Queen's Golden Jubilee (1887)

Post date: Mar 17, 2012 9:14:10 PM

Extract from Parish Magazine of July 1887:

THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE.

Tuesday, June 21st, 1887, will be long remembered in the Queen's Dominions as the day in which all the loyal subjects of our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria combined to express in some way or other those heartfelt feelings of loyalty and love which a blameless reign of fifty years has stirred in the breasts of everyone who is able to appreciate the blessings which such a reign has been to their country; and we think that we way congratulate our fellow parishioners in having been in no way behindhand in the matter of a due celebration of that day.

As besides its present interest, in years to come some old copy of our Magazine may be read with interest, and perhaps be useful with suggestions for some similar Celebration, we intend to give a detailed account of the proceedings of the day.

The time for meeting was one p.m., when the Children of the Parish assembled at the bottom of the Glebe meadow, and were there entrusted with several flags and banners. Being then formed into a procession they marched up Bow Road and fell in behind the Oddfellows and Foresters, who, decked in their regalia and with their banners flying, headed the Procession, coming immediately behind the Yalding Band (whose bandmaster, Mr. Fairman, is a Wateringbury man), a number of the parishioners bringing up the rear.

The Procession marched through the Village Street to the Parish Church, where a short Service was held consisting of the Special Form of Prayer appointed for the day (said by the Rev. E. C. Leslie, curate) an Address by the Rev. Spencer W. Phillips, vicar, the National Anthem, and Special Hymns.

The remainder of the days festivities were held in the grounds of Wateringbury Place, very kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by G. Stockdale, Esq. At four o'clock the whole of the children of the Parish who were able to be present sat down at the tables to an excellent tea, but several were absent owing to an epidemic of measles. At five o'clock, the tables being replenished, about 350 women and elder girls had a good tea, consisting of meat patties, sausage rolls, cake, bread and butter, &c. And from three to half-past six the men and lads of the Parish, to the number of upwards of 300, found a meal of meat, bread and beer, together with a gift of tobacco, ready for them at any time at which they pleased to partake of it, having been previously supplied with tickets, entitling them to it on presentation. Meanwhile the juveniles were engaged in various games, whilst a regular programme of sports was being vigorously carried out by the elders.

At 7.30 a distribution of a new double florin to all the people in the Parish of the Queen's age and upwards was made by Miss Paterson ; the number entitled to this gift being the exact Jubilee number of 50 , the eldest of the array being Widow Burr, of the ripe old age of 90 years. Then followed the pinning of 450 Jubilee Medals on children and babies. After this the Vicar distributed the various money Prizes to the successful competitors in the Sports, of whose names we subjoin a list. Dancing and Fireworks brought the day's amusements to a close, the whole company marching from the Park about 10 o'clock, to the lively strains of the band, after singing the National Anthem. Thus ended a most successful day, contributing equally to the credit of those who organised the Fete and those who took part in it, the latter by their excellent behaviour and evident enjoyment fully repaying all the trouble and care which had been taken by the former.

We subjoin the names of the members of the General and Special Committees, as well as of those of the Prize Winners in the Sports.

Programme of Sports and Names of Winners.

100 Yards Race (open).

1. William Latter 2. W. Brown.

Potato Gathering (Men).

1. William Russell. 2. Frederick Boorman.

Eggs and Spoons (Women)

1. Mrs. Piddleston. 2. Miss Tipple.

100 Yards Race (Boys).

1. H. Austin. 2. W. Bowles. 3. H. Pierce

Veterans' Race.

1. George Rose. 2. J. Barham.

Sack Race (Boys)

1. Horace Wells. 2. H. Austin 3. Henry Goodwin.

Putting Weight (19 Ibs.).

1. Charles Walland

2. Wm Russell

High Jump.

1. Horace Pickett 2. Wm. Russell.

Quoit Competition.

1. William Latter. 2. D. Mace.

Potato Gathering (Women)

1. Miss Heath.2. Mrs. Piddleston.

Trundling Barrels.

1. Charles Rowe. 2. Frederick Luck.

Three Legged Race (Boys).

1. W. Boorman/ H. Pierce. 2. W. Crayford/ J. Cronk Dead Heat, W. Bowles/J. Laurence, Extra Prize.

Half Mile Race.

1. J. Cronk. 2. Horace Pickett. 3. Frederick Luck.

Tug of War.

J. Baker, G. Baker, T. Shepherd, J. Costin, D. Costin.

H. Costin, W. Woolgar, T. Bristow, G. Relf, J. Oliver

General Committee—Rev. Spencer W. Phillips (chairman), Rev. E. C. Leslie, Messrs. R. H. Fremlin , Goodwin, Jude, A. Leney, Dray, Clemetson, H. Russell, Copley, Kingston, Taylor, Wallond, W. Dray and Smith. Lady Login, Mrs. Fry, and Miss Paterson. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. W. W. Blest.

Sports Committee—Mr. H. Russell (chairman), Rev. E. C. Leslie, Messrs. Clemetson, Copley, Kingston, W. Dray, and Macfarlane.

Entertainment Committees—(Men's) Rev. E. C. Leslie (chairman), Messrs. Jude, Fremlin, Wallond,Taylor, and Smith; (Women's) Lady Login, Miss Paterson, Mrs. Fry, and Mrs. Phillips; with the Chairman and Secretary as ex-officio members.

We cannot conclude without expressing the great obligation which the Committee and Parishioners generally owe to the assistance given them by Mr. Blest, by whose exertions not only nearly £100 was collected towards the expenses of the day, but who also spared himself neither time nor trouble to ensure the success of the Fete. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Stockdale for the free use of his grounds, the beauty of which added much to the picturesqueness of the scene; and also to his gardener, Mr. Knell who from the first gave the Committee every assistance in his power to make the work of arrangement easy and pleasant.

A new double florin was sent to each of the old people of our Parish at present in the Union, to the number of eight, and also a new shilling to the children, to the number of four.

On Sunday, the 26th June, a special Jubilee Service was held, at which the Jubileie Hymns published by the S.P.C.K. and Stainer's anthem " Let every soul be subject to the higher powers " were sung, the whole service closing with a hearty outburst of the National Anthem.

"GOD SAVE THE QUEEN."

Extra Copies of this (Jubilee) Number of the Magazine may be had of the Vicar if applied for at once. Price Twopence.

George Stockdale's wife, Clara, died the following year at Bedford Square, Brighton on 23 October 1888.