Largest ever number of Flora Day dancers

3 hours ago

Lisa YoungCornwall

The organisers said 190 couples were set to dance at midday

BBC Four couples are dancing in the street. The pavements are lined with spectators. — The organisers said 190 couples were set to dance at midday

The largest ever number of dancers are set to take in Helston's annual Flora Day festival.

The event marks the end of winter and coming of summer, and has been celebrated for more than 200 years.

Nigel Pascoe, chair of the Helston Flora Day Association, said 190 couples would dance at midday which would make it the "the biggest ever" showing.

He said there were 1,100 taking part in the Children's Dance at 10:00 BST so "with all that number of children dancing, Flora Day is safe for years to come".

Ross Yelland (second from left) said it was an honour to lead the first dance

Two couples with their arms around eachother smiling at the camera. The men are wearing white shirts with green and white-striped ties and the women are wearing floral dresses. They are each wearing a sprig of Lily in the Valley - the women's are pinned upside down while the men's are upright. There is green foliage hanging to their left and right and an open door behind them through which are three men wearing white shirts. — Ross Yelland (second from left) said it was an honour to lead the first dance

During the day thousands of formally dressed dancers promenade their way in and out of homes and shops which have been decorated with spring flowers, following the beat from the town band.

Leading the First Dance at 07:00 were Ross Yelland, Hayley Goodchild, James Moseley and Stacey Goldsworthy.

Yelland said: "It's very exciting, we've all been dancing since the children's dance, so after all that time it's an honour to lead."

Gemma Strong, who has taken part in all the dances over the years, said: "It's the most wonderful feeling, you can't stop smiling the entire time.

"It doesn't matter if your feet are hurting, it's waving, smiling, skipping - literally."

Helston Town Band leads the dancers around the route each year

Two members of the band are playing trumpets. They are wearing smart bright blue uninforms, complete with hats which have sprigs of Lily of the Valley tucked into the hat band. The street is full of crowds. — Helston Town Band leads the dancers around the route each year

The Children's Dance was led by pupils from St Michael's Church of England Primary School.

Headteacher Sarah Luff said the children had been "very excited" and had been practicing for weeks.

She said: "They love it, it's part of their history and they've seen generations before them dance."

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Helston Flora Day is celebrated every year on 8 May, unless the date falls on a Sunday, the Sabbath, or Monday, Market Day, in which case it is held on the preceding Saturday.

The celebrations begin at the Guildhall at 07:00 with the Early Morning or First Dance which was, in times gone by, the dance for workers and servants.

At 09:50, more than 1,200 pupils from Helston's four schools start dancing their way from Wendron Street in the Children's Dance - which was first included in the programme in 1922.

At 12:00, the Midday Dance starts and ends at the Guildhall and sees couples dance through homes and businesses along Meneage Street and some of the town's gardens.

At 17:00, the Evening Dance sees the same participants of the Early Morning Dance return to retrace the route of the Midday Dance.

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