Described as a charming member of Batley St. Mary’s School, and deserving of the honour, 12-year-old Standard V pupil Kathleen Gooder was chosen to be the Queen of Batley’s Catholics in 1939. She was the daughter of Redmond Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Gooder (formerly Fawcett). The family lived at Peel Street.
Kathleen first took part in the 1937 procession, when she was a train bearer. In 1938 she walked in the Guild of St. Agnes.
This was a description of the event, which took place on 7 May:
With customary dignity and grace Batley Roman Catholics held their May procession and crowning of Our Lady in St. Mary’s Church, Cross Bank on Sunday. The church was filled long before the service commenced and many were unable to gain admittance.
The procession was headed by the Cross Bearer and Acolytes, followed by the altar boys and members of St. Agnes’ Guild.
Then came pretty Ann Collier, last year’s queen, gowned in rich ivory ring velvet, cut on princess lines. The collar was edged, the skirt hemmed with white foxaline fur, and the sleeves lined with blue satin crepe.
Her attendants were Misses J. Senior, A. Smith, R. Walsh, R. Judge, M. Walsh, M. Dolan, J. Curley, A. Townsley, and her four train bearers, Master G. Oram, B. Hanson, J. Evans and B. Prendergast.
Next came the Banner of Our Lady Immaculate, carried by Miss W. Hodgins, and streamed by Misses E. Henry, M. Maloney, A. Kilgallon and K. Phillips, Children of Mary.
The centre of attraction, however, was 12 years’ old Kathleen Gooder, the new queen, who presented a truly lovely figure in a satin gown cut in Elizabethan style. Her long train of white satin was lined with blue and richly embroidered. On the long lace veil were worked the words “Ave Maria.”
She was followed by her cushion bearer, Kathleen Lyons, and attendants Kenneth Marshall and Terence Neville, after whom came the maids-of-honour, Misses S. Carr, M. Healey, E. Walker, M. Collinson, D. Cassidy, E. Gallagher, M. Kerfoot, G. Armstead, C. Sharpe, K. Ryan, M. Kilroy and C. Collins. Train bearers were Masters C. Varley, J. Galloway, T. Finn and B. Cooney.
The maids-of-honour were tastefully attired in ankle-length satin dresses, frilled, blue sashes and white wreaths.
Next in the procession came more Children of Mary – Misses M. Frain, M. Lynch, A. Fitzpatrick and K. Mullins – bearing the Statue of Our Lady Immaculate, and finally the clergy, Father McBride’s and Father O’Mahoney, and the Queen laid a wreath at the foot of the Statue of Our Lady, on which the children also placed lilies,.
Father O’Mahoney was the preacher.
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