The Council, at their July meeting, gave permission for the Rose Day processionists
to meet in Spencer Park and to return there after the procession.
| Alexandra Rose Day is a charitable fund raising event held in the United Kingdom since 1912. It was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival in 1862, of Princess Alexandra, the consort of King Edward VII, from her native Denmark to the UK, for their wedding in 1863. The Queen requested that the anniversary be marked by the sale of roses in London to raise funds for her favourite charities.
The first event raised £32,000, the funds raised were a great benefit to hospitals, and the annual drive became an institution, one of the chief attractions of London's summer, with Queen Alexandra as the star. Her last Rose Day was 1923, the 60th anniversary of her marriage. She died two years later, in 1925.
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Postcard by C F Chapman - 'Rose Day 11th July 1914' written on the back
Queen Alexandra's picture is on the collection tins. |
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Rushden Argus, 17th July 1914, transcribed by John Collins
Rushden’s Rose Day - A Charming Effort for the Hospital
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Lady Leaders
The depot at the Royal Theatre. Outside the palings are Mrs J F Knight, president, on the left, and Mrs T Patenall (Mayoress of Higham Ferrers)
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“Rose Day” at Rushden on Saturday was a very pretty and pleasing effort on behalf of the Northampton Hospital, and a large sum of money was raised for this institution.
From early morning, almost before the sun had melted the sombre mists, a small army of young ladies was out laden with roses with which to tempt the passer-by. Hardly a spot was unpatrolled; there was no means of escape. More than one, on coming downstairs in the morning, saw in their doorways, visions of white behind a pile of little pink roses. Ubiquitous in their movements and winning in their ways, the dainty vendors sold their goods at a gallop. And it was just the merriest of markets in which buyer and seller seemed always well satisfied.
And when the sun shone forth in all its dazzling effulgence, the town was gay with flags and decorations, and many tradesmen contributed to the picture with delightful arrangements of roses in their window displays.
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Rose Sellers
Mrs Robinson (secretary), seated right of the table, and Mr and Mrs Nichols, standing opposite her. On the other side of the table, Mr and Mrs H O Miller, and three charming rose sellers are upon the steps.
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“Queen of the Roses”
The decorated group which secured first prize in the parade
Photos by Chapman
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Floral Procession
The floral procession was the great feature of the event. The assembly was in Spencer Road at two o’clock, where the judging took place. The competing groups and individuals were interspersed with the bands which took part in the parade. The Rushden Temperance Band under Mr Fred Robinson was at the head; about middle way there was the Rushden Rifle Band under Mr E Whitworth; and the Wellingborough-road Mission Band under Bandmaster J Wildman was at the rear. The Rushden CLB (St Peter’s and St Mary’s) with their bugle band were under Capt A T Nichols and Lieut W Bailey, the Rev P J Richards MA (chaplain), also accompanying them. There was a number of boy scouts in charge of Assistant Scoutmaster W Hall, Corpl G Ambridge and Ptes F Pashler, E Whiteman, and W Burgess represented the St John Ambulance Corps.
The route taken was High-street, Newton-road, Park-road, Griffith-street, High-street, Skinners Hill, Wellingborough-road, Washbrook-road, back to the Park. The marshals were Councillor L Perkins, Mr W W Rial, M S Saddler, Mr J Claridge, Mr J T Coulson, and Mr S Fox.
Prize Winners
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An Arrest
Miss Clipson “buttonholing” PC Smith with an Alexandra Rose
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The first prize in the class for groups in vehicles or on foot went to a charming get-up with the title of “Queen of the Roses”. The “Queen” was enthroned beneath a dainty bower and around her clustered a happy band of little maidens wreathed in roses. The vehicle was also artistically treated. The St John Ambulance were accorded the second place with merit. There were three patients – one in bed, the other two convalescent – and attending them in uniform were nursing sisters Mrs Hewitt, Mrs Mantle, Mrs Webb, and Mrs Ladds, and First-class Sergt Prigmore. The other vehicles were of such a high order that all were highly commended. In the remaining classes, for individuals on foot and with bicycles, many charming and novel creations came before the judges, who had some little difficulty in deciding the awards.
The judges were Mr and Mrs J S Clipson, Mr and Mrs J Claridge, Mr and Mrs L Perkins, Mr and Mrs S Fox, and Mr and Mrs W W Rial. The Parade
The following were the judges’ awards in the parade:-
Decorated group – 1 “Queen of Roses” Miss Nellie Flavell “Queen”; 2 St John Ambulance; hc “Canterberry Bells”, “The Months”, and Higham-road Band.
Decorated individual (girls) – Equal 1 Muriel Orrell, “Flower Fairy” and Lucy Boddington, “Garland of Flowers”; equal 2 Dorothy Geary, “Crimson Rambler”, and Dolly Nichols “Daisy”; hc Millie Percival and Millie Bailey, “Sunflowers”, Dorothy Clark, “Poppies”, and Beatrice Whitworth, “Sunflowers”.
Decorated individual (boys) – 1 Eric Sharwood, “Sunflower”; 2 Frank Jones “Sailor”.
Decorated cycles (girls) – 1 Effie Claridge, “Dorothy Perkins”; 2 Stella Collins, “Paper Roses”; 3 Hilda Gates, “Rambler”.
Decorated perambulator or mailcart – 1 Winnie Whiting and baby.
The ceremony of prizegiving was gracefully performed by Mrs Hugh Sartoris, the ambulance vehicle being used as a platform. Supporting Mrs Sartoris were Mrs T Patenall (Mayoress of Higham Ferrers), Mrs J F Knight and Mr J S Clipson (Chairman of the Rushden Urban Council).
The prizes having been handed out, Mrs Patenall proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Sartoris for coming to perform the ceremony. The name of Sartoris, she said, had always been and was still highly honoured in Rushden (Hear, hear). The late Mrs Sartoris would be remembered for the kindly interest she took in anything for the welfare of the town and particularly for her work amongst the sick, and suffering. The Nursing Association had always had her hearty support. They were very pleased to welcome Mrs Hugh Sartoris to the old Hall and were glad it had not changed hands. It was kind of her, in spite of her many engagements, to be with them that afternoon. She had also to thank Mrs Knight for her great interest in the event, and Mrs Robinson, their secretary. She had known many ladies, but in this work Mrs Robinson excelled.
Mrs Sartoris: She takes the cake. (Laughter and applause).
The Higham Mayoress went on to say that the organisation had been done splendidly and in a manner extremely creditable. (Renewed applause).
Mr J S Clipson seconded. He believed this was the first occasion on which Mrs Sartoris had been with them, and they were most pleased to see her. He hoped she would carry on the traditions of the old name for many years to come. He also paid tribute to the support of Mrs Knight and the heroic work of their secretary.
The vote was accorded with applause and Mrs Sartoris, in a brief and happy reply, hoped the traditions of the family would be carried on and thanked them very much for their kind words. Mr Sartoris, she remarked, was playing cricket. She congratulated the prize-winners and said she thought it was splendid turn-out deserving of the greatest success (Applause).
Everyone was emphatic in ther praise of the way in which Mrs Walter Robinson had carried out the secretarial duties. One young lady, one of the band of rose sellers, became quite enthusiastic in speaking of Mrs Robinson. “She is a trump”, she said, “and she has been working like a nigger all day long”. The committee of ladies, who superintended the rose selling, also put heart and soul into the undertaking. They were Mesdames W Tomlinson, G Denton, J Claridge, W Woodward, Berry, A T Nichols, H O Miller, C Allen, E Dawson, and L Perkins. Mrs J F Knight, the president, and Mrs Patenall were active in there support, and Mr H O Miller’s services at “the seat of custom” in the capacity of treasurer were valuable. He counted the money with alacrity and at half-past six on Saturday he had handled £32. This day was the occasion of many kindnesses. Mr A Franklin had placed the royal Theatre at the disposal of the rose sellers during the day; the Co-operative society lent horses ad trolley, and gave service in the matter of decoration, in addition to clothing their own premises in a festive garb; and help in various shapes came from Messrs Collins and Co, Mr T Swindall, Messrs Tailby and Putnam, Mr W Scroxton, Mr A T Nichols, and Rushden Boy Scouts.
In the evening the Temperance Band played in Spencer Park.
The total collections amounted to £71, an exceedingly gratifying sum.
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| And another report from the rival newspaper: |
| Rushden Echo, 17th July 1914, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Alexandra Rose Day at Rushden - A Magnificent Effort for Northamptonshire Hospital
“Should bachelors be taxed?” has been a widely discussed question, but we doubt whether such a system has ever been tried, or whether it would be practicable even if it were. There are, however, we venture to say, few young gentlemen who would be averse to the methods adopted on Saturday at Rushden to coax from their pockets a portion of their hard-earned wealth. Man’s inheritance from his earliest progenitor is his susceptibility to the cajolery of the fair sex, and on Saturday quite 200 fair daughters of Eve went forth armed with this knowledge, and a substantial supply of Alexandra roses, determined to make Rushden’s second Rose Day a success. Every wile known to woman was used by the fair vendors in the disposal of their wares, and even the fact that a young gentleman wore in his buttonhole tangible evidence that he had already succumbed to feminine blandishments did not exempt him from being further importuned in the interests of the County Hospital. And be it said that in most cases a further coin was forthcoming, and dainty fingers affixed yet another floral emblem of charity to the lapel of the purchaser’s coat. Let it not be thought, however, that the single young men were the only “victims,” even those who have been “bought and paid for” – not inferring they have been “sold” – were waylaid on their way home with their wages and induced to part with a fraction of the housekeeping money, and even such as had already parted with their weekly salary to their better halves were persuaded to spend their Saturday half-pennies on the little artificial pink blossoms.
Several of the tradesmen of the town assisted in the work of benevolence by effective window displays of the emblem, so it is little to be wondered at that by 9 p.m. Mr. H. O. Miller, who presided at the receipt of custom, viz., the Vestry Hall, had received nearly £50. A very large measure of praise is due to the secretary, Mrs. Walter Robinson, to whose commendable tact and ability as an organiser the success of the effort was largely due. Mrs. Robinson spared no pains nor energy to make the day a record in every sense of the word, and were it not for the fact that similar functions were being held in other towns, there is not a shadow of a doubt that her laudable desire would have been realised. We understand that the clash with Wellingborough’s effort was quite unavoidable, and we therefore consider the final result achieved by a town the size of Rushden as being very creditable indeed.
It was a happy innovation to introduce a floral procession, and although the entries for this part of the day’s proceedings were not so numerous as one might desire, we trust that the feature will be continued in future functions of a similar character.
Although the energetic flower-sellers had been pushing their wares from about 6.30 a.m.,
THE “OFFICIAL” PROGRAMME
of the day did not start until nearly 3 p.m., when a procession was formed in Spencer Park, comprising the competitors for the various prizes offered by the committee.
The bodies represented were:- The Rushden Temperance Band (conducted by Mr. Fred Robinson), the Rushden Rifle Band (under Mr. E. Whitworth), the Rushden Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade (which included Corpl. G. Ambridge and Privates F. Pashler, E. Whiteman and W. Burgess, the Nursing sisters, Mrs. Hewitt, Mrs. Mantle, Mrs. Webb, and Mrs. Ladds, in the charge of First-Class Sergt. Prigmore, the combined C.L.B. of St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s Churches, under Chaplain the Rev. P. J. Richards, M.A., Capt. A. T. Nichols and Lieut. W. Bailey, the Rushden Boy Scouts, under Assistant Scout Master W. Hall, and Rushden Mission Band (conducted by Mr. J. Wildman).
The judging, which took place in Spencer Park prior to the procession, was carried out by the following ladies and gentlemen, the gentlemen also acting as marshals for the procession:- Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Clipson, Mr. and Mrs. John Claridge, Mr. and Mrs. L. Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. S. Fox, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Rial, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Colson.
The route of the procession was as follows:- Spencer Park, High-street, Newton-road, Park-road, Griffith-street, High-street, Skinner’s-hill, Wellingborough-road, and Washbrook-road, back to the Park.
Mrs. A. H. Sartoris graciously presented the prizes.
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