Fascinating photos reveal Worksop’s ‘stunning’ Victory Queen – crowned in 1946 following VE Day

Dee Nix - who has uncovered photographs of Marjorie Rabbitt presiding over public events - told how the ‘stunning’ 18-year-old was chosen over 120 other auditioning girls.

Pictures show her in a ceremonial dress and presenting a bouquet of flowers to the visiting daughter of the director of the New York Public Library - Mr Franklin Hooper.

Marjorie, one of eight children, won the honour by entering a competition run by Worksop Guardian and the council - auditioning for the title by walking with stature and reading a speech.

During the parade - held on June 5 - ‘sharp-tongued’ Marjorie, now aged 92, was presented with a silver-plated chalice.

She and her nine attendants rode in a converted heavy goods vehicle.

Daughter-in-law Dee described how during her year as Victory Queen Marjorie presided over the presentation of a facsimile copy of the Tickhill Psalter.

The 14th century manuscript which had been part of the library collection at Worksop Priory before it was sold to New York Public Library by the Earl of Lothian.

IT professional Dee, 65, who described her mother-in-law as someone who could ‘cut you with a look’ told how after marrying fiance John Nix in June 1949 Marjorie ran a local shop.

She moved with husband John to Newton-le-Willows, Lancs., where she became a housemother at a Barnardo’s approved school for boys.

Dee said: “The home helped lots of children move on to successful careers - one of them was really fond of Marjorie and wrote to us last year.

“She helped a lot of lads who were veering off the straight and narrow - but she’s been a good mother-in-law and a good grandmother.”

Though Marjorie now suffers with dementia Dee said she still had a ‘witty turn of phrase’ - adding she was ‘greatly loved’ by workers at the care home where she lives.

Dee said: “She’s quite austere and proper but her generation were - underneath it all was a sense of fun.

“She was lovely - if ever I really needed a mum she was there as mum.”

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