Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 19 August 1932
Goldthorpe’s Gala Day
Carnival at Goldthorpe
Visit Of Lord And Lady Irwin
Crowning of the Carnival Queen
A Striking Spectacle
Goldthorpe and Bolton-on-Dearne were en fete last Saturday when the first annual carnival and sports organised by the Goldthorpe branch of the British Legion and the Goldthorpe Division of the S.J.A.B. had a conspicuously successful send-oft.
The great public interest in the innovation was manifested by the large throngs which lined the main streets during the morning when the carnival procession took place and by the crowd which attended the afternoon’s varied entertainment in the local Welfare ground.
The Parade.
The parade left the Goldthorpe Hotel just before noon and owing to it and the vast crowd all traffic was at a stand-still until the procession turned into High Street. The procession mainly comprised tableaux from the various churches in the district, each of which was of a “queen” and her court. The winner was to be the Carnival Queen. All were artistically made up and charmingly dressed. The British Legion Band and a comic band from Hatfield Woodhouse provided rhythm and individuals added colour by the elaborate make-cps of Indian and African chiefs, a Pearly King and his queen, a negro family, a scarecrow, and nursery rhyme characters. In the rear were vehicles’ displaying industrial products. The Barnsley British Co-operative Society’s milk van was neatly and tastefully set out; a coke, oven plant was displayed by Manvers Main Collieries, Ltd.; “Sam,” a Barnburh pit pony, drew a truck of coal and was attended by a youth appropriately attired and complete with miner’s lamp. Competitors for the fancy dress competition came from as far afield as Hatfield, Rossington and Thorne.
The Carnival Queen.
The peak of the picturesque proceedings came in the afternoon when Miss Marjorie Sanderson, of the Goldthorpe Wesleyan Church tableau, was elected and crowned Carnival Queen. There assembled on the dais representatives of the executive, Mr. E. Soar (chairman). Mr. P. Phillipson (vice-chairman), and the distinguished visitors and helpers, Lord and Lady Irwin, and their sons, whose presence was generally appreciated. The stentorian call of the “megaphone man” heralded the approach of the Carnival Queen and her retinue of pretty children.
Corps Officer Soar, opening the proceedings said they had great pleasure in welcoming Lord and Lady Irwin. The promoters of the carnival and sports were already pleased with the success which had attended their efforts. He asked Lady Irwin to crown the Queen.
Lady Irwin smilingly fulfilled her pleasant task, and Miss Sanderson, who wore the crown with becoming dignity, was subsequently presented with a handsome memento of the occasion.
When the applause had died down, Mr. Soar announced that the Goldthorpe Parish Church tableau had been judged the best, and a silver cup was presented Miss Edna Jones by the Queen. Other awards for fancy dres were made by the Queen to Florence and Heather Hope (Rossington), for their most original makeup as negro children; Mr. and ‘Mrs. Woodward (Pearly King Queen). J. Warren, High (Mickey Mouse), and J. Hampson, Thorne (Scarecrow).
Lord and Lady Irwin.
A vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Irwin was moved by Mr. Soar, who said they were very grateful to receive their help, and seconded by Mr. Phillipson, who also took the opportunity of thanking everyone who had assisted in the effort.
Lady Irwin, in reply, said that she and Lord Irwin had had a contest as to who should have the honour of replying. She congratulated them all on their very successful first effort which she described as “perfectly splendid.” They felt very honoured in being asked to attend as “your neighbours at Hickleton” and to crown the Carnival Queen. “I only hope you think I have put the Queen’s crown on straight. “ (Laughter). Their movement, she hoped, would go on from success to success.
Lord Irwin remarked on the impersonation of Ghandi which had confronted him on his entering the grounds. “I almost thought I was back in India when I saw that familiar figure I had the opportunity of meeting out there.” Lord Irwin described the carnival presentment as “most meritorious” and said the judges must have had a difficult and responsible task in deciding which were the best of the fancy dresses and tableaux. He commended their enterprise, spoke appreciately of the work they were doing and of the efforts of the local members of the S.J.A.B. in making themselves efficient to render first aid.
Subsequently Lord and Lady Irwin moved freely among the people and both chatted with those present connected with the Hickleton estate. Throughout the whole proceedings there was a pleasant absence of formality and everything progressed smoothly. The ambulance men in their uniforms and their British Legion colleagues were very active in keeping events moving smartly.
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