Auld Earlston: Royal Celebrations

Wednesday, 1 June 2022

Royal Celebrations in Earlston

As we come to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee of 70 years on the throne, a look back to earlier royal celebrations in Earlston.

CORONATION CELEBRATIONS IN EARLSTON

The Queen's Coronation 2nd June 1953 with the programme following very much the pattern of other major royal occasions through the century.

The morning began with an open air service in the Square, conducted by the Rev. Duncan, followed by a Fancy Dress parade with Earlston's Coronation Queen Margaret Amos, and open-air dancing in the Square. In the afternoon, sports took place in the Haugh. The evening saw a dance in the Corn Exchange and the day ended with a bonfire on the Black Hill. All members of the community were remembered.

For "old folk" a TV show with afternoon tea was on offer at Earlston Hall and at The Park, home of Mrs Sharpe, with Earlston WVS providing transport.
The sick and invalid of the village were presented with a bouquet of flowers and a souvenir gift.
Earlston Junior Secondary School had raised enough money to present the younger children with a Coronation mug, whilst older children received sweets.

The newspaper also included in its report a long list of prizewinners in both the fancy dress and sports events.

A Personal Memory: I was nine years old, not then living in Earlston. I had been busy making red, white and blue decorations at school, creating a coronation scrapbook, collecting my coronation mug (presented to all children) and playing with the doll my mother made for me, dressed as the Queen with a long velvet purple train, embroidered in gold thread. (How I wished many years later I had kept it). On the day itself we woke up to the news on the radio that Everest had been conquered and watched the coronation procession and ceremony on our new 10-inch screen black and white television - one of the first in the street, with a full household of my aunt and uncle and neighbours crowding in.

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In 1937, King George VI was crowned and the village celebrated the coronation in style with a church service, a fancy dress parade, with over 200 characters, led by the popular Earlston Clown Band, sports for all ages (including an "old man's'" race and a married women's race), and presentations to children of commemorative souvenirs.

The Southern Reporter of 24th May 1937 gives us a detailed report on the activities.

"The celebrations at Earlston commenced with a combined church service which began in Ercildoune Church, conducted by the Rev. Peter Wylie, and the Rev. John Gray, St. John’s. The praise was led by a united choir.

In the afternoon a series of juvenile athletic sports were held on the football pitch which was kindly lent by Earlston Rugby Football Club. The sports were witnessed by a crowd of adult spectators numbering over 1100. The juvenile events comprised flat races, sack races, obstacle races, and pillow fights, while for grown-ups there were an old man’s race, a married women’s race, and a tug of war.

Mrs Ferguson of Carolside handed over to the younger children Coronation souvenirs in the form of silver spoons engraved with the heads of King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth. Elder children received copies of Salute the King by Arthur Mee.

A fancy dress pageant was held, headed by the familiar clown band. Mr J. W. Murdison, attired in clerical garb acting as drum major. There were over 200 characters on parade. Several beautifully decorated lorries kindly lent by Messrs W. and A. Rodger, representing various scenes and types were greatly admired"

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1911 saw the coronation of King George V with a report in "The Southern Reporter" 29th June 1911, with "the boisterous weather" not being allowed to dampen enthusiasms.

"EARLSTON'S FESTIVITIES. On Thursday the town was decorated with flags and bunting, all business was set aside, and all thoughts turned to the celebration on that eventful day. At 11 a.m. the Territorials (under Lieut. Sharpe), the Boys' Brigade under the charge of Serg. Wilkie, and the school children, mustered in the Market Square and headed by two pipers, marched to the Parish Church, where a united service was conducted bv the Rev. C. Keith, and numerously attended by members of both congregations. A short address appropriate to the occasion was given and the proclamation of the Coronation was read by Colonel Hope, one the elders of the church.

At 1.30pm the scholars again assembled and took their way to the sports field at Cowdenknowes, being followed by a great crowd of onlookers and participants in the competitions. As the grass was wet, a platform had been erected for dancing, where festive crowds footed it bravely for hours. Notwithstanding the showery and somewhat boisterous character of the weather, the sports were carried on with the greatest enthusiasm, and all the events were contested............

At 8 o'clock what was the noteworthy feature of the whole day's proceeding - the fancy dress parade.........This part of the day's proceedings was successful beyond anticipation, and those who took part are congratulated on the brilliancy of the show.

A bonfire on the Black Hill and a fine display of fireworks, Colonel Hope's handsome contribution to the Coronation festivities, concluded the rejoicings. Notwithstanding the rain , which fell in occasional heavy showers as the night wore on, many made their way to the top of the Black Hill, whence over 30 other similar bonfires could be seen. Others contented themselves with a view from a vantage ground nearer home."

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JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

These were more muted occasions.

1935 marked the Silver Jubilee of the reign of King George V and his wife Queen Mary - our Queen's grandparents. "The Southern Reporter" of 18th April 1935 outlined plans.

"King’s Jubilee.—A meeting to arrange the local celebration of the King’s Silver Jubilee was held in the Public School on Wednesday evening, Major Sharpe, The Park, presiding. It was unanimously agreed to hold sports for the school children on the football pitch, and in addition to being entertained to tea, those between the ages of five and ten will be presented with chocolate in Jubilee containers, while those over ten will receive a suitable book. The committee hoped to be in a position to present children who are not of school age with a small gift. It was decided to open a subscription list to defray part of the expenses, contributions to be sent to the honorary treasurer, Mr R. A. Dodds. Commercial Bank, Earlston. "

George V Silver Jubilee Mug

In 1897 Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated - 60 years on the throne,

The vision of purchasing land for a public park failed to raise sufficient funds, plus the failure to secure a band for the occasion, meant the plans were scaled back to a sports event and the lighting of a bonfire on the Black Hill. - as reported in "The Edinburgh Evening News" of 8th June 1897.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.

1887 marked Queen Victoria's 50 years on the throne. Although other Border communities celebrated the event in style, no press coverage was traced on Earlston's contribution. However local knowledge passed down the decades noted that trees were planted in the Market Square to mark the occasion.

An early photograph c.1900 show the feint out of young trees around the Square.