White Lightning First Past The Post

A MAGGOT race was among the attractions at a street party in Queen Street, Henley, to celebrate the King’s coronation.

Children particularly enjoyed the “action” as a maggot nicknamed White Lightning crawled across the line first.

Ed Atkinson, who organised the celebrations with his wife Maggie, Michael Warner and Robin Bennett, said: “I bought a multi-coloured pack of maggots online so they had names like Red Rhum. Then I found out days later that the shop had released a ‘coronation pack’ with red, white and blue maggots.”

He gave credit for the idea to Tom Wynn-Jones, explaining: “It was at a St Mary’s fete in 2002 when Tom would have been about 10 or 12. I’m sure he’ll be happy to read this.”

Other attractions included a human fruit machine, a parade of “royal” pooches, which was won maltipoo Tilly, dressed in a purple velour, lace-trimmed cloak  made by her owner Miranda Evans-Greenaway, who lives in neighbouring Friday Street.

Runners-up Piccolo and Pippin were dressed in homemade chorister robes complete with the sheet music for “Za-Dog the Priest”, a tribute to Handel’s coronation anthem Zadok the Priest.

Pippin’s owner Rosie Williams said: “We were up until midnight making their costumes.”

There was also a children’s costume competition, a slow bike race and live music from Eighties tribute band Sledgehammer.