South Yorkshire Times May 6, 1967
Hospital Defers Operation for the New Queen
Surgeons at Sheffield Children’s Hospital have postponed an important operation for one week to allow a dream to come true for seven years-old Anne Elizabeth Murphy, who has been chosen May Queen at St. Joseph’s Church, Wath.
Her parents. Mr and Mrs. Timothy Murphy, of 41, Cutts Avenue, Wath. pleaded with surgeons to pospone the operation for a few day$ to enable Anne to enjoy the best day of her life and they agreed, thinking that her health might be impaired by the disappointment of missing her important date.
Anne wilt be flanked by four trainbearers and ten maids of honour at the Church ceremony.
Her mother told the “South Yorkshire Times.” “Anne is a popular girl at the hospital. She regards the hospital as her second home, but she dearly wanted to have the operation postponed for a few days so she could be May Queen. It is a big moment in her life and we are very proud of her.”
To Dublin
Mr. Murphy has not visited his native Dublin for eight years, but he is hoping to go this summer with Ann. She Is looking forward to seeing two-years-old Suzanne Herne of Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laghoaire, who has stayed with the Murphy faintly in Wath when she has visited the Children’s Hospital for operations She suffers from a similar complaint to Anne.
Anne also has another friend whom she met at Sheffield, Sonia Huber (11) of Zurich.
Ann’s grandfather was Mr Arthur J Murphy, former leader of the Melrose State Orchestra, who died In Liverpool in 1987, and who was known to thousands of Children in Eire as Uncle Arthur of Radio Eireann.
Ann, a pupil of St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Wath, has been ill for much of her life with an abdominal complaint and has been subjected to many operations to her kidneys and bladder at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Distressed
During a routine visit to the hospital, surgeons told Anne that another operation would be necessary. She was distressed because she had already been chosen as May Queen at the Church and was to he guest of honour at the May procession on Sunday.