Newspaper report on Lytham Club Day Shakespearean Pageant, 1910.
LYTHAM CLUB DAY.
SHAKESPERIAN PAGEANT.
ROSE QUEEN CROWNED.
The idea of crowning a pretty young maiden as Queen of the Roses is prettily
poetical, but for complete success in carrying it into effect in the open-air we need many
conditions, the chief being the ideal June weather. Lytham supplied all the conditions save this
at its annual festival on Monday.
Lytham Club Day is an aggregation of many interesting events, and provides an
interesting two days for the holiday-maker. There is the ceremony of crowning the Rose Queen,
the old-time institution of the club walk, a picturesque children's pageant, and an athletic
meeting. These functions take place in a beautiful old-world resort, where the softening hand of
time has removed the hard and bare appearance of our modern towns, and where, luxuriant foliage
and velvety lawns made a reposeful background.
It was very unfortunate that for two years in succession heavy rain should have
marred the efforts of the committee, and it was uncomfortable for the thousands who had flocked
into Lytham by road, train, and tram, and who lined the streets. Last year's experience was
vividly recalled, for as the procession was well on its way a heavy shower of rain fell,
dispersing the crowd and the procession alike to the nearest available shelter.
Smiling June became transformed into weeping April, and, the Poses, instead of
shedding perfume on the air, shed tears on the ground. This rain was doubly distressing,
inasmuch as the pageant promised to exceed in beauty anything attempted in previous years.
In addition, to the civic authority, the friendly
societies, turnouts and comic objects, there was also a Shakesperian (sic) character section,
with three Shakesperian tableaux, some sixty or seventy characters being represented from
twenty plays. Some of the characters were mounted, and the picturesque dresses of a bye-gone
age added a warmth of colour and a gaiety that contrasted well with the pastoral suggestion of
the Rose Queen's train.
The Rose Queen—Miss, Florence Clarkson--and her maid of honour were seated in a
florally-decorated phaeton, instead of a triumphal car as in past years, and though the beauty
of the Rose Queen's court was diminished, it saved them from a drenching. The Rose Queen was
attended by Misses L. Waterer, A. Whiteside, E. Wilsdon, P. Birley, S. Haynes, G. Cross, M.
Cookson, G M. Layton, and D. Grigg as bridesmaids. A pretty scene was provided by the retiring
queen, Miss Mary Blacoe, of Warton, who was accompanied by Miss Beatrice Singleton as a
maid.
THE CORONATION CEREMONY.
After the rain the procession was re-formed and after
parading the principal streets arrived at the beach, where the crowning core. many took place.
Thousands assembled on the beach in front of the Assembly Rooms. Mr. J. T. Clifton presided at
the ceremony, and a pretty picture of sweet youth and venerable age was presented when Mr.
Wykeham Clifton, after crowning the Queen amidst applause, followed his gallant custom of
bestowing a kiss upon the new Rose Queen.
The afternoon pageant, in Lowther Gardens, was a brilliant picture, and the only
thing lacking, was the kindly sunshine. A procession was formed at St. John's School, by the
children of which school then proceeded to Lowther Gardens. At the western end of the gardens
large stands, artistically draped with muslin, were erected under the shelter of the broad belt
of trees.
There was a large assembly to witness the incident of the pageant, for which the
beautiful background was so admirable a setting. After the musical acclamation of the Rose
Queen, the new queen was received by her Predecessor and led to the seat of honour, and
festivities commenced. Pretty dances and action songs, representing national characters and
nature features, formed an important part in a constantly moving mass of colour. Shakesperian
tableaux were introduced, and the old-time costumes were a prominent feature in the display.
PRESENTATION OF SOUVENIRS.
During the afternoon Mrs. Clifton, who was accompanied by Mr. Clifton, presented
souvenirs to the Rose Queen and the retiring Rose Queen. She was introduced by Mr. J. Cockshutt,
chairman of the Urban District Council, who referred to Mrs. Clifton's interest in Lytham and in
that festival. In responding to a vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. E. R. Lightwood, vice-chairman
of the Council, and seconded by Mr. W. Embley, chairman of the Festival Committee, Mrs. Clifton
expressed her pleasure at being present. She added the hope that the Rose Queen would make the
most of her opportunities during the year and urged the boys to become boy scouts and the girls
to read poetry or take an interest in flowers, or any thing, in fact, so long as they did
something which was useful.
The arrangements for the two days were admirably carried out by the chairman
(Mr. Embley), the vice-chairman (Mr. George Moore), the :hon. secretary (Mr. W. Draper), and the
hon. treasurer (Mr. H. T. Marsden), and the members of the committee. The hon. secretary
for the children's pageant was Mr. J. A. Collinson. Mr. H. Hoyle was the conductor and
pianist.
AWARDS.
The following were the awards in the turnouts, the judges being Messrs. E. R.
Light-wood, J.P., H. H. Dixon, J. Lonsdale, H. Whittle, C.C., and C. E. Hutchinson, Moss
Side:—
Tradesmen's Neatest Turnout.-1 H. Snalam; 2, Market Hall Meat Supply do.; 3, W, M.
Edmunds.
Tradesmen's Exhibits.-1 H. Johnson; 2, Wigan Coal and Iron Co.; 3, J. Sutton.
Neatest and Best Decorated Heavy Turnout. -1, Wigan Coal and Iron Co.; 2, H. Johnson;
3, G. Richards and Sons.
Neatest and Best Decorated horse and Linty for School Children. —.J. Macdonald.
Most comical Object in the Procession. -1, N. Brotherton And W. Barry 2, W. Jenkinson
Blackpool; 3, Hermann
Wilson.
Neatest Donkey and Rider -1, 2 and, 3, G. Elston.
Errand Boys' Neatest Turnout. --1, Clarkson's Dairy ; 2, D. Leigh.
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