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CORONATION FESTIVITIES. HORSLEY.
At this pretty village, as elsewhere, the festivities arranged to celebrate the Coronation were not carried out according to the original programme. On the first receipt of the sad news of the King's illness, the committee met and decided to postpone everything except the tea, but afterwards, as the news of his Majesty's condition became more favourable, this decision was not adhered to, and eventually most of the arrangements were carried through, the finishing touch being added by the lighting of the bonfire on Tuesday night.
The proceedings were inaugurated by a service in the parish church at 2 pm on Thursday. It was largely attended by the inhabitants of both Horsley and Kilburn, and the special intercessory prayers were offered and a very touching address given by Canon Prior, who previous to the singing of the National Anthem expressed his desire that the congregation would sing it as a prayer that God would indeed bless our Sovereign and restore him to health.
The children's tea was held at 3.30, and all the adults had a substantial knife and fork tea at 5.30. Cricket was indulged in during the day, and swings were erected for the use of the children in Mr Barnard's field.
On Friday afternoon sports were held in the Dovecote, kindly lent for the occasion by Mr F K Brown, as follows:—
Sports for those under 14:
Boys' six-a-side football contest, won by A Team; Thread-needle race for girls, 1 Emily Seal, 2 Alice Fake, 3 H Yeomans; Girls' quarter-mile race, 1 Sallie Annable, 2 H. Yeomans, 3 E. Seal; Boys' half-mile race, 1 Sidney Dreunin, 2 Willie Hall, 3 John Walters; Girls' potato race, 1 S. Annable, 2 Clara Selby, 3 H. Yeomans; Boys' obstacle race, 1 John Walters, 2 John Slack, 3 Willie Walthall
Adults' sports:
Six-a-side football contest, draw E and D Teams (prize divided); 50 yards barrow race, H. Foulk and T. Slack; Potato race for women over 14, 1 G. Allsop, 2 W. Dreunin; Potato race for women over 40, 1 Mrs. Gregory, 2 Mrs. Cordon; Egg and spoon race, 1 Mrs. J. Annable, 2 Mrs. Meynell; Best decorated horse ridden in procession, 1 Wm. Yeomans, 2 Alf. Whilton, 3 John Brown; Best decorated bicycle ridden in procession, 1 John Harrison, 2 Mrs. A. Foulk, 3 A. Harrison, special G. Waltham; Best decorated turn-out used for business purposes (prizes given by Mr. Maurice H. Barnard, 1 15s., 2 10s., 3 5s.), 1 Mr. Knifton, 2 Mr. E. S. W. Sitwell, 3 Mr. S. M. Richardson.
On Saturday afternoon two chestnut trees, obtained for the occasion were planted in the presence of Canon Prior and a small company of parishioners. The tree at the site of the old village cross was planted by Misses Madge Barnard, Margaret Prior, and Nellie Peat. The tree in the churchyard was planted by Masters Geo. Mosedale and Sammy Howitt, the only two Coxbench children present, each tree being representative of one of the two townships comprising the parish of Horsley. On Sunday the members of Canon Prior's Sunday afternoon class for men held their first church parade, marching from Kilburn School, headed by the Kilburn Brass Band. The service was largely attended, and special hymns were sung, and an appropriate address delivered by Canon Prior, who, in the course of his remarks, expressed his earnest hope of future gatherings of a similar character. As the bonfire had been left unfinished, and could not be completed by Monday night, it was lighted on Tuesday at 9.40 p.m. by Mrs. Sneap and Mrs. Crooks, the wives of the two leading members of the Bonfire Committee. A good muster of the inhabitants of Horsley and Coxbench gathered round the blaze, and heartily joined in singing the National Anthem and other patriotic songs until about midnight. |
Derby Daily Telegraph, England |
