Penrith Town Council should rethink its decision not to crown a Queen as part of the annual May Day celebrations, says the son of the town’s first May Queen, who began the tradition more than 100 years ago.
After reading in the Herald last week that the town council had taken over organisation of the event from Penrith Lions and would not be selecting a May Queen, Walter Bracken was moved to share his family’s involvement in the original May Day celebrations in 1923, when his mother was crowned the town’s first May Queen as an 11-year-old schoolgirl.
Born Mary Rubina Nicholson in 1912, Walter’s mother was known as Ruby and was officially named the town’s first May Queen on 1st May, 1923, at the official opening of Penrith Castle Park.
Ruby lived at Foster Street, in Penrith, and attended Brunswick Road Girls’ School. She was chosen as Queen by lot, among schoolgirls attending elementary school whose fathers had died in the First World War.
Walter, aged 88, of Penrith, said: “When I read about the council’s decision not to have a May Queen, I remembered that my mother had been the first. I think it is sad that Penrith won’t have one while other villages will have a May Queen. It is a tradition, and it can’t cost very much. I think the council should rethink things.”
Using our new digital archive linked to Ancestry.com, the Herald uncovered a photograph of Ruby on the day of the May Day celebrations, resplendent in her headdress and cloak. Walter was delighted to see the photo for the first time this week when he visited the Herald offices to share his story.
He said: “It is a lovely picture which I have never seen before. It is amazing to think that it was taken more than 100 years ago.”
According to the Herald’s report of the celebrations, the 1923 crowning was one of the most popular events of the day and was followed by maypole dancing. The report went on to state: “Considerable delay was caused because the crowd swarmed the plateau rather after the fashion of the Cup Tie crowd at Wembley and it was only with considerable difficulty that the committee and police were able to clear the enclosure in order to give as many people as possible the chance to see proceedings.”
Sadly, bad weather apparently curtailed events, and the children’s dancing was cut short because of the cold.
Featuring again in the Herald, many years later when she celebrated her golden wedding anniversary with husband Walter Bracken Snr, Ruby recalled that her name had been put in a hat with others who had lost relatives in the First World War. She lost her father, John, and some uncles.
As May Queen, Ruby had the war medals awarded to her late father pinned to her dress for the official crowning ceremony.
After 40 years of Penrith Lions organising the town’s annual May Day celebrations, the club has handed over the reins to Penrith Town Council, but the council has decided that the procession will not include the crowning of a May Queen.
A Penrith Town Council spokesman said: “The council recognises the significance that May Day holds to many in the town. In taking on the organisation of the Penrith May Day event for the first time, the council has worked closely with local organisations to create an event which mirrored elements of the May Day event we all know and love – whilst also adding features to bring new energy and excitement to the event such as free games stalls and a free land train throughout the day of the event for members of the public to enjoy.
“The council discussed the organisation of the Penrith May Day event with local organisations – and it was felt that this particular part of the event had naturally run its course and would not be included this year.
“However, we acknowledge that events like this grow and change with community involvement. If there is a strong desire to reinstate a May Queen element in the future, we encourage community members to approach the council directly to discuss how they could contribute to its inclusion in upcoming years.”
