Stan Turner’s booklet APPENDIX XI

NDR Sat 28 May 1904

MAY FESTIVAL AT YARDLEY GOBION

Spoilt by the Rain.

This festival, postponed from the 21st inst., took place on Thursday afternoon, but unfortunately its complete success was marred by several heavy showers. The weather, indeed, was very trying to all concerned, especially to those who had taken a deep interest in the festival. Mrs. G. Fitzroy, Mrs. Arthur Smith, Mrs. Eales, Miss Brown, Miss Roe (schoolmistress), and Mr. Thomas Cadd had taken considerable pains in the preparation and training of the children. The maypole, and Queen’s throne were decorated by Mrs. Arthur Smith; the archway, entrance to the field and car by the Misses Berrill, assisted by Mrs. Ambrose Atkins. The children met at the school, where they were costumed by the ladies above mentioned. The principal characters were:- May Queen, Miss Hilda Smith; page, Master James Hardwick; maid of honour, Katie Lambert; guards, Allan Lambert (captain), S. Herbert, R. Johnson, J. Atkins, W. Hill, W. Atkins, N. Brassett, D. Atkins, C. Scrivenor, A. Smith, H. Swain, H. Atkins, and H. Swain; fairy, M. Atkins; Bo-peep, Edith Allen; besides other children representing the four seasons, various flowers, etc. Headed by Yardley Gobion Britannia Prize Band, and accompanied by the hobby horse and Morris dancers, the children paraded the village, and then marched to Mr. A. Masom’s field, where the crowning of the May Queen took place, a most pleasing and interesting ceremony, including the singing of several appropriate songs, a speech and dances. The Maypole dances were most interesting, the children performing their parts most gracefully.

After the dances, etc., the children sat down to tea in Mr. Masom’s barn. The tea was prepared by Mrs. A. Smith, assisted by Mrs. Goldberg and Mrs. A. Masom. The public tea was undertaken by Mrs. Henry Weston (The Elms), assisted by Miss N. Weston (Stony Stratford) and the committee, Mrs. W. Swain, Mrs. G. Eales, and Mrs. C. Gear also rendered valuable help. Amongst those present at the festival were Mrs. G. Fitzroy, the Rev. A. and Mrs. Goldberg, Miss N. Weston, Mrs and Miss McNalley (Hartwell), Mrs. and Miss Annand (Grafton Regis), Mrs. Last and family (Stony Stratford), Mr. and Mrs. W. Knight (Wolverton), Miss Weeks (Stoke Park), Miss Mountain (Stony Stratford), Miss Weston (Pindon Manor), Mrs. Smith and party (Fenny Stratford), Mr. and Mrs. Tilley, Mr. Robinson (Wolverton), Miss Wilson (Old Stratford), etc. The committee (of which Mr H. Weston was chairman and Mr. S. H. Hardwick secretary) had made admirable arrangements and everything promised to be a complete success, but the rain unfortunately not only kept many people away, but spoilt the enjoyment of the children. The kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Masom in affording shelter for so many during the heavy showers was much appreciated.

The committee thank all the subscribers and others who rendered assisstance.

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21 May, 1906

YARDLEY GOBION MAY FESTIVAL.

The pretty village of Yardley Gobion was en fete on Saturday, when the fourteenth annual May festival was held. The children, gaily attired in multi-coloured costumes, assembled at the schools early in the afternoon, and, headed by the Yardley Gobion Britannia Prize Band, conducted by Mr. J. Lambert, marched round the village to a field lent by Mrs. Weston. The royal coach had been tastefully decorated by Miss A. Masom, and on arrival at the field her Majesty was conducted to the throne, where the coronation ceremony was gracefully performed by the fairy (Ellen Weston). The captain of the guard was Jessie Hardwick. The ceremony was witnessed by a large company, and the children’s happy songs were greatly appreciated. Miss K. Berrill skilfully accompanied on the pianoforte. The subsequent proceedings consisted of Maypole and Morris dances, whilst at dusk a firework display was given by Mr. H. Weston and Mr. S. H. Hardwick. Dancing was also indulged in to the strains of the band. The children went through their parts in a manner which reflected great credit upon those who undertook the responsibility of their training. For the girls they were Mrs. Lucas, Miss Roe, and Miss K. Berrill; and for the boys, Mrs. Eales and Mr. Cadd. Thanks are also due to Mrs. Eales and Mrs. Gear for decorating the arches, and to Mrs. Arthur Smith who undertook the decoration of the Maypole. During the afternoon tea was served under the management of Mrs. Henry Weston of The Elms; Miss N. and Miss E. Weston, of Highcroft; Mrs. C. Weston, of Moorend; Mrs. Goldberg, Mrs. Lucas, Mrs. Gear, Mrs. Bonham, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Swain, and the Misses Berrill. Amongst those present during the day were the Hon. Miss Dillon, Mrs. W. C. Cooper and party (Whittlebury), Mrs. Hulbert (Towcester), the Rev. and Mrs. W. Plant, the Rev. A. and Mrs. Goldberg, Mrs. Hewson (Cosgrove), Mrs. W. Patterson (Potterspury), Mrs. Newton, Mrs. Slade and party (Stony Stratford), Mrs. Arthur Smith, Mr. A. Grant-Thorold, J. P., Mr. J. Chettle, J. P., and the Rev. – Turner, Vicar of St. Saviour’s, Fitzroy-square, London. The general arrangements were carried out by a large and representative organising committee, of which Mr. H. T. Weston is the chairman and Mr. S. H. Hardwick ably and energetically fills the post of hon. secretary. The thanks of the committee are due to Mrs. Fitzroy and Mrs. Arthur Smith, under whose management the children’s dresses were made. His Grace the Duke of Grafton, K. G., shows his interest in and sympathy with the festival by acting as president, whilst the Earl of Euston is the vice president.

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NDE. Mon. 25 May 1908

MAY REVELS

A Happy Day at Yardley Gobion.

It is becoming the fashion to revive May revels in town and country, but Yardley Gobion is one of the places where these pleasant links with the fragrant past have been long kept up. Somewhere about fifteen years ago the revels were allowed to lapse temporarily, as the athletic sports attracted an undesirable betting element, but since then, on a different footing, they have been engineered with almost entire success. It may be said that one of the leading spirits has been Mr. S. H. Hardwick, the genial Worcestershire man who is master of the Workhouse.

On Saturday the May carnival of 1908 took place. As usual the weather smiled upon the affair, which is expected to turn out a record success. From the whole district round, visitors poured into the picturesque village for the fun. The procession commenced about two o’clock. Headed by a couple of boys, bearing aloft a fluttering banner, and the Yardley Gobion band, it went a glittering line of spangles and gay colours, through the whole village. The centre of attraction was, of course, the Queen’s car, a bower of fresh spring flowers in which the fair, ruddy-haired little monarch reclined. This year’s Queen was Lily Bonham – a popular choice. She was daintly dressed in nun’s veiling, trimmed with Valenciennes lace, all white, of course. The Queen’s dress had been made by Miss Brown. In attendance upon her were Fanny Smith, a fairy all a-shine, and Arthur Cadd, a pretty little page, and two charming maids of honour, Susan Lambert and Nelly Atkins, Behind came a motley array of brightly clad children.

They drew up eventually in a field opposite Highcroft, kindly lent by Mrs. Weston. Here in the presence of a large company, the time-honoured ceremony of crowning the queen was performed, a wreath of arabus and white lilies being placed upon her brows. Previous to this it should be said, the ceremony of saluting the flag had been performed – a little "Empire Day" touch – and the "Red, White and Blue" was sung. There followed an entertaining programme of songs, action songs, drills, and Maypole dancing. New items were introduced in the shape of "trades’ songs," in which boys dressed to represent different trades sang of the joys of work, and, more interesting still, old English games played to these old folk songs: "Fair are the flowers in the valley," "Here we come up the green peas," "Oats and beans and barley," and "London Bridge." Miss Roe, Mrs. Arthur Smith, and Mrs. Eales had trained the children carefully, and their performance was everywhere admired.

The braiding of the Maypole with ribands of varied hues proved most attractive. Near the pole, on a stretch of turf marked out with chalk lines, Mr. T. Cadd once more led his motley morris dancers through quaint and interesting figures, to the delight of the crowd. After tea there were more songs and dances, and the whole affair was wound up with a jolly general dance on the green. As usual the Ambulance Corps of the village held a dance in the schoolroom after the ordinary revels were over.

The following formed the Ladies’ Committee in connection with the celebrations: Mrs. Fitzroy, Mrs. Weston, Mrs. H. Weston, Mrs. C. Weston, Mrs. A. Smith, Mrs Eales, Miss Roe, and Miss E. Weston. The general committee consisted of Mr. H. T. F. Weston (chairman), Rev. A. Goldberg, Mr. C. Weston, Mr. A. Smith, Mr. H. Smith, Mr. G. Eales, Mr. C. Gear, Mr. A. Ashby, Mr. W. Wentworth, sen., Mr. W. Wentworth, jun., Mr. J. Gray, Mr. R. Gray, and Mr. Hardwick again fulfilled with unfailing cheeriness the arduous role of hon. secretary. Special help in regard to the decorations was rendered by Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Eales. Mrs. Heath and Mrs. Barnes decorated the Queen’s car, and Mrs. Smith, in addition to acting efficiently as accompanist, ornamented the Queen’s throne. The tea committee comprised, Mrs. Henry Weston, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. and Miss Ashby, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Atkins, Mrs. Swain, and Miss A. Masom. Mention should not be omitted of the fact that the Northamptonshire Beekeepers’ Association sent an exhibit of bees, on which Mr. R. Hefford (Kingsthorpe) lectured to interested onlookers.

Among the visitors to the carnival were the Duke of Grafton, who is president, and takes a keen interest in the affair, Lady Alfred Fitzroy, Mrs. Fitzroy, the Hon. Miss Dillon, Rev. A. Goldberg, Rev. Canon and Mrs. Hulbert (Towcester), Mrs. Muirhead-Campbell (Salcey), Rev. W. J. and Mrs. Harkness (Hanslope), Rev. – Plant, Rev. A. Hannand (Grafton Regis), Rev. J. White (Potterspury), Dr. King, Mrs. and Miss King (Gayton), Dr. and Mrs. Powell, Colonel Murray (Grafton Regis), Mrs. Last (Stony Stratford), Mrs. and Miss Rumsey (Calverton), Mrs. and Miss Worley (Haversham), Mrs. Wace, Mrs. and Miss Cockerill (Calverton), Mrs. Byam Grounds (Passenham), Miss Rose, Mrs. Mountford (Daventry), Mrs. and Miss Fisher (Woburn Sands), Mrs. C. Baldock (Ashton), Mrs. Chettle, Miss Roper, and ex-Inspector and Mrs. D. Norman.