South Yorkshire Times November 2, 1957

Mexborough Licensee’s Wife National Finalist

Mrs V E Walton, known affectionately amongst customers at Mexborough Ferryboat Inn as “the little Duchess” is to compete with some of the country’s most glamorous grandmothers for the national glamour title. She has been selected for the finals by photograph

Petite, brunette, Mrs Walton, wife of the licensee of the Ferryboat, councillor Doug Walton will have been married 29 years at Christmas. She and her husband have two grandchildren, Yvonne Christine (5) and Veronica Ferry (1), daughter of Mrs Wendy Baxter

This pleasant surprise of being chosen a finalist is a happy sequel to a recent the occasion on which Mrs Walton felt she would like photographs of her grandchildreni’e and of herself with her grandchildren. They were taken at the Ferryboat by a friend of theirs and it was one of these photographs which was submitted (by her daughter and unbeknown to Mrs. Walton) for the

“Sunday Graphic” — Sponsored Butlin competition. The letter announcing her selection arrived on Wednesday morning.

The finals are to be held at Butlin’s Ocean Hotel, Saltdean, Brighton, during the week commencing November 9th. Both she and her husband have been invited for the week as guests of Butlin’s.

There is a silver trophy and £100 for “The Most Glamorous Grandmother of Great Britain 1957-58,” and runners-up prizes of 50 and £25 in addition to a personal appearance at the Butlin reunion at the Royal Albert Hall next February.

Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been at the Ferryboat for six years. They have two daughters, Wendy and’ Veronica, and their youngest grandchild,  Veronica Ferrice Is named after the Inn.

Customers’ affectionate tribute in their styling of “The Little Duchess” underlines their agreement with this selection for the finals