Glorious seasonal events from bygone era captured on camera

The May Queen, Jean Salisbury, who crowned the statue of Our Lady in St Peter's RC Church, Lytham, with her retinue, in May 1954.
The cushion bearer is John Bailey — The May Queen, Jean Salisbury, who crowned the statue of Our Lady in St Peter's RC Church, Lytham, with her retinue, in May 1954. The cushion bearer is John Bailey

The season of the May Queen is beautifully illustrated by the photograph above.

Dated May 14, 1954, it shows the May Queen, Jean Salisbury, who crowned the statue of Our Lady, in St Peter’s RC Church, Lytham, with her retinue.

The cushion bearer pictured is John Bailey.

A spring fair held by St Annes British Legion at their headquarters at Mayfield Road, in May 1956.
From left - Miss G Evans (hon Sec), Mrs S J Westhead (chairman), Mrs E Jones (vice chairman), Miss A Slater (hon treasurer) — A spring fair held by St Annes British Legion at their headquarters at Mayfield Road, in May 1956. From left - Miss G Evans (hon Sec), Mrs S J Westhead (chairman), Mrs E Jones (vice chairman), Miss A Slater (hon treasurer)

The second photograph, taken on May 25, 1956, shows a spring fair.

The event was held by

St Annes British Legion at their headquarters, at Mayfield Road, St Annes.

Pictured from left are: Miss G Evans (honorary secretary), Mrs S J Westhead (chairman), Mrs E Jones (vice chairman) and Miss A Slater (honorary treasurer).

The horse rider pictured is Barbara Kirby, in a photograph dating from August 6, 1954.

According to the Express of that week, the picture was taken at the Fylde Horse Club Show and Gymkhana which took place at Heyhouses Lane field, in St Annes.

A crowd of 3,000 gathered in the bright sunshine to watch local horse-riders compete at the event.

Mrs Kirby, of St Annes, finished in third place in her class – pony under 14.3 hands, privately-owned.

Study in concentration during the yacht race at St Annes College garden party, at Northwick, Clifton Drive South, St Annes, in 1955

And our final historical photograph today comes from summer 1955.

It shows possibly a mother and son, deep in concentration, during the yacht race at St Annes College garden party, at Northwick, Clifton Drive South, St Annes.

The St Annes College For Girls annual garden party was, by all accounts, usually a big and popular event.

That same year, the garden party’s grand opening was carried out by special guest, comic actor and musician Arthur Askey.

He was performing in a show in Blackpool and came along to the college to officially opening the event and join in the fun throughout the day – playing games and chatting to guests.