Queens turn up in droves

1948’s Rose Queen Brenda Collins with the Mayor

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GARDEN Suburb celebrated its 100th annual Rose Queen Gala with a right royal line-up when 35 former rose queens — some living as far away as Australia and Germany — turned up to see the crowning of Sarah McCullam.

They included Brenda Collins (nee Hufton), who held the title in 1948, while ex-residents travelled from Cornwall and even Australia for the event.

Garden Suburb was the idea of Mary Higgs, founder of the Beautiful Oldham Society, and was officially opened on August 7, 1909, with the first gala ceremony.

The centenary event saw a procession headed by Boarshurst Band before Sarah was crowned by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jim McArdle.

Barbara Fell, honorary secretary of Oldham Garden Suburb Association, said that Saturday’s ceremony went well despite the wet weather.

She added: “It was a lovely afternoon. There was no room in the marquee at all.”