Massive thanks to everyone for a fabulous White Doves Festival Day. Fortunately the weather dried up on cue and the effort put in by all our Float Builders, Fancy Dress Competitors, entertainers and musicans added up to a day New Queen Romilly and retiring Queen Niamh will never forget.

Special thanks Sue for a beautiful and very fitting presentation to mark the centenary of the ending of WW1 – the doves did far more than just words to imprint this Festival day on our memories.

As a mark of our gratitude to PC Banks for 14 years’ wholehearted support for our event, he was presented with an inscribed pen, made by Committee member Colin Gornall. We look forward to working withFelipe, Bernie & their hard working Police Cadets again next year.

Paul Cross was once more Star of the Celebration Tea – would you credit that all of those immaculate sweet creations came out of one small kitchen?

You all know we depend majorly on a massive band of volunteer helpers assisting the committee on the day. If you helped set up the field, buttered bread in the kitchen, marshalled the Procession, swept the village hall floor, etc. etc. etc – we are immensely grateful.

Please make a note of next year’s date: Saturday 1st June now – the more volunteers we have the greater the enjoyment for everyone.

We thank Niamh for continuing to represent us, along with her sister Roisin, with such dedication and we wish Romilly a very happy year as our village ambassador.

As she said in her speech, Romilly hopes to use her year in office to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and next Spring she will host an event in support of Elsie Finney House in memory of her late Grandfather.

Give her a cheer next week in Longridge!

Here is an update on our exciting plans for Festival Day 2018, Saturday 2nd June.

Excitement is mounting in Romilly’s household as White Doves Festival Day 2018 takes shape.

The Festival team are delighted to be working with Sue Brown and her “Doves of Life” to mark the Centenary of the ending of WW1 in 1918. The Festival Procession will be led out by 19 yr old Jennifer Birkett followed by our youngest “Peace Children” and St Francis’ “Little White Doves”.

Jennifer will carry a single white dove in an ornamental cage. Our Festival Queen elect, Romilly Louise Taylor has chosen the colour forget-me-not blue to reflect the WW1 theme and also as “Forget me Not” symbolises the Alzheimers Society. This
is in memory of her Grandad who died recently.

Romilly is particularly pleased to have the support of her fellow Queen candidates as she prepares to take up her role as village ambassador for the year. A retinue of Princesses aged from 4 to 12 years will include Romilly’s sister, Sadie. Sadie’s twin brother Matthew will carry their Mum’s wedding tiara to the crowning platform. It promises to be a very emotional occasion for the whole family.

In the presence of the Mayor & Consort of the City of Preston, MC Nik Birkby will welcome Special Guests families & friends as they gather to witness a “Doves of Life” tribute and message of peace. Retiring Queen Niamh will read a short passage, Queen elect Romilly will release a single white dove from her hands and a total of 21 white doves will fly, the number 21 being a reference to the 21 gun salute.

Following this, events will unfold according to tradition and as always the return procession will culminate in the legendary Celebration Tea in the Village Hall.

Lots more information to follow and please remember our next Festival Fund Raising Event, The Spring Good-As-New Jumble Sale in Goosnargh Village Hall, 11am on Saturday 17th March. If you are new to the village and keen to get involved come along and talk to us on Jumble set up day, Friday 16th March 2-7.30p also check out the extensive photo galleries on the website and follow our facebook page.

All set for a day to remember!

Excitement is building in the village as finishing touches are put to Floats, Flower Power Wheelbarrows & Fancy Dress costumes.

The Committee would like to thank everyone who will be helping to make New Queen Niamh’s day unforgettable.

There are several very welcome surprises in store on the day and we would like to let everyone know that the dancing outside The Grapes will begin at 1.20pm with three performances for the first time. The Procession will get underway at 2pm as always, the crowning will be at around 3pm, with Tea in the Village Hall to round off the day.

We are delighted to be welcoming as our special guests Guy and Carol Topping representing Barton Grange. As well as judging the Float section, Guy is to present a new award to the Festival Queen. The Tom Kirby Rosebowl is given as a tribute to Tom and a mark of the esteem in which he was held at Barton Grange. It was Tom, always interested and supportive of the work of the Festival Committee, who arranged for the Barton Grange Group Float Trophy to be given to the Festival to mark the Millennium and we know our Festival Queens will treasure this new award.

Joining Guy and Carol as Judges are Tom’s daughter, Helen Roberts and her husband Alan, who will judge the Fancy Dress competition and completing the Judging team Rebecca Birkby and Jackie Cockayne will be out and about on Festival morning judging the decorated shops, houses and wheelbarrows.

Special guest Andrew Wallbank with his wife Kirsty will represent Longridge and North Preston Rotary. Andrew is to present a donation of £500 to the Festival in memory of Tom and we would like to thank the Rotarians for their most valuable support.

We are grateful to Guild Park for offering their car park no. 1 for the use of residents and visitors on the day. There is also parking on The Stags car park and along The Avenue for those staying in the village for the afternoon. The road closure order is from 1.00 to 4.45pm with diversions in operation to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

Please remember to bring along an umbrella/parasol – hopefully the latter!

And do please offer your help on the day.

We need bakers, help with the Celebration Tea (especially from 4pm), and help to set up and dismantle the staging on The Square.

Huge thanks to our Raffle Prize Donors

This year our top prize is a Lady’s Diapason all-around V Necklace and Earring Set donated by George Banks Jewellers & valued at £219

Second Prize is a Weber black original weatherproof 57cm Kettle Barbecue donated by Barton Grange Garden Centre & valued at £169.99

Third Prize is the Festival Cash Prize of £150

plus many more wonderful prizes of Vouchers and Gifts donated by local restaurants, shops & businesses

Buy your tickets now where you see the sign “Raffle Tickets Sold Here”, beat the crowds, and help us with one of the major fund raisers for the Festival.

Outlets include The Chippy and The Grapes Inn.

On Festival Day there will be two Raffle vehicles. Look out for them opposite Bushell House and in the Stags Head car park.

Andy Thiele, our Raffle co-ordinator would like to thank Longridge & North Preston Rotary Club for sponsoring the cost of printing the Raffle Tickets; the local Primary Schools for supporting us and all our helpers on Festival Day.