Ruby Walker is to be honoured on stage at a village carnival this month - 75 years after the weather ruined her big day. Jim McTaggart reports.

IT was all supposed to be so perfect. Little Ruby Walker's mother had made her a beautiful cream dress for her big day as Bowes carnival queen.

She had picked out her favourite colours and the two page boys were ready to accompany her at the head of the annual procession down the County Durham village's main street.

And then the heavens opened.

As 13-year-old Ruby excitedly made her final preparations for the big day, the black clouds that had threatened rain all day made good on their promise.

And with the streets awash, the organisers had no choice but to cancel the procession.

Instead of waving to the crowds on a sunny day, tearful Ruby was reduced to walking round a schoolroom filled with bedraggled carnival refugees.

But now - 75 years after she was chosen to be queen of the big event - the organisers have asked her to be guest of honour at the carnival on Saturday, June 10, as she is the oldest surviving queen.

Rosie Bettison, the secretary, said yesterday: "We have been doing some research into the history of the carnival and tracing the names of all the former queens.

"We discovered that Mrs Walker held the title 75 years ago and decided that she should be given a place of honour this time.

"We are thrilled that someone who was queen so long ago is still able to attend."

Mrs Walker, who has two sons and two daughters, said: "My mother was very good at making clothes, so she made me a lovely cream dress to wear on the procession. I suppose I must have looked good in it.

"But just before the parade was due to start, there was a dreadful downpour and thunderstorm. Everything was switched to a schoolroom, which was packed. I was just asked to walk round the room, along with children in fancy dress."

Although she was upset, her brother Harry, who became a well-known organist, pulled her leg by saying: "No wonder there was a storm with you as the queen."

She was chosen by other pupils of Bowes School, and the news was announced by the herald of the carnival, Frank Sayer. She was attended by two page boys, James Minnikind and Stephen Wedge, along with six girls. Music was provided by Bowes Brass Band and a young percussion band led by Raymond Addison.

But officials were disappointed that the storm meant they could not collect much money for a local hospital fund, after raising £100 for it in each of the previous six years.