OLYMPIC medallist Beth Tweddle made a special return to her roots last weekend as she opened the Huxley and Hargrave village fête.
The fête was part of Huxley and Hargrave’s Happy Days weekend, which officially kicked off with a Coronation Classic concert to celebrate 60 years since Her Majesty’s Coronation, featuring a special performance from the Chester Wind Band.
Scores of adults and children turned out to catch a glimpse of the Dancing on Ice champion, who grew up in nearby Bunbury, as she officially opened the fête.
She met a procession of floats in Huxley and delighted scores of children and adults by chatting to them and signing autographs.
And Beth even let the children hold and briefly wear her coveted bronze medal before riding at the head of the procession, the two miles to Hargrave, in an open-top 1937 Morgan driven by its owner, John Church.
Floats were judged by new Huxley residents Lucy and Paul Martin, with the eventual winner named as Little Acorns Pre-school, which received a Churchwarden’s Shield for their efforts.
Other floats included the Rose Queen and attendants, the retiring Rose Queen and her attendants, Huxley School and the WI.
Beth then declared the fête open, thanking everyone for organising such a traditional and friendly event and declared Heather Churchill-Evans the new Rose Queen.
There were plenty of attractions to keep families amused during the afternoon, include maypole dancing, donkey rides, puppet show, falconry, face-painting, basket weaving, barbecue, tombola and dozens of other stalls.
Organiser Anne Smart said it was a wonderful day:
“Beth stayed much of the rest of the afternoon, visiting all the attractions, and everyone commented on her friendly and down-to-earth manner,” she said.
“We continued the Happy Days weekend into the evening with a well attended barn dance in the marquee and the next day we held a special Songs of Praise service in Hargrave Church, which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Jill Houlbrooke, and by Rose Queen, Heather Churchill-Evans and her attendants.
“The whole event was a wonderful success,” she added.
