The first information that we have found was a record dated 8th May 1897, which says “The First of May was welcomed with usual garlands. The children partook of tea at the schoolroom after parading the village”.
It would appear that this format for the Mayday Celebrations took place every year thereafter. In later years, a platform and backdrop were built and erected in the playground. The school childrens’ mothers woud then add the flowers and garlands to make the tableau for the crowning of the ‘Queen’ The school children would parade down the village, around the green and then back up to the school, stopping off to visit some of the elderly residents. See the 1978 letter to the parents from the headmistress, Miss Darvill; this was an example of the annual communication sent out requesting help.
The following report was taken from the Peterborough Standard, dated 8th May 1936:
WOODNEWTON “ROYALTY”
GLADYS DIXON IS CROWNED QUEEN
All England loves a touch of royalty, but probably nowhere so much as Woodnewton, when to the ordinary May Day celebrations are added the glamour of ceremony, richness of colour, and delight of reverlry.
Sponsored for years by sympathetic grown-ups, the celebration has become a local tradition, with an appeal so irresistible that friends from round about as well as all Woodnewton were ou-of-doors to see the delightful display on Friday. By kind permission of the vicar (the Revd A G Partridge) the fully musical coronation ceremony, with the maypole dancing, took place on the Vicarage Lawn.
The children had elected Glady Dixon, the charming daughter of Mr & Mrs Joseph Dixon, of White Swan Inn, to preside over their revels. Her Maids of Honour were Poppy Allen, Esme Davies and Hilda Wells. The smart little page-boy, in yellow shorts and yellow and red jacket, was Douglas Watkins.
At 10am, the Royal procession paced majestically from the School to the Vicarage, where the verdant lawn, surrounded by ancient trees, provided an ideal setting for the revels. Grown-ups looked on from a natural dais, and loudly applauded each incident in the proceedings.
The opening song “Welcome, first of May” revealed the care that had been taken in the training of the children by their teachers, Mrs Davies and Miss E Black. Their immaculate white dresses and the care taken in their appearances demonstrated the enthusiastic co-operation of the parents.
Poppy Allen, last year’s Queen, invested “Her Majesty” with the floral garland. Then came the coronation performed with great dignity by John Spademan. Hilda Wells presenting the Queen with her sceptre of spring flowers. Her crown was of “Snow of the Mountain” and the floral garland, cowslips, primroses, narcissi, wallflowers, bluebells, and violas.
THE FLOWER GIRLS
“Our lovely Queen we’ve crowned” was sweetly sung. Then followed the song of the flower girls, an action song, which brought forward small groups of children represent the flowers of May, each saying their set-pieces delightfully. They were: daisies, Jean Atkins, Dorothy Moisey and Eva Allen: buttercups – Ivy Green and Winnie Hull: rosebuds – Ena Allen and Betty Spademan: mayflower – Vera Allen: violets – Violet Hull, Sylvia Hull and Phyllis Gynn: butterfly girls – Jean Allen and Joyce Pridmore.
The captain of the guards was Billy Fitzjohn, and his fellows were: Peter Quincey, Sidney Dixon, Jack Fitzjohn, Bertie Wise, John Spademan, Jim Spademan, Charlie Pridmore, Len Pridmore, Wilfred Gynn, Berbard Hull and Peter Saunders. They carried their spears, with nut-stick shafts, twinned with green, and ornamented with silver bands, with heads of silvered wood and card.
Everyone, tinies included, took turn about in dancing round the may-pole, twining the gay ribbons into a pretty plait as they danced. This was followed by the final incident of country dances. The children afterwards toured round the village, singing May-time songs, and collecting largesse for their summer outing. The gift of gramophone records of maypole dances was much appreciated. A sumptuous tea was provided for them in the schoolroom, contributed by their parents and friends, followed by games in the evening.
The carousel below shows the 1920's photographs from the school's Mayday
(click on the arrow to move forwards)
1930's Mayday
This 1939 Mayday photograph appeared in the Rutland & Stamford Mercury on 31st May 1996. It had been loaned by Phyllis Scotney (nee Gynn) of Kings Cliffe. It reports that “Phyllis still remembers most of the names of her classmates”. The full list of the children are Jean Allen. Slyvia Hull, Vera Compton, Eva Allen, Vera Allen, Jean Atkins, Joyce Pridmore, Blanche Hull, Douglas Allen, unknown, Charlie Atkins, Wilfred Gynn, Douglas Gynn, Phyllis Gynn, John Allen, Peter Quincey, Douglas Watkins, George Fitzjohn, Charlie Pridmore, Ivy Green, Lem Pridmore and Violet Hull.
1959 Mayday
1960 Mayday
1975 Mayday
1979 Mayday
1983 Mayday
1984 Mayday
1985 Mayday
1986 Mayday
1987 Mayday
Copy of a newspaper report that was in the Stamford Mercury on 8th May 1987
It was fun and flowers all the way for children at Woodnewton School who enjoyed traditional May Day celebrations last week despite rain which dampened the day.
The tiny school’s 18 pupils were joined by other children from nearby Apethorpe School on Friday to entertain parents wth Maypole dancing and songs.
Pretty Katharine Parr (8) pictured was crowned May Queen and presented with a ribbon garland and sceptre of spring flowers.
Headteacher Mis Pam Darvill said it was the first time in 20 years that their celebrations had been spoiled by rain, but pupils and parents alike had enjoyed themselves despite the weather.
The school has held festivities to mark May 1 for over a century. This year a platform in the playground was decorated with flowers for the newly crowned queen and during the afternoon pupils visited elderly residents in the village to sing songs.