The Silver Jubilee

Thursday, January 02, 2014        THE SILVER JUBILEE          

  It was 1936 and King George and Queen Mary had been on the throne for 25 years. It was their Silver Jubilee and the whole country was rejoicing.

It was decided to appoint a special day for celebrating the event in small local groups. Our group was going to meet on the Bapchild village football field which was about a mile and a half from where we lived.

There were going to be races with prizes and of course special refreshments. It was so exciting! I wanted to win a race but what? I knew my sister Alison could run faster than I could so what else could I do? I decided to try to win the egg and spoon race. This meant running the distance with a boiled egg balanced on a spoon. I spent the morning practicing- running up and down the landing with a potato on a wooden spoon.

It turned out to be a beautiful day and we all foregathered on the football field which had been brightly decorated for the occasion. Although there were probably over 100 people there I only remember three. First there was me then my father and third Mr Gascoyne who had three grown up children. They all lived in Bapchild and Clive Gascoyne used to play tennis with my father. The races started. I expect my sister won the sprint.  My practicing paid off. I won the egg and spoon race!  The prize was a shiny silver coin, either a florin (two shillings) or a half crown (two shillings and sixpence); what riches! With that money I could buy 12 or 15 twopenny bars of chocolate ! Being rather a greedy child that is probably how I spent it.I

The last race was for the over 40s. The fathers lined up and bang they were off. Here they come! There is red-faced Mr Gascoyne puffing along; here is my father surging ahead, he wins easily and jumps the tape! What a show-off!

At the end of the day every child was given a mug with the picture of their majesties and the date 1911- 1936. What a wonderful day! We all went home very happy.

    Bridget.