Parts of Helston have been given a freshen-up this week in preparation for the town’s biggest day of the year.
Ahead of Flora Day, the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard have been busy maintaining the white wash walls across Helston.
Led by Chris Butterill, a team of Rotary Club members kicked off their 11th year of cleaning and prepping the white washed walls for painting in time for May 8.
Over the past 11 years, they've worked hard to keep the walls clean and fresh for Flora Day, which attracts thousands of visitors annually.
The Rotary became involved with the maintenance of the walls following a Flora Day Midday rehearsal in 2012 when John Head, concerned about the state of the walls, addressed those present with a vision to restore them to their former glory by Flora Day 2013
Following a fundraiser with Helston Town Band on November 28, 2012, at the Kingsford Venue at Flambards, funds were raised to finance the cost of materials – a fund which is still currently being used.
However, in the Rotary’s first year of maintenance, they quickly realised that some walls needed 'extensive repair'.
A post shared on the Rotary’s Facebook page in 2023 said: “In the first year the walls required extensive repair before they could be painted.
“We also found that the brick wall at the Weighbridge by the Cattle Market roundabout was in very poor condition, so under the supervision of builders it was dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt.”
Once repaired and rebuilt, the team now only have to weed and clean the walls before painting each year.
READ MORE:
Helston Flora Day's Morning and Evening dancers revealed - meet the lucky four
Meet the 'honoured' four picked to lead the Midday Dance this Flora Day
This year, Flora Day will return to its annual date of May 8th after the previous two years were moved to another date.
As previously reported in the Packet, the lead dancers of the Morning and Evening, and the Midday Dance have now been revealed.
The set leading the Morning and Evening Dance this year will be Tom Mitchell, Amy Williams, Andrew ‘Andy’ Toy and his sister Melanie ‘Mel’ Toy.
The honoured four leading the Midday Dance this year will be Tom ‘Boomer’ Collins, Justine Dale, Lee Padgeth and Jenna Sobey.
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