Coronation Past...

In the May issue of Prebbleton Life we had an article about swimming pools in Prebbleton. This article links swimming and the Coronation of King Charles III.

Prebbleton has held at least two Coronations in the past, the most recent in 1937 when Linda BARR was crowned Queen of the Carnival. The new school pool was officially opened on 19th December 1936, almost debt free.

The Swimming Club committee decided to hold a Queen Carnival to raise further money for fences and dressing shed. The Queen contestants were nominated from the school, one from each of the standard classes and the infants department. These seven girls were named in October 1936 and each Queen had a committee of three to support them in their fundraising efforts. Then followed a series of parties, dances, card nights and other events all to raise funds and in support of the Queen contestants.

The Press reported the results on 6th April 1937 saying: A number of the Prebbleton school children took part in the crowning ceremony of the queen carnival held recently. The Queen, Linda Barr, was attended by her six princesses, Esma Skinner, Margaret Carpenter, Joan Bell, Bonnie (Yvonne) Dempster, Margaret Ridden and Joyce Ralston. It would appear this was the order the girls finished in the competition, probably based on funds raised. This photograph is from our collection and shows Linda after her Coronation looking very regal.

The idea for this competition may have been taken from another event held in 1924, this time raising funds for the Parish. The Reverend Frank Rutherfurd RAWLE and his wife, Alice, had recently moved into the parish when they began planning an elaborate Queen Carnival. The parish at the time covered

Templeton and Hornby with each congregation holding their own carnival, and each girl having a committee to support her and arrange the various activities.

The final event was a grand affair involving almost the whole town, with a procession of decorated cars, bikes and horses making their way from the parish room to the Recreation Ground (Domain). There were all manner of stalls and sideshows including afternoon tea stands, fruit salad, ice cream, soft drinks, sweets, cakes and produce, Hoop-la, bowling alley, shooting gallery and a “chute for the juveniles” all to “beguile coins from one’s pocket in order to place them to the credit of one or other of the seven little candidates.”

To finish there were prizes awarded for the best decorated car, bicycle, and pet, then in the evening, 300-400 people gathered at the hall awaiting the results which were posted at 10pm. Doreen Smith was declared the Rose Queen with Carmel Smith runnerup. The Press 16 sept 1924 report concludes saying “from now until November the contest assumes a different aspect, the Rose Queen of Prebbleton contesting honours with the successful candidates in Templeton and Hornby for the coveted position of Queen of the Carnival.”

The Press 2 December 1924 then describes the procession where their Majesties Queen Doreen of Prebbleton and King Lloyd of Hornby, along with their assembly of knights, courtiers, sword bearers, a jester, and other high officials, along with Princess Daphne of Hornby and Princess Joan of Templeton were presented to their subjects.

The report concludes “the whole company marched slowly off the stage and round the hall to the strains of the Russian National Anthem played by the band under the baton of Mr S Cooke.”

These photographs from our collection, are of the decorated cars at the Recreation Ground and the Queen and King, Doreen, and Lloyd, with their entourage in their costumes, possibly taken beside the Parish Hall, formerly the school. It was reported that the whole event raised £1200 for the parish funds and was largely organised by the Rev Frank Rawle and his wife Alice, probably the two adults shown in the back row.

Sandra Serra - Prebbleton Heritage