BADSEY
The inhabitants of Badsey were among the first in this district to consider the question of celebrating the Coronation in a loyal and becoming manner, and they are to be congratulated most heartily upon the success which attended their festivities. Divine service, specially arranged for the day, was held in the Parish Church at 10.30 am. The secular festivities began, in excellent Old English fashion, with a dinner in Mr Sladden's barn, where 200 parishioners sat down to an excellent fare. The tables were daintily spread and the walls of the building tastefully decorated in an appropriate manner by many willing hands. Grace having been sung in chorus before and after dinner, the Chairman of the Parish Council, who presided, proposed the health of the King and Queen, referring in a few words to the bond throughout the ages which is forged by successive Coronations and their attendant local festivities. The toast was fervently received and drunk by all present. After dinner, a charming display was given by the schoolchildren in a field kindly lent by Mr Brewer. The careful and able training of the children by Mr & Miss Macdonald and their staff of teachers was effectively illustrated by the excellent performance which was given. To the accompaniment of Mr Alcock's string band the children sang with good expression Kipling’s fine recessional hymn; then followed a patriotic chorus entitled "The United Kingdom", in which the four nationalities were represented each by a boy and girl in the costume of the respective countries. England was personified by George Crisp and Nancy Brewer, Wales by Johnny Jones and Annie Sparrow, Scotland by Arthur Macdonald and Gertie Webb, and Ireland by Tom Harris and May Ballard; while the part of Britannia was taken by Betty Hancox. The “Clap Dance”, a figure from the old Morris dance, was prettily performed and a flag drill, accompanied by a chorus of children’s voices, was also much enjoyed by the on-lookers. A tea was given for the children in the Council Schools and one for adult parishioners in Mr Sladden's barn which was again filled to overflowing. During the afternoon there were various sports and pastimes for folk of all ages, and after tea the children repeated part of their previous performance, concluding with a charming maypole dance. The evening concluded with open-air dancing.
ALDINGTON
Coronation day will long be remembered by the inhabitants and friends of Aldington. Through the generosity of Messrs J Ashwin, T Byrd Senior, T Byrd Junior, J Sharp, A Butler, A & H Bell, J Byrd (Evesham) and others, all the adults sat down to a hot dinner at 1 pm. A meat tea, cakes, etc was provided for the children. A collection was made in the village for the sports fund, and a full programme of events for children and adults was arranged and thoroughly enjoyed in a field lent by Mr A Butler. During the interval, about 4.30 pm, the children had their tea, and while seated Mrs A Butler presented each child with a new coin (King George) received from the Royal Mint on the morning of Coronation Day. The adults, those who cared to, also partook of tea after the children had finished, afterwards adjourning to the field for the other competitions arranged by the sports committee. In the evening all made their way again to the barn (also lent by Mr A Butler), where music, singing and dancing was held in the barn, also lent by Mr A Butler, was kept up till 3 am.
On Friday evening, the residents and friends again assembled in the barn, and had tea, etc, after which to the strains of the music and piano kindly lent by Mr & Mrs E Butler, and a splendid melodeon, provided an played by Mr Frank Hinds), nearly every person present, young and old, joined in more than one gallop (four abreast) round the barn to the lively airs, “Yip I ady I aye”, “Fall in and follow me”, etc, this, and the “cake walk”, etc, by Messrs C Smith and A Bearcroft, will not soon be forgotten. This lasted until about 3 am on Saturday morning, when the people dispersed, after having spent a thoroughly happy and enjoyable time together. The National Anthem and “Auld Lang Syne” was sung, and Mr Veal (pianist) and Mr F Hinds were thanked for their services before the people finally departed. Mr W Griffin gave some fine selections on his gramophone on both days. During the festivities many cheers were given for the King, Queen and Royal Family. Cheers for the subscribers and workers were also given, and great credit is due to the ladies who made the dinner so great a success. Congratulations were accorded to Mr & Mrs O Harwood (Aldington) on the birth of a son on Coronation Day.