With just two months to go until Helston’s proudest tradition returns, the Packet can now reveal the leading set who will head the Midday Dance this Flora Day.
This year, the honour has gone to the following four:
- Mr Aaron Collick and Mrs Rachael Fitzgibbon
- Mr Kevin Murgatroyd and Mrs Verena Watkiss
Leaving the Guildhall at 12pm on Friday, May 8 and dancing to Lismore will be Aaron and Rachael.
Aaron Collick and his partner Rachael Fitzgibbon (Image: Kate Lockett / Helston Packet)
Aaron: ‘An honour for anyone in Helston’
“It was a weird experience,” Aaron told the Packet, about receiving his invitation. “I’d danced the last two years and decided not to dance this year. Then my wife Katie phoned to say there was a letter.”
Aaron admitted it was “hard to contain” his excitement when his wife told him that the letter was, in fact, the invitation to lead the dance this year – due to him being in a room full of people at the time. “It was really hard to keep it quiet,” he added.
In his earlier years, Aaron grew up in Helston and danced at Nansloe Academy and Helston Community College, taking part every year through school. He joined the Royal Navy at 17 and has danced in the Morning and Evening Dance (known as the Seven and Five to many) when he wasn’t away with the Navy.
He and his wife Katie, have danced the Midday together six times.
Beyond his service to the Navy, Aaron is also a keen footballer and coaches a Helston Youth team, also serving as a club secretary. He also plays for the Helston Athletic Veterans team and the Helston Old Boys.
This year, Aaron and Katie’s son Arlo will dance in the Children’s Dance, but his daughter Leila, who led the Children’s Dance for Parc Eglos, will not take part. However, Aaron said it was a “very proud moment” seeing Leila lead the dance through the town in 2024.
Aaron admits the thought of leading the dancers of the Guildhall is “slightly nerve‑wracking.” He says the moment he’s looking forward to the most is guiding the dance into Lismore Gardens.
“All my family go to the gardens. Leading the dance in there is going to be amazing,” he told the Packet.
Rachael: “Very excited… and very hard to keep secret”
For mother of two Rachael, receiving her letter was a moment of pure emotion.
“Shocked, I suppose,” she told the Packet. “Very excited, a little teary, and it was so hard having to keep it secret.”
Rachael has lived in Helston for most of her life, aside from time spent out of the country and at university. She now works at Rosemullion Vets in Helston.
She and her husband live locally with their two young children – one of whom will be old enough to dance next year – and a lively black Labrador.
The leading ladies, Verena (left) and Rachael (right) (Image: Kate Lockett / Helston Packet)
During her childhood, Rachael attended a local primary school, Truro High School, Cornwall College and later university.
However, because Flora Day always fell in term time, she didn’t get the chance to dance until the late 2000s, but has since taken part in the Midday Dance seven or eight times, including once with the Royal Navy.
The moment Rachael is looking forward to most about the day is stepping out from the Guildhall with Aaron.
It will be a special moment for Rachael’s husband and her father. “My husband is very excited as he will never get to lead,” she said. “My dad cried when I told him.”
Rachael already knows her partner, Aaron, through mutual friends and already has the dress she will be wearing on the special day.
At Lismore, the leaders will then change places. Leading the return to the Guildhall will be Kevin and Verena.
Kevin Murgatroyd and his partner Verena Watkiss (Image: Kate Lockett / Helston Packet)
Kevin: “A proud moment I never expected”
For Kevin, the invitation came as a shock – one that left him “completely shocked, surprised and honestly petrified.”
“Helstonians apply to dance for the pleasure of the day – the best day of the year – and I get to lead,” Kevin told the Packet. “I just hope the day doesn’t go by in a flash.”
Kevin’s ties to Helston run deep. He grew up in the town, danced at Nansloe Academy and Helston Community College, and even led the children’s dance in the mid‑1980s.
Now a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, Kevin has spent 28 years in service and is currently based at RNAS Culdrose as an officer in charge of the Merlin Training Facility. He says maintaining that connection between Culdrose and the town is something he values enormously.
The leading gentlemen, Aaron (left) and Kevin (right) (Image: Kate Lockett / Helston Packet)
Kevin is delighted to be partnered with Verena, having been good friends with her cousins when they were younger.
Kevin also has a passion for football and plays alongside Aaron for the Helston Athletic Veterans.
However, he admits that he received his Midday invitation while recovering from an arm injury, which he sustained playing football. Even then, he says the moment was “very special.”
Kevin’s hope for Flora Day 2026 is simple: “All we need is good weather – and a big bass drum to help part the clouds!” He is also looking forward to the moment when he and Verena lead the dance back to the Guildhall.
“I can’t wait to take it all in,” he told the Packet.
Verena: “Written in the stars”
For Verena, the news that she had been invited to lead the dance this year arrived mid‑performance – literally.
“I was mega excited, jumping around the house when I found out,” Verena said. “I was performing in the middle of panto with Helston Theatre Company!”
A familiar face in Helston’s arts and music scene, Verena plays in the band for Helston Theatre Company, teaches music and performs with the popular local music group the Saxxy Maids. She is also heavily involved with local schools, running ensembles and supporting young musicians.
The happy four celebrate at Lismore on a sunny day (Image: Kate Lockett / Helston Packet)
“I’m quite proud to be so heavily involved in the Helston community – going into all the primary schools, running a music ensemble, knowing so many Helstonians, and contributing wherever I can,” she said.
Her Flora Day journey spans decades. She remembers Kevin from their days at Helston Community College and has danced in almost every capacity possible.
Ten years ago, on her 40th birthday, she led the Morning and Evening Dances; this year, having turned 50 this month, she will lead the Midday Dance – something she says is “truly written in the stars.”
Flora Day runs in the family. Her father, Brian Brokenshire, has previously led the Morning and Evening Dances, while her brother Robbie Brokenshire led the Midday in 2007.
The leading four for this year’s Midday Dance on Flora Day (Image: Kate Lockett / Helston Packet)
In 2016, Verena and her cousin Joe Brokenshire were the first couple to step out of the Guildhall for the Morning and Evening Dance.
Verena also admitted she couldn’t resist joining the Hal‑an‑Tow at least once – “Flora Day wouldn’t feel right without being involved in some way.”
One person especially thrilled is her mum, who has always promised to make Verena’s dress if she were to lead.
