The reign of George V was from 1910 to 1936, and in 1935 his Silver Jubilee was celebrated throughout the Kingdom. Celebrations in the two villages were reported by the Rugby Advertiser in May 1935.
CHURCH LAWFORD AND KINGS NEWNHAM
A NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN DAY
With a glorious sun shining on Monday, Church Lawford and Kings Newnham turned out in full force to share in the Jubilee celebrations.
The arrangements had been in the hands of a working Committee, with a very capable Secretary at the head in the person of Mr. W. Archer.
The fun started at 1.30 p.m.. when all met in the School playground and sang together the National Anthem. A very brief opening speech was made by Canon Ward, followed by cheers for the King and Royal Family. Then came one of the greatest events of the day. the Fancy Dress Parade. The costumes displayed reflected great credit on the wearers, and as many as 52 took part in the procession which was confined to villagers alone.
The following were the competitors:- J. Smith (Jockey), D. Hallam (Robin Hood). K. Hallam (Indian Squaw), F. Riley (Gipsy), A. Perry and M. Howell (Dutch Boy and Girl). W. Riley (Chinese), K. Woodward (Page), H. Raven (Jubilee), R. Hence (Royal Family), Р. Earp (” Daily Sketch”), Mrs. Paxton (Victorian Lady), V. Davis (Courtier), D. Heckford (Granny), M. Heckford (Scarecrow), A. Woodward (Rabbit), J. Earp (Red Riding Hood), D. Birch (Jubilee), Mrs. Baily (Britannia), G. Chambers (Indian Squaw), D. Gibbs (Gipsy), R. Cresswell (Dutch Boy), Mrs. Warland (Eastern Lady), F. Warland (Pierrot), I. Smith (Mary Quite Contrary), Mrs. Woodward (Harlequin), Mrs. Round (Gipsy Dancer), A. Gurney (Sweep). L. Cresswell (Indian), E. Gurney (Pierrot). M. Hancox (Miss Jubilee), G. Thorne (Russian), M. and B. Simmonds (Bisto Kids), D. Thorne (Forget-Me-Not). K. Canham (Oxo), Mrs. Hancox and Miss Thorne (Ancient and Modern), A. Pincham (Boy Blue), P. Perry and M. Howell (Bride and Groom), G. Heckford (Christmas Tree), D. Archer (Miss Muffit), M. Archer (Shepherdess), R. Howell (Gipsy), Mrs. Simmonds and Mrs. Heckford (Darby and Joan). Mr. Parker (Indian), N. Parker (Duck and Green Peas), Mr. W. Archer (Charwoman). Mr. Cross (-) and Mr. Round (Sheik).
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Robbins, Rugby, judged the Fancy dress, and the prizes were awarded to the following: Children: 1 Bride and Groom, 2 Shepherdess, 3 Indian Squaw; special prize, Duck and Green Peas. Ladies: 1 Britannia, 2 Victorian Lady, 3 Eastern Lady. Gentlemen: 1 Sheik, 2 Darby and Joan, 3 Charlady.
Later all adjourned to a field placed at the disposal of the Committee by Mr. Nield, where sports took place. The winners were: –
Boys under 7 (50 yards): 1 L. Gibbs, 2 J. Chambers, 3 A. Gibbs. Girls under 7 (50 yards): 1 Р. Perry, 2 D. Archer, 3 K. Cross. Girls (7-11 years): 1 F. Riley, 2 R. Cresswell, 3 J. Eагр. Boys (7-11 years): 1 D. Birch, 2 C. Perry, 3 R. Hence. Girls (11-14 years): 1 B. Simmonds, L. Cross. 3 M. Woodford. Boys (11-14 years): 1 M. Howell, 2 L. Cresswell, 3 A. Gurney.
Boys’ Obstacle Race: 1 L. Cresswell, 2 H. Raven. 3 M. Howell. Men’s (one mile): 1 P. Muldoon, 2 W. Eales, 3 R. Ingram. Children’s Egg and Spoon: 1 L. Cross, 2 А. Perry, 3 R. Cresswell. Potato Race for Boys: 1 M. Howell, 2 R. Hence, 3 D. Birch. Girls Skipping: 1 M. Hancox, 2 M. Simmonds, 3 V. Mitchell. Ladies’ Egg and Spoon: 1 H. Smith. 2 Mrs. Archer. 3 Miss Daniels. Gentlemen’s Toilet Race: 1 W. Eales, 2 C. Howell, 3 S. Warland. Gent.’s Bicycle Race: 1 E. Cresswell, 2 C. Davis. 3 E. Smith.
Boys’ Three. Legged Race: 1 H. Cresswell and P. Earp, 2 D. Townsend and D. Heckford, 3 S. Townsend and D. Birch. Girls’ Three-Legged Race: 1 A. Perry and B. Simmonds, 2 V. Davis and S. Thorne, 3 A. and D. Hartwell. Wheelbarrow Race for Men: 1 F. Cooke, jun., and R. Ingram, 2 C. Davis and A. Mitchell. 3 S. Howell and E. Smith. Ladies’ Obstacle: 1 Mrs. Ingram. 2 Mrs. Bailey, 3 Mrs. Farmer.
Half-way through the sports there was an interval, when all men, women, and children. numbering about 260, sat down to a meat tea. the catering being in the hands of Mr. Bert Robbins.
The sports were then continued and several side-shows were well patronised. At 8.30 p.m. another surprise awaited the children. They were all marshalled into the Reading Room where in the centre stood a beautiful Jubilee cake, adorned with 25 candles. which had been made and given by Mrs. Batchelor and Mrs. F. Cooke. Each child was given a piece of the cake, together with a souvenir cup, saucer and plate. The prizes were then presented to the winners by Mrs. Robinson.
Thanks were then accorded the helpers. etc, and cheers were given by the children for their cake. Special mention should be made of Mr. Neild, who lent his field for the day and also undertook to boil most of the water for tea. thereby helping the Committee considerably.
A dance in the Reading Room brought to a close a day which all agree will never be forgotten.
The whole of the expenses were defrayed by voluntary gifts.
As a footnote to the above report, there was an additional story the following week.
During the races on Jubilee Day there was a very interesting tug of-war between teams captained by Messrs. Simmonds, Canham, Day, Eales, and two teams, viz., Council Houses v. Kings Newnham. The final was contested between Mr. Simmonds’ team and Mr. Day’s team, the latter winning. The prizes were given by Mr. Simmonds. Two pigs, given by Mr. Cummins, were won by Mr. A. Day and Mr. A. Woodward, and another pig, given by Mr. Eales, was won by Mrs. W. Farmer.
Although there is no pictorial record of the Fancy Dress Competition of 1935, the various costumes were still reflected in a similar competition held after the Second World War.
