Wickhamford Celebrations

Wickhamford Celebrations
The villagers of Wickhamford have always joined together at times of National
celebration and the sections below show how these have been recorded and reported.
For instance, The Badsey (with Aldington) and Wickhamford Parochial Magazine of
September 1902 recorded that, to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII, “the
children of Wickhamford were entertained at tea and had mugs presented to them, and
sports were organized for them”.
1919
In commemoration of the end of the Great War the previous November, children in
the village were presented with souvenir mugs.
Commemorative mugs were presented to the schoolchildren of Wickhamford at the Sandys Arms by Frank
Banner.
1935
The Silver Jubilee of King George V, in May 1935, was celebrated at Wickhamford
with great enthusiasm, according to a report in the Evesham Journal. A service was
conducted by the Vicar at 2.45 p.m. where there was a large attendance and the
singing was led by a choir specially trained for the occasion. Sports, in which young
and old took part, followed and a substantial tea was served to all in the Reading
Room, which was prettily decorated. A very pleasant part of the days’ proceedings
was the presentation of an iced cake and bouquet to the village’s oldest inhabitant,
Mrs Dinah Walters, who was 90 that day. This lady was in excellent health and able
to receive the congratulations of many friends and relations. The young people
finished the day with an impromptu dance.
Mrs Dinah Walters with the bouquet
presented to her for her 90th birthday,
which fell on the day the Silver Jubilee
was celebrated.
1937
Following death of King George V in January 1936 and the succession and abdication
of King Edward VIII that year, King George VI’s Coronation was held in May 1937.
A special Coronation service held at 10.00 a.m. was conducted by the Vicar, Canon
W. C. Allesbrook. The Evesham Journal reported that at 2 p.m. a procession
marched from Sandys Avenue to Mr Clifford’s field, where Mrs Bertha Drysdale
opened the proceedings. She was presented with a souvenir as a mark of appreciation
of her assistance. A fancy dress competition was held and all children under 14 years
who were not prizewinners received a consolation award.
Childrens’ sports were held during the afternoon and later the youngsters adjourned to
the Reading Room for tea. Adults’ teas followed, after which a sports programme for
adults was carried through. From 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. a social was held in the Reading
Room, the company listening during part of that time to the King’s speech. There
was dancing until midnight. A bowling competition was held for a pig during the
day.
The people in the picture of the procession are believed to be: (1) Mrs Jack
Pitman(?), (2) unknown, (3) Fred Southern, (4) David Southern, (5) Dorothy Cox,
(6) Joan Camden, (7) Jimmy Halford?, (8) Walter Johnson (m. Glad Southern),
(9) Stan Figgitt, (10) Ruth Thomas, (11) Cecil Brotherton, (12) John Pethard,
(13) Vera Halford (Shilham), (14) George Robbins, (15) John Sutton, (16) Stan
Taylor, (17) William Hooper, (18) Elsie Walters, (19) Alfred Ockwell, (20) unknown,
(21) Sylvia Summers, (22) Chartles Heritage.
Alfred Ockwell (19), was the father of Bertram Ockwell of the Sandys Arms. He lived
in Poulton, Gloucestershire, but was visiting his family that day.
1953
Following the sudden death of King George VI in February 1952, it was decided, in
view of the economic climate, to delay the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II until
June 1953. In Wickhamford, Mrs J. Mason planted a commemorative tree at the
corner of Manor Close, according to the Evesham Journal. After a fancy dress
procession, there were sports in Mrs K. Daffurn’s meadow. At tea the children were
given souvenir mugs and barley-sugar sticks, later having ice-cream. Adults also had
tea, and dancing in the Memorial Hall continues till midnight. A box of food was sent
to every person in the village unable to attend the festivities.
Part of the parade from Sandys Avenue to Mrs Daffern’s meadow, with a pretend woman’s
football team including - Mrs Lena Folkes (left); next to her looking at the camera is Mrs
Vera Sutton and on the extreme right is Mrs Phyllis Sutton.
Paul Folkes dressed for the
fancy dress parade as jockey
Gordon Richards.
The picture of some of the Coronation party participants includes:- (1) unknown, (2)
unknown, (3) Michael Fry, Pitchers Hill, (4) unknown, (5) Mrs Reid, Pitchers Hill, (6)
Mrs Figgitt, Pitchers Hill, (7) unknown, (8) June Cull, Pitchers Hill, (9) Vic Cull,
Pitchers Hill, (10) Margaret Winkett (nee Figgitt), (11) Bill Cruise, Sandys Avenue,
(12) Rose Franklin, Pitchers Hill, (13) Carla Bresser (a German pen friend of Lynette
Boston), (14) Lynette Boston, Pitchers Hill, (15) Derek Mitchell, Sandys Avenue, (16)
Peter Sutton, (17) Jill Southern, Pitchers Hill, (18) Mrs Hampton, Pitchers Hill, (19)
Jack Byron, Longdon Hill.
The Church made a presentation of specially inscribed New Testaments to children
attending Sunday School.
1977
As part of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee celebrations in Wickhamford the
largest and biggest cake to be cut was a yard long and a foot wide, reported the
Evesham Journal. It took Mrs Pam Noyes of Pitchers Hill three weeks to make and
among other things it contained 32 eggs, 14 lb of icing sugar and 7 lb of marzipan. It
was constructed of 8 cakes joined together to make it large enough. Nearly 200
children sat down to tea in a marquee on the sports field and in addition, every family
in the village was invited to a meal.
Pam Noyes about to cut the Jubilee cake.
2012
1. Shane Taylor; 2. Nicky Taylor;
3. Frances Bell; 4. Donna Cole;
5. Caroline Mitchell (?);
6. Elizabeth Poulter;
7. Lorna Carter; 8. James Stanley;
9. Lorriaine Cox; 10. unknown;
11. unknown; 12. Sarah Noyes;
13. Stephen Roberts; 14. Mark
Carter or Richard Poulter; 15.
Stella Cole.
A Big Lunch at the Sports Club and grounds celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of
Queen Elizabeth II in June. The weather was unseasonably cold and it rained for
most of the afternoon, causing the abandoning of many planned outdoor games.
Despite the inclement weather around 300 people attended the celebrations and the
children participated in face-painting, cup cake decoration and other events took place
in the Clubhouse and marquees. The W. I. provided free tea and coffee, the Badsey
Society had a display of village celebrations from bygone years and many watched
the River Pageant on the Thames on a large screen in the bar of the Clubhouse.
Almost one hundred specially commissioned Jubilee mugs were presented as part of
gift packs given to all of the children who came to the celebration.
Around 100 Jubilee mugs were present to children who went to the
celebration.
In a rare break in the rain, the under 4s took part in a short race,
one of the few outdoor events, organised by Mrs Anne Poulter (in
white coat), to get under way.
2012
On 1st July the Olympic torch relay passed through Wickhamford along Pitchers Hill
on its way from Evesham to Broadway. The event was watched several hundred
spectators from the village and surrounding area.
The first torch-bearer, Alex Chantler-Mayne, ready to go and approaching Sandys Avenue
with his escort runners.
Part of the cavalcade watched by a large
crowd.
The Olympic mascot.
Another of the escorting vehicles.
The second torch-bearer, Moira Starkey.
Police motorcycle escort.
A happy Police escort.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the many people who supplied photographs for this article. If any
further material becomes available, of these or other village celebrations, the article
will be updated.
A check through the Evesham Journals to look for references to events in
Wickhamford to celebrate the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of Queen Victoria (1887
and 1897), and the Coronations of Edward VII and George V (1902 and 1911) has
found nothing being reported. Similarly there were no mentions of village events to
celebrate VE Day or VJ Day in 1945, although at least the former would have taken
place. Any additional material to enhance this article would be welcomed.
Tom Locke – July 2012