WITH the Knutsford Royal May Day parade cancelled this year, one primary school pulled out all the stops to keep the tradition alive.

Around three quarters of pupils at Egerton Primary School usually take part in the May Day celebrations every year.

Headteacher Alison Hooper wanted to bring the magic of the event to the Bexton Road school with its very own parade, to ensure children did not miss out.

Alison explained: “The children were invited to come to school in their best clothes or dressed as a character of their choice from the procession on the day.

“We had a real mixture of characters and children in their own clothes.

“We do a daily mile at school and every class came out and paraded with their class bubbles.

“We then congregated in the playground and the residents of Ash Court were looking out of their windows and were waving along and smiling.

“The yet to be crowned May Queen was also invited to the school and she answered all the pupils’ questions.

“We’re hoping that next year when it comes around, she will finally be able to be crowned.

“One of our children’s aunties was the May Queen in 1988 and she even brought in her dress and crown.

“A lot of our staff live in Knutsford and they are usually heavily involved in the Knutsford Royal May Day so for us to do it in school was really great.

“Hopefully we’ve been able to create some positive memories of May Day this year.”

Since it began in 1864, the annual May Day event has been a fixture almost every year and indeed the only times before the Covid pandemic when the festival did not take place, were during the wars.

But the Royal May Day still holds a special place in the hearts of the town’s residents, businesses and schools, with many eagerly awaiting its full return next year.