Newspaper Article 1999 – Parade organisers seek past Blossom Queens

Parade organisers seek past Blossom Queens

The organisers of the Hastings Blossom Parade have resorted to Hawke’s Bay Newspaper’s archives in a bid to find the city’s former Blossom Queens.

The organisers want to host the women at this year’s final parade of the 20th Century which is to the theme of “Past, Present and Future”.

Convenor David Fine said organisers had found 11 names of former title holders and hoped Hawke’s Bay people would know their whereabouts.

The first Hastings Blossom Queens would be aged in their 60s, while the most. recent queen, Margaret Ross, would be in her 40s.

Mr Fine said as well as providing the names, the newspaper archives had yielded some fascinating Blossom Parade history.

He said records showed that the first Blossom Parade was held in 1950 with four sponsored queens being selected in 1952, for the purposes of community fundraising.

The tradition continued until 1972 when the title was renamed the Hawke’s Bay Blossom Queen.

The event had its hey-day in the 1960s but was still going strong in 1970 when the parade included 23 floats, seven bands and six marching teams.

Names of the former queens from 1957 to 1873 [1973] are: Shona McDonald, Barbara Inglis, Hiraina Hills, Nicola Hearn, Colleen Bishop, Margaret Humphrey, Susan Harvey, Jeanette Tinney, Jackie Hurst, Glynis Moleta, and Margaret Ross.

Anyone who knows how to contact them should telephone the Hastings Community Arts Centre on 878-9447.