Nostalgia: Memories of Royal-tea remain special for former Chorley St Peter's Rose Queen Jean
She reveals: “I attended St Peter’s Sunday School.
“I was quite surprised to be chosen, as there were a lot of children there.
“It was a special day. We had a garden party on the vicarage lawn at the back of St Peter’s Church.
“I remember having tea with the vicar – Harry Simpson.
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Hide Ad“I enjoyed that. It was a bit of a novelty and he was so nice.
“The year after my friend and neighbour Sheila Moorcroft took over. It was nice to see her do it.”
Jean, a mother-of two, would attend Sunday School every afternoon after church.
She recalls: “Sunday School took up most of the day but I enjoyed it. We read a lot of Bible stories. My sister, Christine Hunter, is a Sunday school teacher. Her daughter, Anne Radcliffe, was also a Rose Queen.
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Hide Ad“I remember going to a church in Preston with all the other Rose Queens that year.
“My dad took me in the car and we got stuck at the crossing in Bamber Bridge for ages, which made me late.”
Jean, who used to work at ROF (Royal Ordnance Factory) in Euxton, also recalls her time at St Peter’s Primary School.
But it was the bus journeys to the swimming baths which were more memorable.
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Hide AdShe says: “I remember being at the school when we heard about King George VI’s death.
“I also remember school trips to Union Street swimming baths. #
“We used to catch the bus and our teacher had to collect 1p from us.
“Some pupils didn’t have the money, so the teacher was not happy as they had to pay.
“Mr Derbyshire was our swimming instructor.
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Hide Ad“He used to terrify us and make us jump in. I never liked water after that.”
In 2001, Jean attended a reunion at Chorley St Peter’s School where Rose Queens from as far back as 1943 attended.
She is pictured on the back row fourth from left.
She adds: “They got as many of the previous Rose Queens as possible together and we had a get together. There was a buffet.
“It was lovely to see people I had not seen for some years.”