A look back in time to Coronation Day in Slip End

The ladies (and gents) who prepared the teas at the Village Hall. Slip End.
All together there were four sittings; Front Street were 1st,
Summer Street were 2nd, Church Road next and then Woodside and Pepperstock.
 
Peter Edwards and brothers with their float. The ladies - Sally Ginger,
Helen Martin and May Keens.
 
Slip End Working Men's Club parading through the village.
 
Waiting at the crossroads for the parade.
 

Photo taken at the Silver Jubilee 1977 .
There was a huge party at the village hall - can you recognize anyone?
 
Children from 14, 15 and 16 Rossway - enjoying the celebrations.

 


THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE MESSAGE

Prince Philip and I have been deeply touched by the many kind messages about the Golden Jubilee.

This anniversary is for us an occasion to acknowledge with gratitude the loyalty and support which we have received from so many people since I came to the Throne in 1952. It is especially an opportunity to thank all those of you who help others in your own local communities through public or voluntary service. I would like to think that your work will be particularly recognised during this Jubilee year.

I hope also that this time of celebration in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth will not simply be an occasion to be nostalgic about the past. I believe that, young or old, we have as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride.

I send my warmest good wishes to you all.

ELIZABETH R. 6th February, 2002.

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

DUNSTABLE TOWN COUNCIL

 

Saturday 1st

Proms in the Park in Grove House Gardens

8 – 10pm followed by Firework Finale

FREE

Sunday 2nd

Civic Service at Priory Church 3p.m.

Band Concert by The Aircrew (Glen Miller style)

Grove House Gardens 5 – 7pm

FREE

Monday 3rd

Priory Bellringers attempt a full peal

From 9.30a.m.

Dunstable Battle of the Bands final

Grove House Gardens 7 – 11p.m.

FREE


SLIP END TENNIS CLUB
We are delighted to announce that the renovation work on our tennis courts is now complete. On Monday 20th May the repainted posts were replaced in their sockets and the new nets secured to provide the finishing touch. The courts even felt as though they had been made more springy under foot. The photographs that we took show the courts back in their true colours. All we need now is a good long hot summer.

We must take this opportunity to thank the Slip End Parish Council for enabling us to complete the payment to the contractors. We still have to pay back a loan of £1500 to the Bedfordshire Playing Fields Association, which needs to come from membership fees. So if you've been thinking about playing again, now is great time to come down and join us as you can take advantage of a really good playing surface.

We will be running a Play Tennis Day in June - so look out for the posters that will appear. If you would like to join us then give Peter a ring on 01582 733253. If you would like to know about our coaching sessions just give Sally a ring on 01582 413501. If you would like to watch some tennis our home matches are on Wednesdays in June starting at 7 p.m.


MURIEL
My report about the hall this month is again not much as the meeting is not until the end of this month owing to various other uses of the hall. I feel that I must at least try and put in something especially as I was approached today by a young mother, who said that surely I didn't expect her children to go down Peter Edwards Playing Field with the world as it is today. Well, of course I was inclined to agree with her and I would never have wanted to offend any mother as I have had a large growing family myself, and in their young years the troubles in the world regarding paedophiles was practically non existent. Well, at least the knowledge about such people. So, let me say sorry, if I have emphasised about Peter Edwards Playing Field area and I am led to believe that the car park is nice and easy to skate on. Ok, that's a fair statement, but who will foot the costs when the concrete comes up and if anyone is injured through that happening, who compensates the victim. Really, I cannot suggest anything for the youngsters of where to go and enjoy themselves in this village. It's sad that we have no youth club, like years ago as I do feel that would be interesting for the youngsters. Then again who knows. The mother said its a funny world, certainly put me in my place and I respect that and if there was anything at all that I could personally do to help the youth of the village I would do it. How about you young ladies doing a job or two for the elderly in the village? Pay them a visit and listen about the good old days as I can assure you you would all have an interesting evening. Years ago I had evenings for the young ladies in the village and the girls looked forward in those days listening to tales about the earlier years. Perhaps you youngsters have suggestions, if so well let me know and we will try and sort out some requests, if they aren't too stupid. Well I will close this letter and mothers - do not worry about my suggestions anymore, as this young mother of three certainly made me realise how right she is. Thanks mum and she knows who she is.


WOMENS INSTITUTE
(received very late so a condensed version, unfortunately.) After the Annual General Meeting this month, Lorna Kawz was appointed as our new Madame President. Good Luck Lorna. After refreshments Jasmin and Barn, Belly Dancing sisters entertained us.
The venue for our monthly meetings on the third Tuesday in the month from 7.30 to 10.00 in June and thereafter will be held at Caddington Baptist Church Hall.
See you there Patricia Crick

 


ST. ANDREW'S EVENTS COMMITTEE
For those who do not know, we are planning an Open Gardens event in Slip End. This will be on Saturday 13th July and will be open to the whole Village.
We have had some entries received but we are still hoping for a few more. Now that you have started putting your bedding plants in, I'm sure your garden looks a treat, so how about letting other people see how lovely it looks.
Your garden does not need to be anything special, you just need to be enthusiastic and prepared to interest folks looking round. There will be a collection for charity and if anyone feels like offering refreshments or have a plant sale to raise extra money then that would also be very welcome. This is not a competition. We are, however, hoping to run a hanging basket competition at the same time, and again, anyone in the village is free to enter. Please contact Valerie Church, The Old Bakery, 2 Summer Street. (alternatively ring her on 458443) if you would like to join in this worthwhile event.


EDITORS COLUMN
Firstly, a special thank you to Mrs Keen for lending me her Coronation Day photographs to scan and to Janet Buttery for the use of her Special Souvenir Programme of the Coronation. I hope you all enjoyed the memories and the look back in time.
My verse for this month is about Gratitude - something we all seem to take for granted so thank you to everyone who has helped me in any way this month.
Editor

Show a little gratitude.

Show a little gratitude when
someone's helping you.
Go out of your way to say a little
word or two.
No reward is sweeter than a
thank you and a smile.
Compensated for trouble taken;
makes it seem worth while…..
Oftentimes we take for granted
all the kindliness -
of people near and dear to us.
By deed, word or caress -
we can show we know and notice and appreciate.
There's nothing half so sad as to remember this…. too late.

 

JUBILEE DAY

On Jubilee Day the Ramsbottoms
Asked all their relations to tea,
Including young Albert's Grandmother
An awkward old party were she.
She'd seen Queen Victoria's Jub'lee
And her weddin' to Albert the Good,
And got quite upset when young Albert
Asked how she'd got on in the Flood.

She cast quite a damper on t' party,
But cheered up a bit after tea
And gave Albert a real golden sov'rin
She'd saved since the last Jubilee.
It had picture of t' Queen on t' one side
And a dragon fight on the reverse;
It tasted of camphor and cobwebs
Through being so long in her purse.

Albert cuddled the coin and he kissed it,
And felt tho rough edge with his tongue,
For he knew by the look on his father
It wouldn't be his very long.
" Shall I get you your money-box, Albert ? "
Said Mother so coaxing and sweet,
And Albert let drop an expression
He must have picked up in the street.

" I'll show you a trick with that sov'rin,"
Said Pa, who were hovering near;
Then he took and pretended to eat it
And brought it back out of his ear.
This magic filled Albert wi' wonder,
And before you could say "Uncle Dick "
He'd got the coin back from his father
And performed the first part of the trick.

When they saw as he'd swallered his sov'rin
With excitement his relatives burned,
And each one suggested some process
For getting the money returned.
Some were for fishing wi' tweezers,
Some were for shaking it out;
If they only got back a few shillings
They said 'twould be better than nowt'

They tried holding Albert head downwards,
And giving his back a good thump;
Then his Uncle, who worked for a chemist,
Said " There's nowt for it but stummick pump."
They hadn't a stummick pump 'andy,
But Pa did the best that he could
With a bicycle pump as he'd borrowed,
But that weren't a ha'porth of good.

At the finish they sent for the Doctor,
Who looked down his throat through a glass,
And said "Aye, this'll mean operation,
I'm afraid as he'll have to have gas."
" How much is this 'ere going to cost us ?
" Said Father, beginning to squirm;
Said the Doctor " It comes quite expensive,
The gas will be eightpence a therm."

Then there's my time, four shillings an hour,
You can't do these things in two ticks;
By rights I should charge you a guinea,
But I'll do it for eighteen and six."
" What, eighteen and six to get sov'rin ? "
Said Father; "That doesn't sound sense.
I'll tell you what, you'd best keep Albert
And give me the odd eighteen-pence."

The Doctor concurred this arrangement
And to this day remains in some doubt
As to whether he's in eighteen shillings
Or whether he's eighteen-pence out.


Village Diary


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