Flora Day is the highlight of Helston's calendar and there can be few people in the town who don't have special memories of certain years, for one reason or another.

Occasionally, however, it's not just the dancing that makes the headlines.

With only a week to go until the 2019 big day, the Packet presents a round-up of some of the standout moments from Flora Days in recent years.

2004

Falmouth Packet:

A POTENTIAL future leader of the Midday Dance was born at home in Helston on Flora Day in 2004 – just as that year’s leaders were preparing to step out of the Guildhall.

The baby son of Michael Deacon and partner Lauren Darvell put in an appearance at the couple’s Trenance Close home only three three hours after Lauren had gone into labour.

Elder son Charlie had been taken down to the funfair, only to return home to find he had a baby brother.

The baby had not been named at the time of the Helston Packet report, Lauren, a former pupils of Nansloe and Helston schools, said they were likely to opt for Tom or Sam, instead of the George that had been suggested to tie in with St George in the Hal-an-Tow.

2005

Falmouth Packet:

AN invitation to attend Helston Flora Day was sent to Prince Charles and his then new bride, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Town mayor Paul Phillips issued the invitation in a letter to the couple congratulating them, on behalf of the townspeople of Helston, on their recent wedding.

It was reported that staff at Clarence House had replied asking for further information about the town’s big day - but to the Packet's knowledge, the invitation has never been taken up, to date.

However, in a letter to Mr Phillips, the royal couple's deputy private secretary said they had been "most touched" by the invitation.

Mr Phillips said Prince Charles had expressed an interest in attending Flora Day during a visit to Helston in 2001 to mark the 800th anniversary of the town’s first royal charter.

At the time, the Prince was quoted as saying: “I am very sad in many ways to have missed Flora Day and the chance to be danced to exhaustion. Perhaps there will be another occasion when I can return and witness this splendid tradition.”

2006

Falmouth Packet:

FOR two couples Flora Day 2006 will remain a day to always remember after they both became engaged during the afternoon.

Phill Woods, then 26, proposed to his girlfriend Natalie King, then 24, outside the Grylls Monument after the Midday Dance – and she was delighted to accept.

Phill said at the time: “It was the first time I had her by herself the whole day – and it obviously worked, because she said yes!”

Meanwhile, Andrew Carroll – son of Angela Carroll, who owned Carroll’s Newsagents in Coinagehall Street at the time, now JJ News – proposed to his partner Emma Headley in the gardens of Lismore at midday.

2008

Falmouth Packet:

THE eve of Flora Day 2008 saw a special presentation to Leslie Collins to mark his retirement as chairman of the dance stewards after 25 years in the role.

Mr Collins’ successor as chairman, John Eddy, presented him with an original pen and ink drawing by local artist Barrie Yell and depicting Mr Collins and family members in the throes of the Flora Day festivities.

A steward since 1964, Mr Collins had become chairman in 1982.

Mr Collins died in 2012 at the age of 92.

Falmouth Packet:

ALSO in 2008, a paramedic who grew up in Helston made plans to give his fiancée a kiss for life after proposing to her on Flora Day.

Aaron Lander, who grew up in Bulwark Road, became engaged to his girlfriend Ruby Butt in the gardens of Lismore, shortly after completing the Morning Dance.

The couple met for the first time on Flora Day.

2009

Falmouth Packet:

IT was the end of an era when Mary Collins ended her 21-year reign as secretary of the Early Morning and Evening dances in 2009.

She was no stranger to dancing herself, having led the Morning Dance in 1972 and in the leading set again a few years later, told the Packet it had been an “honour” to serve the town, adding: “Flora Day is a day when I’m proud to call myself a true Helstonian."

Ms Collins sadly died in March 2017, aged 67.

2010

Falmouth Packet:

THE 11-year-old daughter of one of the lead dancers of the Morning and Evening Dance was lucky to still be alive after being thrown from a fairground ride on Flora Day afternoon.

Doctors described Caitlin Bradshaw’s escape as “a miracle” after she hurtled from the waltzers and landed on the floor in front of people queuing up – a distance of around 25ft.

She broke her coccyx bone and was left with a black eye and bruising over her whole body, but medics told her family she was lucky to have escaped with her life.

Helston Community College student Caitlin's mum Claire Bradshaw (now O'Hare), was the second leading lady in that year’s 7am and 5pm dances and she said: "I always said it would be my dream to lead the dance and it probably turned out to be my biggest nightmare."

2013

Falmouth Packet:

IN the ultimate tale of fatherly love a war hero dad fighting in Afghanistan travelled 5,500 miles across two continents in time to see his daughter dance on Flora Day.

For the journey worthy of his 007 spy namesake, Devere Bond crossed four countries via three aeroplanes - including a Royal Flight - and a taxi, to get back to Helston so he could see then 13-year-old Tegan take part in the Children’s Dance.

Chief Petty Officer Bond, an engineer with 857 Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose, was not meant to be have been back until the end of that month, but his squadron gave special permission.

Mr Bond flew at Her Majesty’s pleasure, taking the Royal Flight – normally reserved for VIPs, but fortunately with a few spaces to fill – from Camp Bastion to the United Arab Emirates. From here he took a chartered flight to Cyprus, and then an RAF flight back to the UK.

His main reason for flying home was to look after his sick wife Joslyn.

2016

Falmouth Packet:

FLORA Day holds a special place in most Helstonian’s hearts – but few can boast such involvement as Russell Harvey, who in 2016 marked his 70th year taking part with Helston Town Band.

Cornet player Mr Harvey, then aged 82, took part in all four dances, including walking at the front of the Morning Dance and playing for the Midday Dance alongside four members of his family dancing.

Falmouth Packet:

THE Midday Dance in 2016 was almost overshadowed when a woman tried to barge through musicians and stewards as dancers made their way along Meneage Street.

It was never discovered whey the woman was so desperate to get up the street, and may have had a valid reason, but the Flora Day live web cameras showed her trying to walk in front of the crowds waiting to see the dance, just as the band, and subsequently the leading set, arrive into view.

She then got caught up amongst the instruments and at one point could even be seen pushing two of the band members, first shoving an instrument mid-play and then the arm of another player, quickly followed by that of a steward.

The woman was then spoken to by another steward, who asked her to step to the side until the dance had passed by, but she continued to storm up the street, followed by a friend – only to be forced to a halt by the stream of dancers coming out of a shop.

Falmouth Packet:

IN what proved to be a year of incidents, a St John Ambulance car was forced to make its way down Meneage Street with blue lights flashing, at the same time as the Evening Dance was filling the street.

The dancers and band moved over to one side to allow it to pass, but the dance continued without interruption.

2017

Falmouth Packet:

This was the year that the Oliver family ended its long association with organising Flora Day, having been involved the event for more than half a century.

Chris Oliver stepped down as secretary of the Flora Day Association, handing over the role - which was held by his father Len Oliver before him - to Nick Wills, although he continued on as a steward of the dances.

Falmouth Packet:

That same year, as the Midday Dance made its way through the historic parts of Helston, on the other side of town fire engines were causing excitement in the main street.

Shortly after the dancers had passed through Meneage Street, a fire crew from Helston and an aerial ladder platform from

Truro arrived following reports of a roof causing potential danger to the crowds below.

A police officer at the scene said with the strong winds of the previous night, part of the roof above Sweet Pea Floral Studio had come loose and was flapping, which led to the loose section being removed.

2018

Falmouth Packet:

A COUPLE from Helston became the first people to be married in Helston's Guildhall, in the same room where they became engaged the previous Flora Day, at the conclusion of the Midday Dance and to cheers of the other dancers.

Becky Watson and Ian Wheeler tied the knot in a ceremony at the Corn Exchange three days before Flora Day 2018, before the new bride wore her wedding dress in the Midday Dance.