Now one of the really nice things about writing the blog is when I can get guest contributors to write about their lives and memories.
So here is an article by Karen who has kindly written about Molly and the Stretford Rose Queen.
In December 2013, Molly will be 99 years old and in 1928 she was Stretford’s Rose Queen.
I wanted to find out what she remembered about that time.
“We were told at school the Rose Queen was going to be chosen from Old Trafford that year.
Previously they had been chosen from Stretford and Gorse Hill.
I was 13 and Dad was very strict and wouldn’t let me go, so I asked Mum.
She said I could, if I was a good girl. So I washed the pots everyday and she told me to be back before 9.00 and then Dad would never know.”
Molly’s dad was a traveller selling office stationery. He travelled to the far sides of Manchester so didn’t keep regular hours.
The judging took place at Stretford Technical College on the corner of Stretford Road and East Union Street.
The girl’s paraded the ballroom and the winners were chosen by the committee.
The Rose Queen was selected first, followed by the Ladies in Waiting, Maids of Honour and three girls to represent Faith, Hope and Charity.
A friend of Molly’s mum’s had taught her deportment and it had paid off.
It wasn’t possible to rush off afterwards and when she did she called in at her grandparent’s house on St Hilda’s Road. She didn’t have time to stop and Molly laughs as she recalled it.
I charged up to the front door shouting through the letter box: ‘I’m Queen! I’m Queen!’ But when I got home to Ayres Road, Dad was waiting for me and he was very angry.”
I asked about her dress and she said was satin-silk, “It was good quality and made especially for me.
Unfortunately the day after, I realised I didn’t have anywhere to keep it, so I cut up the skirt and made knickers. I do regret it now. It was very silly. I wish my mother had stopped me.
The day itself was sunny and I was collected in a horse drawn landau with a coachman.
Dad had a wooden arch at the gate of our house and sent off to Colchester for roses to decorate it with. I was told the landau had been used for a visit to Manchester by royalty.
We travelled up Chester Road to the cenotaph and the streets were lined with people who clapped as I approached. I felt regal, just like a real queen.
We then went into Longford Park and the lawns were laid out with chairs and there was an orchestra who played music for my entrance.
Uncle Herbert was music master at Central School in Gorse Hill and he wrote the music for me.”
Local bands also playing during the afternoon and there were various competitions including the judging of council horses as well as a fair.
“I was crowned by Councillor Sutcliffe’s wife and she gave me a necklace with a platinum setting which was bought in King Street, Manchester.
I still have it in my jewellery box.
We then went for a meal inside Longford Hall and there was dancing in the evening followed by a firework display.”
Molly was the granddaughter of Councillor John Pedder, chairman of the Stretford Parks Committee. “
My family didn’t make a fuss of me because I was Rose Queen, and Dad didn’t even come.
But on the day everyone treated me nicely.
It was just a matter of luck I was chosen because I was just an ordinary girl.”
I’d have to disagree with that, Molly was picked because the committee saw how beautiful she was and how elegantly she walked.
© Karen J Mossman, November 2013
Pictures; from the collection of Karen J Mossman
In December 2013, Molly will be 99 years old and in 1928 she was Stretford’s Rose Queen.
I wanted to find out what she remembered about that time.
“We were told at school the Rose Queen was going to be chosen from Old Trafford that year.
Previously they had been chosen from Stretford and Gorse Hill.
I was 13 and Dad was very strict and wouldn’t let me go, so I asked Mum.
She said I could, if I was a good girl. So I washed the pots everyday and she told me to be back before 9.00 and then Dad would never know.”
The judging took place at Stretford Technical College on the corner of Stretford Road and East Union Street.
The girl’s paraded the ballroom and the winners were chosen by the committee.
The Rose Queen was selected first, followed by the Ladies in Waiting, Maids of Honour and three girls to represent Faith, Hope and Charity.
A friend of Molly’s mum’s had taught her deportment and it had paid off.
It wasn’t possible to rush off afterwards and when she did she called in at her grandparent’s house on St Hilda’s Road. She didn’t have time to stop and Molly laughs as she recalled it.
I charged up to the front door shouting through the letter box: ‘I’m Queen! I’m Queen!’ But when I got home to Ayres Road, Dad was waiting for me and he was very angry.”
I asked about her dress and she said was satin-silk, “It was good quality and made especially for me.
Unfortunately the day after, I realised I didn’t have anywhere to keep it, so I cut up the skirt and made knickers. I do regret it now. It was very silly. I wish my mother had stopped me.
Dad had a wooden arch at the gate of our house and sent off to Colchester for roses to decorate it with. I was told the landau had been used for a visit to Manchester by royalty.
We travelled up Chester Road to the cenotaph and the streets were lined with people who clapped as I approached. I felt regal, just like a real queen.
We then went into Longford Park and the lawns were laid out with chairs and there was an orchestra who played music for my entrance.
Uncle Herbert was music master at Central School in Gorse Hill and he wrote the music for me.”
Local bands also playing during the afternoon and there were various competitions including the judging of council horses as well as a fair.
I still have it in my jewellery box.
We then went for a meal inside Longford Hall and there was dancing in the evening followed by a firework display.”
Molly was the granddaughter of Councillor John Pedder, chairman of the Stretford Parks Committee. “
But on the day everyone treated me nicely.
It was just a matter of luck I was chosen because I was just an ordinary girl.”
I’d have to disagree with that, Molly was picked because the committee saw how beautiful she was and how elegantly she walked.
© Karen J Mossman, November 2013
Pictures; from the collection of Karen J Mossman
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