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'Nosegay' maker ready for big day 'Nosegay' maker ready for big day
(about 4 hours later)
She has one of the world's oddest job titles and is employed for just one day each year but Rosie Mason is ready to carry out her duties with pride.She has one of the world's oddest job titles and is employed for just one day each year but Rosie Mason is ready to carry out her duties with pride.
Mrs Mason, 55, from Leicester, is the Queen's supplier of nosegays - the sweet-smelling bouquets carried by royals at a pre-Easter service.Mrs Mason, 55, from Leicester, is the Queen's supplier of nosegays - the sweet-smelling bouquets carried by royals at a pre-Easter service.
The Queen will carry one of her posies as she hands specially-minted coins to pensioners in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.The Queen will carry one of her posies as she hands specially-minted coins to pensioners in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Monarchs have been handing out gifts on Maundy Thursday since the 13th century. Monarchs have been handing out gifts on Maundy Thursday since the 13th Century.
In centuries past, the sovereign would give money to the poor and wash recipients' feet on the day before Good Friday - echoing the tale of Christ bathing his disciples' feet.In centuries past, the sovereign would give money to the poor and wash recipients' feet on the day before Good Friday - echoing the tale of Christ bathing his disciples' feet.
The nosegay's role was to ward off unpleasant smells.The nosegay's role was to ward off unpleasant smells.
Foot-washing ended with James II in the 17th century but the tradition of making the posies remains and Mrs Mason has created 12 of them for a cathedral service at Bury St Edmunds. Foot-washing ended with James II in the 17th Century but the tradition of making the posies remains and Mrs Mason has created 12 of them for a cathedral service at Bury St Edmunds.
Secret recipeSecret recipe
"It has to be one of the world's oddest job titles," said Mrs Mason, who is not paid a salary but given a set of Maundy coins."It has to be one of the world's oddest job titles," said Mrs Mason, who is not paid a salary but given a set of Maundy coins.
"The nosegays are only carried at the Maundy service so I only work on them for one day every year," she said, adding that her work as a florist keeps her busy the rest of the time."The nosegays are only carried at the Maundy service so I only work on them for one day every year," she said, adding that her work as a florist keeps her busy the rest of the time.
Mrs Mason, who has been helping to make the floral creations since 1983, has three assistants and uses a mixture including daffodils, freesias and ivy.Mrs Mason, who has been helping to make the floral creations since 1983, has three assistants and uses a mixture including daffodils, freesias and ivy.
But she said: "The recipe will remain a secret. I'll pass it on to my successor but no-one else."But she said: "The recipe will remain a secret. I'll pass it on to my successor but no-one else."
The Queen will hand 83p in Maundy coins to 83 women and 83 men - one for each year of her life - who were nominated for their service to the community.The Queen will hand 83p in Maundy coins to 83 women and 83 men - one for each year of her life - who were nominated for their service to the community.