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Modern Box Revels, 1984 - 1994
Alan Payne May 2016 Photos courtesy Box villagers Box Revels was revived in 1984 to fundraise for Box Primary School. It was part of an initiative to raise £13,000 to modernise the old Victorian school. It was an immediate success and appealed to children and adults who were young at heart. |
Revolting villagers in 1989 French anniversary
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The first year had a Medieval Revels theme and was held in a packed Market Place. It featured Lady Godiva chaperoned by Bill Peters in a splendid horse carriage; Box Rovers put on a medieval handball display because there was no room for football; and Margaret Woodland brought Hoggy the hedgehog and Sixpence the hen to delight children. The event raised £2,500 and showed off the community of Box, so it was decided to repeat the event.
In the Beginning
The first two years were held in the Market Place. It was an easy place to set up but became so full with visitors that it became impossible to see the events. Perhaps not The Greatest Show on Earth but it certainly was immensely popular and by year 3 the event moved to Box Rec, at first just the upper field and later taking over the football pitch too..
The first two years were held in the Market Place. It was an easy place to set up but became so full with visitors that it became impossible to see the events. Perhaps not The Greatest Show on Earth but it certainly was immensely popular and by year 3 the event moved to Box Rec, at first just the upper field and later taking over the football pitch too..
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Did You Really Look Like THAT?
Dressing up became an instant success. In 1985 the village celebrated 150 years since the start of work on Box Tunnel. The event stretched out throughout the village with a ghost-sit for two brave souls in the Blind House and Box schoolchildren performing maypole dancing in the Market Place carpark. This was the first year of a Saturday night banquet which had a Victorian Music Hall theme, featuring a striptease rendition of Jerusalem. And the Revels helped to pay off the loan raised for the school rebuilding.
Dressing up became an instant success. In 1985 the village celebrated 150 years since the start of work on Box Tunnel. The event stretched out throughout the village with a ghost-sit for two brave souls in the Blind House and Box schoolchildren performing maypole dancing in the Market Place carpark. This was the first year of a Saturday night banquet which had a Victorian Music Hall theme, featuring a striptease rendition of Jerusalem. And the Revels helped to pay off the loan raised for the school rebuilding.
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The banquet allowed people to demonstrate attributes. Above left, back to basics in the Wild West of 1992
and above right cheerleaders show off their pompoms
and above right cheerleaders show off their pompoms
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Parades of adults and children featured regularly. Above left strong girls and above right the infamous cowpie parade.
Who Do You Think You Were?
Many famous celebrities have graced the Revels with their presence over the years. Many were look-alikees but there were some real ones, including John Blashford-Snell at the Jungle Revels at Stonar School, John Hartog director of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School presented plays on Sunday nights every year from 1988 to 1993, Phillippe Roy put on a banquet at Box House, and the Wimereux Hotair Balloon group flew over to sing three renditions of La Marseillaise in banquet of 1989.
Many famous celebrities have graced the Revels with their presence over the years. Many were look-alikees but there were some real ones, including John Blashford-Snell at the Jungle Revels at Stonar School, John Hartog director of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School presented plays on Sunday nights every year from 1988 to 1993, Phillippe Roy put on a banquet at Box House, and the Wimereux Hotair Balloon group flew over to sing three renditions of La Marseillaise in banquet of 1989.
Dr Livingstone in 1988
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Dr Burke and Miss Hair didn't amuse Queen Victoria in the Victorian Revels of 1985.
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There was quite a lot of jolly hockey sticks and misbehaviour in the 1993 Dennis the Menace Revels.
Orgies, the Way We Partied Then
In case our children and grandchildren think they invented bad behaviour, here is the proof that Bacchanalian excesses existed a generation ago.
In case our children and grandchildren think they invented bad behaviour, here is the proof that Bacchanalian excesses existed a generation ago.
The glory that was Box and probably led to the fall of the Roman Empire in 1987.
Distinguished Visitors
A number of celebrities have graced the events with their presence, including Gus the Gorilla, a number of budding Picassos
(I wonder if that's Tracey Emin?) and quite a lot of the French nation having another go at Conquest in 1989.
A number of celebrities have graced the events with their presence, including Gus the Gorilla, a number of budding Picassos
(I wonder if that's Tracey Emin?) and quite a lot of the French nation having another go at Conquest in 1989.
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And, of course, there were many important organisers, helpers and workers who laboured so hard to make the events successful.
The World Dropped in Too
We got front page promotion in the local press, thanks mostly to Trevor Porter (seen in brown leather jacket below).
We got front page promotion in the local press, thanks mostly to Trevor Porter (seen in brown leather jacket below).
In fact, in 1989 we hit the regional press when the famous cartoonist Jack Pennington illustrated the Revels and brought us to wider recognition.
Marcus Pennington Added
Dad used to live at the top of Box Hill, in No-Notion Lane, and went to Box School during WWII. Sadly he died in May 2006.
Marcus and his twin brother Darren are continuing their father's design and cartoon work and you can see some of their wonderfully funny and slightly anarchaic designs at http://www.penningtondesign.co.uk/pages/cartoon-gallery.html
Marcus Pennington Added
Dad used to live at the top of Box Hill, in No-Notion Lane, and went to Box School during WWII. Sadly he died in May 2006.
Marcus and his twin brother Darren are continuing their father's design and cartoon work and you can see some of their wonderfully funny and slightly anarchaic designs at http://www.penningtondesign.co.uk/pages/cartoon-gallery.html
Extracts courtesy Western Daily Press and Pennington family
Fun For All
Above all, Box Revels has put on family fun for all generations, particularly focussing on children. After ten years the event had taken on a life of its own with Banquet on Saturday night, tea and village walk on Sunday afternoon, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School play on Sunday evening, children's fun run on Monday morning, Revels Fair on Monday afternoon and Teenage Disco on Sunday evening.
Above all, Box Revels has put on family fun for all generations, particularly focussing on children. After ten years the event had taken on a life of its own with Banquet on Saturday night, tea and village walk on Sunday afternoon, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School play on Sunday evening, children's fun run on Monday morning, Revels Fair on Monday afternoon and Teenage Disco on Sunday evening.
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But Mis-Behaviour at the Banquet
The outcome of a boys knobbly-knees competition brought out the very worst behaviour from our parish elders and responsible adults. Ah, those were the days!!
The outcome of a boys knobbly-knees competition brought out the very worst behaviour from our parish elders and responsible adults. Ah, those were the days!!
The original line-up ...
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... until the ladies got involved ...
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... bringing out the worst in mankind ...
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... a lot of agony ...
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... and eventually taking over.
Where Have They Gone?
Well, of course these times were a generation ago when we were all much younger. But the memories burn very brightly of the people of Box enjoying themselves as a community and raising money for local causes. May the Revels long continue !
Well, of course these times were a generation ago when we were all much younger. But the memories burn very brightly of the people of Box enjoying themselves as a community and raising money for local causes. May the Revels long continue !
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The First Decade
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Year
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 |
Theme
Medieval Revels Victorian Revels Box-on-Sea Revels Roman Revels Jungle Revels French Revels-ution Sports Revels King Arthur's Revels USA Revels Dennis the Menace Revels Channel Tunnel Revels |
Where
Market Place Market Place Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec Box Rec |
Banquet
- Selwyn Hall Selwyn Hall Selwyn Hall Stonar School Box House Selwyn Hall Selwyn Hall Selwyn Hall Selwyn Hall Selwyn Hall |
Bristol Old Vic Plays
- - - - The Beggar's Opera Twelfth Night The Recruiting Officer The Canterbury Tales The Three Musketeers A Midsummer Night's Dream - |
We would love to hear from you if you have any memories or photos of the Revels, especially the years that you recall best. And we welcome any comments from children and grandchildren who are shocked and amazed at the behaviour of their relatives !!!