Children interviewing Jennifer Christie

The children asked Jennifer what the boys did and she explained that they played the trumpets.

Q1. Were the trumpets actual, real trumpets?

A1. No, they were just pretend ones, those were.  Just to make it look good.

Jennifer tells the children that her teachers then were Mrs Lees and Miss Lake and a Mr Alton and a Mr Emery.

Q2. Did all the teachers take part [in the Rose Queen]?

A2. I think they all had a help in doing things, but the main ones were Miss Lake and Mrs Lees.  They were the ones who put lots and lots of effort into it and made sure we were all feet perfect.  We used to practice for hours and hours to get it right, but it used to fine.  I don’t ever remember it raining at all.  Strange, I can’t remember it ever being rained off at all, so it must have been fine.

Q3. Did they ever pick roses?  Were did they get the roses from?

A3. Oh, I think they were brought in from people gardens and this sort of thing.  Everybody chipped in.  The Queen’s bouquet and basket flowers they were specially made, but anybody else they were brought in from gardens.  We raided the gardens.  I think.

Q4. If there was a draw in the vote for who would be the Rose Queen, what would you do?

A4. Oh, now that’s a good question isn’t it?  I really don’t know what we would do.  We would have to have another vote, wouldn’t we? Or perhaps the teacher could cast the vote.  A pupil wondered whether another class could vote between the two people.  Jennifer says that she doesn’t think it ever happened when she was at school, so it was a good question.  She doesn’t really know what would happen, but it was a good suggestion that they ask another class to do it.

Jennifer explains that they did the walk round the playground to the ‘Destiny Waltz’, a one-two-three point.  They all had to parade before the Queen arrived.  The children used to have a lovely time and thoroughly enjoy it.

Q5. Who was probably the most important to the Queen?

A5. Each Queen was important in that year.  All the helpers would be the most important people to the Queen.