Augut 15th, 2007

2:52pm Friday 15th August 2008

From the Durham County Advertiser 50 years ago.

Gilesgate Welfare's "King and Queen" failed to make an appearance at the annual show and gala on August Bank Holiday Monday. Why they did not turn up remains a mystery - a mystery which members fo the committee were unable to solve.

The strange thing about it is that the "royal" pair were paid to be there!

Most disappointed man at the annual flower and vegetable show was Mr Ernest Wheatley, a member of the management committee at Vane Tempest Hall.

"Eight weeks ago, we decided to run a series of fancy dress balls for the children with a view to getting a king and queen for the carnival," he said on Monday afternoon.

Twenty-five children took part in the eliminating rounds and the new venture - the first to be held since the show began 13 years ago - certainly created a lot of interest.

At the end of the contest, Mr Wheatley got the oldest member of Gilesgate Welfare, Mrs A Moor, to present £2 to each of the winning competitors, Florence Muir and Keith Tindale.

Mr Brian Russell, warden of the community centre, was a surprised man on being told about the king and queen. "I do not know anything about it, it is a mystery to me."

● Compiled with the help of Durham County Council's Clayport library

Eating Out