THOUSANDS SUPPORT NEWHAVEN GALA DAY
Charming Queen Leads holiday revels, Monday August 3rd 1936
By Carol Walton
Newhaven’s Gala Day on Monday August 3rd 1936 provided a great triumph for the organisers – the Newhaven August Bank Holiday Gala day committee.
The success of the occasion was made possible by the manner in which the townspeople and numerous visitors gave enthusiastic support to the many events in a varied programme.
A particular tribute came from one enthusiast who has lived in the town for nearly 80 years. He said: “Newhaven be growing into a great place. It makes our celebrations when Mafeking was relieved look like a Sunday school treat”.
Newhaven’s Carnival Queen who will “reign” on the day is Mrs W Gerrard of 38 St Luke’s Lane.
Mrs Gerrard is the wife of the well-known Newhaven boxer who for several years was a member of the R.N.V.R. Charmingly supporting the Carnival Queen were the Maids of Honour, Mrs H Dunstall and Miss E R Breden. Also in the royal retinue were the two little attendants, the little Misses Patricia May Escott and Audrey Lower. Mrs W Gerrard, the golden haired first Carnival Queen, set an example for future occupants of the throne. Despite the fact that thousands of her “loyal subjects” congregated at the coronation ceremony, the Queen was not in the least self-conscious; she delivered her address in a charming manner and earned thunderous applause. The Carnival Queen was crowned by the well-known lady journalist Miss Winifred Lewis who was one of the judges in the selection of the Queen.
Following the crowning by Miss Winifred Lewis, the Carnival Queen was driven in state to the recreation ground where the Gala took place.
During the afternoon merrymaking was in full swing. Thousands of people patronised the side-shows and took part in the sports or watched them.
In the evening the evening the enthusiasm grew even greater with the procession of tableaux, decorated vehicles and cycles, horse riders and pedestrians in fancy dress through the main streets of the town. The Shakespearean Society had an impressive tableau, “The Only Way”. The carnival spirit prevailed throughout the day, and the revelry was kept at top pitch from early in the morning until midnight. The day concluded with a battle of confetti and dancing on the hard tennis court.
Extract from an article in the Sussex Express, August 7th 1936 - kindly donated by Jim & Sue Harvey.