Encyclopedia Sabrina (Norma Ann Sykes)

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The Day Sabrina Held Up All The Traffic

Daily Express, 15 Sept 1956

Sabrina 1956

WHAT happened when Sabrina — of the 39 ½ -19-36 measurements - went to open a shop led to a court case at Sheffield yesterday.
A crowd gathered—more than 4,000 strong. It blocked one of Sheffield's main streets — Haymarket — when she came into view.
A police photographer took pictures—to show the size of the crowd. They were produced in court.
Summonses were brought against the owners of the shop - Town Traders, trading as Weaver to Wearer — and a publicity firm, Public Relations Services, of Virginia Street, Leeds.

WHO IS SHE?

The shop was fined £2 for obstructing the highway and the publicity firm £3 for aiding and abetting. Each was ordered to pay £3 3s. costs.
Sabrina gave evidence for the defence — as Norma Ann Sykes of Bloomfield Road, Blackpool. As Sabrina she had been mentioned 24 times when the chairman, chartered accountant Mr. Harold Jenkinson. said: "We have had references to Sabrina, but we have no judicial knowledge of who this person is."
A witness told him: "She is a well-known television celebrity."
Sabrina was wearing a close-fitting, grey-while. Continental suit with "bare neck" shawl collar, and a cerise velvet picture hat.

She eased off one of her spike-heeled sling-back shoes and rubbed her foot as she sat listening to the evidence.
Then she walked across the court to the witness-box, leaving her mink stole on a seat.

She took the oath — and missed out some of the words. Magistrates' clerk Mr. Leslie M. Pugh made her take it again.
She leaned an arm on the magistrates' bench and turned in profile towards the court. "Face the magistrates," she was told.
In two years she had made 400 public appearances — about 100 to open new shops, she said.

"When I am opening a shop, generally everything is organised and there is a gangway for me to go through the crowd."
But this time she did not see any policemen, there was no gangway — and I got pushed around by the crowd a lot."

THE SURGE

Police Superintendent Ernest Redfern said a sergeant and two constables were there at first. When the crowd grew reinforcements were sent.
When Sabrina appeared the crowd surged over the road and traffic was held up.
He denied that a police photographer was there in readiness because a prosecution was planned before the crowds began to arrive.
Outside the court a police sergeant and three constables kept people away from the entrance.

As Sabrina left she said : "It was quite frightening when I opened the shop — but I was even more nervous in court."
Then she handed autographed pictures of herself to the police officers — and left in a car for London.

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