Jubilee joy...

ON SATURDAY, July 19, 1912, to celebrate the Co-op jubilee, nearly 3,000 children took part in a parade through the town, starting from New Road and finishing in Town View Field.

Special trains brought the children from Milnthorpe, Heversham, Sandside, Burneside and Staveley, while children from Endmoor were brought by charabanc.

The Morecambe Silver Band met the special trains at Kendal Station and the children were marched to New Road, where a procession was formed with the younger ones being carried on charabancs and lorries.

The procession moved promptly at 2.30pm along Aynam Road, Highgate, Finkle Street, Stramongate, Station Road and Sandes Avenue to Maudes Meadow.

The special feature of the parade was two decorated lorries on which were exhibited "productions of the Co-operative Wholesale Society."

The police kept Maude Street absolutely clear of traffic until the children had moved into Maudes Meadow and then on to the adjoining Town View Field, kindly lent by Mr R. Pennington, for the purpose of providing the huge crowd with tea.

There each child was presented with a mug as a souvenir of the occasion, a bag of cakes and a packet of sweets.

Once tea was served, the adults were admitted to take part in the festivities and, during that period, the Kendal Borough Band played "pleasing selections" of music.

After the refreshments, the general public were admitted to the field with between 5,000 and 6,000 availing themselves of the opportunity of being present.

A troupe of Bolton Pierrots delighted young and old with their entertainments while the "younger ones" were amused with a Punch & Judy show.

Sports and other competitive activities were enjoyed before bands played music for dancing at regular intervals.

Do any of you still have one of the commemorative mugs that may have been passed down through their family?

If so, please contact Derek Kingwell, c/o The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright's Yard, Kendal, LA9 4DP. Mark your envelope Jubilee mug'.