Social Photos Photos Augustus F Perren February 2025
This amazing photograph shows the Friendly Societies gathering before parading from a special service at Box Church before parading for celebratory events at Fete Fiield (now Bargates). The banner in the foreground belongs to the Bold Robin Hood Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters with a committee members bearing a ceremonial sword and mace. A band marches between the two banners.
The second banner carries the Foresters motto saying "Go thou and do likewise", which repeats Christ's words in the parable about showing mercy and compassion to those in need. (Luke 10:37). The year is uncertain but probably 1897 as part of the year longl celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee when the village subscribed to have a clock installed in the tower of the recently built Box Schools (see below).
The second banner carries the Foresters motto saying "Go thou and do likewise", which repeats Christ's words in the parable about showing mercy and compassion to those in need. (Luke 10:37). The year is uncertain but probably 1897 as part of the year longl celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee when the village subscribed to have a clock installed in the tower of the recently built Box Schools (see below).
The fete procession gathering at Fete Field (now Bargates). Notice the wooden hut at the entrance collecting funds from visitors to donate to the Royal United Hospitals, Bath. Tents and caravans on the field were for amusements and fun.
Augustus kept the village summary of the 21 June 1897 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. The details left record that, as well as the Foresters Friendly Society, the procession included the Northey Lodge of Oddfellows, the Wilts Friendly Society, the band of the 1st Volunteers Somerset Light Infantry and the Box Battalion. The original procession went from the Schools to Box Church for a special service led by the vicars of Ditteridge and Box. Thereafter it reassembled and processed to Fete Field where the Volunteers fired a royal salute and led three cheers to the Queen. There a lunchtime dinner was served to all adults over the age of 15 years and later an afternoon tea was given to children at 3pm. Men employed on the railway and parishioners unable to be present had dinner sent to them. Sports races for adults and children and prize-giving followed the afternoon tea, as did dancing and amusements. After 9 o'clock residents found their way to Kingsdown where Augustus received special praise for his work in co-ordinating the lighting of a bonfire at 10pm accompanied by the firing of signal rockets.
The accounts (above right) show that subscriptions mounted to £145.18s but that was sufficient to pay for the band, food, prizes, drinks, tents, tab;e hire, and fireworks. There was a profit made on the event of £2.7s.11d.
The accounts (above right) show that subscriptions mounted to £145.18s but that was sufficient to pay for the band, food, prizes, drinks, tents, tab;e hire, and fireworks. There was a profit made on the event of £2.7s.11d.
Postscript
There are more photos of the 1897 festivities at Celebrations. These may well have been taken by Augustus but were not included in the family photo album passed on to Simon's family.
There are more photos of the 1897 festivities at Celebrations. These may well have been taken by Augustus but were not included in the family photo album passed on to Simon's family.