Helston and St Keverne Young Farmers complete 12-hour 'Florathon'

The 12-hour ‘Florathon’ started at 7am on Monday at Burnuick Farm and was organised by Helston and St Keverne Young Farmers Club members to raise money for Man Down and Stem Cell Research at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Making their way through the town (Image: Supplied)

The dance started with one couple dancing around the field and then joined by another couple and so forth.

People who took part in the Florathon were also treated to a barbecue and activities such as a tombola and apple bobbing, with stalls selling jewellery and children’s clothes.

READ NEXT: Pictures of early morning Helston May Day parade

However, at 5pm, the procession left Gunwalloe and danced all the way into town to join in with the May Day Parade outside Yeoman’s Garages (formally the VW Garage.)

People from different villages and towns in Cornwall participated in the 12-hour dance including Flora Day secretary Nick Wills and chairman Martin Wallis.

Claire Hosken, one of the event's main organisers, was all smiles as she joined the rest of the procession. She said: “It was a great success; everything went really well.”

Look at those happy faces! (Image: Newsquest)

“We had lots of support from people old and new including members of other villages, it was nice.

“When we were dancing on the footpath past the RNAS Culdrose road, drivers were tooting their horns to show their support.”

Big smiles from Claire Hosken as she dances through (Image: Supplied)

Chairman of Helston and St Keverne Young Farmers Club Ollie Pearce tells the Packet: “It was fantastic.

“We had decorated the route to the farm with flags kindly lent to us by the Flora Day Committee along with bluebells and greenery too.

“Loads of people were cheering us on and it was a wonderful day.”

However, it is not yet known how much fundraising money was made. 

READ NEXT: Helston Flora Day 2023: Dance times, routes, car parks

On Monday evening (May 1) hundreds of people flocked to the town to watch the second parade of the day at 7pm.

Before the band was due to set off, the band wished one of their members a happy birthday with music, with the crowd joining in.

A quick break in between all the dancing! (Image: Supplied)

After the band had completed the parade, there was a short pause before they decided to take to their instruments again to perform another refrain of the Flora Dance – much to the happiness of the crowd.