Village Celebrations – Page 2 – Jo Hutchings

The Revival of Aldbourne Feast in 1919

Aldbourne War Memorial Hall Opening 7 July 1922

The Aldbourne Feast, one of the oldest and best known of Wiltshire village festivals, allowed to lapse during the war, was this year revived with much success … Even in the days immediately preceding the war, Aldbourne Feast was sometimes little more than a date in the calendar … For some years a flower show was held annually, but at no time in the memory of the present inhabitants has a programme of such an ambitious character been arranged as that which was carried out with great success during the early part of the present week.
North Wilts Herald 1 August 1919

‘The roundabouts, swings and sideshows arrived in the village on Saturday, and did a roaring trade on Monday’. The newspaper report went on to list the activities arranged for the purpose of raising funds to build a new Village Hall, in memory of the men of Aldbourne who gave their lives in the war. About £750 had been raised for this purpose prior to Feast in 1919.

In July 1919 there were sports in ‘Mr Wilson’s meadow’ (which did not include ‘backswording’) but did feature ‘many items of an exciting character, in which the representatives of the various hamlets within a six mile radius strove to excel each other in the performances, and displayed a real sporting spirit in the doing of it’. Tug-of-War, a hurdle race and obstacle bicycle race are listed. Plus ‘Bowling for a Pig’.

Mr A W Pembroke gets a couple of mentions in the article. Arthur Pembroke lived at Yew Tree House and as well as being in charge of Bowling for a Pig at the Feast celebrations in 1919, Arthur is listed as a member of the ‘special sports sub-committee’.

Arthur and his mother Annie (nee Penny, born Winterbourne Bassett) later gave the land upon which the Memorial Hall was built.

By the time Feast rolled round again in 1920 the village fund stood at over £1,000. In 1920 the North Wilts Herald listed a huge variety of sporting events, a baby show (judged by Dr Dill of Ramsbury – brave man!) and dancing in the evening accompanied by Aldbourne Prize Band. This time the bowling endeavours were directed to win a ‘pair of ducks’.

Feast in 1921 was ‘a much smaller affair than in previous years’ (North Wilts Herald 29 July 1921) however ‘in accordance with custom’ nearly every household had friends from a distance to visit or absent relatives home for the occasion. ‘Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the “fun of the fair”.’

In December 1921 the tender from Messrs Moulding Bros was accepted by the hall committee and building began shortly thereafter. The Aldbourne War Memorial Hall, a target determined in 1917, was opened by Lord Methuen on 7 July 1922.

Aldbourne Cherry Feast?

Aldbourne Feast 1920?

Just thought I’d put this collection of photos ‘out there’ to see if anyone can shed any light or provide details/names. All three pics are part of the collection belonging to Mr Paul Williams (and shared here by his very kind permission).

A Mystery Postcard – Aldbourne Carnival?

1909 postmarked postcard Wiltshire Museum – Wiltshire Life Society AVGB GBP367

This mystery began (for me) in July 2014 in the library at the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. One of my colleagues showed me this photograph of a young person with a decorated bicycle. The photograph is a laminated reproduction, part of the Wiltshire Life Society collection.

We spent some time trying to track down more information, to no avail.

In October 2014, the curator of the Aldbourne Heritage Centre confirmed that a similar copy photograph was part of the village collection.

The Millennium Book of Aldbourne has a note about the origin of Aldbourne Carnival and mentions a parade of decorated bicycles in 1905. So it is possible that this photo is therefore one of the earliest showing an entry for the village carnival. In fact, the image was used to promote the 100th Aldbourne Carnival in 2015. It has remained in my Aldbourne Archive as a mystery to be solved ‘one day’.

Last year an original postcard appeared on eBay and is now with local historian Graham Palmer. It was a fantastic find!

There are still mysteries to be solved. Who were Miss Annie Cox, Lizzie W and Harry?

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Aldbourne Coronation Celebrations on 2 June 1953

Once again, proof that the good people of Aldbourne knew how to throw a party! I would love to see photos of the ‘Musical Chairs on Bicycles’. Sadly, at least for the moment, I’ll have to content myself with the write-up about the ‘Ladies XI’ in the Parish Magazine. Somewhere in that photo there is a well known BBC presenter, famous for his Animal Magic. As the Vicar said, ‘it is up to the reader to identify them in the photograph’. The mention of the village pond renovation refers to the creation of the concrete basin, which caused some controversy at the time. The pond went from a natural feature to a ‘little concrete prison’ [Ida Gandy] in 1953. It was modified into a more natural form (as it is today) following the Festival in 1990.

Pillow Fights for a New King

North Wiltshire Herald 1937. Source: Wiltshire Museum

I’ve been revisiting my notes on the Coronation Celebrations for King George VI that took place in Aldbourne on 12 May 1937.

It has been fascinating to find and link together photos and newspaper reports to establish a snapshot for this HUGE village party. My friend, John Brown, has fond recollections of the day, especially the delicious tea in the Manor Barn. Other villagers have shared their child-hood memories of singing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ with the Aldbourne Band.

The chestnut tree was planted by Beryl Perrett and Kenneth Martin – see Tree Planting by the Pond 1937

‘Eatwell’s Team’ emerged victorious in the Tug-o-War – see Tug of War Tradition in Aldbourne

It is a source of great regret that I still haven’t tracked down any photographs of the Bicycle Obstacle Race, but there has been a breakthrough on the Pillow Fights.

The winner was Reg Slade (who also finished second in the Bicycle Obstacle Race), with J Bowes as runner-up. The Judges were Mr A V Jerram and T D Barnes. Sadly, photographs of the 1937 event are not (yet!) available but Lisa Barkworth has very kindly supplied photos from an earlier competition. Surely a time of laughter and fierce competition, there must have indeed been an epic battle to welcome the new monarch on this day in 1937.

Possibly late 1920s. Source: Stacey Family Album

Carnival Postcard Mystery Solved

DZSWS:AVBGB.GBP367
Photograph, carnival costume including a decorated bicycle, Aldbourne, Wiltshire, 1909, an image from the Wiltshire Life Society collection.

The discovery of this photo is one of my happiest memories from early days of volunteering at the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. My fellow volunteers often found items relating to Aldbourne and, knowing my interest, called me over to have a look. This laminated photo was part of the Wiltshire Life Society Collection and formerly part of a display at Avebury. No clues as to the location of the picture, or identity of the young person. Just a date: 1909.

Fast forward our village preparations for the 100th Renewal of Aldbourne Carnival in 2015. A copy of the same photo was found in the collection at Aldbourne Heritage Centre. I carried a copy of the photo with me and showed it to more or less everyone I met, trying to find out if it rang a bell from any family album. It went into the local paper, and even got a mention on BBC Wiltshire.

From memory, there’s a snippet in the Millennium Book of Aldbourne that acknowledges research that carnival in Aldbourne in its present form can be dated back to 1915; whereas, with decorated bicycles (like Pewsey) a slightly earlier date of 1905 was mentioned. If only there was some way to be sure that the note ‘postemark 1909’ was accurate.

Roll forward again to October 2020 and eBay (almost ten years to the month that I first met our young friend with the decorated bicycle). There’s the Aldbourne postmark 1909, and now all we have to do is solve the mysteries arising from the card itself: who is ‘Lizzie W’, who is ‘Harry’ and who is ‘Miss Annie Cox’?

Some #VJDay75 Recollections

VE and VJ Day 75th Anniversary commemorations have been vastly different to those originally envisaged. On 15 August 2020 there will be national events to mark the occasion, including a two-minute silence at 11am. Listen out for St Michael’s Church bells after the silence. Many of us will remember relatives or friends who died; and those who carried, or will carry, the effects of physical and mental suffering for the rest of their lives.

This is a huge and emotive subject to explore, and I hope that anyone reading this who would like to add to the stories told here, will contact me via the comments box at the end of this article. Once again I must say thank you to the folk who have helped me to tell these few stories. One of the trips I was hoping to make this summer was to the National Memorial Arboretum but instead Ive found their VJ Day activity pack, virtual guided walks and on-line exhibition really useful. These resources can be found at http://www.thenma.org.uk/events-at-the-arboretum/vj-day-75/

I’ve taken as my guide some articles from The Dabchick magazine in 1991 and 1995. Firstly, an account by Barbara Sowerby of her experiences as a prisoner of the Japanese – please click on the small image to open the full article.

Broadcast for the 70th anniversary of VJ Day. Rouse Voisey, RAF veteran, worked on the Sumatra railway as a prisoner-of-war. Barbara Sowerby was a civilian internee at Stanley prison camp. Follow the link to listen: BBC Radio 4 Today – 15 August 2015

*– The Dabchick* – *October & December 1995*

**PRIVATE RONALD ARTHUR HACKER**
Commonwealth War Grave Record
South Wales Borderers 6th Bn
Died 15 November 1944 Age 25 years old

Thanks to Ian Warrington for posting his family photo on my Aldbourne Archive Facebook page.

VJ Day 1945 – “A very happy day for my Mother. Dad would be coming home after 4 years in India. When Dad was called up it meant that Mum was left alone in London with a new baby (Chris) and she did not see Dad for the 4 years as there was no home leave all the way from India.”

Thanks to Ishbel and Annie for access to Andrew Sewell’s vast and fascinating collection of photos, diary notes and artefacts. In February 1940, and his 19th birthday, Andrew was in Scotland helping the Lanarkshire Yeomany ‘convert from horses to guns’. A year later the regiment travelled to India, which provided all the arms and equipment needed to move to Malaya in the late summer. Andrew was wounded in ‘a typical engagement between a battalion just landed at Singapore, a highly professional Indian Army unit and the Japanese’. In February 1942, Alexandra hospital was over-run by the Japanese, patients were killed and captured – Andrew’s diary is not comfortable reading and I can’t do justice to such a full and informative account here. Shortly after the capitulation by the Emperor, Russian forces entered Mukden. Andrew travelled first to Sian in South China, then to India in a USA bomber. Eventually arriving at Liverpool in early September 1945 in good time for his 25th birthday.

It is my privilege to bring the stories full circle, and return to the exhibition and coffee morning held in August 1995. The photos tell the story, and aren’t we fortunate to have them to help us remember the past.

AS with PW
VJ Day exhibition August 1995 NB: trousers made from Army blanket
left: Ronald Hacker, killed in Burma June 1945 centre – Hilda Hacker/Chamberlain’s brother in law right – Mr Read
Anthony Davies Cyril Painter Indefatigable 1945 attacked by Kamikazi
right: A ….(?) Fraser, Burma vet, mules left picture: Mrs Read’s husband, RAF
VJ Day exhibition 1995 Aldbourne Memorial Hall
left AS, centre: Cyril Painter/Anthony Davies
Flower arrangement by Audrey Barrett 1995

Cyril Ernest Painter (1923 – 2017) https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/15001651.cyril-painter/

Rear Admiral Anthony Davies (1912 – 2003) https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7324670.naval-officer-dies-at-age-91/

Tug of War Tradition in Aldbourne

Tug of War winners mystery 2014 – copy photo thanks to Alan Watson

Tug of war was contested as a team event in the Summer Olympics at every Olympiad from 1900 to 1920. It’s been a popular event in Aldbourne for decades. The earliest mention I’ve seen (so far) is in the North Wilts Herald 1 August 1919: that year, the competition at the Feast Sports was won by a team from Upham.

Years ago, this copy photograph of a victorious team was given to me for the Aldbourne Archive. Only very recently have the names and date been added to my file. Thanks to research by Graham Palmer.

There have been some fabulous reports on sports in the local press over the years. I would love to see photos of the pillow fights, and ‘musical chairs on cycles’ must have been a thing of beauty to behold back in 1927!

The tug of war team in the photo took part in the Coronation Celebrations on 12 May 1937 (King George VI). Graham spotted that ‘Eatwell’s team’ were the winners listed in a newspaper report after the events of the day.

Names for faces – thanks Graham
Standing: left to right: Tommy Cowles, Sid Mildenhall, ? , Percy Swash
Seated: left to right: ? , Charlie Cox, Ernest Eatwell, Harry Aldridge.
The gent holding the cup seated at the front of the group is the Judge, Mr Walter Liddiard. Is that Wilfred Jerram behind the fence (in the hat) holding a coil of rope?

Aldbourne Feast, Revels & Rural Sports

Formula for the Aldbourne Feast Fair – *the first Monday after the first Sunday after Mary Magdalene Day*

Since the Olympics should have started this week, and George Scarrott & Sons Family Fun Fair are here in the village, it seems appropriate to dip into how Aldbourne has celebrated Feast. This is by no means an exhaustive study, so if anyone has any questions or information to add I’d be delighted to hear from you.

Maurice Crane’s ‘”Aldbourne Chronicle” (1974). “The Council of Oxford ordered all parishes to keep Feast on their Saint’s Day (in 1222).” Mr Crane’s time-line gives 1460 as the date when the present tower was built by Richard Goddard, the church remodelled and dedicated to St Michael.

22 July is the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalene. A quick dip into ‘Heart of a Village’ by Ida Gandy (1975) tells us that “Aldbourne Feast has always been held within the octave of Mary Magdalen.” In these interesting times, George Scarrott and the Aldbourne Parish Council have worked together to bring a fair for Feast on the 27 and 28 July 2020.

Mrs Miriam Orchard (nee Barrett) was born in February 1836 at Stock Lane, Aldbourne. An article appeared in the Evening Advertiser to celebrate the occasion of her 100th birthday.

About the only opportunity of organised amusement when she was a young girl, was Aldbourne Feast, and she spoke of seeing men ‘backswording’; which meant that they fought with sticks, and the one who first drew blood was declared the winner. This sanguinary spectacle used to be presented on a stage against the Town Pond.
Evening Advertiser 27 November 1936 – British Newspaper Archive

The next snippet of news I’ve gathered that mentions Feast (and backswording), is from 1853; whilst the writer appears to deplore the blood thirsty ‘relic’ of single stick, the conclusion of the article does seem to show a regard for the participants inferred ‘indomitable pluck and fearless courage’.

We observe that one of the relics of, if not the middle, certainly of the dark ages, is still kept alive at Aldbourn, where a revel was held on Monday and Tuesday last, at which, according to the published handbill, single stick was to be played.
Berkshire Chronicle 30 July 1853 – Find My Past

It looks as though by 1895 the ‘Aldbourne Revel’ was a much more gentle occasion; with family re-unions on the Sunday and ‘on Monday the village bore the aspect of a large fancy fair. There were two large steam roundabouts, swingboats, coconut alley and stalls, and shooting galleries in abundance.’ Athletic endeavours seem to have replaced single stick, with foot races for boys and men held at Liddington Warren ‘an open and healthy spot’. There was also horse racing, betting and prizes (which I think also may have been the main attraction of the single stick fighting!). In the Reading Mercury 3 August 1895, there is mention of the ‘Aldbourne Cup, value 8 guineas, for horses of any height’.

1906, Feast on the Square, APC 12 – Aldbourne Civic Society

It may well be that the Fairground in this photo was George Scarrott’s established in 1894.

In 1919, having lapsed during the war, the Aldbourne Feast was revived with much success on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the end of July. Sports, fete, a fancy dress Whist Drive alongside ‘the usual fairground amusements’. There was a fleeting, almost wistful, reference to the old tradition of backswording. I think the press missed the opportunity to recount such a blood thirsty story line, even after the carnage of war. Otherwise, the exciting character of the sports for villagers and the surrounding hamlets received much praise, including tug-of war (which in 1919 was won by a team from Upham).

THE MEANING OF THE MEMORIAL HALL

An interesting survey of the history of Aldbourne Feast, and of the spirit underlying the movement for the erection of a Memorial Hall, was given by Mrs Currie in opening the garden fete and Bazaar

The proceeds of all the efforts go to swell the purpose of building a Village Hall, in memory of the men of Aldbourne who gave their lives in the war. About £720 had been raised for this purpose prior to the Feast.
North Wilts Herald 1 August 1919 – Find My Past

It was interesting to see that Scarrott’s traditional fairground organ (built in the early 1920s) was in attendance at the 2020 Feast; I wonder when it was last in the village to accompany the chair-planes. Miss Muriel Foster, of Ivy Cottage, used to treat the village children to a ride on the chair-planes; an annual arrangement with George Scarrott. Very fondly remembered by many, many Dabchicks. You only have to ask the question ‘who remembers Miss Foster’ at a Heritage Group meeting and half the hands in the room go up – happy days!

Aldbourne Village Gallery. The story so far – long may it last!

I started a Flickr Gallery in 2008. It now has just over 4,000 photos in it. Flickr has been acquired by something called Smug Mug, and I’ve decided not to add any more photos since there seems to be a risk that the Gallery might disappear; free accounts being a bit vulnerable to that, it would seem.

So here’s a link – enjoy! https://www.flickr.com/photos/aldbournevillagegallery/albums

Many aspects of village life are represented; particularly Carnival and the Beating of the Bounds. If there are any photos or albums you’d like to chat about, please drop me a line, aldbourne.archive@gmail.com

Jo Hutchings – August 2019