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Pakenham History : Pakenham Royal Jubilee Celebrations June 1887
In this Jubilee year of 2002, I have discovered a small booklet, held at the Bury Record Office, entitled 'Record of the Celebration of the Royal Jubilee 1887'*. This document provides a unique opportunity to look back 115 years and to see how the previous inhabitants of the village of Pakenham celebrated their Jubilee year. Written by Rev. C. W. Jones, Vicar of Pakenham during the years 1864 - 1904, I can do no better than to transcribe his description of the events.
'The Celebrations of the Royal Jubilee were carried out on the 21st of June, 1887 to an extent, and in a style, without parallel in Parish history since the "Peace Thanksgiving" of 1814, memories of which still linger with a few, and traditions with many. The movement for a Jubilee celebration began with the mooting of the subject by the Vicar (the Rev. C. Jones) at the Lady-Day Parish Meeting, which promptly accepted the idea, and appointed a large Committee to forward it.
That Committee having met, agreed that the Queen's Jubilee Day should be celebrated by a Service in the Church, by a good meal for the residents in the Parish, with sports and fireworks should a sum sufficient for these purposes be collected. Various plans for the carrying out of them were discussed, but none were voted on, and all details were left to a small Executive Committee, who, with power to add to their number, were appointed to carry out the project.
Several subscriptions were promised on the spot, and two of the Executive Committee kindly undertook to collect.
When it was ascertained that a sum had been promised sufficient to authorise action on the part of the Executive Committee, they were called together, and, after careful discussion of the possible plans for celebrating the day, it was resolved unanimously that the best way of supplying a good meal to the residents in the parish would be by supplying a dinner to all the working people and their families; those who had reached the same age as the Queen dining together with their wives or husbands in the schoolroom, while others were to be supplied at their own homes, and the children of the Parish were to have tea.
A strong desire, however, having been
expressed by the coevals and elders of the Queen that they should
have the same privilege as others in being supplied at their own
homes, it was acceded to, and the only common meal provided was
the tea for children between the ages of three and fourteen years.
The beef, pudding materials, and drinkables tickets were issued to all Pakenham residents who applied, and they carried respectively the value of 2lbs of beef for a lone person, 3lbs for a married couple, and 1lb for every child, with suet and groceries in proportion, and sixpenny worth of beer, or other beverage for males over 16 years old, and threepenny worth of tea for the widows.
The subjoined copies of notices issued in the Parish will show the further steps taken to carry out the project to its successful completion on the 21st of June 1887.
On the 21st of June, which marked the completion of the mystic period of fifty years and a day in the reign of Queen Victoria, the village street was decorated with festoons of greenery from side to side, and a peal was rung before the daily ten o'clock service, to which a special service hymn and prayer were added.
At 3 p.m. the Village Church of England Temperance Society Fife and Drum Band, reinforced from Ixworth and Thurston, paraded the street from end to end and back again, and then up to the Church door. The surpliced choir then proceeded up the church singing the hymn
"O King of kings Thy blessing shed
On our anointed Sovereign's head,"
which was followed by the service put out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and authorised by the Bishop of the Diocese.
The Church
was crowded with Parishioners, who took a hearty share in the
service, and appeared to listen with marked attention to an
address from the Vicar, who took his text from St. Luke xx,
24, "Show me a penny,"
the letters "D.G." upon which, imply the divinely delegated character
of all rule, authority, and power.
After service, followed the children's tea in the Schoolroom, to which no fewer than 252 sat down, including, as had been arranged, 23 from band and choir.
Meanwhile their elders amused themselves in the Vicarage gardens, and in the portion of Mr. Green's Park set apart for the sports till these began. They lasted till dark, and, indeed some had to be curtailed owing to want of light.
Then came the fireworks, which were many and excellent, and did not conclude till past eleven o'clock at night. They ended with an external illumination of the Church by means of changing coloured lights, which served to guide the spectators towards their homes, while the village street was prettily decorated with Chinese lanterns.
The greatest pleasure and satisfaction appeared to be felt by all concerned, and very hearty were the expressions of thanks to those, who, by money, time, trouble, or all three together, had contributed to the Jubilee celebrations, but especially to E. Greene, Esq. M.P., for his portion of his Park for the sports and fireworks.'
There then follows a 'Programme of Sports' and a list of winners. I have combined the two to produce the following list: -
| Event | First | Second | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 Yards Race (Men) | F. Calver | G. Mayes |
| 2 | 100 Yards Race (Men) | A. Rogers | J Rogers |
| 3 | 100 Yards Race (Men) | H. Catton | G. Pearce |
| 4 | 100 Yards Race (Boys under 16) | C. Tipple | H. Hailstone |
| 5 | 100 Yards Race (Boys under 16) | J. Salmon | E. Foreman |
| 6 | 100 Yards Race (Boys under 16) | J. Burton | C. Rogers |
| 7 | 200 Yards (Winners of 1, 2, and 3) | A. Rogers | F. Calver |
| 8 | 100 Yards (Winners of 4, 5, and 6) | C. Tipple | J. Burton |
| 9 | 200 Yards Strangers Race | A. Mothersole | J. Hailstone |
| 10 | Quarter Mile Open Race | A. Rogers | F. Calver |
| 11 | 50 Yards Egg and Spoon (Women) | Mrs. Howe | |
| 12 | 50 Yards Airball and Spoon (Women) | Mrs. Mash | |
| 13 | 50 Yards Egg and Spoon (Girls under 16) | E. Rogers | E. Nunn |
| 14 | 50 Yards Airball and Spoon (Girls under 16) | M. A. Hunt | C. Reeve |
| 15 | Tug of War, 1s. each for winners | R. Nunn and 11 others | |
| 16 | Tug of War, Boys, 6d each to winners | F. Nunn and 11 others | |
| 17 | High Jump (Men) | A. Rosier | F. Calver |
| 18 | High Jump (Boys) | T. Sperry | T. Holden |
| 19 | Wide Jump (Men) | A. Rosier | F. Nunn |
| 20 | Wide Jump (Boys) | T. Holden | C. Tipple |
| 21 | Sack Race (Men) | A. Rosier | F. Calver |
| 22 | Sack Race (Boys) | F. Wales | R. Balls |
| 23 | Three-legged Race (Men) | W. Foreman and J. Mingay | Sadler and Foreman |
| 24 | Three-legged Race (Boys) | Wales and Ridgeon | Hull and Balls |
| 25 | Obstacle Race | J. Rogers | A. Rosier |
| 26 | Obstacle Race | Frost | H. Spence |
| 27 | Donkey Race (open) last to win | W. Miller (ringers) | W. Foreman |
| 28 | Soaped pole 3 prizes value | C. Rolfe, W. Foreman and another |