Fete at Conisbrough – In Aid of the Relief Fund

June 1915

Mexborough and Swinton Times June 26, 1915

Fete at Conisbrough
In Aid of the Relief Fund

The fete held at Conisbrough yesterday – Thursday – was so successful and enjoyable as to exceed the most sanguine expectations of the committee responsible for its promotion.

The weather in the afternoon was of an unsettled character and was inclined to rain, but the evening turned out to be pleasant, and the fete attracted a large number of people to the Castle grounds, those delightful precincts of that historic structure so lend themselves to the “staging” of such events.

The proceeds of the effort, which we are given to understand will amount to a considerable sum, are to be given over to the Conisbrough War Relief Fund.

Mr J Brocklesby, J.P., presided at the opening ceremony in the afternoon, and the other gentlemen present included Mr C Kilner, J.P., the reverent T.Roberts Davies, the Rev H.J.Watts, and Mr C Wilde.

Mr Brocklesby explained the object of the fete and said that the Conisbrough relief on an already distributed about £760 and received a subscription something approaching £1000. The funds though had been greatly depleted as the number of recipitants increased, and the committee were anxious to keep up the balance until the end of the war, when they believed, there would be a great deal of distress to relieve.

The bulk of the money that had been distributed had been contributed by the working classes, who had had occasional collections, and who had contributed regularly week by week. He remarked, incidentally, that a number of school teachers in the district had very generously submitted to giving part of their salaries month by month. The whole of the general public had also contributed in a pleasing, loyal and satisfactory manner.

Mr Kilner, in declaring the fete open, gave an interesting address a remark that those castle grounds had been the scene of many an interesting gathering, but he thought, that probably no scene or effort had been more interesting than the present one. The object was a very commendable one, in some much as it was for the benefit of their fellow men.

The ground board a very animated appearance in the evening, various entertainment were provided. A number of children from the combine schools were being trained by Mrs Allport, Mrs George Clarkson, and Miss Matthews, daintily attired, gave flag displays and expositions of the art of terpsichore. Girl guides and Boy Scouts, armed with baskets and trays of roses, emblems of the allies and “buttons” did huge business. An ice cream stall was in charge of Miss Piper and Mrs Makin and the refreshment buffet was conducted by number of ladies.

Amongst the numerous side shows were:

Coconut site: Messrs R.J.Clarkson, R.H.Hawley, O.Greathead, E.Greathead and B.Clarkson

Hoopla: Miss Barker

Electric Battery: Mr Westby

Fortune Teller: Mr Downing

Palmist: Mme Dorsen

Dancing was indulged in at dusk