BARWICK VILLAGE MAYPOLE
RE-ERECTED AMIDST JOYOUS ENTHUSIASM
MRS GASCOIGNE CROWNS THE MAY QUEEN
The triennial festival to celebrate the
re-erecting of "Ye Olde Village Maypole" at
Barwick took place on Whit-Tuesday with all the
usual excitement and glamour that has been
previously observed.
A steady influx of visitors commenced
early in the morning, but in the afternoon the
roads were thronged with motorists and hundreds
of hikers, all eager to witness the ancient and
time-honoured ceremony of rearing the pole.
The carnival which precedes the rearing of
the maypole is also a survivor of an ancient
custom, and once again the old traditions were
respectfully carried out to the minutest detail.
To the delight of the whole community the
sun made his most welcome appearance just in time
to reveal the full splendour and give added charm
to the procession, which was headed by the
Garforth Brass Band. Following the band were
Messrs. Arthur Lovett, Tom Robshaw, Ernest
Harrison (committee-men) and Tom Bell, bearing
the beautiful maypole garlands. Next followed
the uncrowned queen and her retinue in an
elegantly decorated waggon, which later was
awarded first prize. Following the queen and her
court were the famous maypole plaiters, also in a
beautifully decorated waggon, as were the country
dancers who followed them.
Master Cyril Speak, as "Puss in Boots",
was the cause of much mirth as the procession
wended its course up the main street and round
Chapel Lane, finally to arrive in the field
adjoining the Rectory grounds.
The May Queen, along with her retinue on
the platform, made an extremely pretty picture.
Then followed the crowning of the May Queen, Miss
Nellie Robshaw (aged 12), a native of
Barwick-in-Elmet, who had been chosen by her
school-fellows.
Mrs Gascoigne of Lotherton Hall, performed
the ceremony, and was presented by Miss Annice
Firth with a beautiful bouquet of purple orchids.
The train bearers were Rene Kemp and Michael
Ashworth, and the crown bearer Denis Morton. The
maids-of-honour were Betty Day, Kathleen Lovett,
Dorothy Lovett, Audrey Ashworth, Carrie Lund,
Eva Durham, Edna Cowell, Audrey Curtis, Mary
Burnell, D.Holroyd and Audrey Woodhead; and the
equerries Ronnie Whitfield and Peter Dawson.
The maypole-plaiters, to music provided by
Garforth Brass Band, skipped daintily round the
miniature maypole, weaving intricate spiders'
webs, barbers' poles, etc., with red, yellow,
blue and green ribbons. The plaiters were Mary
Poulter, Roy Firth, Fred Coulthard, D. Durham,
May Tennant, Oliver Lund, Edwin Moore, Margaret
Kirk, Eric Cullen, Betty Binns, Betty Poulter,
Betty Coulthard, William Poulter, Geoffrey
Collett, Margaret Morton and Ian Ashworth.
The country dancers, who also played an
important part, accompanied by the band, were:
Maidens - Mildred Bullen, Joyce Hewitt, Hilda
Sanderson, Muriel Hague, Annice Firth, Lily
Garbutt, Marion Bullen, Enid Wright and Gladys
Hick.
Boys - D. Durham, Harold Whitfield, Wilfed
Harrison, Kenneth Speak, Jack Lovett, Jack
Cooper, Jack Coulthard, Raymond Pennington &
Donald Rushton. |
A boys' ambulance team gave a skilful
display of their work, which was much
appreciated. After tea the band played
appropriate music, and led the villagers and
visitors to fetch the renovated maypole, which
had been in the Hall Tower Field since Easter.
Five ropes had been attached by which to rear the
maypole; and many ladders had been padded to
prevent the pole from being scratched while
resting on them. After a little manoeuvring the
pole was raised to perpendicular height in record
time, thanks to the master of ceremonies Mr. Ned
Wilson, who for many years fulfilled his duty,
and also to the way the committee worked.
As is usual, Mr George Oldfield consented
to scale the pole and release the five ropes, and
did so with great agility. Seated on the
garlands over fifty feet high, he acknowledged
the crowd's applause. Afterwards the crowds
began to disperse, but not before showing their
appreciation by contributing to the collection
for Mr George Oldfield. The band returned to the
Rectory Field where they played for open-air
dancing until late in the evening.
Mr Tom Braithwaite was awarded first prize
for decorated waggon, Mr Roland Payley second and
Mr John Thorp third. The judges were Mr
Jefferson (Scholes) and Mr Tom Bell (Potterton).
Great credit for the splendid performance
by the school-children was partly due to the
tuition of Mr G.Ashworth, Miss Grimshaw and Miss
Shillito. The committee members had worked very
hard to ensure the day's success. Apart from the
manual labour, the committee had to take the
rebuffs of several misinformed people who were
unable to understand the expenses connected with
the event and also the risk attached to it.
About 10.45pm an interesting running
commentary was given from the BBC North Regional
Programme by Mr Bernard Stubbs, an interested
spectator at the day's proceedings.
Unfortunately he was a little misinformed
concerning the maypole garlands, and stated that
they were not now made by the ladies of the
village as they were in olden times. In this
statement he was wrong, as several of the
villagers contributed towards the making of them
in various ways, some giving flowers and others
scraps, of silk etc. Mrs and Miss Summerskill
were responsible for one, the members of the
Mothers' Union for another, the cottagers of
Potterton Hall for the third and Mesdames Hewitt
and Cooper for the fourth. Each garland was made
of hundreds of gay silk rosettes and artificial
flowers, red, white and blue ribbons and coins,
and also a basket of flowers swinging at the base
of the garland where they will remain for another
three years.
(From the Skyrack Express of 25 May, 1934) |
