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Rose Queen(1934) Sceptre Bearer

Tom & Frank(1937) Outside Earlestown Station Can you spot the Belisha Beacon?

Tom 2002

1. In the thirties ordinary folk were still seriously affected by the depression. It seems that a part of the fightback was to dress up children for processions. There was an annual "Rose Queen" and a "Walking Day" for which all the local churches and Sunday Schools processed with banners and marching bands. The banners were huge and required strong young men to carry them with some small help from eight privileged younger church members holding on to ribbons acting as guy ropes. This "procession of witness" took place in the middle of June. The weather could be hot, in which case as we walked we searched out the bubbles which formed in the tarred road surface. The tarmac was more tar than mac. Another annual event took place in the neighbouring village of Burtonwood. This was called a carnival consisting of a number of "floats". As a family we walked the three or four miles to see this marvel. The carnival was due to take place again in 2002. Would it have seemed as wonderful now as it did then? 2. The two smart looking brothers, Tom and Frank are dressed in their best complete with school caps of the District CE school. At that time the school was "all-age" but from there I went to the local grammar school at 11+ years. (World war II started almost the same day). School caps were far too posh but despite cat calls we wore them with pride and put up with being known as "Earlestown Dirty Shirts" because of the cap's monogram EDS (Earlestown District School). Both lads became Maths/PE teachers in secondary schools and both became Councillors but in different parties in different parts of the country. Tom went full circle at the District school (primary) years later by being Chair of governors for some years.Tom did another full circle starting his working life in December 1944 as a junior clerk in Earlestown Town Hall and at the time of dismantling he UDC's had become elected leader of the Council. The Office Boy's salary was19/- (95p) per week rising the following April to 22/- (£1.10). Perhaps more interesting in the photograph is the Belisha Beacon introduced by Hore Belisha in 1934 along with the driving test. I remember the nickname Horrible Isha was in circulation.The date of the photograph could be 1937 since it would have taken a couple of years for the first appearance of a pedestrian crossing with its beacon. The procession may have been for the Coronation Day of George VI..

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©Tom Forber
Date Last Modified: 20/Sept /2003