This article, written by Jeremy Lee appeared in the July 2023 edition of the Drayton Parslow Village News

There were two royal celebrations in the village in the 1930s. The information about them comes from the Minute Book of the Committees that organized the events. There were a number of meetings of the General, Sports and Catering Committees associated with both events and the Minute Book of those meetings has been kindly loaned to me by Judith MacDonald. The minutes were taken by Judith’s parents, Frank and Marie Tattam.

The 6th of May 1935 was declared a Bank Holiday to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. The Silver Jubilee Celebration Committee first met on 25th March 1935 in the Carrington Hall in Main Road. Carrington Hall is now a house, but it was built in 1847 as a Primitive Methodist Chapel. It became the village hall after the much grander Methodist Chapel was built in Main Road opposite the Rec in 1913.

The Committee were Alfred Young, Frederick Cox, Sidney Jackman, Frank Tattam, Arthur Pitkin snr, Frederick Hounslow jnr, Robert Lilley, George Stone, Ronald Sibley, Joseph Line jnr, Joe Walduck, Sidney Wenman, Albert Tattam, William Greenacre, Cyril Jackman and Arthur Pitkin jnr. It was agreed to invite any women who were interested, to attend future meetings, but there is no evidence that any did. However, the Rector, Rev William Lucas, attended, and chaired, later meetings.

Although only men were on the Committee, they did represent a good cross section of the village, with farmers, small holders, a retired baker, a worker at the brickworks, a railway labourer, a Bucks County Council labourer and several farmworkers. The oldest member of the Committee was 64 whilst the youngest was about 18. The celebrations were to include a Tea for all children up to 16 years of age, and, if they could raise enough money, for all the inhabitants of the village. All children would receive a Silver Jubilee mug and Sports events

would be held in the Rec, followed by a dance in the evening at the school and a bonfire would be lit.

To pay for the festivities, a house-to-house collection was made, with Frederick Hounslow and Robert Lilley collecting “below the Methodist Church” whilst William Greenacre and Albert Tattam collected above. In addition, it was agreed to write to various local dignitaries, including Lord Carrington, for further support. Rev Lucas offered to provide the Jubilee mugs for the children. Arthur Pitkin jnr, Charles Tattam, Robert Lilley, George Stone, Ronald Sibley and Joseph Line jnr were the Sports Committee and Rev. Lucas, Alfred Young and Arthur Pitkin nominated ”two ladies from each place of worship to serve on the catering committee”. The Rev Lucas represented the Church, and Alfred Young was a leading member of the Baptist Chapel, so I assume Arthur Pitkin was a member of the Methodist congregation.

The Sports included separate girls and boys flat races over 100 yards (about 90 metres). They raced in different age groups – 6 to 8, 8 to 10, 10 to 12 and 12 to 14. There was also a skipping race (for which the children had to provide their own rope), a three-legged race and a sack race open to all children. The women’s events included an Egg and Spoon race and a ‘Potato’ race, both over 100 yards. A ‘Potato’ race involved collecting a number of potatoes as quickly as possible! There was also a sack race, thankfully only over 60 yards, and flat races. The flat races were divided into age groups, with the youngest group aged 14 to 20

and the oldest group was 30 to 50.

The men’s events included the high jump for age 14 -17 and 17+ years, a 120-yard hurdle race and a 100-yard slow bicycle race. There were also 100-yard flat races divided into 14 to 17, 17 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50 and 50+ age groups, a ‘Race Round the Field’, and a 100-yard three-legged race and wheelbarrow race.

The Rector’s wife, Mrs Florence Lucas, presented the prizes whilst William J Amos (Lower End Farm), Rev Lucas, Harry North (Kingsland Farm) and John Higgs acted as judges, with Arthur Pitkin as starter and the Sports Committee acting as stewards.

The children’s sports started at 2pm, with the tea at 4pm and the adult sports at 6pm. The bonfire was lit at 9pm and the dance, at the school, started at the same time. Music for the dance came from a wireless provided by Arthur Pitkin and a gramophone provided by Rev F N Greenwell, the Methodist Minister.

The Coronation of King George VI was on the 12th of May 1937. Preparations in the village started with a meeting on 23rd February in the Carrington Hall. Most of the members of the Jubilee Committee were involved again, but this time the Committee was bigger and included a number of women (most were wives of men also on the Committee). Among the new members were George and Amy Cullis, Harry and Annie North, Frank and Felicia Buckley, William Sayell (Chestnut Farm) and Mrs Jessie Bland (the School teacher). Catering and Sports Committees were set up, formed of men and women from the main Committee.

Again, a house-to-house collection was made to pay for the festivities, with Frederick Hounslow, George Cullis, William Greenacre and Alec Pantling collecting. They collected 14 pounds and 6 pence which was added to the 3 pounds, 8 shillings and 2½ pence left over from the Jubilee funds. Mrs Marjorie Thrale provided souvenirs for the children and Rev Lucas provided Coronation mugs.

The Sports Committee, chaired by William Willis, agreed events largely the same as those held for the Jubilee. However, there were some differences. These included the addition of a children’s High Jump open to all under 14s, a women’s over-50s 100-yard flat race and, for the men the addition of a Tug of War (married v single men). The 1st prize for the Tug of War was a 1 shilling packet of players cigarettes with a 6 pence packet for Second. The prizes for the children’s events were 1st 1 shilling and 3 pence, 2nd 9 pence and 3rd 6 pence, and

for the adult events 1st prize 1 and 6, 2nd 1 shilling. For the Fancy Dress there were two classes, under 14 and over 14, with two prizes for each class, plus a prize for the “most original costume”.

The Catering Committee, chaired by Harry North, agreed to cater for 275 people. It was decided to purchase 70lbs of English beef and ham, 10 shillings worth of pickles, mustard, etc, 24lbs loaf sugar, 15lbs butter (half Danish, half Aylesbury), 3lbs Lyons best tea, 20lbs of brown bread and 80lbs of white bread from Mr Dickens and Mr Janes and 50 shillings of cakes and pastries. In addition, Harry North and Joseph Line (Manor Farm) would provide, between them, 4 gallons of milk. Mrs Buckley’s, Mrs Maud Tattam’s and the School’s coppers

were to be used to prepare the tea.

The day started with a United Service at 9.30am and a poppy wreath was laid at the War memorial by Mrs Sarah Tarbox. The Fancy Dress costumes were judged at 11.30am at the Recreation Ground before the parade set off to the War memorial, and ‘The Turn’ (the junction of Main Road and Highway) before returning to the Rec with Frank and George Tattam the Parade Marshalls. Prizes were provided by Mr Thrale, Frank Tattam and Alex Pantling. There was also a prize for the best decorated house as judged by Mrs Thrale and Mrs Lucas. First prize was 5 shillings and second prize was 2 shillings and 6 pence. The starter for sports events was again Arthur Pitkin jnr with Mr Bland, Sidney Jackman and William Amos acting as judges and Mrs Lucas presenting the prizes.

After the sports there was the Social in the school. Music was provided by Frank Buckley’s Radio Gram with Charles Tattam acting as Master of Ceremonies. Arthur Pitkin jnr and Frederick Hounslow were the door keepers and soft drinks were sold. There was considerable debate about whether to provide beer. Mr Thrale offered to provide one pint of beer for every man over 18 at 7pm at the Recreation Ground. The minutes aren’t entirely clear, but it looks like that was eventually agreed.

Annie North (wife of Harry), Ethel Heley (wife of Frederick), Mrs Pitkin snr, Mrs Pitkin jnr, Mrs Buckley and Mrs Marie Tattam were in charge of organizing the tea. The tea and beer were taken to elderly people who couldn’t attend the event.

There is an intriguing note at the end of the minutes. It says, “It was agreed that the young men working in the village from the Distressed Areas should be invited to join in the Sports”. I think this refers to men who came to the village to work as a result of the 1934 Special Areas Act. The Act attempted to address the high levels of unemployment that followed the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The act tried to encourage businesses to start up in areas of high unemployment and to help people to relocate to areas of the country where work was available. I suspect that that among those was Michael Stapleton, whose name appears on our War Memorial.

Michael was born in Ireland but spent many years lodging at Ivy Cottage with the Lilley’s whilst working on village farms.

Finally, inside the minute book there are some slips of paper on which someone has recorded the results of the sports events. These are some of the results:

• Childrens’ Fancy Dress, 1st Albert and Doris Hounslow, 2nd Norman Poole, 3rd Joyce Higgs  Most Original Costume 1st Vera Tattam, 2nd Mildred North,
• Adult Fancy Dress, 1st Mrs George Stone, 2nd Mrs E Pitkin, 3rd Mrs W Willis
• Most Original Costume 1^st Andrew Brandon, 2nd Mrs G Tattam
• Best Decorated House, 1st Mr and Mrs Frank Tattam, 2nd Mr and Mrs William Willis
• 3-Legged Race, 1st Winnie and Joyce Tattam, 2nd Joyce Higgs and Vera Tattam
• High Jump 14-17 1st Jack Bates, 2nd John Higgs

It looks like most of the village were involved one way or another.