Brockham Village Green has been the focal point for Royal Celebrations for over one hundred years. Well documented are the Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria and more recently, (25 years ago) the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Queen Elizabeth.

Such Royal Celebrations are an important chapter in the life and times of Brockham and we have taken the opportunity of reproducing some of the notes and recollections from each one. We hope you find them interesting.

From the Brockham Parish News:

1897 - The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria

1935 - Royal Silver Jubilee Celebrations, King George V

1953 - Coronation Celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll

1977 - Silver Jubilee Celebrations, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria

In Brockham, the commemoration of our gracious Queen’s prosperous reign for sixty years began with a Thanksgiving Service in Brockham Church on Sunday June 20th. A special form of prayer and thanksgiving, drawn up by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and special hymns recommended by our own Bishop were used. The Vicar preached both morning and evening, and founding his discourses on the texts - “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Peter ii 17). “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s (St Mathews,xxii 21), he pointed out several most important subjects that should engage our prayerful attention at the present time.

When Morning Prayer was ended, the west door of the Church was opened, and the Vicar, choir and congregation proceeded through it to the churchyard to dedicate a little oak tree that had been planted there a few days before as a memorial of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The tree was planted in the south west corner of the Churchyard about nine feet from either wall, and in the exact corner stood a large flag, the Royal Standard, kindly lent by Mr Kempe. Underneath the Royal Standard the Vicar took his position, and on either side of him the choir in their robes stood in the form of the letter V, with the tree in the centre, and the whole congregation standing at the open side of the letter next the Church. The service commenced with the hymn 279, “O God our help in ages past”. Then followed a short reading of Holy Scripture, Genesis xxvii. 16 - 22; and then an address pointing out the custom in all ages of setting up memorials of great events, and adding it was a most pleasing thought that we had set up that day, not a dead memorial of metal or stone to one who had been taken from us; but a living memorial to a living Queen who still dwelt among her people. Long may she reign and be a blessing to her people. The address was followed by prayer, and the service concluded with hymn 550, “All people that on earth do dwell.

Ewer for the Font

On that auspicious day, June 20th a new Ewer for the Font was presented to our Church by Mr and Mrs Kempe as a thank you offering and memorial of our Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Ewer is a beautiful one, polished brass, the lid surmounted by a neat cross, and the base standing on a carved oak pedestal. Needless to say it forms quite another ornament in our beautiful little Church, and all of us who give to God’s service our most beautiful and our best will join the Vicar in thanking Mr and Mrs Kempe very heartily for their kind gift.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

In last months magazine we gave a short account to the decision of Brockham to commemorate the above event by placing a new clock in the Church Tower. A few days after our Magazine appeared a meeting of the Jubilee Commemoration Committee was called and the facts of the case before them. It appeared there had been no adequate response to the Committee’s circular, only £4 being promised. Mr Kempe also said that he thought with careful watching and the supply of a few new movements, the present clock might possibly keep good time for the next 60 years. These statements determined the Committee to abandon the idea of a new clock so they called a second public meeting and advised the inhabitants of Brockham to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by sports and tea upon the Brockham Green, and this was finally decided upon. As the writer of these notes was not in Brockham on June 22nd he gladly avails himself to the following description, by an eyewitness, of the manner in which this decision was carried into effect.

“Our little village was quite en fete last Tuesday, when Brockham celebrated, what is commonly known as Jubilee day. The houses round the green and elsewhere were made quite gay with bunting and flags of all descriptions, and everyone did their best to prove their loyalty and show their sympathy with the undertaking.

At a very early hour the Green was being marked out for the sports which were to commence at 1 o’clock, and many busy helpers at a large barn kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Constable, doing their very best for a good tea for the whole of Brockham. Kind friends brought flowers and greenery, which was tastefully arranged on the tables, whilst others made the barn look festive with bunting and flowers; many were cutting up bread and butter, cake and so forth, so that all thanks is due to the many kind helpers who were very ready to help in this way, and so helped to add to the day’s enjoyments.

It is sad Brockham has no bells to peal forth on these occasions, but the day may come when its peal may be heard for miles around, so we had to be content in listening to distant merry peals and fancying they were ours.

The morning was a beautifully cool balmy one, and the flags floated quietly but majestically in the breeze, but as the hours went by and 12 o’clock arrived the sun shone in its full splendour and everyone remarked “this is really Queen’s weather” and as the day wore on the heat grew and grew and everyone longed for a few more trees on the Green to give more shade. At 1 o’clock, or shortly after, the sports began and were kept up most energetically until 6 o’clock. Many of the races and tugs-of-war were watched with great interest, and one felt sorry there were no more entries in the women’s races, for as there is more novelty in seeing women run, one would have liked to see 20 or more all start together

The band arrived at 3 o’clock, and at once began to sound forth its Jubilee music, which was well kept up until 9 o’clock when it had to be carried back to Town from whence it came with the report that the Royal Pageant had passed off splendidly with no accident, let or hindrance of any kind.

At 4 o’clock there was a move made to the barn for tea and everyone seemed thoroughly to enjoy the meal, there being plenty of tea and plenty to eat and plenty of kind helpers to make everyone welcome; the tea was kept going until after 6 o’clock.

The prizes for the sports were kindly given away by Mrs McClenaghan at 6 o’clock, and the days proceedings were brought to a close by a Torchlight Procession round the Green with a display of rockets, and punctually at 10 o’clock the remaining torches were thrown onto a heap to make a small bonfire, and all the party sang most lustily, God save the Queen. So ended a very happy day in the annals of Brockham.

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Brockham’s Week of Festivities – Royal Silver Jubilee Celebrations, 6th May to 12th May 1935 - His Majesty King George V and Her Majesty Queen Mary

A number of memorable events marked the Royal Silver Jubilee at Brockham, which concluded on Saturday evening with the second of two grand variety entertainments.

On Saturday morning the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service was held at Christ Church Brockham, and in the afternoon there was a United Service of Thanksgiving on the Village Green.

Old People’s Supper

On Wednesday evening of last week, between sixty and seventy elderly people over the age of 65 were entertained to supper in the Village Hall. Mr W Anning and the Vicar (the Rev F.G. Ward) were among the guests and acted as Chairman and announcer respectively. The Village Hall members had made themselves responsible for the excellent supper arrangements, and performed the duties of waiters, while the following ladies prepared the supper and assisted with the serving: Mrs Finch, Miss D Finch, Miss Luff, Mrs Gale, Mrs Bell, Mrs A. T. Jones, Mrs Burnett and Mrs F Bowrey.

The Vicar as Chairman of the Jubilee Committee extended a hearty welcome to the guests and read the reply of their Majesties to the telegram of congratulations sent on Monday. He referred to the presence there of Mr and Mrs Wicks of Gadbrook and Mr Corkill who had already celebrated their Diamond Wedding Jubilees and read the message of congratulations with which Mr and Mrs Wicks had been personally honoured from the King and Queen. Mr Anning proposed the health of their Majesties, which was drunk with musical honours.

After the concert which followed Mr Anning proposed a vote of thanks to the artistes, the entertainment concluded with “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.

Smoking Concert

The men of the village were invited by the Jubilee Celebrations Committee to a Smoking Concert in the Village Hall. The Hall was full to capacity and a jolly programme was provided. The programme and general arrangements were managed by the Brockham branch of the British Legion.

Variety Concert

Brockham’s week of Jubilee festivities concluded of Friday and Saturday evening with two grand variety entertainments of unusual interest and joviality. Mrs G Rickett, who had been responsible for so many successful amateur shows, had surpassed herself in collecting together a striking array of talent in honour of the occasion. The Rev. F.G. Ward, in proposing a vote of thanks, spoke of the wonderful way in which Mrs Rickett had stirred everyone with her enthusiasm, and so had contrived and carried through such a grand finale to the weeks celebrations.

Jubilee Thanksgiving Service

On Saturday morning in Christ Church Brockham the official Jubilee Thanksgiving Service was held. In his sermon, the Vicar talked of the principle of service and that this principle was the ideal of our King, who at his Jubilee dedicated himself anew to the service of his people.

United Service on the Village Green

In the afternoon a United Service of thanksgiving was held on the Village Green, and was attended by a very large congregation. Before the service commenced the Vicar read the reply to the telegram of congratulations sent to the King and Queen by the villagers on Jubilee Day. At the end of the service, after the National Anthem had been sung, the Vicar said that however unusual such a proceeding at such a service, he was going to ask them to give cheers to the King and Queen. The congregation responded very heartily, led by the Vicar himself. Collections were made at both services in aid of the King’s Jubilee Trust Fund.

Sports

Various sport activities took place on the Village Green, 100 yards for boys and girls, a sack race for boys under 14, a three-legged race for girls 10 -14, a relay race for boys under 14 and a 50 yard run for boys under 7. In addition a Tug-O’-War for both men and women, a ladies bargain race, cycle relays, a men and ladies 100 yard race, a band race, a consolation race, a slow cycle race, novelty racing for ladies, a veterans race and a fathers’ pram race

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Coronation Celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll - Tuesday 2nd June 1953

Celebrations began on the Village Green at 9.30 am with an open air Church Service conducted by the Rev. Anthony West. After lunch, festivities continued with a Carnival Procession. Mrs Rickett’s Novel Band led the procession to the Green where proceedings were opened with the playing of the National Anthem. Entries in the procession were judged and prizes distributed by Mrs Rickett. For the remainder of the afternoon village children took part in a range of sporting competitions. Children took tea, in three sittings in the Village Hall. Every child under the age of 12 was given a Coronation mug that they had to collect from a tent on the Green during the afternoon. At 5.00pm a novelty cricket match began on the Green. This was followed by an exhibition of May Pole and Square Dancing by the children of Way House. After the dancing adults began their sporting competitions. A prize giving ceremony, with prizes being given by the Rev. West, followed this. The evening concluded with a dance in the Village Hall. The Queen’s speech was relayed at 9.00pm

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Silver Jubilee Celebrations, Saturday 11th June 1977 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll

Heralded by a fanfare and bugles and a roll of drums from the St John Ambulance cadet band, the Brockham and Strood Green jubilee procession set off from the Avenue. Despite dark skies and a keen wind the colourful assortment of 14 floats carrying scores of jubilant children was led by two young outriders astride patriotically-painted clown’s bicycles, made by Mr Oliver West and painted by Mr John Bevan, both from Strood Green.

Brockham Scouts looked swashbuckling as pirates on their rusty ship “The Scarlet Gnome”, Brockham Green Fire Brigade, junior section, clanged along in their tractor-towed engine, while the ecclesiastically-themed Parish Fellowship float, complete with Vicar, communicated with the heavens to hold off the rain for as long as possible. The eye-catching 40-foot monster caterpillar with its giant smiling head bedecked with jubilee regalia and propelled by 15 gents from Brockham Green Bonfire Committee won first place in the parade. Second equal came Brockham Green Horticultural Society’s “Top of the Crops” and Brockham Scouts and Ranger Guides. The top trio all won Jubilee Crowns.

The procession ended up on Brockham Green where Mr Bernard Johnston, Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, resplendent in traditional costume, complete with sword, opened the celebrations.

A real carnival atmosphere defied the weather - there were so many children completing in the sports it became impossible to record the winners. Sixty dozen eggs were thrown at members of Brockham Bonfire Committee in their pillory stocks, while throngs of people enjoyed the side shows from a coconut shy to miniature golf.

For aeronautical enthusiasts there were models of helicopters and planes, aircraft remains discovered by Surrey and Sussex Aviation Club and the Rolls Royce of Mr Paul Jameson’s monster motor.

As a souvenir of the day every child between the ages of 4 and 12 in Brockham and Strood Green was given a Jubilee mug, the cash coming from a £5 donation from every local businessman, trader and craftsman.

Said the Chairman of the Jubilee Committee, Mr Tony Hines, “No-one turned us down at all, they financed the whole day.” He was very satisfied with the day’s events: “It was very successful and I’m very pleased. The rain did not really matter – there were about a thousand people there.”

The day was rounded off by a barn dance in the Village Hall for 250 hungry revellers. Organisers cooked 300 frankfurters and 100 beef burgers on the Halls small gas stove

Other attractions included an Art Exhibition and sale; a Historical Exhibition; Donkey Rides; a Fortune Teller; a display by Brockham Harness Club; Punch and Judy Show; Tug O’ War; and a Grand Raffle.

The celebrations were organised by a number of committees: Finance, headed by Mr Les Copley, organisation of events on the Village Green, by the Ground Committee under Mrs Joan Benns; special events under Mr Eric Simons and Miss Alison Huxley; while Mr Mick Bent, Miss Christine Pearsall, the Reverend Anthony West, and Secretary Mrs Goodlift all helped.

Brockham’s Christ Church also played its part. A magnificent flower festival depicting the royal residences was staged in the church, and on Sunday a giant sized congregation crammed in to hear a jubilee service conducted by the Reverend Anthony West which was relayed over the green to the crowds outside.

Tony Hine MBE

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