – the list is endless but everyone is so appreciated”.
| Decorated Float Competition | ||||
| Class 1:- Children | ||||
| 1st | ‘Let’s go fly a kite’ | Goosnargh Oliverson’s C of E Primary School | ||
| Joint 2nd | Minions | St Francis’ Catholic Primary School | ||
| Joint 2nd | Toy Story | Goosnargh Ducklings | ||
| 4th | Minions | St Francis’ Pre-school | ||
| Class 2:- Adults | ||||
| 1st | Goosnargh Rocks Blackpool | The Holden family and friends | ||
| 2nd | Game Of Thrones | The Swarbrick Family and friends | ||
| 3rd | Our Green and Pleasant Land | Whittingham W.I | ||
| Trophies | ||||
| The Barton Grange Trophy for the overall best entry:-
‘Lets go fly a kite’ Goosnargh Oliverson’s C of E Primary School Goosnargh Rocks Blackpool – The Holden Family |
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| Fancy Dress Competition | ||||
| Class 1:- Children | ||||
| 1st | Dingle Dangle Scarecrow | Leela Marsland | ||
| 2nd | Steven | Evan Marslanc | ||
| Class 2:- Group | ||||
| 1st | Baby Shark | Ollies Pre-schol | ||
| Class 3:- Family | ||||
| 1st | Hairy Fairy Biker | The Hesketh Family | ||
| Trophies | ||||
| Overall Best Entry
Baby Shark – Ollies Pre-school Hairy Fairy Biker – The Hesketh Family |
||||
| Children’s Wheelbarrow Competition | ||||
| 1st Prize | Katrina Grixti | |||
| 2nd Prize | Matthew Wareing | |||
| Adults Wheelbarrow Competition | ||||
| 1st Prize | Lawrence Ibison | |||
| 2nd Prize | Lucky Jim | |||
| 3rd Prize | Val Myerscough | |||
| Decorated Garden Competition | ||||
| 1st Prize | Julia Emerson | |||
| 2nd Prize | Reno Grixti | |||
| Decorated Shops Competition | ||||
| 1st Prize | Goosnargh Pharmacy | |||
| 2nd Prize | Goosnargh Post Office | |||
| 3rd Prize | Classic Cut | |||
Decorated House – 1st Prize
Wheelbarrow – 1st Prize
Wheelbarrow – 2nd Prize
Bushell’s House Founder’s Day
The day after Festival day was Matilda’s first occasion as Festival Queen when she visited Bushell’s House on their Founder’s Day. After doing a reading at St. Mary’s Church infront of Bishop Dr. Gill Duff, Matilda was then invited, with the Bishop, to meet all the residents at the house and join them for a lunch. The residents were so interesting to talk to and seemed to be very happy at the house, she even met a Festival Queen from 1965 who was visiting her mum! The lunch spread was amazing with a full salmon and lots of fantastic sandwiches and delicious puddings and cakes.
Bushell House was built as a house in 1722 by William Bushell, Vicar of Heysham, but unfortunately he died in 1735 and his will stated that his daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1727, should have the house but if she died before the age of 21 without children the house and the estate should be given to the village for “maintaining, supporting or providing for decayed gentlemen or gentlewomen, or persons of the better rank…of the towns or townships of Preston, Euxton, Goosnargh, Whittingham, Fulwood and Elston….” Elizabeth unfortunately died on the 7th July 1743 at the age of 16 and so the house became a hospital for the village.
Here is Matilda pictured beside Elizabeth’s portrait hanging in the house painted by Hamlet Winstanley, a reputable painter and engraver from Warrington.
Matilda was presented with a glass plaque engraved with her name engraved on it from the trustees of Bushell’s House by Chairman of the Trustees, Mr. Ian Brown.
Longridge Field Day
Longridge Festival Day on Saturday 8th June was a windy and rainy affair! Tilda’s dress was so wet at the hem that it left a trail of water bubbles behind it. We lost sunflowers from the canopy, roses from the bouquets but the girls soldiered on like the troopers they are. The new ‘Goosnargh and Whittingham Festival Queen’ sign was proudly carried by Laura-May Butters, granddaughter of the late Steph Butters, at the front of our procession. Tilda’s dog, Boudica, also made an appearance!
Festival Queen 2019
Congratulations to Matilda Cowgill-Smith who was chosen in February to be the 2019 Goosnargh and Whittingham’s Festival Queen.
Matilda, who is a pupil at Garstang High School has lived in Goosnargh all her life, she was proud to be Head Girl at Goosnargh Oliverson’s School in 2017-2018 and one of the original babies of the newly formed Goosnargh Ducklings and continues to be an active member of the village community.
She has a puppy called Boudica, Boo for short, who is just one year old and enjoys taking her for walks around the village and training her to do tricks. Matilda enjoys all aspects of learning and is a keen mathematician but also loves doing lots of arts and crafts, singing and enjoys baking and cookery.
Tilda has lots of friends both from the village and her old primary school but also in her new secondary school where she has recently won an award for obtaining the most house points in her year group. She enjoys playing games with her friends and likes watching films with her family at home and at the cinema. She is so looking forward to her year as Festival Queen and has all sorts of ideas and plans.
Photograph by Philip Bamber.
Festival Queen 2019
A massive congratulations to Matilda Cowgill-Smith. Our festival queen for 2019!
Showtime 2019
Don’t miss Alex Johnson’s latest extravaganza to launch Festival 2019!
Come along to Goosnargh Village Hall for a 2pm start on Sunday 3rd February and witness the selection of our Festival Queen elect at around 3pm.
Delicious cream teas will be served in the interval and we are delighted all three local primary schools will be taking part.
The Mayor of Preston has accepted the invitation to join us and a fabulous afternoon’s entertainment is guaranteed!
Candidates wishing to register to be Queen should arrive between 1pm and 1.45pm and a parent/guardian should accompany them. Please check the website for qualifying details.
Upcoming Events:
Spring Jumble Sale: Saturday 16 March
Festival Theme:
Flights of Fancy – celebrating 100 years of Transatlantic Flight
Festival Day: Saturday 1st June
Merry Christmas!
Christmas greetings from all at the Festival Committee!
On Thursday 6th December, Romilly continues her duties gift wrapping presents at the FrOGS Christmas fair. Please pop along and support her if you can.
Don’t forget in the new year the concert and selection of the 2019 Festival Queen takes place on Sunday afternoon 3rd February.
Festival AGM
The Festival Committee’s AGM takes place in the Committee Room, Goosnargh Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13th November 2018.
This is an open meeting, everyone welcome.
Please come along to support the work of the Festival Committee.
Triumph for Alex!
Massive thanks to Alex for yet another truly spectacular Hallowe’en Event. Needless to say the Village Hall was packed and it was fabulous to see so many young families joining in.
You had to be there to fully appreciate the work that had gone into creating a really spooky entrance experience leading on into a room dripping with miscanthus and awash with laser lighting etc.
Special thanks to DJ Colin, Judith & Sharon from the Committee and to Alex’s Team of Caroline, Lynne, Diane & friends; also to everyone who donated cakes & Raffle Prizes
It was great to see Festival Queen Romilly, with such a wealth of supporters all really contributing to the success of the evening.
Final word from Alex: “I’m already planning next year’s event”. The village is very fortunate to have you!
Next up!
Festival AGM
7.30pm Goosnargh Village Hall Committee Room
Tuesday 13th November
Everyone welcome
Please come along and support the work of the Festival Committee
Welcome! 