Flora Day dancers to dance through Penhellis house

Nick Wills, honorary secretary of the Flora Day Association revealed today (Friday) that Penhellis House Gardens will be open to the public, and dancers will finally dance through the care home once again, for the first time since before the Covid pandemic. 

Those dancing in the Children’s Dance will dance through the gardens and Midday and Evening dancers will go through the house. The grounds will remain open to the public for the dances.

For the first time since 2019 dancers will be able to dance through the care home in Helston (Image: Stock)

For the past three years, the care home, and grounds on Cross Street – which are a particular favourite for many watching the dances - have been closed off to the public on Flora Day due to concerns regarding Covid 19.

In 2023, the Flora Day Association confirmed that the grounds and home would not be accessible due to an outbreak of the illness.

With less than two weeks to go until the biggest event in Helston’s calendar, the Flora Day Association has shared more information regarding the running of the event.

Dancers in Lismore (picture taken in 2019) (Image: Stock)

Despite Flora Day taking place on a Wednesday this year, the association said it anticipates the day will still be well attended as people take the opportunity to visit Helston and enjoy the event.

The Flora Day Association also explained that although Cornwall Council have promised to attend to road surfaces around the town, the dance stewards are continuing to remind dancers and members of the public to be aware of some uneven surfaces underfoot.

To enable those participating in the Seven and Five and Midday Dances to get to their place safely, members of the public are being asked to be aware of dancers making their way to the Guildhall and the Museum Courtyard.

The Children's Dance 

The Children’s Dance will begin at its usual time of 9.50am.

There will be two bands, with the second band standing and playing at the junction of Wendron Street and Meneage Street by the old Lloyds Bank. Spectators are requested to leave space for the band members.

At the end of the Children’s Dance, parents are asked to collect their children at approximately 11.20am. 

The Midday Dance 

The Midday Dance will begin at the Guildhall and proceed on the road into Meneage Street and through Church Street.

The dance will enter Lismore Gardens as usual, then proceed after Penhellis via Cross Street through the Old Vicarage gates, through the garden then onto Leslie House. Finally, it will leave Lady Street onto the Bowling Green and will then return to the Guildhall.

Flora Day Association members have shared their gratitude to Mr and Mrs Corbridge who have permitted for the dances to enter Lismore Gardens, and Sir Nicholas and Lady Serota for allowing the Old Vicarage to be accessed again this year.

However, entry into properties and gardens on the route of the dances is something the association said was a “great privilege” to them and has reminded the public that it is by courtesy of the owners who retain the right to close their gates/doors if they so wish.

The Hal-an-Tow 

Nick shared more information about the famous Flora Day pageant, The Hal-an-Tow. He said: “The Association is very pleased that Gillian Geer will once again organise the ‘Hal an Tow’ and would like to convey our thanks.

“The `Hal-an-Tow` Pageant is an integral part of the Flora Day celebrations, following the same route as normal, starting at 8.30 am after the morning Dance finishes, beginning a St. John’s Bridge in St. John’s Road.

“The route then will go up towards the Grylls Monument at the bottom of town, then proceed to Number 1 Cross Street – one of the oldest buildings in town.

“The pageant which tells the legendary story of St Michael defeating the Devil and S George Killing the Dragon – will then head towards Penrose Hill and will perform outside the CAST building. They will then head on to Meneage Street, the bottom of Trengrouse Road, and then towards the Guildhall where they will finish in time for the children’s dance to begin.”

Greenery 

Greenery will be available from the car park to the rear of Boots at approx. 8 pm on Monday 6th May and then a smaller delivery on the morning of Tuesday, May 7 at the Anson Gun by the Museum at 10.00am.

Cornwall Council have requested that property owners take down any greenery from their buildings and place it in the road before 8am on May 9 so that the collection teams can remove it from the streets, any greenery left out after that time may not be collected.

Road closures 

The Flora Day Association would like to point out that there are road closures and parking restrictions in force on Flora Day from 5.30am. These take effect from early in the morning and request that cars are not parked in the streets overnight on the May 7 as they may cause an obstruction early in the morning of Flora Day.

Cash withdrawal 

People who are attending Flora Day this year are urged to plan ahead and consider withdrawing cash prior to the day.

Helston has a cashpoint located in JJ News on Coinagehall Street and, depending on band providers you may have the ability to withdraw cash at the Post Office. The banking hub has now also opened in the former Barclays building in Coinagehall Street. 

In recent years, the town has encountered difficulty with the mobile networks being down due to the high demand for the service which meant card payment readers were unavailable.

Car parks 

In addition to council car parks, temporary facilities are available at a number of locations, Tesco, Helston Rugby Club and Helston Show Field on Meneage Road.

The properties used as temporary car parks are not controlled by the Flora Day Association or the town council.

However, the owners have been made aware of the issues involving marshalling, pedestrian movements, and queuing to enter, and that these should not be allowed to disrupt traffic flow on the highway. Additionally, they ensure there is signage of the parking charges at least one hundred metres before the car park entrance.

Access to the town is by foot, and the road crossing at Clodgey Lane is controlled by traffic lights, no other car parks require a road to be crossed. Disabled parking is available in the permanent car parks in the town centre.

Bus stops and temporary taxi ranks 

Temporary bus stops will be outside ATS on Clodgey Lane and on the A394 at St Johns. there will be taxi ranks on Trengrouse Way and the A394 at St Johns.

Medical care 

St John’s Ambulance personnel are mobile throughout the town, and ambulances are in attendance.

Contact the Flora Day Control Point (beside the Guildhall) for further information. First Aid Points are based at Coronation Park and beside the museum

Information for the public 

People are asked to ensure they take care of their possessions at all times and not leave bags unattended. Any suspicious articles should be reported to a steward or the police.

All enquiries on the day can be made through The Flora Day Association Event Control point, underneath the Guildhall opposite to Henlys.

The Flora Day Association added: “We look forward to warmly welcoming you to Helston to enjoy our unique and ever-popular spring festival on Wednesday, May 8.”