GAWTHORPE MAY QUEENS - A FAMILY AFFAIR
By Peter Savage of Ossett Civic Trust

Gawthorpe May Pole festivities date back over a hundred and thirty years and are very much a community event.
This year, in honour of Gawthorpe, the Ossett Civic Trust are holding an evening of Gawthorpe May Queens and Coal at Trinity Parish Centre tracing the history of these great annual events. On looking for items regarding former May Queens, it is most interesting to find that it is also a family event.

Who would have thought that the May Queen of 1961, Mollie Tempest (now Mollie Oldroyd), would become the mother-in-law of the 1988 May Queen, Julia Bates who married Mollie's son Robert. The gentleman, Amos Clapham, on the 2nd right of the photograph of Mollie on horseback is the father of Julia's mother Sandria. Then pictured at Mollie's crowning by the Mayoress, is the Mayor of Ossett, Ald. Mrs G Crossland. Penny, Mollie's daughter, has also been May Queen.

Sandria's neices and Shirley and Annie Hall have also had the honour of being May Queens. Sandria's brother, Terry Clapham, is a past President of the Maypole Committee and in the picture of Secretary Fred Hirst hoisting the Union Flag on May Day, the gentleman second right supporting the ladder is Julia's father.

This year, the family connection continues as Julia's daughter, Gabrielle Oldroyd is a Maid-of-Honour to this year's May Queen.

FAMILY ALBUM : Pictured clockwise from the top; Mollie Tempest, Shiley and Annie Hall, Fred Hirst, Julia Bates, Shirley Hall, Gabrielle Oldroyd and Mollie Tempest.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CROWN?

THE crown worn by the May Queen (pictured left) was made of silver at Ossett School in the 1960s and donated to Gawthorpe Maypole. Do you know anything of its history and more importantly its whereabouts? Ossett Civic Trust are attempting to track down what happened to the crown.

If you have any information please let us know by writing to: Ossett Civic Trust, C/O Ossett Community Centre, Prospect Road, Ossett. WF5 8AN. Or via email to info@ossettcivictrust.co.uk