The annual crowning of the Wallington May Queen took place last weekend.

Annabel Jones, 9, became the 111th girl to receive the title at a ceremony on Saturday, May 3.

The tradition started in 1902 and begins with a procession through the town.

Girls join the group at 3-years-old as ‘fairies’, before graduating to ‘attendants to the May Queen’ a year later.

They then go on to become crown bearers before taking on a role as a banner bearer. 

The girls then act as ‘princes’, and becoming eligible to be a May Queen at 9-years-old.

Annabel, who lives on Carew Road in Wallington and is a pupil at Bandon Hill Primary, lead a troop of 35 adults from Wallington Green to Wallington Town Hall.

Once she he arrived at the hall she was crowned by her grandfather Harry Jones.

Your Local Guardian:

Ladies day: Girls take a break from the procession to pose for the camera

Penny Jones, Annabel's mother, said: "Proud isn't the word.

"She did a brilliant job on the day and gave a lovely speech at the end.

"She looked beautiful, all the girls did."

The procession began at 12.30 and finished at 1pm.

Your Local Guardian:

Royal Wave: The May Queen leads a procession through Wallington

 

Your Local Guardian:

Procession: The group make their way to the town hall

Your Local Guardian:

Cutting the cake: Those who attended enjoyed some food after the ceremony


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