South Yorkshire Times, May 19th, 1935
spirit of Maytime responded not to kindly when the Children of St Michaels. R.C. Church, Stonyford Road Wombwell, Invoked her aid for their annual act of religious homage on Sunday. Too often in the past the spectacle of gay flowers, bright banners and pretty frocks has been mocked by fleeting snow-clouds and unseasonable winds; this year it was rain.
The formalities were carried through as usual but it was all indoors with raindrops spattering on the windows. To protect the children as they passed in groups from the dressing rooms in the schools into the church a few yards distant, men of the church held the four corners of a dark sheet to form a canopy, themselves braving the rain so that the children would not be cheated of the enjoyment of an event for which they had been preparing many weeks. As many people as possible were got inside the building, but a great number had to be satisfied to stand in the porch or peep through the windows.
FOR THE CHILDREN’S SAKE
Everything possible was done to mitigate the disappointment the children must have experienced in being denied the pleasure of the usual parade from Stonyford Road through the town to the! site of the proposed new church in Park’ Street where, in previous years, the gathering and service have been held.; The procession of children and adult! members of the congregation took place inside the church, the cross bearer, i Vincent Dobson. taking the lead.
The blue-eyed, flaxen-haired May Queen elect was Maureen Cawthorne, six years old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Cawthorne. of 62. Stonyford Road, Wombwell. She made an impressive figure in white satin beaute with, silk net overdress. On the train were six; ruched rings. decked with tiny bunches of forget-me-nots, the train being underlined with blue satin beaute. Her coronet was of May blossom and pearls end she carried a sheaf of lilies and fern. Before her walked the page, Philip White (6), in a suit of oyster coloured satin and silk hat in which was large pale blue cavalier’s feather, He carried the silken cushion on which reposed the crown of lilies which, subsequently the May queen placed on the head of the statue of the Blessed Virgin. Also attending were eight staff-bearers. Paddy Jackson. Alien Mellor, John Sullivan, John McNulty. Martin Thomson, Jack Gibson, Brian Barrett and John Donnelly, wearing suits of blue I satin.
THE TRAIN BEARERS.
Six little figures in blue taffeta, covered with peach frilled net, and wearing blue and gold head-dresses. , Were the May Queen’s train bearers .Joyce Sullivan, Anne Ruane, June. Mullins, Margaret Fleming, Ellen Mc Nulty and Bernadette Ruane. Next came five girls wearing blue I satin trimmed with swansdown and quaintly picturesque blue bonnets. Each had an ornamental basket tilted with pale pink tulips. From the centre of the baskets they drew large St. Joseph lilies to present to the May Queen as a symbolical offering. These girls were Maureen Corrigan, Marie Hopkins, Eileen Withers, Sheila Hayes and Margaret Finean. The Queen’s attendants were June Conry, Joan McGinn, Irene Sullivan, 1 Doreen Dresser, Eileen Mullins, Mary Bailey and Dedia Jackson, and they I wore white taffeta with large pale blue sashes. They also carried baskets of flowers from which they drew lilies to hand to the Queen. Then came last year’s May Queen, Aileen Hopkins, with her cushion bearer, Desmond Leach, by ex-Queens Nancy Riley, Evelyn Larvan, Sheila Walsh and Margaret Hayes, the oldest being about thirteen years of age.