Newspaper Article 2016 – Festive frivolity

Festive frivolity

Michael Fowler
Historic Hawke’s Bay

Greater Hastings was an organisation set up in 1950 to promote Hastings.

Its greatest creation – which still exists today – is the Blossom Festival.

The organisers of Greater Hastings, led by menswear retailer Harry Poppelwell, also planned at the end of 1950 for Santa Claus to visit the children of Hastings.

Santa was escorted by some young fairies – including Bev Murfitt (nee Dagg) who is second from the right on the left hand-side of Santa’s shoulder (the young boys in the photo wanted their photo taken and “gate-crashed” the Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune photographer).

“Dopey” the postman (pictured) was also an escort of Santa and he carried with him an oversized mail bag.

Santa, of course, had his book of good boys and girls with him and upon arriving at Civic Square in the Hastings Fire Brigade’s truck (Santa’s reindeer were resting), he was seen reading about the children of Hastings.

Thousands of youngsters turned out to see Santa in Civic Square and the jovial old man did not disappoint them.

Michael Fowler ([email protected]) is the heritage officer at the Art Deco Trust, and trainer in accounting for non-accountants
[www].financialfitness.co.nz

Michael’s books A Collage of History: Hastings, Havelock North and Napier and From Disaster to Recovery: The Hastings CBD 1931-35 are re-released for Christmas and available at Whitcoulls, Hastings and Napier; Napier I-site; Art Deco Trust Napier; Wardini Havelock North and Napier; Hastings, Taradale and Napier Paper Plus and Poppies Havelock North.

Photo captions –

SANTA SNAP: Santa stops for a photo opportunity before meeting thousands of youngsters in Hastings’ Civic Square.   PHOTO/BEV MURFITT

CHILD-CENTRED: Hastings menswear proprietor Harry Poppelwell was a pioneer in event management for Hastings, especially if it related to the welfare of and entertainment for children.
PHOTO/MICHAEL FOWLER COLLECTION

SANTA SURPRISE: Santa comes to the Hastings Civic Square courtesy of the Hastings Fire Brigade, as his reindeer were sleeping in December 1950. He has his book of good and bad children with him and I understand there were no naughty children that year.   PHOTO/BEV MURFITT