Barbara Griffiths (nee Slinger) emailed these lovely photos all the way from sunny Spain. She was prompted to send them after visiting her daughter when she was working in the archives at Whitelands College in London.

Barbara writes: "Part of her job was to look after the dresses and jewellery of the May queens since the tradition started in 1881 at the instigation of John Ruskin, the great Victorian aesthete.

True to his rather peculiar vision of women, it was a celebration of innocence and purity and held yearly. Indeed, it continues and today and the queen can be a king!

The queen is chosen by her peers and her dress and jewellery is designed for her. These are preserved by the college.

The event takes place in May when a day is set aside for the procession and flowers figure large in this. There is even a floral crown for the queen.

Now this is where my memories start and I begin to ask questions.
As I remember, Skerton's rose queen pageant took place yearly.

The queen was chosen by her classmates and I remember that in 1947 when I was queen there was a tie between two of us. The teachers had to make a decision and I was chosen because I had a strong speaking voice.

I think the girl on the right as I am being crowned was the runner-up.

It runs in my mind that she was called Kelly.

The pretty girl crowning me was called Elaine Carr. The other
children in the procession represented the other classes in the school.

As you can see, flowers played a large part. My bouquet was made for me by a cousin, Harry Slinger, who had a market garden in Scorton.

Everyone had to wear white, (innocence and purity?) and you can see the pride and effort that went into making everyone look their best.

This was not easy as we were still recovering from the effects of the Second World War.

My dress was made by a dress shop called Marjorie's which was behind the old town hall.

The ceremony took place on the playing field in front of the senior school and you can just see the bank of air raid shelters then remaining from the war years.

Of course, by June the cherry trees which led up the drive had lost their pink and white blossom but still provided a lovely backdrop for the occasion.

I remember that the day started wet and everyone at morning school was on tenterhooks.

However, the day brightened and we were able to enjoy a glorious afternoon of races, speeches and music.

So, I wonder, just when did the rose queen tradition at Skerton School start and did it continue?

Was a member of staff a graduate of Whitelands and did she bring the tradition with her or was there already a tradition in place in Lancaster?

I am sure some of your readers may know. I have been enthralled reading some of their reminiscences in your nostalgia section and it has given me the incentive to find out more about things which, as a child, I took for granted.

Keep up the good work."

We certainly will, Barbara, and let's hope your memories of this event spark even more from other readers.