Eric’s Picture of the Month – Luccombe’s Jubilee Celebrations

LOVELY JUBILEE!

1935 Luccombe Jubilee Celebrations

There exists a thin school exercise book (the sort that has those weights and measures and times tables on the back cover), that gives an insight into Luccombe’s arrangements for the 1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V, it being the minute book of Jubilee committee. I shall reveal the contents in their entirety:

A public meeting was held in the Parish room on Monday April 1^st to consider whether Luccombe wished to join with Selworthy or not.

The Rev. Howard was in the chair.

As the public feeling was we should have it in our own parish, the following were asked to form a committee:

Miss Thomas Mrs H.Prescott Miss Sims Mrs Manley Mrs Court Mrs W. Tame Mrs C.W.Howard

Mr Partridge Mr Sully Mr Fred Arscott Mr E Staddon Mr Clarke Mr A Cooksley

Mrs Blackmore to be secretary and treasurer.

The committee met after the meeting and roughly considered the following:

Races etc. for the children.

Mugs for the children.  ———  Miss Sims to enquire at Potteries.*

Picnic Tea.

Bonfire.

Social Evening.

As it had been decided to ask for a voluntary subscription instead of a rate, Miss Cooksley kindly offered to collect Horner and West Luccombe, Mrs Blackmore Luccombe & Gillams, Mr F. Arscott Cloutsham and hill district.

A further meeting to be held on Monday April 15^th to see what money had been raised to enable plans to be proceeded with.

1. W. Howard

April 15^th 1935

*Miss Sims, the school headmistress, was a native of Staffordshire and presumably had contacts in the pottery trade.

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A committee meeting was held on Monday, April 15^th.

The Rev. C.W. Howard was in the chair. Also present were: Mrs Howard, Mrs Manley, Mrs Court, Mrs Tame, Mrs Blackmore, Miss Sims, Mr Partridge, Mr F Arscott, Mr E Staddon and Mr F Cooksley.

1. It was proposed by Miss Thomas and seconded by Mr E Staddon, that there should be a meat tea with pickles, cheese, beer & cider etc.

Miss Thomas to be responsible for the refreshments with the help of the following committee: Miss Sims, Mrs Tame, Mrs Court, Mrs Manley and Mrs Howard.

2. The committees formed were: For the children- Miss Sims, Mrs Blackmore, Mrs H Prescott.

Sports and Social – Mr Partridge, Mr Arscott, Mr Staddon, Mr Clarke, Mr Sully, Mr Williams, and Mr Greig be asked to assist.

3. Donations to hand were as follows: Luccombe- £6-15-6d. Horner & W. Luccombe- £2-16-6d. Cloutsham and Hill District- £1-8-6d.

It was decided to allow £8 towards refreshments, £2-5-0d for mugs, 10/- for children’s prizes, 10/- for whist prizes. 2 prizes for ring tournament, 2 prizes for table skittles, 2 prizes for statue dance. Mrs Blackmore to get these.

4. Mr W. Tame to be asked to play for social.
5. The price of red, white & blue bunting to be found out.

General Programme as follows:

Commence at 2.30 with short service. Children’s Sports. Other Sports. Meat Tea in The Hut at 5.30. Social Evening. Bonfire on Iron Ore at about 9 pm.

A further meeting to be held on Friday, April 26^th.

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This last set of minutes remain unsigned, and no further entries were made in the book, however it appeared  that all went as planned, as the following account in the 11^th May 1935 issue of the “West Somerset Free Press” confirmed: 

LUCCOMBE

JUBILEE REVELLERS FINISH UP IN SMALL HOURS

It was about three-thirty of Tuesday morning before Luccombe settled down to what was left of its night’s sleep after a long round of celebrations. Luccombe may not have attempted anything very ambitious, but all those who had anything to do with the organisation of the celebrations could feel pretty satisfied after they were all over, that everybody in the parish and not a few guests, had really enjoyed themselves. Stoke Pero joined in with Luccombe for the day, and the remote farms and hamlets of Luccott, Wilmersham, New Mills, Stoke &c. sent little contingents to swell the number provided for by the organising committee. This comprised the Rev. C.W. Howard, (rector) and Mrs. Howard, Miss Sims, Mrs. Manley, Miss Thomas, Mrs. Court, Mrs.W.Tame, Mrs H. Prescott, Miss B. Cooksley, and Messrs. F. Partridge, R.T. Clarke, E. Sully, F. Arscott, E. Staddon and A. Cooksley, with Mrs. Blackmore, who laboured enthusiastically in the double role of hon. treasurer and secretary. With others of the committee, she took part in making a collection which realised about £18 to meet the cost of the celebrations.

SPORTS FOLLOW SERVICE

The bells in the church tower pealed out about two o’clock, a signal to the parishioners to assemble on the Three Gates Field (lent by Mr F. Partridge) for the service with which the celebrations were inaugurated. This was conducted by the Rector, the official form of thanksgiving form of service being held, and the school-children, marshalled by Miss Sims, the headmistress, formed a choir of youthful voices which sounded very nice in the singing of the National Anthem, with which the service began and ended, and of the hymns &c.

The service over, a programme of sports, including events for juniors and seniors began, and these were keenly taken up. Mr Philip Greig rendered help as starter and in other ways, and the Rector and Mr Robt. Williams were the judges. Spectators saw plenty to divert them in the course of the sports, one event which caused great fun being the boot race, in which all the competitor’s footwear was heaped into a tarpaulin, which was then rolled up. The first to reach the bundle had to undo it, and the scramble by him and other runners to find their boots and put them on evoked laughter from everyone. Football played in sacks was another good comedy item, the opposing teams being Luccombe and Horner. Luccombe won by one goal. Then, the players doffed the sacks and played a straightforward game, which went in favour of Horner by one point. Luccombe and Horner were also antagonists in the tug-of-war, Mr. Greig skippering the first team, and Mr. Arthur Cooksley the other. They broke the rope twice, so tough were pulls, but when a fresh rope was fetched, Luccombe easily “wiped the eyes” of their opponents. Ladies of Luccombe and Horner also competed in the tug-of-war. Horner won, but as an onlooker remarked, they had “all the weight at their end”. Mr. T. Priscott , who won the high jump, pleased the crowd afterwards with an exhibition of jumping.

The results of the sports were as follows:

Flat race, 70 yards, children under 12 – 1. Phillida Greig, 2. Sidney Arscott, 3. Philip Greig. Ditto under 7 years. – 1. Teddy Prescott: 2. Nancy Sully: 3. Billy Moore. Three legged race for children – 1. Jasmine Greig and Vera Tame: 2. Phillida and Philip Greig: 3. Sidney Arscott and Douglas Lang.  Egg-and-spoon race, for children – 1. Vera Tame, 2. Phillida Greig, 3. Sidney Arscott.  100 yards for ladies – 1, Miss Howard: 2, Miss Miller: 3, Miss Rawle. Egg-and spoon race, ladies – 1, Miss Howard: 2, Miss C Jury: 3, Miss B. Cooksley. Three-legged race, ladies – 1, Miss Thomas and Mrs Williams: 2, Mrs Blackmore and Miss Miller: 3, Miss Rawle and Miss Jury. Shoe race, ladies – 1, Miss Howard: 2, Mrs Williams: 3, Miss Miller. Thread and needle race, ladies – 1, Miss Jury: 2, Mrs Blackmore: 3, Mrs C W Howard. Potato race, ladies – 1, Miss P Howard: 2, Miss Jury: 3, Miss P Greig.  100 yards handicap, men – 1, C Groves: 2, W Partridge: 3, F Partridge. 100 yards men – 1, T Priscott: 2, E Groves: 3, R Clarke. Wheelbarrow race, men – 1: T Priscott; 2, F Partridge: 3, F Arscott.  Sack race, men – 1, E Groves: 2, J Staddon: 3, W Partridge.  High jump, men – 1, T Priscott: 2, E Groves: 3: F Partridge. Three-legged race, men – 1, E Groves and ? Harding : 2, J Staddon and J Farmer: 3, W Everall and F Partridge jnr. Boot race, men – 1, R Clarke: 2, F Partridge: 3, W Partridge. Musical chairs on bicycles, men – 1, W Partridge: 2, F Partridge: 3, T Staddon. Bicycle obstacle race, men _ 1: L Moor: 2, F Partridge: 3, L Bennet. Potato race, men – 1, T Priscott; 2, R Acland: 3, F Partridge.

Skittling competitions for men and women afforded another diversion. Mr Arscott was in charge of these. The winners of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s prizes were Mrs Sutton and Mr C Westcott respectively.

A “TUCK IN” AT THE VILLAGE HALL

As a setting for the community feed, provided for the parish and its guests, the Village Hall was very bright and cheerful. All along the outside of it, red, white and blue flowers were disposed, with a garland across the road, and inside the tables were tastefully set, with flowers and garlands and other decorations, on which a lot of time had obviously been spent, festooned the beams of the hall and adorned the walls. The preparations for the tea, to which about 150, including children, all sat down at the same time, were in the hands of Miss Thomas, who was assisted by Mrs and Miss Howard, Mrs Keal, Mrs Jury, Mrs R Lang, Miss Farmer, Mrs J Tame, Mrs JW Rawle, Mrs W Tame, Mrs Manley, Mrs Court, Mrs Groves, Mrs F Arscott (who helped considerably with the decorations), Mrs Gunter, Miss Palmer, Mrs Moore, Mrs Blackmore, Mrs W Prescott, Mrs WJ Webber, Miss B Cooksley. The catering committee did not do things by halves, There seemed to be something of everything on the tables or within reaching distance, including ham and beef, cheese, pickles and iced cakes (for the youngsters), while tea and coffee, minerals, beer and cider offered means of assuaging thirst.

THE LOYAL TOAST

After Tea, the Rector gave the Loyal Toast, and in the course of a few accompanying remarks, expressed his pleasure at seeing all the parishioners there and at the family gathering nature of the occasion, and commented on the happy spirit in which the celebrations were being carried out. He hoped that family gatherings of this sort would come more often – (applause).

The toast was received with hearty cheers and the singing of the National Anthem.

At the conclusion of the sports, the prizes were presented in the Village Hall, and at the same time, all children up to the age of 14, were given Jubilee mugs, and oranges, apples and bags of sweets by Mr Howard, assisted by Miss Sims and Mrs Blackmore. Over 30 mugs were presented.

Concluding pleasures of the celebrations were a big bonfire on Iron Ore, lighted about 9.30, and a social and dance in the hall. Mr Partridge, with the assistance of farmers and others who gave materials, had the bonfire constructed, and it made a rare blaze, and while it burned, was the centre of much merry-making. It was lighted, amid loud cheers, by John Court, the oldest boy in Luccombe School.

In the evening, Mr Richard Acland came over from Holnicote, and everyone was very pleased to see him. As the sports results indicate, he competed in one of the events and was a prize-winner.

SOCIAL

The Social was a very attractive function, including, besides the dancing, for which Mr W Tame (accordion) played, a ring tournament, in which practically everyone competed, the winners being Mr S Sutton (men’s competition), and Mrs F Blackmore (women’s) and a short whist drive Mr E Staddon was the M.C., and the winners were:- Ladies- 1, Mrs J Tame: 2, Miss Harding: 3, Mrs Blackmore: consolation, Mrs Court. Gentlemen- 1, Mr S Sutton: 2, Mr R Sutton: 3, Mr A Cooksley: consolation, Mr W Partridge.

Fast waltz prizes were won by Mr W Keal and partner, and a “statue dance” by Miss Thomas and Mrs Court. An abundance of refreshment enabled those who stuck out the dancing until the closing hour of 2* a.m. to fortify themselves, and with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem once again, Luccombe brought its celebrations to a close.

* The actual time is unreadable. This is my guess, based on the contents of the opening paragraph.

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1977 Luccombe Silver Jubilee Celebrations

Celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee took place in the village on June 7^th 1977. The two colour photographs show the Fancy Dress Parade on the Village Green, which was part of the festivities. Retired airline pilot Len McLaren, who lived at Wychanger Barton, struggled to be heard against the lashing rain when he played his bagpipes in awful weather conditions at the lighting of the Jubilee Bonfire on Dunkery Beacon in the evening, one of a national chain of beacons lit to commemorate the occasion.

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2002 Luccombe Golden Jubilee Celebrations

A special Social Evening was held in the Village Hall on the evening of June 3^rd. Earlier, a number of Luccombe residents had gone to Webbers Post, to attend the opening ceremony of the recently completed Wind and Weather Hut at 6pm. This had been built by the National Trust to replace the one that was erected there to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The original one fell into disrepair and was demolished circa 1948.

The final part of the Holt Ball series about Ronald Crick has been held over until next month.

Check out all of our previous pictures of the month and read more about Luccombe’s history