Sabrina Fluffs Her Opening Lines

Daily Mirror, 25 September, 1956

"Who is she?" J.P. asks

LONDON, Tuesday: Sabrina, the blonde who became famous through being seen and not heard on TV, had to speak before a live audience yesterday - AND SHE MUFFED HER OPENING LINES.

She misread the oath when she went into the witness-box at Sheffield Court and was asked to take it again.

Sabrina was called to give evidence about an earlier "personal appearance" she made in Sheffield to open a clothing shop.

The crowd which gathered to watch her arrive and depart, according to police, blocked the road and footpaths.

Mink Stole

So the shop owners, Town Tailors, trading as Weaver to Wearer, were summoned for wilfully obstructing the highway, and Public Relations Services, who invited Sabrina, were summoned for aiding and abetting.
They both pleaded not guilty.

When Sabrina's name was first mentioned in court the chairman, Mr. Harold Jenkinson said:"Who is Sabrina? We have no judicial knowledge of this person."
Mr. Kenneth Mitchell, appearing for the two firms, replied: "Her real name is Norma Sykes. She is a well-known TV celebrity."
Sabrina, who wore a mink stole, a close-fitting grey two-piece suit and a bright red picture hat spoke for two minutes.

'No gangway'

Twisting her hands nervously she said: "Usually the police make a gangway for me to go through the crowds."
But it didn't happen at Sheffield — she didn't see any policemen, she said.
There were policemen there, said Superintendent Ernest Redfern, "I was there myself with a sergeant and two constables. Later I had to send for additional men."
Each firm was lined 40s. — the maximum — and ordered to pay 6 guineas costs.