The children of Hawkshead Esthwaite County Primary School celebrated their Rose Queen Gala in June 1985 and the event was rather special because in coincided with the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Grammar School by Archbishop Sandys.

Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne at the time so the Tudor era was the theme for the celebration.

Children, teachers, parents and guests looked splendid in their Elizabethan costumes and many visitors gathered to watch the procession from the village school to the Grammar School, now a museum.

There six boys who had been having a lesson in Latin joined the parade, which then proceeded to the Market Square. The large crowd was entertained in courtly music and dance by some finely dressed adult minstrels.

On returning to the school, the new Rose Queen, Sharon Graham, was crowned by the retiring queen, Nichola Spedding.

Their attendants and flower girls were: Mary Denyer, Georgina Stretton, Helen Norris, Zoe Sykes, Rosie Sykes, Victoria Geldard, Yvonne Siddall, Elizabeth Norris, Cheryl Johnston, Nichola Penrice and Emma Nicholson. The crown bearer was Matthew Brindle.

After the crowning ceremony the audience was delighted by the period music and dance of the children. Afterwards, many stalls were organised by parents and children to raise money for PTA funds.

In the evening the governors of the Grammar School held a sherry party in the school. This was followed by a lecture in the church given by the Rev. J P Inman on the history of the Grammar School.

Pupils from a South Lakeland school and a school in Blackburn enjoyed a day down on the farm in 1993. Lindale-in-Cartmel CE Primary School had forged links with St Matthew’s CE in the Lancashire town.

Sally Tyson, chairman of the Lindale school’s governors, invited the children from both schools to her farm at Castle Head, Lindale.