AS the clock on the tower of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church struck noon on St Peter’s Fair Day on July 7, Holsworthy’s 174th Pretty Maid, 14-year-old Eloise Warren, emerged through the belfry door and the well-kept secret of her identity was revealed to the expectant crowd, writes Christine Williams.

Although born in Lancashire, Eloise has lived in Holsworthy for the past 12 years. She attended Holsworthy Primary School and is currently in Year 9 at Holsworthy Community College where her favourite subjects are English and Art.

Not surprisingly reading and drawing, especially mandalas, are among her hobbies as well as playing the piano and she has set her mind on career as a radiographer.

She is deeply involved in the life of the parish church as an acolyte and as a leader of messy church at Holsworthy Primary School.

Only Eloise’s mum, Johanna, dad, Mark, and younger sister, Annabelle, were aware of Eloise’s secret until she was revealed to the crowd yesterday.

She said she was expecting to be a little nervous but was looking forward to her big day, adding: “I think it’s important to keep up old traditions like the Pretty Maid ceremony and I am excited to be part of it.”

Her mum agreed and has offered her daughter some good advice for the day: “Keep smiling!”

Trustee of the Pretty Maid charity, Angela Blackman said: “Eloise was chosen because she met all the criteria, above all because she attended church regularly and took part in its activities”.

The Pretty Maid ceremony goes back 167 years and is a central feature of St Peter’s Fair week, one of the main events on the Holsworthy calendar.

The Pretty Maid’s charity was gifted in the will of the Rev Thomas Meyrick, of Carta Martha, who died on May 27, 1841. He was the brother of the Rev Owen Meyrick, one time rector of Holsworthy.

Under the terms of the will the income from the legacy is to be paid annually: “to the young single woman resident in Holsworthy under the age of 30 who is generally esteemed by the young as the most deserving; the most handsome; the most noted for her quietness and attendance at church.”

The will states that the donations were made to maintain peace on earth and goodwill among men.

It adds: “May this well-meant example lead rulers to see their subjects are better directed and led by harmless amusement and by judicious reward than by the fear of punishment.”