King Alexander and Queen Mary Crowned
July 1938
At Newtongrange, the children assembled in the Square Park and accompanied by Arniston and District Pipe Band, Newtongrange Lothian Silver Prize Band and the Newtongrange Pipe Band, proceeded in procession via Third Street, Lingerwood Road and Main Street to the Public Park. The children were here drawn up in formation while the crowning ceremony was carried through. Mr. John Rutherford JP , Chairman of the Gala Day Committee, presided. The court was a large one and presented a most attractive spectacle.
The principals were:
Queen - Mary Barton;
King - Alexander Taylor;
Chief Maid of Honour - Catherine Haldane;
First Lord in Waiting - John Neilson;
Maids of Honour - Eleanor Dudgeon, Sheila Hume;
Lords in Waiting - John Methven , William Stuart;
Herald - Walter Greenhill;
Crown Bearers - Robert Fraser, William Currie;
Yeoman of the Guard - Daniel Paterson;
Halberdiers - John Samuel, William Traill, James Meldrum,
Joseph Peacock;
Ladies of the Court - Helen Currie, Marion Miller, Marion
Samuel, Elizabeth Cairney, Lillian Graham, Margaret MacDowall Agnes Anderson,
Elizabeth Macdonald, Chris Wright, Jessie Brown, Chris Bratty, Annie McPherson;
Bower Girls - Elizabeth Duncan, Mary Craik, Jane Pryde, Magdalene
Robertson;
Flower Girls - Mary MacFarlane, Margaret Dickson, Elizabeth
Thomson, Jane Darling, Sheena Pearson, Helen B Dow, Catherine Morris, Jane
Walker, Margaret C S Black, Georgina A R Neilson, Margaret B Garrett, Jane
R Scott;
Pages - Ian M T Samuel, William D Adams, Alex A Duncan, James
Gilchrist;
To present bouquet - Agnes S Walker;
Court Dancers - Jean Whitehead, Nancy Moffat, Annie King,
Annie Russell, Margaret Dodds, Jean Haig, Ruby Hutton, Greta Cornwall;
Highland Dancers - Jean Trist, Margaret Black, Betty Melrose,
Gladys Bragg, Margaret Sinclair, Mary Cornwall;
Dux Pupil of Newbattle School, Andrew D Purves.
The arrangements this year showed one or two notable changes compared with previous years. In the first place it was decided to have a dual ceremony and Alexander Taylor became the first school King of Newtongrange and District. Then there was the question of the crowning. This duty was allocated to the Queen of last year, Miss. Euphemia A. D. Reid a scholar of fourteen years of age. She carried out her duties with charm, grace and skill. On behalf of the Gala Day Committee she handed over wristlet watches to the King and Queen and also to Andrew Purves, Dux pupil of Newbattle School. Following the ceremony the Queen laid a wreath on the war memorial.
Refreshments were served to the young folks and a programme of sports entered into with gusto.