13-year-old Agnes Kilgallon was the May Queen in 1932, in a service which took place on Sunday 1 May. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Kilgallon (formerly Leech). A description of the ceremony read:
BATLEY ROMAN CATHOLICS’
MAY QUEEN SERVICESt. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Batley, on Sunday held its annual May Queen Service, conducted by Father McBride, assisted by Father Magner, who preached on “Our Lady.”
Miss Agnes Kilgallon, the May Queen, wore a beautiful white dress, with veil and long train, borne by John Hannan, Peter Doyle, Thomas Senior and James Greenwood. She was attended by Mary Harkin, Joan Colleran, Margaret Monahan and Mary Risby.
The ex-Queen Miss Teresa Judge, was also in white, and her long train was carried by James Lynch and Francis Collins. Her attendants were Mary Rayner, Kathleen Monahan and Maureen Sharpe.
Miss Mary Lynch carried the crown, which the ex-Queen later handed to the May Queen, who with it crowned the Statue of Our Lady.
The procession was headed by the Cross Bearer and Altar boys, followed by the Banner of the Guild of St. Agnes, carried by Eileen Hutton.
Members of the Guild, about sixty in number, dressed in white and wearing red wreaths followed.
Mary Cassidy carried the Banner of Our Lady, streamed by Winnie Kilgallon, May Phillips, Agnes Moran and Norah Mackaill. The Banner of the Guild of the Children of Mary was followed by the members of the Guild, in white, with blue cloaks.
Twenty little girls in white, carrying arum lilies, and twelve small boys, also in white, went before the Statue of Our Lady, which was carried by Bridget Kenny, Teresa Murphy, Mary Bowker and Kitty Brennan. The ex-Queen and her attendants followed, and the May Queen with her retinue brought up the rear. The procession moved round the Church to the Sanctuary, where the Statue of Our Lady was placed on its pedestal, and crowned by the May Queen. The ex-Queen’s bouquet of roses, lilies, and tulips, and the children’s arum lilies, were placed at the foot.
A photo of Agnes Kilgallon as ex-Queen in the following year’s ceremony, is shown below.
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