AS the Queen celebrates the 50th anniversary of her coronation, a Selby woman has been recalling her "moment of fame" in 1953 when she was chosen as Selby Youth Week Queen.

Hazel O'Driscoll, 69, was just 19 when she was crowned on the James Street recreation ground at the start of the town's youth week festival.

It was a week that townsfolk eagerly looked forward to, with drama and talent competitions, swimming gala and sports events, a soap box derby using trolleys, and a youth ball held at St Mary's RC Church Hall.

Mrs O'Driscoll, who was a civil servant at Barlow ordnance depot at the time, presented the prizes at all these events.

She said: "The contest to choose the youth week queen was held at the old Ritz Cinema, in Scott Road. We had to parade in front of the judges and make a speech.

"The runners-up were Ann Hebdon and Jean Whisker, who became my senior attendants. To launch the week's events we rode through town on a float to the James Street recreation ground. It was a great day and a very special occasion, with it also being the Queen's coronation year."

Mother-of-two Mrs O'Driscoll, who lives in Wavell Street, Selby, with her husband, Brian, is well-known in the town. She and her sister, Audrey Wilkinson, help raise money for the annual pensioners' party at Selby Railway Sports and Social Club.

Updated: 12:15 Thursday, July 17, 2003