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Page 5 West Vancouver Historical Society May 2004 Visual Heritage There are more than 75 composite photos of West Vancouver High School graduating classes in the Mathers school. (It was only through the valiant efforts of David Barker that a facsimile of the 1927 class was produced.) These are not going to hang on the corridor walls forever; the professionals running the schools are concerned with schooling, not school history. These pictures have survived, thanks to Dave’s and others’ efforts. For a long time they were dimissively consigned to the old changing rooms on either side of the Inglewood gym. The view is widely held that every one of these photos should be reproduced and kept. The job could be done largely with volunteers, who, one suspects, would have to remove the glass from each composite before taking digital photos of each graduate. (When the light reflects off the glass, getting a decent picture is almost impossible.There was luck taking the photos of Ernie Kershaw, Dick Wright and others-for recent newslettersâ€"as the images turned out rather well.) Someone suggested that this being the May issue of the newsletter, we should jot down a few words about ex-May Queens who are members of the historical society. We thought of several and straightaway pasted in West Van News accounts of them. There are no fewer than five of ex-such royalty among our members. What we have are more accounts of May Queens than we had expected. Hope you are pleased! With this issue of the newsletter we are pleased to announce that we have added a recording secretary to the board. Bonnie Anderson Kyle has agreed to do the job, which is great news indeed. For the past while our minutes have been taken pro tern by board member Doris Lewis, who not only runs a business but also does volunteer service beyond the WVHS, most notably with Rotary West Van. Members and others are reminded that the historical society is run entirely by volunteers. They are not regularly at the Gertrude Lawson House. Messages may be left on the answering machine in the society office, but responses to them may take a while in coming. If something important has to be sent along, it’s best it be dropped off in the box at the south side of GLH or mailed to the Society at 680 - 17th Street, West Vancouver, V7V 3T2. Council Matters May 9, 1925 Permission was granted the West Vancouver Baseball Club to erect bleachers on the ball field in Ambleside Park, on which a further expenditure of $75.00 for the improvement of the grounds was authorized. Also, a grant of $25.00 was made to the Club to assist them in the purchasing of uni- forms for the team. May Queen Dawn Smith 1943 The May Queen ceremonies were held at 4:30 pm in the Inglewood auditorium, which was crowded to the doors. May Queen Dawn was escorted to the beautifully decorated platform by acting Reeve Dickinson, followed by her entourage and Seaforth Cadet escort. After the unfurling of the Union Jack and “God Save the Queen” Chairman G.E. Griffin escorted May Queen-elect Ruth to the platform with her entourage. May Queen Dawn made her address, returned the Golden Key to the Acting Reeve, and crowned her successor. The annual May Queen Banquet was held at 6:30 pm in the Legion Hall, when an excellent dinner was served and the usual toasts given. Queen Dawn opened the Ball in the evening in the Inglewood Auditorium, which had been beautifully decorated with streamers and hanging baskets of flowers by the ladies of the Townswomen’s Guild, assisted by the High School students, making a lovely setting. Harry Roberts’ orchestra supplied the music for the many who attended.(WVN) May Queen Mary 1942 Chairman A.J. Gleam escorted May Queen-elect Mary thither a few minutes later with her entourage, the party being preceded by a number of pupils of Miss Betty Cavendish scattering paper flowers. Following the unfurling of the Union Jack and the playing of “God Save the King,” the May Queen made her address, and, after handing back the golden key to Reeve Sears, crowned her successor, Queen Mary. In celebration of the beginning of the latter’s reign, a rocket soared into the sky and the Boys’ Band played “O Canada.” She then made her address and was presented with a silver bracelet by Chairman A.J. Gleam and with the golden key by the Reeve. The very interesting programme which followed included some very pretty and well-executed folk and maypole dancing by over 200 school children under the direction of Miss Eileen Hampson*, assisted by other school teachers to the music of the Boys’ Band under A.W. Delamont, and a march past and a finished drill by the Boys’ and Girls’ Cadets of the West Vancouver High School and the Bugle Band of the W.T.C. The annual May Queen Banquet was held at 6 p.m. in the United Church Hall, when the many who attended sat down to a bountiful repast. A number of toasts were given and replied to and a very pleasant social hour was enjoyed by the guests. (WVN) *On December 31st. 1942 Eileen, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hampson, 1947 Fulton Avenue, became the bride of Mr. Arthur Barber. Mrs. Barber went on to great things in the schools of West Vancouver.