Bury St Edmunds Nostalgia - May Queen 1952 crowned in Abbey Gardens

In today's nostalgia we travel back to 1952 when some 3,000 people watched the crowning of a town's May Queen.

Miss Gloria Marsh was made Bury St Edmunds' May Queen by the deputy-mayoress, Mrs C.F. Bennett.

Before the ceremony, youth organisations, led by two Boys' Brigade bands, paraded the town with the 20-year-old May Queen sat on a lorry accompanied by her attendants and with a guard of honour of Sea Cadets.

The May Queen was dressed in white lace and gold velvet, and the crown was made of spring flowers which was crowned by the previous year's May Queen, Miss Betty Rogers.

The May Festival was held in aid of the Sheringham branch of the National Children's Home, where the town had local links.

The deputy-mayoress received purses collected by youth organisations and schools which totalled up to £95.

The money from the crowning ceremony would be added to this figure and it was hoped that it would equal the previous year's total of £154 15 shillings and 11 pence.

Entertainment on the day included English folk dances by the Drinkstone Girls' Club, a gymnastic display by the 3rd Mid-Suffolk Boys' Brigade, and the finale was a performance by the 3rd and 4th Companies of the Mid-Suffolk Boys' Brigade.