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George VI's coronation, 1937
Buckingham Advertiser, 30 Jan
Winslow’s Coronation Celebrations
Considerable progress with regard to the arrangement of Winslow’s plans for the celebration of the Coronation have been made as a result of a meeting last Monday evening, Sir Kenneth MacDonald presiding, with the Clerk of the Parish Council (Mr. H. J. Ray).
A resolution has been passed to the effect that a request be made to the Parish Council to make a grant towards the expenses of the celebrations not exceeding the product of a penny rate and that a house-to-house collection be made and a subscription list opened at Lloyds Bank, the total amount so received to be expended on festivities on the day.
The Winslow Branch of the British Legion have, we understand, offered to undertake the work associated with the house-to-house collection.
The programme of the day’s proceedings will be similar in many respects to that which made up the day’s events on the occasion of the very successful Silver Jubilee celebrations. It has been provisionally arranged that it shall start at 9 a.m. with the pealing of the church bells and that a united service on the Market Square should be held at 9.30 a.m. It is suggested that the procedure of the service should include the placing of a wreath on the War Memorial.
NO WINSLOW PAGEANT.
A carnival procession, including decorated vehicles, will parade the town in the morning. It is proposed that a cold luncheon be given to the old age pensioners at 1 p.m., and a tea to the school children at 4.15.
In the afternoon there will be sports on the Winslow Hall field, kindly offered we understand, for the occasion by Mr. Norman McCorquodale. There will be entertainments on the Market Square in the evening, but their character has not yet been finally decided upon. It is not thought probable that there will be another pageant based on local history. Maypole dancing will probably form one of the entertainments, and a gymnastic and boxing displays have been suggested as possibilities. It is hoped that the Winslow Branch of the Women’s Institute will produce a tableau.
It has been provisionally arranged that there will be a torchlight procession from the Railway Station to the scene of the bonfire and fireworks display.
PRIZES FOR DECORATIONS.
The residents are to be invited not only to decorate their houses and business premises, but also to illuminate them, and originality and enterprise are to be encouraged by prizes for the best decorated houses. It has been agreed that the Northampton Electric Light Company be approached with regard to floodlighting, free of cost.
There will be dancing in the Market Square as well as in the Odd Fellows’ Hall.
The offer of Mr. Norman McCorquodale, of Winslow Hall, of every possible assistance has been much appreciated by the committee, as has also a similar expression of practical interest on the part of Miss Lambton, of Redfield.
We understand that the Rev. A. Gawler, Winslow Baptist Minister, has suggested to the committee that souvenir Bibles should be presented to the children of Winslow.
Sir Kenneth MacDonald is chairman of the committee with Mr. F. E. Clarke as secretary and Mr. R. W. Green as assistant secretary.
THE SUB-COMMITTEES.
The various departments of the work of organisation are to be entrusted to sub-committees. The Women’s Institute is to be responsible for the tableau presentation; Mr. G. Hancock, who recently started a physical culture centre for the youth of Winslow, is to make arrangements for a gymnastic display, and Miss E. Chatteris is to arrange the maypole dancing. The Vicar of Winslow (the Rev. St. J. H. Beamish, R.D.), the Congregational Minister (the Rev. A. M. Lewin) and the Baptist Minister (the Rev. A. Gawlor) are to form the committee for the arrangement of the united service. The British Legion are to arrange the torchlight procession, bonfire and fireworks.
The other sub-committees are at present as follows:-
Procession : Messrs. G. Hancock, E. E. Byford, H.R. Langley and S. F. Young.
Catering : Messrs. E. Green and D. Low and Miss Lambton.
Sports : Mr. G. Pass, Mr. N. McCorquodale, Miss Lambton, and Messrs. G. Newham, R. O. Fulks, L. J Hawley, D. F. Midgley, P. Hazleton, G. Gazey, D. G. Smith, W. E. Woodman, J. W. Ingram, H. Kerrison, N. C. Monk, W.R. Monk and H. J. Ray.
Dancing : G. G. Newham, R. O. Fulks, B. Woodman and J. W. Ingram.
Buckingham Advertiser, 8 May
CORONATION DAY ARRANGEMENTS
Winslow Market Square is already gay with streamers of flags and effective coloured lights for the Coronation festivities. Prizes are being offered for the best house decorations. The final programme is as follows : 9.30 a.m., Peal of Bells; 10 a.m., United Service on Market Square and placing of wreath on War Memorial; 11.15 a.m., judging decorated vehicles and fancy dresses on L.M.S. Station Green; 12 noon, Grand Procession (headed by Waddesdon Old Prize Band); 1 p.m., Cold Dinner in Odd Fellows’ Hall for residents over 65 years of age; 2 – 5 p.m., Sports and Children’s gymnastic display in the Hall Field; 4 p.m., Tea for schoolchildren (who are to receive Coronation Testaments); 5.30 p.m., Maypole and Folk Dancing by schoolchildren; 6.15 – 6.45 p.m., Boxing Display in the Market Square; 9.30 p.m., Torchlight Procession; 10 p.m. – 12 Dancing on the illuminated Market Square; 12 – 2.30 am, dance (adults only) Odd Fellows’ Hall. There will be no bon-fire.
The sports programme includes ten events for children and ten for adults. There will be a Coronation championship 100 yards flat race (scratch) for men, a flat race for men over 40 and a relay race with teams of 2 men and 2 women. Entries for four of the adults events should be received by Mr. Pass, of the Maples by to-night (Saturday). Winslow tradesmen will exchange full value in goods for vouchers and we understand that there is to be a special trophy for the boys’ boxing. A capital entry is promised for the carnival procession and several local organisations have signified their intention of staging tableaux.
Buckingham Advertiser, 15 May
The people of Winslow were determined that the distinguished reputation which they gained for organisation and enterprise on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in connection with the reign of King George V should be maintained with regard to the Coronation Celebrations of King George VI.
The success with which their efforts were rewarded was due no les to the response of the residents than to the hard work and enterprise of the Chairman, Secretary and the other officials.
The picturesque Market Square was made doubly picturesque by the beautiful decorations and illuminations and the day’s programme was of a thoroughly comprehensive character.
MARKET SQUARE SERVICE.
A peal of bells followed by an impressive united service on the Market Square opened Coronation Day in Winslow. The service was conducted by Rev. St. J. H. Beamish, R.D. (Vicar), the Rev. A. M. Lewin (Congregational Minister) and the Rev. A. Gawler (Baptist Pastor).
“All people that on earth do dwell” which was heartily sung commenced the appointed service. Other hymns sung were, “O God of Jacob, by whose hand,” “Lord, while for all mankind we pray,” and the National Anthem. Waddesdon Old Prize Band which made a popular visit to Winslow on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, accompanied the singing which was of a hearty character. At the conclusion of the service the parade marched to the War Memorial, where a beautiful wreath was laid.
THE GAY PROCESSION.
Winslow’s decorated procession surpassed the brilliant spectacle on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee. Novelties of many characters were to be seen and the procession was witnessed by a large and an enthusiastic crowd. Expressions of praise were to be heard on every side, on the Square where prizes were presented to successful competitors.
Officers and members of Winslow Branch of the British Legion, with their Standard Bearer, headed this brilliant, gay and colourful procession, together with Waddesdon Old Prize Band who played cheery selections of music much to the enjoyment of the large crowd of spectators. It would be impossible to describe in detail every individual entry, but we give a brief description of the most prominent.
WINSLOW’S WINNING BRIGADE.
An effective “turn-out” was presented by Winslow Fire Brigade, with their fire engine and gleaming helmets. Surmonting [sic] the fire engine were the numerous silver cups which they have gained in competitions during recent years. The decorated cycles made a bold display and included an entry representing “Road Traffic Signs.”
The fire engine ready for the procession, outside the fire station in Horn Street
Winslow Women’s Institute’s entry representing Queen Victoria (Miss Clear) and attendants, secured first award in a class for horse-drawn vehicles, many expressions of praise being heard about this impressive tableau. An entry from Winslow Motor Works “Steam Ship Belisha” also came in for well-deserved praise and much merriment was caused by an attempt to shave a member of the crew!
The winning W.I. float with Miss Clear as Queen Victoria
WAITING WINSLOW.
The Stone Age was vividly portrayed and Will Hay, the famous comedian was cleverly burlesqued by Mr. French. His scholars, Budd, Stonell and Holt were the cause of many shouts of laughter from the crowd. Winslow’s water problem was depicted by Mr. Illing who was to be seen lying in a huge bath, with a small boy washing his feet! Over the top of this entry were the words “Waiting for Winslow’s Waterworks.”
A striking contrast in comparison with modern fire fighting appliances was to be seen by an entry of Winslow’s Old Fire Brigade; a barrel of beer being attached to the rear of the old fire tender. A car entered by Miss Leapingwell, completely covered with flags, with a bulldog inside, representing John Bull, gained a first award in a class for Motor Cars, etc.
Amongst the numerous entries fin the fancy dress were : Chinese Girl, Dutch Girl, a girl dressed in a beautiful period costume, Red Indian and the ever popular cowboy. Another entry worthy of mention was a police car containing a case of beer with a notice on the back “Protect His Majesty.”
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