Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 31 May 1941
May Homage
Procession at Wombwell
At Wombwell on Sunday the annual procession of witness was held at St. Michael’s R.C. Church. All sections of the Church paraded from the schools in Stonyford Road to the site of the proposed new church in Park Street, large crowds lining the route.
The May Queen was Mary Philbin, six years old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Philbin, of Stonyford Road, Wombwell, with Peter Moran, six years old son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Moran, of Kingsway, Wombwell, as crown bearer.
The May Queen wore gold satin with overdress of white organdie and lace, and train of gold satin, lined with white and edged with swansdown. She carried Madonna lilies and maidenhair fern.
Her train bearers were: Molly Shirt, Maureen Priestley, Denise Deaccy, June Allen, Pat Jones, Kathleen Fleming, Mary Gibbons and Dorothy Mullins.
The crown bearer wore a suit of gold satin, trimmed with lilies of the valley and bore on a gold cushion a crown of lilies, later used for the crowning of the statue of the Blessed Virgin. He was followed by staff bearers in suits of blue and white: Vincent Butler, James O’Brien, John McGinn, Michael McLoughlin, Stephen Chappell and Thomas Horsileld.
The procession was led by Mr. James Hyland who carried the cross, altar boys, school boys and school girls immediately following. Union Jacks were carried by James Goddard and Peter Boyce, while the standards of St.Aloysius and Our Lady were borne by Thomas Boyce and Thomas Green.
The May Queen’s guard of honour was headed by John Corrigan and staff bearers, Peter Goddard. Peter McLoughlin, Fergus Barraclough, and Owen Donnelly, and ex-crown bearer, Jack Gibson.
Ex-May Queen Maureen Corrigan wore blue satin with blue train and diamante crown. The maids of honour in white silk dresses were: Teresa Sheridan, Joyce Sullivan, Sheila Barrett, Annette Cawthorne, Pat Harrison, Pat Boyce, with the ex-guard of honour, Gerald Hardcastle. Others who presented lilies were Marlene Parr, June Mullins, Margaret Fleming and Mary Beard. Offerings of bouquets were made by ex-May Queens Aileen Hopkins, Maureen Cawthorne, Nancy Reilly and Margaret Hayes.
The statue of Our Lady was borne in relays of four by sixteen members of the Children of Mary: Mary Roche, Mary Netherwood. Kathleen Gibson, Ellen Gibson, Margaret Philbin, Margaret Dennett, Celia Green, Ellen Hyland, Doreen Guest, Ruth Goddard, Ruby McHugh, Mary Sheridan, Eileen Keating, Patricia Earley, Delia Durkan and Molly Clarke, with Anne Sheridan bearing the banner of Our Lady. They were led by Patrick Jackson in blue court suit.
The Catholic Mothers’ Union carried the banner of Our Blessed Lady. Members of the Catholic Club committee assisted in marshalling the procession with Mr. P. Corrigan as Chief Marshal. After the crowning of the Blessed Virgin, a Passionist priest preached a sermon and, assisted by the Parish Priest. Fr. M. Goaley, gave benediction.