CRIES of ‘Happy Maying’ were heard through the streets of Wellington as the local folk and custom society helped herald the month of May during the recent Spring Fayre.

The Wellington Folk & Custom Society organised a 'Folk Parade', with the new May Queen for 2026 Chloe Chandler.

May Queen Chloe Chandler joined Wellington Folk & Custom Society at the Spring Fayre. PHOTO: Andrew Bosier
May Queen Chloe Chandler joined Wellington Folk & Custom Society at the Spring Fayre. PHOTO: Andrew Bosier (Andrew Bosier)

The event was held in conjunction with the Friends of Wellington Park’s Spring Fayre.

Members first gathered at 11am at the Cottage Inn, in Wellington, and by 11.45am they had started their procession to Wellington Park.

The parade was led by ‘Lord of the Wild’, banner bearer, the May Queen, a Hobby Horse, Saint Bridget and Saint Bishop Blaize, alongside members and supporters in May garlands and folk costumes. The Bootstrap Border Morris musicians and morris dancers also added to the festivities.

The folk parade was lead by 'Lord of the Wild' the society's banner bearer. PHOTO: Wellington Museum
The folk parade was lead by 'Lord of the Wild' the society's banner bearer. PHOTO: Wellington Museum (Wellington Museum)

The procession was a festival of gleeful noise with cries of ‘Happy Maying’, 'Happy May Weekend' and cheering, fragmented by ringing bells and musicians playing folk tunes.

The route took the parade down Champford Lane, across Mantle street, passing along Rookery and Court terraces before continuing to Black Path and turning right for the main gates of Wellington Park.

The morris musicians gave an impressive moving performance. PHOTO: Andrew Bosier
The morris musicians gave an impressive moving performance. PHOTO: Andrew Bosier (Andrew Bosier)

Stall holders later commented that even though they could not see the Wellington folk procession at first, they could certainly hear them approaching.

By 12.30pm the main procession started, organised by the Friends of Wellington Park. The Wellington Majorettes lead the way, followed by Wellington dignitaries who officially opened the event.

Lord of the Wild engaged with the audience as they passed through the park, as he rang his ‘Maying Bell’ shouting the usual chants and encouraging words, until the folk society arrived at the band stand and officially ended their procession.

Later in the day, the Bootstrap Border Morris group gave a successful performance. Music was performed by members in the bandstand while the dancers put on a colour show below. This drew quite a crowd and helped garner a lot of interest in the English folk culture, with onlookers expertly guided to the Wellington Folk & Custom Society information stall.

The Bootstrap Border Morris dancers performing at the bandstand during the fayre. PHOTO: Lee Edmead
The Bootstrap Border Morris dancers performing at the bandstand during the fayre. PHOTO: Lee Edmead (Lee Edmead)

The stall held displays on the history of local folk culture and included information on the Bootstrap Border Morris and the 16 year history of the Wellington Folk & Custom Society. The information had been expertly laid out by members on a display board brimming with photographs and newspapers cuttings, similar to the display in Wellington Museum.

Commenting on the event Lee Edmead, co-ordinator and founder of the Wellington Folk & Custom Society, said: “It was a great event that Friends of Wellington Park put on, we loved being part of it. We had a lot of positive feedback from the public, organisers, other groups, stall holders.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the day, when the Spring Fayre closed down. We went back to the Cottage Inn, where we started the day, reflected on the day and had much May Merriment. There was much talk of bad weather for this day, but we was blessed with a mild and dry day.

“Happy May everyone and let the sunshine continue!”