Goosnargh and Whittingham Whitsuntide Festival
Scarecrow Competition
Although, sadly there will be no Festival this year due to the Coronavirus crisis, Committee member Alex has had the idea of holding a Scarecrow competition. Anyone in the Village can enter, any theme is eligible; and judging will take place on Festival Day, May 30th, from a safe distance, after 12p.m. Last date for entries is next Saturday, 23rd May.
There will be certificates and prizes for the lucky winners and it is intended to photograph the entrants, so hopefully, soon after Festival Day there will be pictures on the website for all to enjoy.
A big ‘thank you’ to Alex for coming up with this great idea and arranging it all. We are sure that it will go some way to alleviate the disappiontment everyone feels through not being able to hold this year’s Festival.
Important Announcement
It is with deep regret that, in view of the current situation we have decided to
cancel this year’s Festival, which was due to take place on May 30th. The
unprecedented national emergency has led us, after much consideration, to
take this decision; it will be only the second time it has been cancelled in its
long history (the other occasion was for the Second World War!). Organising
and running such an event is impossible under the current climate and I am
very sorry to bring disappointment to all who were looking forward to Festival
Day. At the earliest opportunity we will start planning Festival Day 2021 which
is scheduled for June 5th; I look forward to seeing everyone on that day as
usual.
With apologies and best regards
David Butters
Chairman, Goosnargh & Whittingham Whitsuntide Festival Committee
Congratulations to our New Festival Queen
Congratulations to Miss Elin Harry, Year 6 pupil from Goosnargh who has become our Festival Queen for2020!
Out of a total of five candidates her name was drawn at our Selection Concert which was held on Sunday, 2nd February. She lives in the Village and attends Goosnargh (Oliverson’s) CE Primary School.
The afternoon was a great success, the three local primary schools putting on a magnificent show for a capacity audience which included the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Iqbal and his Mayoress; and Longridge and North Preston Rotary President Mr. Mick Ward and his wife, Janet.
Elin is very much looking forward to her year as Festival Queen.
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.
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 |
||||
| 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.
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.
Welcome! 