SHE came down with whooping cough on the big day she was meant to be attendant to the gala queen.

But 56 years later, pensioner Julienne Atkinson finally took her place of honour next to this year’s Lepton CE Junior school gala queen Nicole Wood.

Julienne and Nicole looked as pretty as a picture next to the handsome Prince consort Ben Wragg at the school’s 150th anniversary gala.

Deputy head teacher Helen Lever said the school had put on a traditional gala to celebrate their 150 years.

She said: “We had a Punch and Judy show, a coconut shy, a fancy dress parade, a knobbly knees competition, and all the families brought their own picnics.”