ROSINA Cripps may have been the country’s oldest Coronation Queen.

She was 79 when she was chosen by villagers at Wheatley, near Oxford.

The picture of her aboard her float in 1953 was sent in by her grand-daughter, Mavis Ramsden.

Mrs Ramsden, of Windmill Lane, Wheatley, writes: “She made a dress, a velvet robe, and a crown for the occasion and felt very honoured to join villagers in a parade around the village.

Mrs Cripps, who was born in 1873, married Ezra Cripps, the miller at Wheatley windmill, and was active in village life.

Mrs Ramsden tells me: “She was a founder member of Wheatley Women’s Institute, taking part in many of its pageants. She also sang and danced in concerts performed at the Merry Bells in the village.

“With her husband, daughter Cassie and son Leonard, they formed a musical group entertaining at local village dances.

“She was also well known for her dress with 100 pockets. She would fill each pocket with a prize, then appear at local fetes as a human lucky dip, raising money for charity.

“In the 1930s, she ran a haberdashery shop in Wheatley, which also sold toys and sweets. Another of her interests was breeding goats and, as a child, I remember being given warm goat’s milk to drink.

“Rosina died in 1969, aged 95, having led a very active and happy life.”

Does anyone know of an older Coronation Queen than Rosina?