King James and Queen Jessie Crowned
July 1939
Newtongrange Children's Annual Gala was held in the Welfare Park Saturday afternoon when proceedings were carried through in favourable conditions. In the early afternoon nearly 1800 pupils from Newbattle, Newtongrange and Newtonloan Schools assembled in the Square Park accompanied by the Newtongrange Lothian Silver Band, Newtongrange Pipe Band and Arniston and Gorebridge Pipe Band, marched by way Third Street, Lingerwood Road and Main Street to the Welfare Park where the Crowning Ceremony of the school King and Queen took place.
After Mr John Morris, Chairman of the Gala Day Committee, had extended a warm welcome to the large gathering of schoolchildren, parents and friends, the Coronation ceremony began. This year the honour of school King and Queen fell to James S.A. Dea and Jessie O. S. Brown respectively best pupils in the qualifying classes in Newbattle Public School and the crowning ceremony was performed by ex-Queen Mary Barton, 27 Fourth Street.
The Court
King - James S. Dea
Queen - Jessie O.S. Brown
Chief Maid of Honour - Catherine D. Haldane;
First Lord in Waiting - William Currie;
Maids Honour - Janet N. Smith and William Shaw;
Lords in Waiting - James Dodd, and Robert F. Webster;
Herald - John P McQue;
Crown Bearers - Sidney J. Booth and David A Peacock;
Yeoman of the Guard - Archibald Paterson;
Halberdiers - John M Dunachie, Lawrence S McIntosh, Alexander
A Stewart and James Daly;
Pages - William Y. Samuel, George Blair, Robert McLaren,
Francis Lapinski.
There were also ladies of the court, bower girls and flower girls attendance. The court arrived at the Park in cars and presented a very attractive appearance. During the course of the ceremony, a telegram was read by the Chairman from Alexander Taylor, last year's King, and following the crowning, Miss Humphrey's court dancers gave a charm exhibition of dancing before 'Their Majesties'.
On behalf of the Children's Day Committee, Mr Morris called upon Miss Barton to present wristlet watches to the King and Queen and Catherine D Haldane, Dux pupil of Newbattle Public School, who also received the Dux Championship Shield, which has been competed for since 1924. After the presentation, Miss Mary Robertson gracefully handed over the Queen's bouquet to Miss Barton. On leaving the beautifully decorated platform, amidst loud cheers from the gathering, Queen Jessie accompanied by the King and their courtiers, laid a wreath on the War Memorial.
The coronation ceremony over, milk and cakes were supplied to
the children who also received an apple and a penny each. During the afternoon,
musical selections were rendered by the Lothian Silver Band, Newtongrange
Pipe Band and Arniston and Gorebridge Pipe Band, who were highly appreciated
by both young and old. Miss Law's troupe of dancers gave a display of Highland
dancing. In the late afternoon a lengthy sports programme was carried through
without a hitch, and there was open air dancing to music supplied by the Lothian
Silver Band under the leadership of Mr. J. Farrow, with Bandsman McLeod acting
as MC.