River Carnival At Windsor

Transcript

RIVER CARNIVAL AT WINDSOR

Picturesque Procession Of Boats

THOUSANDS THRONG PROMENADE

Thousands of people gathered along the promenade at Windsor on Wednesday evening to witness a wonderful river carnival in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of their Majesties.  The earlier part of the evening was devoted to competitive events, in which the public was invited to take part free of charge.

Seldom during this twentieth century, and in any other century, has the Thames seen such happiness and gaiety derived from her depths, and perhaps even in distant history the old river has never been given to such revelry.

There were punt races, canoe races, gondola races, and each had with it an accompaniment of tumultuous cheers from a vast and enthusiastic multitude of onlookers, which seemed to lend to the occasion a glamour which might even have out-rivalled the brilliant and chivalrous tournaments of old, when gaily clad knights and ladies of the court made merry under the shadow of the very same castle.

How the crowd laughed when a canoe, turning sharply in its course, heeled over dangerously, and flung its occupants into the water with loud splashes.  How they loved it!

When the sky darkened, and night crept stealthily over the borough, as if threatening to hide the battlements of the castle in its covetous fingers, coloured lights sprang from end to end of the promenade, and converted the scene into something reminiscent of fairyland.  It reflected on the water in long, heaving carpets of red, white and blue, stretching from bank to bank.

The castle seemed determined on retaining its serenity and charm, and instead of submitting itself to the night, the Round Tower lit up with a brilliance which even the sun-shine could never equal; a brilliance which reflected and even had its influence on the surrounding heavens, for about the twisting, twinkling river the sky took on a strange, fawn hue.

Then slowly the parade of coloured boats drifted downstream, rearing up in a cascade of lights, touching the shadowing backwaters with colour, and sprinkling the carpets of red, white and blue with a kaleidoscopic mass of stars.

Punts, almost hidden in swaying Japanese lanterns; eerie barges manned by spectral skeletons; steam boats carrying aboard them laughing knights and coquettish ladies – all these moved down between the banks of the river in stately procession, unmoved by the loud cheerings of the onlookers on the promenade.

And when eventually the last boat had drifted by, the masses moved off, undoubtedly taking with them what must rank as one of the most beautiful sights they had ever seen!

The following is the result of the events:

Ferryman’s Race.-1, Mr. Thompson.

Men’s Greasy Pole.-1, Mr. Thompson; 2, Mr. B. E. F. Still; 3, Mr. Belvet.

Boys’ Greasy Pole.-1, D. Cullum; 2, B. Stanbrook; 3, E. Lovell.

Ladies’ Cup Race.-P. Ottrey, R. Pinklin, A. Tracy.

Boys’ Cup Race. Mr. Fagents, D. Stanbrook.

Canoe Obstacle Race.-1, C. Lloyd, Wormold and Inskipp.

Ladies’ Gondola Race.-1, Windsor Ladies Hockey Club.  Crew; J. Martin, R. Martin, G. Abbott, B. Welch, F. Jarvis.

Men’s Pillow Fight.-P. Cooley.

Men’s Gondola Race.-1, Windsor Swimming Club. Crew: F. Bell, H. Preascott, J. H. Darville, D. Bond, P. Cooley.

Tug-o-war. Grenadier Guards.  Crew: B. Samuels, H. Percival, W. Walker, W. Moff, H. Slater, H. W. Moriarty.

Procession of Boats.-1, “Jubilee Blues” (Windsor and Eton Operatic and Dramatic Society); 2, “Britannia” (Mr. J. Masters, of Datchet).

The most original entry.-1, “St. George and the Dragon” (Mr. Pratt, of the Token House).

Illuminated Boats.-1, “The Skeletons” (Windsor and Eton Operatic and Dramatic Society); 2, “The Lighthouse” (Windsor Gas Works).

A special prize was given to “Britannia.”

Mr. C. D. Dyson, of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, was the secretary of the carnival, and the committee comprised the following members: Messrs. C. D. Dyson, V. H. Hobbs, F. W. Buck, J. B. Powell, A. Bellringer, A. J. Claret, A. H. E. King, T. H. Boswell, A. S. Pratt, N. Haines, Mrs. Watson and Mrs. C. D. Dyson.

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