South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 May 1934
Denaby May Festival
Marred by Stormy Weather
Beautiful Ceremony
Stormy weather on Sunday evening marred the May Festival of the Roman Catholic Church at Denaby Main. The chilly wind was very unkind to the wearers of the light frocks. The dresses worn by the Queens and their attendants were very beautiful, but the sunlight which should have gilded and adorned them was absent.
The procession went along Church Road to Tickhill Square and back to the church, where the crowning ceremony took place. The cross-bearer was followed by St. Alban (Patrick Reel), St. Alban’s banner, altar boys, scouts and their bugle band, the Infant King and Queen (Frank Reynolds and Veronica Hudson), their little attendants, the junior members of the Sunday School, the Queen of Violets (Dorothy Rose) attended by May Margaret Sellars, Annie Pearson, Annie Lynch, and Nora Neary; the Queen of Lilies, Mary Kelly, attended by Noreen Turpin, Edith Rose, Hilda Connelly, and Mildred Callaghan; the Queen of Roses (Kathleen Kane, Kitty attended by Eileen Kane, Ann Bray, Kitty Burns, and May Hinchliffe; Joan Arc (Kathleen Osborne); the Queen of May (Winnie Prendergast), attended by Margaret Littlewood, Nora Littlewood, Elsie Mangham, and Nellie Higgins.
The harp bearer (Sheila Conlin); the May Queen (Lillian Madin), followed by the predecessor (Nora Finn), brought up the rear of the procession. Her attendants were Joan Quinn, Kathleen Madin, Patricia Fallon, and Winifred McGrath.
The crown bearer was Ellen Reel. Finally came “Children of Mary,” carrying the statute of Our Lady and singing their hymn of praise, followed by Father Lehane and altar servers, and finally the congregation.
The church was filled to overflowing. The ex-Queen crowned the May Queen, and the May Queen crowned the statue. Each Queen and her attendants laid gifts of flowers and paid homage to the Mother of God.
The service of Benediction, pronounced by Father Lehane, concluded a very beautiful ceremony.