Angmering schools break with May Day tradition

For decades, children from St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School and St Margaret’s CE Primary School, both in Arundel Road, Angmering, have united to dance around the May Pole.

But on Wednesday (May 21), the schools broke with May Day tradition, with youngsters from St Margaret’s dancing solo in their own celebration.

Head teacher David Boreham said both schools had grown significantly over the years and that organising the celebration had now become a logistical nightmare.

“We have to arrange all the road closures and get all the pupils ready,” he explained. “Now both the schools are significantly larger it makes this very difficult.”

However, Mr Boreham added that the change to the traditional layout of the event had created a more vibrant atmosphere to proceedings.

He said: “I thought it was a very cosy and warm atmosphere with people able to get very close to the dancing.

“It was a smaller arena so it was more intimate than before because there were fewer children dancing at any one time.

“Being split also meant that we could have more ‘royals’ from the school this year than ever before.”

In previous years, children from both schools would vote for a May King, Queen, Prince and Princess, with each primary sharing royal honours.

However, this year saw the entire May Day ‘Royal family’ coming from St Margaret’s.

Chloé Sargent, 11, was crowned Queen with David Nairne, 11, King.

They were accompanied by fellow year-six pupils Luke Wood, ten, and Nia Burkinshaw, ten, who were crowned Prince and Princess respectively.

For the full story and a special picture spread, see this week’s Gazette, out now (Thursday, May 29).