The 54th annual La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival will transport holiday-spirited guests back in time with a flyover of antique aircraft, a display of numerous historic streetcars and dozens of handcrafted floats decorated with old-fashioned flair. June Barrymore Ash — a living legend in the La Jolla community — was the inspiration for putting “class” in this year’s “Classic Christmas” theme for her endless contributions to the village as well as reinvigorating the parade many years ago with her late husband, Bob Barrymore. Although she has driven classic cars in the parade in the past, this is the first year Barrymore Ash will be riding in her own car — either a 1958 Drophead Rolls-Royce or a newer Bentley Drophead — as grand marshal of the parade. Had it not been for Barrymore Ash, her late husband and their 15 classic Rolls-Royces, La Jolla’s annual holiday parade may never have re-emerged after the parade ended during the second World War. Approximately 35 years ago, Bob Barrymore — who was president of the La Jolla Historical Society at the time — was adamant about bringing the Christmas parade back to La Jolla. Despite insistence from others on the board that it was much too late to begin planning for a December event (as it was already autumn), he forged on with his plans. “He proceeded to make sure that La Jolla had a Christmas parade,” Barrymore Ash said. “He contacted the fire department and I suppose the authorities to get permits, he put in about 15 of his classic cars and we had dignitaries, members of the town council, maybe some from the City Council and the ‘old time’ La Jollans in the parade.” The “old time” La Jollans, she said, were people who lived in La Jolla their whole life and loved every facet of it. “In the 35 years, it’s all changed, and the poor old-timers are no more. I think it ended with Ellen Revelle,” she said. “The old-timers were great people, had great stories to tell, and loved La Jolla — the magical La Jolla. So many of the old-timers rode in the parade.” The first parade, she said, after the gap many years ago was a brief one. There were no floats, no Christmas tree lighting and certainly no airplane flyover. She does recall music sounding from the high school marching band, but nothing like the multiple bands that will play at the La Jolla Recreation Center in this year’s parade. “The following year, it really did change. They started getting more participation from other organizations. As we continued, we had Cliff Robertson as the grand marshal several times,” she said. “It’s a big deal now, with a huge committee. It’s grown immensely — just like La Jolla.” Barrymore Ash said she is honored and excited to lead the parade as its grand marshal this year. Likewise, the parade’s committee lauds they are equally honored and excited to have her as Grand Marshal, and for good reason. In addition to revitalizing the parade, which may never have come to fruition without her and her late husband’s committed efforts, Barrymore Ash has contributed to a vast number of causes in the La Jolla community throughout the years. She has served as the president of the Social Service League of La Jolla, Patrons of the Prado, La Jolla Debutante Committee and acted as founding president of the Variety Club International San Diego Chapter of Women. She has acted as the chairwoman for events like the Country Friends fashion shows and annual Christmas tea, La Jolla Debutante Ball, American Cancer Society Council of Hope, Concours d’Elegance luncheons and fashion shows for the San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association. For her leadership and volunteer roles, she has received a number of awards, including the American Cancer Society’s Volunteer of the Year, the Women’s International Center’s International Philanthropy Award, Salvation Army’s Women of Dedication award, and serves as an Honorary Director at the La Jolla Historical Society. “I didn’t have children, and I love La Jolla. One thing would lead to another, and I just got so totally involved, and I loved every minute of it,” she said. “All those things I was doing, it never stopped me from traveling or doing what I wanted to do. I never thought of it as a big deal.” She said over the years, she has relinquished many of her duties and titles to others. “I gave up my last organization about eight months ago as honorary chairperson of the Patrons in the Park,” she said. This year, Barrymore Ash and her husband, Neil Ash, the parade’s military marshal, will both serve as honored guests, riding in their own classic streetcars down Girard Avenue and Prospect Street. Ash has also contributed his share to the community, including serving for ten years on the World Board of USO Governors in Washington, D.C., serving as president of the San Diego USO and founding the Neil Ash USO Airport Center at Lindbergh Field — the largest USO airport center in the world, serving more than 120,000 members of the armed forces and their families each year with food, telephone and computer services, entertainment and a variety of other services in Terminal 1. Barrymore Ash said although she still has kept some of the classic cars in her late husband’s unique and rare collection — including a Rolls-Royce limousine and one of seven entirely coach-built, left-hand drive Drophead Rolls-Royces — most of his vehicles have been returned to England. La Jolla Christmas Parade, 2011: • When: Dec. 4, 2 to 5 p.m. • Where: Starts at Girard Avenue and Kline Street, ends at La Jolla Recreation Center (615 Prospect St.) • Theme: “Classic Christmas” • Attractions: antique aircraft flyover, marching bands, equestrians, rare and unique vehicles, floats, fire engines, historic streetcar, Santa Claus and more The 54th annual La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival will march to the tune of a “Classic Christmas” this year on Dec. 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. The old-fashioned holiday fun will kick off with an antique aircraft flyover at 2 p.m. followed by a parade of handcrafted floats, historic streetcars, more than 50 equestrians and a not-so-traditional 2-week-old Jack in the Box “Munchie Mobile” strutting down Girard Avenue and Prospect Street. The parade will conclude at the La Jolla Recreation Center at 3:30 p.m. with a holiday festival complete with musical performances, food, face painting, a balloon artist, an inflatable jumpee and obstacle course, and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Of course, jolly old Saint Nick wouldn’t miss out — Santa Clause will make his annual appearance at the holiday festival for a photo opportunity and the chance for good boys and girls to confirm their Christmas lists with him.