The River Carnival 1935

Transcript

THE RIVER CARNIVAL

A Great Spectacle Enjoyed by a Vast Crowd

Processions of Decorated and Illuminated Boats

The Jubilee River carnival on Wednesday evening was an unqualified success, a spectacle of beauty, splendidly organised, and the memory of it will live for many a day.

Rain threatened early in the evening to spoil the hard work of the organizers and disappoint the competitors in the river events, the procession of decorated craft, the progress of the illuminated boats and the dance in Alexandra Gardens, but when everyone had made up their minds that there would be a repetition of Saturday’s downpour, the drizzle ceased from then onwards till 11 o’clock the carnival proceeded on its happy way, one long series of delightful and amusing events to delight the crowd.

Thousands of people thronged the Promenade on the Windsor bank from the Thames Hotel to Jacob’s Island.  Every available inch of ground seemed to be occupied from the water’s edge to the railings bordering Barry Avenue and in the roadway itself thousands more congregated.  The terraced promenade made a wonderful natural rising grandstand for all the sights to be seen upon the water.  From the Eton College boathouses kindly loaned to the promoters for the occasion by the College authorities, the picture across the river was most beautiful – the glorious trees, the sea of people beneath, the decorations, the wonderful view of Windsor Castle dominated by the magnificent splendour of the Round Tower itself, all combined to present a feast of colour and animation that probably could not be excelled anywhere.  Windsor Bridge formed a remarkable grandstand from which to view the carnival.  On the Brocas a large crowd lined the bank from the College boathouses for a long distance up towards the Great Western Railway Bridge.  The poles from which the decorations hung along the length of the promenade reminded one of the pikes carried by the Beefeaters, giving a touch of originality to the scheme.

Though the weather was dull and rain often threatened the spirit of the occasion took hold of all and laughter and merriment put to scorn the scudding clouds overhead. to which eyes turned frequently with the hope that it would remain fine.  Before darkness came on, and after the river races and comic events had come to an end, there was the procession of decorated craft, led by the river steamer Reading bearing its crowded and gorgeously arrayed passengers, scores and scores of those who had taken part in the recent ” Pageant of England” at Langley Park.  The steamer was kindly loaned by Messrs. Salter and later on, for the illuminated procession, it was cleverly floodlit, from another craft, by the Royal Windsor Gaslight Co.  The scene on board was an animated one of characters of bygone days “come to life” in an enchanting river scene, with banners flying, the historic Castle in the background towering above everything.

The procession of decorated craft was a feast of colour, followed by the procession of illuminated craft after dark.  Pretty lights by now twinkled beneath the trees along the promenade and the other illuminations were delightful.  More wonderful still was the moment when, in a second, the Round Tower was floodlit setting the seal upon all that had gone before and that which followed.

At a given signal, from Firework Eyot a maroon soared into the sky, and a loud report indicated the start of the procession of illuminated craft.  Instantly coloured flares were lit on the Windsor and Eton shores by Rovers or Scouts, reflecting the happy faces of the merry thousands of spectators.  The water became a sheet of vivid colour.  Smoke soon ascended in great columns almost, for a while, blotting out the floodlit Round Tower; then it cleared again, and the fairy lights from the promenade once more cast their reflections across the rippling waters of the Thames, a semi-sylvan scene with the foliage of the Barry Avenue trees in the background.

The procession of decorated craft was judged by Mrs. Stafford Crawley, wife of Canon A. S. Crawley, of St. George’s Chapel, and hers was no light responsibility.  There was a splendid entry. Much thought had been given by the competitors to the schemes they had evolved for the pleasure of the populace.

After the procession had passed gracefully up the river and back again, Mrs. Crawley walked to the microphone and announced the winners, and like many another, she had noticed one unrehearsed but delightful little procession not in the programme proper.  A number of swans, in single file, had made their way along the river with stately unconcern, regal in their bearing, another happy memory in a memorable occasion.  Mrs. Crawley remarked that she would almost say the swans should have the first prize for originality and beauty as they went down the river, but, as this could not be, the first prize was awarded to “The Jubilee Blues,” and the second, to “Britannia”.  The prize for the most original craft went to “St. George and the Dragon”.

“The Jubilee Blues,” were lady members of the Windsor Operatic and Dramatic Society.  They were dressed in pretty blue costumes and wore silver pill-box hats which gave them a dainty effect as they passed by.  “Britannia” was the exhibit of Mr. J. Masters, of Datchet, whose launch, with proportions of a sea-going vessel, was ablaze with Union Jacks from bow to stern. flags fluttering from the masts in profusion.  In front stood “Britannia,” motionless, in the well-known garb, with helmet, and carrying shield and trident (sic).  The part of “Britannia” was gracefully portrayed by Mrs. Masters, who brought “Britannia” into living reality.

Very fine was the Token House representation of “St. George and the Dragon” with, of course, the representation of the Round Tower, to make the whole idea better still.  “St. George” sat astride a “horse”, with lance buried in the dragon’s head, a very clever piece of work hailed with real delight by the crowd.  A rollicking band of buccaneers roved abroad in the procession but remembered the occasion and refrained from “looting” expeditions.

There were so many other craft that it is almost impossible to do justice to them all.  “The Windsor Belle” river steamer was one big colour scheme of streamers and flags, Mrs. C. D. Dyson hit upon the happy idea of “Houses to Let, Inspection Invited”, the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club “produced” the Loch Ness Monster with a sense of imagination that was really creditable, and the Windsor Swimming Club were not behind with something original in the form of a terrifying looking whale, and a “crocodile,” provided with teeth and gaping jaws, inside which could be seen the figure of a man.  There were other launches which pleased the eye, one a glimpse of dainty little summery blooms, the figure of a girl sitting in the forepart, with a pretty glistening head-dress.  Maybe she was a “Queen”.  The launches included Vanity, Gerbera, E.M., etc., and many may know who were in charge.  The Windsor Royal Gaslight Company presented a fine example of a lighthouse ~ “Gas the Beacon of Service”, Rover Scouts or Boy Scouts put up a camp fire scene and tent, and there were other craft, one a mass of Chinese lanterns, and if we are correct, there seemed to be an Oriental pagoda and a crew in eastern kimonos.  Others as well, deserve thanks for their contributions to a delightful procession.

The illuminated craft included many of those who had already taken part in the first display.  Again the way was led by the cheery representatives of the “Pageant of England,” who in the blaze of floodlights looked, perhaps, even more thrilling than they had done in daylight.  There one saw old-world clerics in bright flowing cassocks, massive gilded crosses on their chests, men and maidens in the dress and glamour of past ages, calling back to mind the pageantry of those times which seem so far off now, but which, in an age-old world, are but the things of yesterday when counted in the record of the planet’s millions of years.  An innovation in the procession was a crew of the Windsor Operatic and Dramatic Society.  In awesome garments they impersonated “Skeletons”.  Ever and anon weird shrieks came floating across from their craft, and flares lit up their “bony” forms, attracting the attention of adults and literally bringing screams of delight from juveniles, to whom grotesque and hollow-eyed figures, waving to and fro, as if moved by the fitfulness of the wind, was something which they would not have missed for worlds.  Tinkling sounds emerged from somewhere as if their bleached-looking “frames” were suspended in the air, loose limb clattering against loose limb.  On the exterior these phantoms of the night were not even skinny,” but so many fleshless spectres in the glare of the lights.

“Britannia” was again a rich spectacle of colour from end to end, a myriad of lights between mast and mast and from the masts to bow and stern, the figure of “Britannia ” standing triumphant and supreme, with flags above and around, deserving, as did the other craft, the hearty cheering that sometimes broke out from the people crowding the river banks.  The moving panorama of light and colour passed away into the distance towards the Great Western Railway Bridge and returned again evoking fresh outbursts of enthusiasm.  When all was over there were still hundreds if not thousands, unwilling to go to their beds.  For hours they had stood drinking in the sights.  It seemed as if they would have gone on doing so had the programme been extended.  The procession of decorated craft was judged by Mrs. J. B. Bourne-May, and, like Mrs. Crawley, she had difficulty in picking out the winners.

She announced, through the microphone that it had been exceedingly difficult to adjudicate.  She felt that “Britannia” was very beautiful, but, as it had been awarded a prize in the decorated craft contest, it had been decided to give the first prize to “The Skeletons,” and the second award to “The Lighthouse,” a beautiful and original entry.  She congratulated every one of the boat owners upon their very artistic and ingenious decorations, and said that as “Britannia” was so delightful a spectacle that an anonymous donor had awarded it a special prize.

Then the crowd who remained joined the thousands who had already assembled in Alexandra Gardens for the dance, where music was provided by the Slough Town Band, the revelry continuing for a long time amid the tasteful illuminations, for which the Borough Engineer (Mr. F. N. McCrae) and his staff are to be warmly congratulated.  Mr. E. W. Fuggle acted as the M.C. for the dance.

THE RIVER SPORTS

The river carnival was carried out skilfully.  The programme was a good one and the holiday spirit and fun were the keynote of the proceedings.  No one was serious; it was not intended that they should be.  The boys of Eton College and the Imperial Service College entered heartily into various of the events, and the sporting and other clubs of the town, and the 1st Batt. Grenadier Guards played their part splendidly in providing competitors.  Mr. C. D. Dyson, of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, carried out the duties of hon. secretary, and is to be congratulated on his work.  The working out of the events was in the hands of Mr. A. Bellringer, and exceedingly well he accomplished a herculean task without hitch.  Mr. T. Boswell acquainted all with what was going on through the microphone, and his announcements were clearly heard through the large amplifiers attached to the apparatus.  The members of the Committee included Messrs. V. H. Hobbs, F. W. Buck, J. B. Powell, A. J. Claret, A. H. E. King, T. H. Boswell, A. S. Pratt, N. Haines, Mrs. Watson and Mrs. C. D. Dyson.  The busy painstaking stewards were: Ferryman’s race: Major Morton and Mr. S. Pratt; ladies’ dongolas: Mrs. T. Watson and Mr. R. Radnor; men’s dongolas: Messrs. E. King, V. Hobbs and J. Croft: men’s canoe: Messrs. L. Blane, B. Bond, J. Langford and Major Morton; tug-of-war: Messrs. W. Dodds, G. Corps and T. Watson; ladies’ and boys’ tub races: Messrs. J. E. Ottrey, R. Long, T. Luff and M. Burgoyne; greasy pole and pillow fighting: Messrs. F. Wilkinson, N. Betteridge and O. Sellars; decorated and illuminated boats: Messrs. S. Pratt and N. Ockenby. Messrs. Case & Sons, of Slough, provided the music and announcing apparatus, which proved very satisfactory.

The races were full of incident and life Many a competitor finished up in the water for the sheer fun of the thing, and they enjoyed the sport as much as anyone.  Who won did not matter.  All were out for providing the maximum amount of enjoyment and competitors and spectators revelled in what went on, whether it was the antics of men and boys on the greasy pole, or the canoe, dongola, tub or tug-of-war events.  There was not a dull moment in a long list of races handled with ability, so that the whole of the organization ran along with clockwork precision, a credit to all concerned.

After the sports, Mr. C. D. Dyson thanked the Eton College authorities for kindly allowing them the use of the boathouse and premises, and for curtailing the Eton boys’ rowing.  Secondly, he thanked the stewards, officials and all who had helped.  Lastly, but by no means least, he expressed a debt of gratitude to Mr. A. J. Claret and other members of the Eton College staff who had been so kind in affording every help throughout the evening’s operation.  He called on the Mayoress (Mrs. G. E. Short) to distribute the prizes, at the same time thanking the Mayor for his presence at the function

(applause).  The Mayoress presented the awards and both she and the Mayor thanked the assembly for their warm reception.

THE PRIZE-WINNERS

The prize-winners are as follows:

FERRYMEN’S RACE. – The winners of the heats were. Messrs. Thompson, Davis and Hester, and they provided an exciting dead-heat in the final, which was re-paddled when Mr. Thompson won.

MEN’S GREASY POLE, -1, R. Thompson; 2, E. T. Still 3, Velvet.

BOYS’ GREASY POLE.-1, D. Cullum; 2, D. Stanbrook; 3, E. Lovell.

LADIES’ TUB RACE. 1, P. Ottrey; 2, R. Tinklin; 3, A. Tracey.

BOYS’ TUB RACE.-1, Fagents; 2, D. Stanbrook.

CANOE OBSTACLE RACE. 1, C. Lloyd, Wormold and Inskip (a crew of Eton College boys).

LADIES’ DONGOLA RACE.-1, The Windsor Ladies’ Hockey Club (the Misses J. Martin, R. Martin, G. Abbott, B. Welsh and F. Jarvis).

MEN’S DONGOLA RACE. – The Windsor Swimming Club (Messrs. S. Bell, H. Prescott, J. H. Darville, D. Bond and E. Colley).

TUG-OF-WAR.  There were many heats.  In the final the 1st Batt. Grenadier Guards defeated the Windsor Swimming Club. T he Guards’ crew consisted of B. Samuels, H. Percival, W. Hawker, W. Moss, H. Slater and W. Moriarty.

Major W. D. Pickin kindly loaned the electric launch, Welbeck, for the use of the judges and officials at the carnival.

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