BRILLIANT SCENE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20982, 10 March 1938, Page 7

BRILLIANT SCENE

CORONATION OF QUEEN WEST END CARNIVAL All the regal brilliance of a Court scene was reproduced on the stage of the Bay Hall last night when Miss Beth Drennan (West End candidate) was crowned Queen of the West End Carnival. The pageant was the culmination of weeks of enthusiastic work by four committees each working in the interests of their candidates in a concerted effort, which resulted in the raising of the satisfactory sum of £4OO. By dint of much artistic arrangement, the stage was transformed into a striking Court room, in which the throne reflected the pomp and pageantry of the occasion. No effort was spared to make the portrayal convincing, and the grace and solemnity with which the participants filled their roles was evidence of long and careful rehearsal. Marching in procession through the hall, the 30 principals made an imposing sight as they made their way to the stage amid applause. The retinue was headed by a bodyguard of six Highlanders, followed by two heralds (Elwin Avison and Audrey Mackay), a sword bearer (N. Howe), a standard bearer < Elwin Taylor», the Lord Chamberlain (Mr T. O. Fox) and the Lord Marshal (Mr A. Wotherspoon). Princesses Arrive The arrival of the Mystery Princess (Miss Muriel Henderson) was announced by the Lord Marshal, and she was escorted to her position by the Mistress of Robes (Miss Helen Cchmidt). Her retinue comprised: Flower girls (Carol Hardie, Elizabeth Cumming), Ladies in Waiting (Misses Doris Shea and Valerie Reid), train bearers (L. Hobbs and E. Winmill). She was presented with a bouquet by Marjorie Segar, who paid a similar compliment to the other princesses. Then followed the Sports Princess (Miss Phyllis Keen), attended by Shir- , ley Roberts and Norma Brehaut, Misses Eunice Caswell and Orma Segar, Bruce Ball and H. Dephoff. She was followed by the School Princess (Miss Dorothy Logan), who was attended by Joan Newlands and Pauline Young, Misses Tui James and Mary Ferguson, Alan Bishop and Jack Hammond. The stage was then set for the triumphal entry of the Queen, whose retinue was Shirley Jenkins and : 'ary Sutherland, Misses Ina McFarlane and Isabel Duncan, Pat Mayo and Betty Fraser. Others taking part in the ceremony were the Chancellor (Mr G. H. Ferguson), and the pages (Marjory Morrison, Natalie Ramsay, Glenys Karton and Mary Aldridge). Following the coronation, honours were conferred upon several people who had played prominent parts in organising the carnival. The production of the pageant was in the hands of Mr F. Burton and Mrs Lyne. Support Acknowledged It was with a feeling of deep gratitude that he thanked all for the support they had accorded the committees during the carnival, said Mr H. C. Romans. Because of the urgency of the matter for which the money was required, he had had no hesitation in going to the public for assistance. The committees had set out to raise £3OO, and it appeared as if they would net £4OO. He thanked the candidates who had acceded to their requests to contest the carnival, and he congratulated Miss Drennan upon her success. Each committee had worked well, and had it not been for the continued interest that had been maintained, their achievement would not have been so great. It would be invidious to make reference to individual workers of the committees, but he thought that they should thank Mrs Lyne, Mr F. Burton and Mr A. Wotherspoon, without whose assistance it would have been impossible to produce the striking crowning ceremony.