May Queen
"the longest standing continuous procession of its kind in the country"
It takes place on the second or third Saturday in May
A young girl is selected to be crowned as Queen of the May to represent the Village at various events throughout the region for the coming year
There is a Grand Procession through the Village of Hayfield. The Queen and her royal retinue of Princess, Petal Girls, Beefeaters, Sword and Shield bearers, Visiting Queens, and followers including Brass Bands, Pipe Bands, Dancing Troupes, Decorated Floats, Fancy Dress characters etc...etc...
They processes through the village, decorated to celebrate the event, to a Crowing Ceremony on the May Queen Field.
The ceremony heralds a week of festivities including a traveling Fun Fair
Each year the money raised on the day is allocated to local charities and groups
Mary Cooper
Hayfield's First May Queen when the tradition was revived in 1928
Youth Club Float in 1961? with (L-R) Philip Gee and George Hammersley
The Bellyets 'Dance Troupe'
The Queen of the May
The May Queen festival in Hayfield continues a much older May Fair tradition reference to which can be found in the school log book of May 1889
"14 May 1889 Attendance low today children being kept at home to help with "spring cleaning" School closed in afternoon, Hayfield fair."
Extracts from Hayfield School Log Book
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