Box Horse Show Philip Martin June 2015 All pictures courtesy Philip Martin
Box Horse Show was started in 1945 and ran for over a decade. The event was started by Eric Bayliss and Bill Peter in the years after the Second World War, as an attempt to find a normal social life after the horrors of two World Wars in the first half of the twentieth century. It harkened back to a rural society where many people kept horses before car ownership became commonplace.
You can see Mr Bayliss in the front row with a container under his arm. The smaller man next on his left is Bill Peters.
Also seen are: Back Row: B Sulley Snr, ?, Mr Tucker, Oz Butt, Mr Mojer, ??, Alex Smith, Bolton. Front Row: Jim Sulley, Bill Peters, Eric Bayliss, the farrier of blacksmith's shop, Bill Dermot. Mr Tucker was the owner of Drewetts Mill. Jim Sulley had a farm on Kingsdown Lane and his brother Jack owned Sheylor's Farm.
Also seen are: Back Row: B Sulley Snr, ?, Mr Tucker, Oz Butt, Mr Mojer, ??, Alex Smith, Bolton. Front Row: Jim Sulley, Bill Peters, Eric Bayliss, the farrier of blacksmith's shop, Bill Dermot. Mr Tucker was the owner of Drewetts Mill. Jim Sulley had a farm on Kingsdown Lane and his brother Jack owned Sheylor's Farm.
The show was held in the flat field where the footpath runs below the Church area, Lower Mead Field, still sometimes called Horse Show Field. This was before the new bungalows were built at the bottom of Valens Terrace. The entrance to the field caused enormous problems for the horse transport lorries going down there but it was an ideal rural setting at the very heart of the village. The Parish Magazine of September 1955 recorded the site as: It would not be fitting to close without a tribute to Mr John Goulstone for his generosity in allowing the use of his field for this event.; the setting is so beautiful it would be hard to find better surroundings.
Eric Bayliss (1904 - 1967)
Eric Bayliss (or to give him his full name Halvar Eric Arthur Bayliss) was born in 1904. Eric's parents were Dr Richard Arthur (1867 - 1927) and Kate Diana Hester Bayliss (1862 - 1936) who lived at Mountnessing, Weston Park, Bath. They were a wealthy family; in 1911 they had four servants: cook, parlour-maid, nurse and house-maid. Dr Bayliss was the medical officer of the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath. He was also a man of many talents: a parish counsellor, president of both the Weston Horticultural Society and of the Bath and County Camera Club, and a member of Somerset Cricket Club.[1]
The family mixed in Bath society, often attending the weddings of military men, some of which were presided over by Eric's uncle Rev FC Bayliss. Eric was a family man and in 1932 he gave away his sister Dorothy Kathleen in marriage to Mr Alwyn Inglefield, son of Major Inglefield.[2]
Although he did not come from a farming background Eric's great passion was horses and particularly breeding horses and ponies. In middle age, after the Second World War he appeared in numerous local horse events. In September 1946 he scooped up first prize in Bannerdown Gymkhana for best turned-out animal, best weight-carrying cob, musical poles and bending race but he had competition from another Box resident, Bill Peters, who won the open jumping, saddling and obstacle race.[3]
Eric was interested in breeding and for many years was named for bringing on new ponies, including in 1934 (un-named) hack ridden by lady and in 1949 Golden Rain in the RSPCA Gymkhana at Claverton Down in September 1949.[4]
Eric was in the Home Guard during the war and he ran a riding school and was a breeder of Palomino horses at Ashley Stud.[5]
Eric Bayliss (or to give him his full name Halvar Eric Arthur Bayliss) was born in 1904. Eric's parents were Dr Richard Arthur (1867 - 1927) and Kate Diana Hester Bayliss (1862 - 1936) who lived at Mountnessing, Weston Park, Bath. They were a wealthy family; in 1911 they had four servants: cook, parlour-maid, nurse and house-maid. Dr Bayliss was the medical officer of the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath. He was also a man of many talents: a parish counsellor, president of both the Weston Horticultural Society and of the Bath and County Camera Club, and a member of Somerset Cricket Club.[1]
The family mixed in Bath society, often attending the weddings of military men, some of which were presided over by Eric's uncle Rev FC Bayliss. Eric was a family man and in 1932 he gave away his sister Dorothy Kathleen in marriage to Mr Alwyn Inglefield, son of Major Inglefield.[2]
Although he did not come from a farming background Eric's great passion was horses and particularly breeding horses and ponies. In middle age, after the Second World War he appeared in numerous local horse events. In September 1946 he scooped up first prize in Bannerdown Gymkhana for best turned-out animal, best weight-carrying cob, musical poles and bending race but he had competition from another Box resident, Bill Peters, who won the open jumping, saddling and obstacle race.[3]
Eric was interested in breeding and for many years was named for bringing on new ponies, including in 1934 (un-named) hack ridden by lady and in 1949 Golden Rain in the RSPCA Gymkhana at Claverton Down in September 1949.[4]
Eric was in the Home Guard during the war and he ran a riding school and was a breeder of Palomino horses at Ashley Stud.[5]
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Bill Peters
The horse show was jointly organised by Eric and Bill Peters. Bill probably was the man who knew more about horses than anyone else in the village at that time. Bill was originally a Cornishman who came to Box to work for Tilley & Culverwell, the Chippenham Market auctioneers. Bill's father was a horse dealer, which may account for his love of horses and ponies. In his younger days Bill worked as a jockey and later bred horses, trained them and ran a horse and trap around the village. There are more reminiscences of Bill at People of 1950s. |
Bill Peters (left) and Phil Martin (right) at Red Lion, Lacock in 1960s
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Horses and More
Box Horse Show was a substantial event, part show jumping event and part flower and vegetable show.[6] There was a competition held in a huge tent in the bottom meadow with displays of vegetables, flowers, eggs and cakes. The organisation of the show involved a great number of people, including those who organised the refreshments.
The Parish Magazine of September 1949 wrote glowingly about the event of that year:
Box Horse and Flower Show was again held in the delightful setting of the Lower Mead Field on Saturday 20 August to the enjoyment of the large crowd of spectators who visited this now annual show.
The Horticultural Tent provided a fine display of flowers and vegetables which, in spite of the drought, exceeded all expectations. An excellent Handicraft Exhibition was staged by members of the Box Women's Institute. Exhibits were of a very high standard and great interest was taken in Weaving and Stringwork demonstrations.
Box Horse Show was a substantial event, part show jumping event and part flower and vegetable show.[6] There was a competition held in a huge tent in the bottom meadow with displays of vegetables, flowers, eggs and cakes. The organisation of the show involved a great number of people, including those who organised the refreshments.
The Parish Magazine of September 1949 wrote glowingly about the event of that year:
Box Horse and Flower Show was again held in the delightful setting of the Lower Mead Field on Saturday 20 August to the enjoyment of the large crowd of spectators who visited this now annual show.
The Horticultural Tent provided a fine display of flowers and vegetables which, in spite of the drought, exceeded all expectations. An excellent Handicraft Exhibition was staged by members of the Box Women's Institute. Exhibits were of a very high standard and great interest was taken in Weaving and Stringwork demonstrations.
Can you add to any of the names of people in the picture above? Back row: on the right Mrs Taylor, Mr Hemmings.
Front Row: includes Mrs Little, Rhoda Giles, Mr Chapman Webb, Mrs Hemmings. Mr Hemmings ran the Comrades Legion Club and was also groundsman of the Rec. Mr Chapman Webb ran the fish shop in the Parade, before Mr Plowman had the premises. Rhoda Giles was my grandmother. Mrs Little was Mrs Dermott's mother.
The event involved many people from the village. On the door and taking the money were Eddie Callaway, who was used to handling finance from his role as local insurance agent, and Bert Swan, local schoolteacher, needed to quieten down any rowdy youngsters.[7]
Front Row: includes Mrs Little, Rhoda Giles, Mr Chapman Webb, Mrs Hemmings. Mr Hemmings ran the Comrades Legion Club and was also groundsman of the Rec. Mr Chapman Webb ran the fish shop in the Parade, before Mr Plowman had the premises. Rhoda Giles was my grandmother. Mrs Little was Mrs Dermott's mother.
The event involved many people from the village. On the door and taking the money were Eddie Callaway, who was used to handling finance from his role as local insurance agent, and Bert Swan, local schoolteacher, needed to quieten down any rowdy youngsters.[7]
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Horse Classes
My father was a steward at the Show for several years and our family became involved with Eric Bayliss. My parents rented a cottage opposite Sheylor's Farm from him and in 1962 they bought his own house Ashley Firs which had been built in 1914. The show achieved quite a reputation locally and put on numerous classes of events: show classes, jumping and hunters' class. Pat Smythe, who won a bronze medal in the 1956 Olympic Games in Stockholm, rode in the show one year and wrote about it in one of her many autobiographies. She may have attended more than a single event. |
The Show of 1955
The Parish Magazine of September 1955 reported the problems of holding the show in a low lying location in both extreme dry and wet conditions. That year the ground had become very hard and cracked. It was decided therefore to enlist the aid of the Fire Service for the job of pumping water from the By Brook on to the field. They were there for two hours and pumped some 42,000 gallons of water on the surface which made the going much easier.
There was a special reason why a successful show was important that year because it had been selected to hold the Foxhunter Competition, backed by the London Evening Standard. There were only two such events per county and the Box show had been chosen. We, in Box, therefore feel justifiably proud. But the show wasn't a success. Attendance was just around the 1,000 mark, which is really very poor. It was the end of the event; Another loss was registered in the accounts
The Parish Magazine of September 1955 reported the problems of holding the show in a low lying location in both extreme dry and wet conditions. That year the ground had become very hard and cracked. It was decided therefore to enlist the aid of the Fire Service for the job of pumping water from the By Brook on to the field. They were there for two hours and pumped some 42,000 gallons of water on the surface which made the going much easier.
There was a special reason why a successful show was important that year because it had been selected to hold the Foxhunter Competition, backed by the London Evening Standard. There were only two such events per county and the Box show had been chosen. We, in Box, therefore feel justifiably proud. But the show wasn't a success. Attendance was just around the 1,000 mark, which is really very poor. It was the end of the event; Another loss was registered in the accounts
Conclusion
Box Horse Show was one of the proudest achievements of the village, at a time when it was the only annual event in the village. Despite lack of funds and poor access, it succeeded because of the hard work and enthusiasm of the village and particularly of Eric Bayliss and Bill Peters.
Box Horse Show was one of the proudest achievements of the village, at a time when it was the only annual event in the village. Despite lack of funds and poor access, it succeeded because of the hard work and enthusiasm of the village and particularly of Eric Bayliss and Bill Peters.
References
[1] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 9 July 1927
[2] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 18 June 1932
[3] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 28 September 1946
[4] Wells Journal and Somerset and West of England Advertiser 7 September 1934 and Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald,
17 September 1949
[5] See article on Ashley Lane for further details
[6] Details courtesy Shirley Goulstone
[7] Details courtesy Eric and Sandra Callaway
[1] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 9 July 1927
[2] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 18 June 1932
[3] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 28 September 1946
[4] Wells Journal and Somerset and West of England Advertiser 7 September 1934 and Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald,
17 September 1949
[5] See article on Ashley Lane for further details
[6] Details courtesy Shirley Goulstone
[7] Details courtesy Eric and Sandra Callaway