Two sisters have spoken of their joy at being asked to begin Helston’s Flora Day celebrations and then bring them to a close.

Lisa Robson and Lucy Bassett are the leading ladies in this year’s Early Morning and Evening Dances on May 6, accompanied by their dance partners Shaun Howells and Graham Cook.

For Lisa, 34, it makes being promoted to first lead, after being second lead in 2015, extra special.

She said: “I’m really excited. I didn’t expect it this soon after being second. For me, doing it with my sister just makes it more special as well.”

In what will be a busy year for her family, Lisa’s six-year-old son Harrison will also be dancing for the first time, in the Children’s Dance with Parc Eglos. Both dances will be excitedly watched by Lisa’s husband Mike and her three-year-old daughter Georgina.

Lisa, a children’s social worker, danced all the way through school with St Michael’s and then Helston Community College before joining the Morning and Evening Dance, which she has done for 17 years.

“I love being the first dance and then the last dance of the day. People always make an effort to come out to hear the first drum of the day and this year we’ll be right behind the band – I’m really looking forward to it,” she added.

Lucy is equally as excited to be alongside her sister, saying: “I’m just ecstatic to be asked. I’m so pleased to be dancing behind Lisa as well, it’s so lovely.”

Lucy, 31, was formerly manager of Helston’s Flying Start Nurseries and is now working at The Square in Porthleven while she completes a BA Honours in early years management.

She also danced all through school before following in Lisa’s footsteps to join the Morning and Evening. “I can’t think of Flora Day and not doing the dance,” she said.

Arguably it will be first lead man Shaun Howells who has the busiest Flora Day, however, as a member of his family is taking part in every dance.

After he opens proceedings with Lisa at 7am, his daughter Imogen will take part in the Children’s Dance with St Michael’s and then his partner Danielle Fletcher, who owners Serenity Lounge Hair and Beauty in Meneage Street, will be in the Midday Dance for the first time, dancing with one of his colleagues from RNAS Culdrose. Shaun, a leading airman aircraft handler in the school of flight deck operations, will then dance again at 5pm to close the day.

“It should be an amazing day. I’m literally so excited; it’s better than Christmas. Role on Flora Day now, the countdown begins,” he said.

Shaun, 37, is no stranger to leading, having fronted St Michael’s Primary School when in year six and later the whole children’s dance, while at Helston Community College.

His mum Lorna Howells has also led the morning and evening dance in the past, and the children’s dance twice. She will be watching with the rest of the family, including Shaun’s sons, four-year-old Ollie and Brody, on his first Flora Day aged just six months.

There should be no problem following the dance route for second lead man Graham Cook, who has been a postman in the Helston office for 20 years. Although he didn’t quite deliver his own invitation to lead, he did see it in the sorting office and open there and then – before having to supress a massive smile so as not to alert his colleagues.

Graham danced all through secondary school and has also taken part in the Midday twice, but said his heart would always be with the Morning and Evening Dance, which he been involved with for the past 15 years.

The 39-year-old explained: “When the drum is banged for the 7am dance there is no better place than being in the Guildhall, the atmosphere is electric.

“My nana Joyce Brett loved Flora Day, which rubbed off on all the family.”

Graham said he was “delighted” to be following in the footsteps of his brother Christopher Cook, who led the same dance in 2012 with their aunt Joyce Meagor.

“It's the ultimate honour for any Helstonian to be selected to be in the lead four on Flora Day and I can't wait for Flora Day now,” he added.