Newtongrange Gala - Queen Harriet Crowned
30 June 1934
It needed only sunshine to emphasise the glory of the Newtongrange and District Children’s Gala on Saturday and there was sunshine in abundance. The children gathered at the Square Park in buoyant spirit and with great expectancy. Their 'red letter' day had again come round. The platform was decorated as only the Newtongrange platform can be. A delightful picture was presented when the Court had finally assembled and, incidentally, it might be mentioned that as usual the ceremonials were carried out with a dignity and charm that fully justified all the labour that had been expended in connection with the event. Music by the Newtongrange Lothian Silver Band and Arniston and District Pipe Band completed the arrangements. There were scenes of great enthusiasm among the young folks when their Queen, Harriet B Knight, Whitholm, was gracefully crowned.
The
Court
Queen - Harriet B. Knight
Chief Maid of Honour - Margaret P. Freeland;
Maids of Honour - Mary Whitehead, Janet Temple, Annie Malloy,
Catherine Morris;
Herald - Walter Darling;
Crown Bearer - Jas. Kerr;
Sceptre Bearer - Daniel Slater;
Yeoman of the Guard - Thos Smith;
Pages - David Peacock , Sidney Booth,
Halberdiers - John McDonald, John McDowall, Jas. Robertson;
Ladies of the Court - Janet Taylor, Jessie Carson, Jeanie
Pryde, Ella Knight, Agnes Melrose, Elizabeth Bartie, Annie Allan, Helen George,
Annie Birrell, Annie Baxter, Violet Hoggan, Lucy McLennan , Elizabeth Smith,
Isabella Knight, Alexandrina Smith, Roberta Darge, Janet Herriot, Elizabeth
Webster, Jean George, Evelyn Matthewson, Isabella Pryde; Euphemia Reid;
Bower Girls - Ray Munro, Jeannie Sneddon , Christina Thomson,
Christina Mitchell;
Flower Girls - Grace McGuire, Morag Haston, Catherine Gardiner,
Jean Wood, Helen Fraser, Hannah Gowrie,
Margaret Lauder, Jane Pryde, Janetta Kerr, Helen Duncan , Marrgaret R A Duncan,
Margaret S. D. Duncan;
Queen Mother - Mrs Jeannie Craig; to present bouquet, Mrs
Isabella L Clark.
Miss Cruikshank presented a pearl necklace to the Queen who also received a gold watch from Mr Lamb on behalf of the Committee. Miss Cruickshank was gracefully presented with the Queen's bouquet . Mr Smith, Chairman of the Committee, made the presentation of the Shield to the Herald, Walter Darling, who was Dux of Newbattle School and congratulated him on the honour and distinction. All the other members of the Court received boxes of chocolates. Mr Smith, in the course of further remarks, made sympathetic reference to the absence of Mr Mungo Mackay, through illness, and expressed the hope that he would soon be restored to health. He also referred to the absence of Pipe Major Pinkman who had suffered a bereavement.
The, procession, It was a procession of happy children that proceed to the Victoria Football Park via Fourth Street, Main Street and Murderdean Road. Admiring crowds watched them march past with their heads up and keeping well in step. It was a spectacle of which Newtongrange was justly proud. After ample refreshments had been provided for the young folks, a sports programme was carried through with success.