Read All About It!

The latest issue of the Dabchick magazine has just arrived through the door. Even in this digital age there is great comfort to be had settling down with a warm beverage, and scanning the latest village news in print. With such horrible weather over the last few days, I’ve read the magazine from cover to cover.

Then I fell to wondering: what was the latest village news 50, or even 100 years ago? We can research this because of the hard work by contributors and editors, supporters, advertisers and keepers of archives going right back to the 19th century and up to the present day. Thanks to one and all!

With thanks to Aldbourne Heritage Centre

The Vicar in 1923, Philip Jasper, expressed his sorrow that ‘an amendment to withdraw the sanction for the playing of games on Sundays in public parks was defeated by 83 votes to 33’. Rev Jasper went on to request that all people guard tenaciously the principle of one day’s rest in seven.

The Aldbourne Silver Prize Band were congratulated for their success at the Fairford Band Contest. 1st prize in the ‘March’ and 3rd prize for the ‘Selection’.

The Wiltshire Archaeological [and Natural History] Society visited St Michael’s, Aldbourne on 31 July 1923. The Rev Jasper observed that in the Society programme the church was described as originally dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, but that the dedication was probably altered to St Michael in the 15th Century.

The Society minutes record that three char-a-bancs started from Marlborough, preceded by a line of more than thirty private cars. It rained.

On the return journey the cavalcade ran into a rain storm of ‘quite phenomenal violence, which fortunately lasted only a few minutes’. Sounds familiar for August!

On 30 June 1923 Sidney David Hillier married Margaret Elizabeth Foster. Margaret was a widow with young twin sons, Fred and Arthur. Margaret’s first husband, Arthur Thomas Foster was born in London and was in Aldbourne at the time of his enlistment. He was killed in action on 20 September 1917. His widow and sons moved to Aldbourne towards the end of the war. Their family story is told on the Aldbourne Heritage Centre website http://aldbourneheritage.org.uk/new-acquisition-two-new-testaments-celebrating-peace-wwi

The cover picture for this edition of the Parish News was drawn by Mrs Andrea West. In the Chairman’s Comments, the newly elected W A Brown paid tribute to Andrea’s grandfather, Oliver Hawkins. The Joint Churches Fete had gone well (no mention of bad weather), and the village had done well in the first round of the Best Kept Village Competition.

There was a report by Harry Sheppard thanking all the walkers and helpers of the 1973 Beating of the Bounds. The highest number of participants to date was recorded – 63 starting from the Green. At one point 90 adults and children were counted through the gateway on Shuger Waie, and despite thunder, lightning and heavy rain, over 40 completed the whole walk.

The guest writer in this edition was R E M Mayne, Esq who with his wife, Cicely, came to Aldbourne to stay in their cottage in Marlborough Road, following his retirement in 1969.

The recipe of the month was ‘Fidget Pie’ – a popular dish at Harvest Time. Sounds just the thing for a chilly, damp August tea-time – maybe to be followed by Strawberry Bircher Bowl, the recipe in the most recent Dabchick!

Memories of the 436th Troop Carriers & 506th PIR

August 1999 – photo courtesy of Cecil Newton

Take these men for your example
Like them remember that prosperity
can only be for the free,
that freedom is the sure possession of those alone
who have the courage to defend it

Pericles

Aldbourne honours all those who left these shores, not to return, losing their lives in defence of peace and freedom, and remembers with affection the soldiers who were billeted here in the camps, stables and village homes.

On 5th August 1999 a service took place to dedicate the bronze plaque in the Memorial Hall to commemorate the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s stay in the village during World War II.  Present at that ceremony were two veterans of the Regiment, William Merit True II and Tom Alley. There were also thirteen veterans of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards who had been in action with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment during Operation Market Garden (including Cecil Newton), and representatives of the Parachute Regiment, West Berkshire Branch led by Colonel Hynes.  The Chairman of the Aldbourne Parish Council, Francis May, and Aldbourne parishioners also attended.  Standards and banners were paraded by the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the Parachute Regiment. The trumpeter was Carl Smith of the Aldbourne Band and the piper was Pipe Major Ian Hutton, Royal Dragoon Guards.

In May 1994 Aldbourne villagers and US veterans had gathered at the Memorial Hall to dedicate a plaque to the “gallant men of the US 436^th Troop Carrier Group who operated from Membury Air Base during WW2”.  I’ve been able to find memoirs from veterans who attended that gathering. Firstly, Martin Wolfe wrote to Brian Buckler to say how much he and his fellow veterans and their families enjoyed their visit, and appreciated the “precious experiences and gracious welcome” given in Aldbourne.  The second reference is in An American Glider Pilot’s Story. Gale Ammerman describes his visit to Wiltshire in 1994; including the reception at the Memorial Hall in the “picture postcard village of Aldbourne” (in fact he called the village ‘Aldebourne’ which complicated things a bit when searching the internet – but we found it in the end!).  He goes on to describe the poignant ceremony that took place a few days later at the Membury Airfield itself.

Further reading: Digging the Band of Brothers 2023

Edward VII Coronation 1902 (or When Aldbourne Celebrated Twice!)

Photograph by Frederick Horatio Walker Ault taken on 15 July 1902 (Source Aldbourne Civic Society/Photographic Club)

Prince Albert Edward became King on 22 January 1901, on the death of his mother Queen Victoria. In early May 1902, Henry Charles Howard, Vicar of Aldbourne wrote:

“GOD SAVE THE KING”

Thursday, June 26th, we all hope to keep as a holiday on the occasion of the Coronation of their Majesties King Edward and Queen Alexandra … As I write this we are still in early May; so it is impossible to say much about our festivities here. At present it has been decided to give a dinner to all over 65 years, and a tea to children under 14. Our funds are not large at present; so all the bigger schemes have dropped out, and there seems no prospect of any permanent memorial. There will be a celebration of the Holy Communion at 8 o’clock on the Coronation Day. All our hymns will be well known ones, as we want to aim at a true, hearty service.

Aldbourne Parish Magazine June 1902 (Source Aldbourne Heritage Centre)

The Rev Howard goes on to speak about how he wished “we could all get seats in Westminster Abbey to see the ceremony, of which the last recurrence was 64 years ago. The service to be used is known to be 1100 years old … No other country in the world can show a coronation service as old as ours.”

The best laid plans can go awry. Just two days before the date set for the Coronation the King was taken seriously ill, and an emergency operation was required. In Aldbourne, the Committee for the Coronation Festivities called a morning meeting and it was decided to postpone the festivities until further notice. The local press reported:

About ten minutes after the meeting had dispersed an official telegram was received stating that the King wished that all previous arrangements should be carried out. There was a public meeting in the Square at 12 o’clock when Mr Ault put a resolution to the meeting that the people of Aldbourne shall carry out the King’s wishes, which was carried by a large majority. The committee held another meeting in the evening and it was again decided to postpone it until after the haymaking was finished.

Devizes and Wilts Advertiser 3 July 1902 (Source British Newspaper Archive/British Library)

The Rev Howard wrote again in the middle of July (printed in August 1902)

Aldbourne Parish Magazine August 1902 (Source Aldbourne Heritage Centre)

Talented chap, was Mr Ault, and excellently clear prints of his glass plate photograph do indeed remain as a permanent record of those festivities on 15 July 1902. You can read a little more about him at https://aldbournearchive.wordpress.com/2015/02/14/frederick-horatio-walker-ault/

In the September 1902 Parish Magazine, the Vicar jots some notes about ‘our second Coronation rejoicing on August 9th’. A church service followed by sports for the children, including a greasy pole that defeated all who attempted to climb it. The planned dinner and tea took place, the church bells rang out and a torchlit procession was formed in the evening. The revelry went on to mid-night, all having a most successful and happy time.

The torchlit procession may well have been the Vicar’s idea, because a peep at the July 1902 Parish Magazine shows his joyful reaction to the Treaty of Vereeniging.  

We have now recovered from the excitement that the announcement of peace caused us. It took some time to convince people that the good news was really true, as there had been so many false rumours before; but when it was found to be true, the bell-ringers and the band rose to the occasion. What a pity we did not get up a torchlight procession!

Source: with thanks to Aldbourne Heritage Centre

A Season of Remembrance

Opening Day 7 July 1922

It was a great pleasure to work with the Aldbourne War Memorial Hall Committee over the past year. The aim has been to help commemorate and celebrate the opening of the Hall in July 1922. The Hall has had one hundred years as a village institution at the heart of our community. The Centenary Bench carries a message of thanks to everyone who has supported that long journey. Long may it continue to serve!

History tells us that the people of Aldbourne started to plan for their Hall as far back as 1917. My theory is that news of the formation of the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission in May of that year filtered out to the rural areas. Aldbourne was suffering, as did so many other towns and villages, with the loss of loved ones and the return of men and boys broken in body and mind. A decision was made to create both a lasting memorial and a village hall.

Armistice Day in 1922 fell on a Saturday. The two-minute silence was observed at 11am and a Service of Remembrance took place in St Michael’s Church at 6pm. The British Legion, preceded by the Aldbourne Silver Prize Band, marched to the service in the church. After the service the British Legion returned to the Memorial Hall for their annual dinner, followed by a free concert.

In 1923 the supper and concert were fixed for Saturday 10 November. In addition to the church services the following day the ex-servicemen arranged a United Service at the Memorial Hall during the afternoon.

Comrades of the Great War Minute Book – 6 October 1923

And so the tradition continues in the here and now.  Aldbourne marks the Armistice Day with the Silence and a reading. The Aldbourne Churches Together and Royal British Legion conduct the Remembrance Sunday Service, accompanied by the Aldbourne Band and representatives from the Scout and Guide organisations. 

Remembrance Sunday Aldbourne War Memorial Hall – November 2022

The Hall corresponds for us at Aldbourne to the Cenotaph in London. It is our War Memorial and on its walls are inscribed names of the men of this village who fell in the War. It is fitting therefore that at Armistice time the whole village should gather around the place where those names are inscribed.

Parish Magazine November 1938 – Rev Elliott

The Rev Elliott’s words recall the sentiments expressed by his predecessor, the Rev Philip Jasper, at the opening in 1922. They bring this brief history up to the year before the outbreak of a second world conflict that took the lives of village men, with so many others across the globe.

In November 1939, the Memorial Hall was a canteen for troops based in the village. A local newspaper reported that the Poppy Day collection in Aldbourne raised £20 17s 6d – a record – thanks to the inhabitants and the troops for their generosity in supporting this most deserving appeal. The British Legion took steps to ensure that any cases of illness or distress amongst ex-servicemen would be attended to and expressed regret that ‘owing to present conditions’ their annual dinner could not take place.

A third memorial tablet was added at the Hall in 1948, in grateful memory of the men of Aldbourne who gave their lives in the Second World War.

Lest we forget.

First published in the Dabchick Magazine December 2022

A Season of Remembrance

Opening Day 1922 to Armistice Day 2022

It has been a great pleasure to work with the Aldbourne War Memorial Hall Committee over the past year. The aim has been to help commemorate and celebrate the opening of the Hall in July 1922. The Hall has had one hundred years as a village institution at the heart of our community. The Centenary Bench carries a message of thanks to everyone who has supported the Hall in that long journey. Long may it continue to serve!

History tells us that the people of Aldbourne started to plan for their Hall as far back as 1917. My theory is that news of the formation of the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission in May of that year filtered out to the rural areas. Aldbourne was suffering, as did so many other towns and villages, with the loss of loved ones and the return of men and boys broken in body and mind. A decision was made to create both a lasting memorial and a village hall.

I’ve been researching newspaper reports and parish news with Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday in mind.

Armistice Day in 1922 fell on a Saturday. The two-minute silence was observed at 11am and a Service of Remembrance took place in St Michael’s Church at 6pm. The British Legion, preceded by the Aldbourne Silver Prize Band, marched to the service in the church. After the service the British Legion returned to the Memorial Hall for their annual dinner, followed by a free concert.

In 1923 the supper and concert were fixed for Saturday 10 November. In addition to the services the following day in church the ex-servicemen arranged a United Service at the Memorial Hall during the afternoon.

And so the tradition continued.

The Hall corresponds for us at Aldbourne to the Cenotaph in London. It is our War Memorial and on it’s walls are inscribed names of the men of this village who fell in the War. It is fitting therefore that at Armistice time the whole village should gather around the place where those names are inscribed.

Parish Magazine November 1938 – Rev Elliott

The Rev Elliott’s words recall the sentiments expressed by his predecessor, the Rev Philip Jasper, at the opening in 1922. They bring this brief history up to the year before the outbreak of a second world conflict that took the lives of village men, with so many others.

In November 1939, the Memorial Hall was a canteen for troops based in the village. A local newspaper reported that the Poppy Day collection in Aldbourne raised £20 17s 6d – a record – thanks to the inhabitants and the troops for their generosity in supporting this most deserving appeal. The British Legion took steps to ensure that any cases of illness or distress amongst ex-servicemen would be attended to and expressed regret that ‘owing to present conditions’ their annual dinner could not take place.

A third memorial tablet was added at the Hall in 1948, in grateful memory of the men of Aldbourne who gave their lives in the Second World War.

Lest we forget.

Aldbourne War Memorial Hall: One Hundred Years

Aldbourne War Memorial Hall – Opening Day 7 July 1922

The people of Aldbourne started to plan for a war memorial during 1917.  Much consideration was given to the form it should take.  It was ultimately decided that a Parish Hall should be built.  From 1917 onwards money was being collected by a great variety of fund-raising endeavours.

The Memorial Hall Minutes record that during 1921, alongside such important matters as pianos, billiard tables and smoking concerts for the ex-servicemen, there was an ever-present underlying concern for the cost of building.  A temporary hut was built in Whitley Meadow, with a half hut for billiards established by the Comrades of the Great War (this group later amalgamated into the British Legion alongside three other national organisations of ex-servicemen). A Boys Club was also inaugurated, which was the foundation for the Aldbourne Sports & Social Club we have today.

By 21 November 1921, the fundraising target was in reach, it was proposed “that fresh tenders be asked for inside and outside the village to build the Hall. With local labour to be employed as much as possible and the lowest tender be accepted in or out of the village provided the sum is what we can pay.”

It was further proposed by Miss Emily Sophia Todd of Hampstead Cottage, “that the Building Committee see Mr Moulding as regards his tender in view of the continuing fall in prices and the money we have at our disposal”.

By 6 December 1921, £1,000 was in hand.  Mr Mouldings revised tender came in at £1,200, which was accepted.  The Secretary was instructed to collect the subscriptions that had been pledged from members of the community to make up the shortfall.  Our War Memorial Hall was built by Messrs Moulding Bros, a family firm founded here in Aldbourne during 1798 – and today in their 8th generation.

It was decided that the names of the fallen should be outside the Hall rather than inside.  Miss Todd suggested that the list of names in St Michael’s Church (unveiled in March 1920) should be inscribed and ‘those who had died since’ also be included.  The building committee were authorised to arrange for a foundation laying ceremony when the right time arrived.  These decisions were made in January 1922, the contract with Messrs Moulding Brothers having been signed on 13 December 1921.  Did anyone suspect then that space would have to be made for more names to be added less than two decades later when war came again?

Opening Day was 7 July 1922.  Described in the local press as ‘a tribute to lost sons, husbands and sweethearts’, this long-awaited day also heralded the creation of our village institute.  A venue that had been the aim from 1917, enshrined in the very earliest days of the project.  Built by the determination, love and enthusiasm of young and old alike, the aim was to provide a room “fitted in every way for public meetings with arrangements for concerts and theatricals, a real and lasting centre for community life and interest in the village”.  The present-day Memorial Hall Committee continues this tradition: with great facilities offering a popular venue at the centre of the village.

There will be an exhibition at the Memorial Hall over the weekend of 16^th and 17^th July 2022.  I’m always looking for new stories and history, so please contact me if you have anything like that to share.  For example, this photo of opening day belonged to Effie Brown nee Veitch.  Effie’s brother and father, both named John, are listed among the Great War names.  Effie’s recollection was that everyone in the crowd had either lost, or knew someone who had lost, a loved one.  It is clear to see the emotion on the faces of the crowd as Field Marshall Lord Methuen speaks with the ex-servicemen. Other photos show the Hall more clearly, but in this one we can see the faces of some of the people who worked so hard to create a lasting memorial.

A postcard kept by Effie Brown nee Veitch

Fundraising for the Aldbourne War Memorial Hall – Past, Present & Future

Aldbourne War Memorial Hall Account Book

Aldbourne’s aim from 1917 onwards was to build a hall in remembrance of the lives lost in the Great War, and also ‘fitted in every way for public meetings, with arrangements for concerts and theatricals – a building which all hoped would be a real and lasting centre for community life and interest in the village’ (North Wilts Herald 2 May 1919/British Newspaper Archive).

I think those long ago fundraisers would have enjoyed the idea of a Duck Race.

The present-day Memorial Hall Committee invites everyone to enjoy the very welcome return of the Easter Extravaganza on Saturday 16 April 2022.  On the Green if fine, in the Hall if not. The Ducks will race again!

 Our Memorial Hall is still ‘fitted in every way’ to cater for public meetings, concerts, theatricals, Yoga, Lunch Club, hire for parties and wedding receptions – the list is seemingly endless. 

My focus for this month is fundraising; both by the groups who book the hall and for and on behalf of the Hall itself.  A quick study of the history surrounding the early days of the campaign in 1917 and how funds were raised, shows the great ingenuity of the population of Aldbourne.  Bearing in mind that this was during a time when the countryside was still recovering from the effects of the Great War, and many families were suffering great hardship; their menfolk being dead, injured or enduring incapacitating illnesses of the body or mind.

One report from March 1919 relates that on one day concerts were held in the afternoon and evening at the schoolroom; followed at the weekend by a dinner for the Aldbourne lads who had been on active service.  At the same time as raising funds to create a memorial for the fallen, our village was also looking after those who had returned.  It is also interesting to see that Aldbourne Band “resuscitated after four years .. received a cordial welcome”.  Speeches were made, bravery was acknowledged and by the close of proceedings the sum of £15 was handed over to the scheme for which Aldbourne people were working so heartily.

Jumping forward to 1928, a kitchen was added to the Hall and declared open by Miss Evelyn Fox from the Old Rectory.  The newspaper of the day lists all the festivities arranged to celebrate the opening, with generous prizes awarded for a ‘Knock-out Whist Tournament”, parcel tying and a balloon race.  More music, this time from piano, banjo and violin.  At the end of the day another £13 5s was raised for the kitchen fund.

Whist Evenings seem to have been a real attraction and have raised considerable funds over the decades, both for the Hall itself and for village organisations.  In December 1932 no less than 42 tables were occupied for an evening aimed at reducing the debt on the Hall.  A fine turkey was won by the highest scorer, Mr R Hutchins.

So successful was the fundraising that by October 1935 after a year of hard work and several particularly generous donations, the treasurer Major Ingpen was able to announce that the Hall was, for the first time, free of debt.

With thanks to Alison Delorie for helping to collate the information for this article. Also thanks to Alan Heasman and the Aldbourne Community Heritage Group for sharing their encyclopaedic collection of newspaper articles and Parish Magazines.

Originally published in the April 2022 Dabchick Magazine

Memories of Carnival from Mrs Nancy Barrett (1986)

Nancy Barrett (nee Hawkins) Aldbourne’s first Carnival Queen in 1934

When I was asked by the Carnival Committee if I would write some of my personal memories of the Carnival with which my family have been so closely involved over the years, so many things came to my mind that I find it difficult to know where to begin.

My very first memory of the Carnival is setting off from the shop in West Street (now the framers) where we then lived, to take part in the procession with Molly Lunn (Stacey), as Bride and Bridegroom. We were between five and six years old!

We have come a long way since those days, when the Carnival was a much simpler affair, but nevertheless an important event in our village life.

When my father took over from Mr Arthur Ford as Secretary, around 1930, we had moved to Southern Farm, and for a few weeks each year, the Carnival took over our house which was overflowing with posters, prize cards and collecting boxes, etc.

At that time, all the proceeds were for Savernake Hospital and every collecting box had to be clearly labelled to that effect.

Unlike today, there were no events during the week preceding the Carnival, except for ‘Bowling for the Pig’ which took place in the Square from Friday evening onwards.

A comic football match on the Saturday afternoon was a jolly event, leading up to the grand procession which, by any village standards, was always second to none and drew crowds of onlookers.

After a tour of the village (not quite so far in those days), the procession always wound up in front of the Old Rectory, where the prizes were given out from the steps of the house.

The climax to the evening was the Carnival Dance in the Memorial Hall, but when the Fun Fair became part of the celebrations, this event was dropped through lack of support.

I clearly remember the Sunday evening Carnival Service, also in the Memorial Hall, at which one of the resident doctors at Savernake always took part. One thing that stands out in my mind is that we always sang the hymn ‘Sun of My Soul Thou Saviour Dear’, and I associate that hymn with those services to this day.

I was seventeen when the powers that be decided to introduce a Carnival Queen to the proceedings and I was literally thrown in at the deep end. It was a new venture for the Committee, and I and the four attendants: Marjorie Barrett, Nellie Crook, Molly Brind and a young girl who worked at ‘High Town’, were more or less left to make our own arrangements. Not for us the glamorous crowning ceremony, the bouquets and presents etc. We made our own dresses and the cloak and crown were borrowed from Swindon Carnival Committee.

I seem to remember that we did visit the local hospitals and, on Carnival Day, my uncle Chris (Hawkins) dressed as a coachman and drove us round in the procession in an open horse-drawn carriage which we had decorated ourselves. I think we worked harder than the Committee that week.

Sadly, the Carnival lapsed during the War, but was resumed with even greater enthusiasm at the earliest opportunity.

When hospitals came under the Health Service, the Carnival proceeds were divided between the Memorial Hall and the Sports Field which had to be reclaimed after the War.

Although the Community was much smaller in those days, it was surprising how much money was raised each year. The boxes were all taken to the [Memorial] Hall on the Monday evening and the total takings were known the same night.

For several years a special feature of the Carnival was Mr Cooper’s vintage car which transported the Secretary at the head of the procession.

Our involvement in the Carnival carried into the next generation and sometimes it was difficult to think of new things to do each year.

One year we even took Tim’s pony into the old farm-house kitchen when it rained during the preparations. The only other shelter was already taken by Andrea’s pony.

The Band has always played an important part in the proceedings and that involved my husband and later, Tim.

There have been many memorable incidents too numerous to mention, such as the year history repeated itself and Andrea won the 1956 Carnival Queen.

When Mr Tony Gilligan became Secretary in 1962, things were far less hectic on the home front but Carnival week remained very important for our family.

These days, relegated to the side lines, I get very nostalgic at Carnival time and when the Band plays ‘Nightfall in Camp’ and the flags are lowered round the pond, I feel sad for the things that are past, but glad that so many of our new residents have caught our Carnival spirit and are helping to keep the tradition alive.

Carnivals have come and gone in neighbouring villages and towns, but hopefully ours will go on. Long Live Aldbourne Carnival!

Nancy Barrett writing in the 1986 Aldbourne Carnival Programme

William George Deacon (1893-1973) Aldbourne Band

Aldbourne Photographic Club/Civic Society ‘1925 Quartette APC 168’ Names kindly supplied by the late Mr Cyril Barrett (l-r): William Deacon, Wilf Jerram, Fred Barnes, Joe Alder – centre Albert Stacey.

William won many medals for his fine euphonium playing. He can be seen on Aldbourne Band photographs from 1909 through to 1932. William received this medal at the Wokingham Quartet Contest in 1929. “The Aldbourne Silver Prize Band acquired several successes at the contest. They won a silver cup, five medals and a baton for the conductor, and Mr Bert Palmer was awarded a medal for the best instrumentalist of 12 quartet parties”. Thanks to Ashley Jones and Graham Palmer for sharing their research, and also to William’s grand-daughter Lynn, who kindly sent the medal to Ashley for the Aldbourne Band Heritage collection.

The quartet party at Wokingham in October 1929 “consisted of Messrs J G Alder (solo cornet), W Braxton (second cornet) A Palmer (tenor horn) and W Deacon (euphonium). The test piece was by Beethoven. Mr J G Alder was the conductor.”

North Wilts Herald 1 November 1929

See also, William’s wedding photo – Mystery Solved – Wedding 1917.

Mystery Solved – Wedding 1917

This photograph of a young couple on their wedding day was recovered from a skip in Aldbourne many years ago, and kept safe by the late and much missed Trish and Dave Rushen. The glass is stuck to the photo, so Trish passed it to me so that I could take some nice clear photos. The image first went onto Facebook in January 2014. Names were added to faces during 2017 when William and Jessie’s great-granddaughter spotted the photo and matched it up with a copy from her family album. The wedding took place on 5 August 1917 at St Michael’s Church, Wood Green, Middlesex.

William George Deacon (1893-1973) is the groom. Jessie Hidson (1895-1988) is the bride. Her father and eldest brother were witnesses on the wedding certificate so I believe the man next to her must be her father Henry (Harry) Hidson b.1858. Her elder brother behind William is Harry William Hidson b.1884 and possibly her other brother next to him is Charles Hidson b.1886.  I don’t know who the woman next to William is but she is from the Aldbourne Deacon side of the family.

William is wearing a silver war badge on his lapel. Thanks to Phil Comley for spotting this and pointing me in the direction of information about this particular badge of honour. Imperial War Museum Silver War Badge.

There are two other stories to be told about the ‘broken glass photo’. One is about William’s skill as a euphonium player in the Aldbourne Band. The second is about yet another mystery photo that was tucked into the broken frame.

William George Deacon (1893-1973) Aldbourne Band

Second Wedding Photo Mystery Solved