ROSE FETE MEMORIES EXHIBITION

by Dave Roberts

Middlewich has taken its annual Rose Fete to its heart in recent years. The event, held on the Saturday of the FAB Festival weekend every June, was rescued by an enthusiastic and highly professional committee of local people a few years ago when it looked likely that it would fold. The Rose Fete is a strong and growing part of the 'local' element of the FAB Festival and.now that the festival is moving away from its 'strictly folk' policy and embracing music and events of all kinds to become more of a community event, the Rose Fete has come into its own.

The event is a chance for children of all ages to take part in a unique local occasion paying homage to the past and making memories for the future.

The Middlewich Rose Fete has its roots in Cheshire's tradition of rose queens, dairy queens, salt queens, carnivals, village fetes, Whit Sunday processions and many more town and village celebrations including, of course, the more recent festivals of which the Folk & Boat Festival was one of the first a quarter of a century ago.

The Rose Fete is anxious to preserve its own history as well as the history of some of those other traditional local events, and we're delighted to be able to pass on this message from the organisers:

Michelle Game writes:

Hi Everyone,

It's not long now until  the Rose Fete and I am hoping that you can all help.

I am trying to create a display in the Rose Fete Marquee this year (and for future years) of past Rose Fetes, and I need pictures, newspaper clippings, and a few other bits.

I know we have already started a fantastic collection on the Rose Fete's Facebook page (link below), which I will also use, but I would like more.

So here's what I need:

Copies of pictures of:  past parades, crowning ceremonies, queens and retinues with information on the year, and the people in the picture.

Copies of newspaper cuttings of:  past parades, crowning ceremonies, queens and retinues with the year, and details of who is in the picture.

If anyone has scrap books, tiaras/crowns, trophies, cloaks etc.that they will be willing to loan us for the weekend, I'd be grateful if you could write on a piece of paper who it belongs to, their role and the year.

We also want pictures etc from the Carnivals and other  Middlewich events before the Rose Fete became established as an event in its own right.

You can either post the pictures on the 

ROSE FETE FACEBOOK GROUP 

with their details or email me at: middlewichrosefetechairman@outlook.com.

If you have scrap books etc that will need collecting again either email me or txt/call: 07800 50 35 79 and we'll sort out collection.

Thank you everyone for your help and I look forward to seeing your fantastic pictures and items!

MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE 2015

MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE ART COMPETITION 2015 (ARCHIVED)

ARCHIVED

Middlewich Rose Fete

MIchelle Game writes:

To help raise Funds for the 2015's Rose Queen's Charity, The Poppy Appeal,  and Middlewich Rose Fete itself we are holding an Art Competition!

The theme is Silver (to celebrate 25 years of the FAB Festival), Boats (as it's at the Folk and Boat Festival) and Roses (because it's the Rose Fete)

Three Age categories: 3yrs – 5yrs, 6yrs – 8yrs and 9yrs – 11yrs

The winners of each category win Fuzzy Ed merchandise and Play Passes to the Fuzzy Ed soft play area at The Salt Cellar Middlewich!

You can create anything you wish based on the theme, a painting, models, pictures etc.

50p entry and all monies go towards the Rose Fete and the 2015 Rose Queen’s charity, The Poppy Appeal.

Details needed:
Child’s name
Age
Parents name
A contact number

Competition opens: Saturday 13th June 2015 at Fuzzy Ed's at the Salt Cellar and continues through the week and through the FAB25 Festival weekend.

On Saturday 20th June there will also be a guest appearance by a Local Artist to give budding artists a few tips along the way

Competition Closes: Sunday 21st June at 3pm and will then be judged by the Rose Queen Annalise McKenzie. Winners will be announced on the Sunday 21st June at 3:30pm

Happy Creating and Good Luck everyone!!!

AND MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE FUNDS

SEE ALSO: MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE 2015

THE BEST OF MIDDLEWICH: MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE 2015 (ARCHIVED)

ARCHIVED

Once again the Middlewich Rose Fete brightens up the Saturday afternoon of the Middlewich FAB Festival Weekend bringing a touch of local Cheshire tradition to the proceedings and giving its participants a chance to shine, in many cases for the first time in their young lives. More details will appear here as the great day approaches.

The Collin School for dance will once again be taking part in the festivities. Here's a link to their website which has some details of the Rose Fete and Festival procession :

COLLIN SCHOOL FOR DANCE

Photo: The Collin School Of Dance/Michelle Game. With thanks to Theresa Kay.
When we asked for permission to use this photo we had to ask if it was actually taken in Middlewich, as the background, though vaguely familiar, was rather puzzling. In the end we twigged it. That's a tiny bit of Brooks & Bostocks shop sign in the top left hand corner. Next is the St Luke's Hospice Shop and a solicitor's office. The white building to the right is the former Jan's Cafe. In other words, we're at the 'toppender' Wheelock Street and the photographer has managed to fool us by cutting off most of  the shop signs. Whether this is by accident or design is not clear. The photo shows members of the Collin School For Dance at the 2013 FAB Festival with some members opting for the much-admired 'Wellies' look

The Middlewich Diary has been helping to publicise the Rose Fete since 2012.

Here are links to our Diary entries on the last three years;

     2012    2013    2014

Middlewich Rose Fete 2011

MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE ART COMPETITION

ROSE FETE MEMORIES EXHIBITION

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Simon McGrory: I was involved with the Rose Fete some years ago when it was resurrected. Great to see there is still the enthusiasm for keeping it going. Great stuff.