A royal gathering of rose queens

Pictured at the festival are (from the left) Councillor Mari Wiswell, the Mayoress of Oldham, Councillor Kay Knox, St Anne’s rose queen Alicia Beaty, the Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, and Jean Heywood and Vera Weston, rose queen and lady in waiting in 1939.

ROSE queens past and present met at St Anne’s Church in Royton.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, Councillor Jim McArdle and Councillor Kay Knox, were among the guests at a Festival of Rose Queens held by the church which united the queen from 1939, Jean Heywood, with her lady in waiting Vera Weston and today’s rose queen Alicia Beaty (11).

Also present was the chairman of Shaw and Crompton Parish Council, Councillor Mari Wiswell, 23 past rose queens from St Anne’s and 10 rose queens from other local churches.