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A photographic record of the Festival dates back to the 1890's!
Who knows how long before then it existed. Here are a few snippets from the
archives for you. If you recognise yourself or any of your relatives please let
us know.
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Way back in 1893, the Whit Walkers enjoy their picnic tea,
back in those days at Church House Farm. This is one of the earliest
photographs in our archive. |
| Now in 1913, would any of these villagers have imagined the
Great War just a few months away. Here they are seen walking up Church
Lane towards the Church, carrying the brand new banner. This is the
predecessor to today's banner. |
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In 1931 the first Festival Queen, Cissie Procter was
inaugurated. Cissie can be seen here on the left with her attendants, on
the Hospital site with Whittingham St. John's in the background. |
We were really excited to receive
this email and photo from George Townson...
"Would you
believe, I am the boy in the picture with Cissy Procter (Standing on her
left). She had just been crowned May Queen, I was her crown bearer. The
picture you display is taken on the cricket field of Whittingham Hospital.
I would be about 5yrs old.
I would also like to
mention, the" Mayor of Goosnargh" was a gentleman by the name of "Billy
Loxham". Tom Bennett was one of the men in the top hats, driving the
horses.
Your website is great and it brought back many happy memories. I have
lived in Canada since 1957, but will always be a Lancashire Lad at heart.
Age now will be 78yrs on Dec 8 2004."
(George is fourth from left on the front
row on both photographs)
In another email to us, George Townson
writes...
"Thought
I would make a quick call to my friends in Goosnargh, to wish you all a
very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. Some of my friends
here in Canada have checked out your website since I told them you had
kindly displayed my photo and letter sent to you some time back. I still
make frequent visits to your web page and enjoy looking at the Whitsuntide
Festival photos, especially having been a part of it when I was a young
lad living on Jubilee Terrace.
Recently, I found another old photograph of the Morris Dancers; it was
taken on the cricket field at Whittingham Hospital. Once again I am the
fourth from the left on the front row. I can remember all but four of the
names in the group. I wonder what they are doing now? Some of them I
do know are unfortunately no longer with us. I will attach the picture to
this letter. If there is still anyone there that remembers me, I have just
reached the ripe old age of 79."
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This photograph came to us from George's
sister who now lives in Australia:
My name is Margaret Kelsall Nee Townson, Yes , I am George's
sister, I too went Oliverson's C of E School.
Like George I
too took part in the Whitsuntide festivities. I am enclosing a photo of
myself around 1948-9.I won first prize for my decorated doll pram in the
fancy dress section. Next to me is Mrs Squires and her granddaughter, the
young man walking alongside me is Joe Young Jnr. His mother taut the dances,
Morris, Maypole and the Sailors Hornpipe they lived in the row next to Tess
Swarbrick who I worked with at Whittingham Hospital. |
| Tom Bennett driving the Mayor of Goosnargh,
Billy Loxham accompanied by Mrs
Clegg, seen here arriving at the Whittingham Hospital Cricket Pitch.
This was in 1948 - take note property developers!!! |
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Here's a typical float of 1949. Times have changed a little. |
We were very grateful to receive this email
from Catherine Kenyon (nee Stirling):"Just
recently my daughter, Mandy, brought to my attention the photograph sent to
you by George Townson of a queen being crowned. You can see it on the
Festival History. That queen is actually myself!!
He thought it was Jeannie Stirling who is in fact my eldest sister, the
other one being Barbara, but it is me, Catherine.
We also had a brother, Frank, but he is unfortunately no longer with us as
he died a few years ago.
I thought the lady who crowned me was called Mrs Walsh.
It was a strange feeling to see myself there, and it has brought back many
happy memories.
We lived at 21 Church Lane and I think I would have been 14 or 15 years old
then, which makes the year 1965 or 1966.
Happy days!!"
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The Festival Logo was created 8 years ago by 11-year old
Elizabeth Dewhurst of St Francis R.C. School. It was the winning entry in a
competition to design a logo. (You may notice that from 2004, the text has
changed. This is a move to bring our correspondence more up to date, but
Elizabeth's illustration remains unchanged.)
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