Pete Murray introduced me in Portsmouth hotel's beauty contest

On Saturday The News launches a new nostalgia supplement called Retro.
GLAMOROUS Mary Aquilina, as she was then, being introduced by Pete Murray at the Centre HotelGLAMOROUS Mary Aquilina, as she was then, being introduced by Pete Murray at the Centre Hotel
GLAMOROUS Mary Aquilina, as she was then, being introduced by Pete Murray at the Centre Hotel

This week we will be focussing on the 1970s in general and this week in 1970 in particular.

I asked Remember When readers for their memories of the seventies and Mary Gilbert (née Aquilina) provided the picture of her with radio and TV presenter Pete Murray on stage at the Centre Hotel, Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth, now the Holiday Inn.

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It was taken in 1974 when she was 17 and working as a receptionist at the Centre Hotel.

WHERE? A Portsmouth picture from The Barry Cox Collection, but can anyone identify the location?WHERE? A Portsmouth picture from The Barry Cox Collection, but can anyone identify the location?
WHERE? A Portsmouth picture from The Barry Cox Collection, but can anyone identify the location?

Mary says: ‘I entered the Miss Centre Hotel competition and this picture was taken as I walked on to the catwalk to be introduced to the audience by the lovable Pete Murray!

‘Unfortunately I didn’t win; someone told me I came fourth. Who knows...

‘It was all worth it though.

‘We got a refund for the dress we bought for the competition and a bag full of goodies including a set of heated rollers, an Ambre Solair towel and Max Factor make-up among other things. Fab!’