27 June 1953
Coronation day was celebrated in Newtongrange with a Gala Day in the Public
Park. Over 1500 children were provided with milk and a bag of eatables, while
nearly 100 old age pensioners of 70 years of age and over were brought by
special buses to the park, where they were provided with tea and entertained
to an appreciative variety concert by talented local artistes and musical
selections by the Silver and Pipe Bands. Councillor Andrew Ross, Chairman
of the Gala Day Committee, warmly thanked the Dean Tavern Committee for their
generous donation of £150, the employees of the National Coal Board
who had sanctioned a levy; of 2/- (10p) per member, and the generous donors
throughout the district, who had assisted in the successful community effort.
Queen's Court:
Queen - Mary Paul;
Dux pupil for crowning ceremony -William Tulloch;
Herald - William Kirkwood;
Chief Maid - Yvonne Campbell;
First Lord - John Sharp;
Maid of Honour - Ella Jack,
Lord in Waiting - Robert Morris;
Crown Bearers - Peter Thomson, Robert Smith;
Page - Dennis A Black;
Yeoman of Guard - Alastair West,
Ladies of the Court -Alice Cropley, Elizabeth Robertson,
Janet Thomas.
Bower Girls - Rose Holland, Kath. Haylott;
Flower Girl - Noreen Connolly;
Lord in Waiting - Francis Cosgrove;
Page -Thomas Dubickas
Halberdier - James Begbie.
King's Court:
King - George Smith;
Maid of Honour - Helen Cornwall;
Lord in Waiting - David Carson;
Ladies of the Court - Catherine Scott, Margaret Robertson,
Alice Black, Jeanette Horsburgh, Valerie Ross,
Catherine Walker, Mary Morrison;
Halberdiers -John Burnett, James O'Meara;
Pages - David Carson, Kenneth Kirkwood;
Flower Girls - Helen Slater, Marion Jeffrey, Janet Jeffrey,
Elizabeth Reid, Isobel Baxter, Margaret Campbell, Evelyn Urban;
Bonnie Prince Charlie - David Campbell;
Britannia - Elizabeth Reid.