Mexborough Times July 25, 1919
Peace Day
Denaby Left in the Lurch but Rose to the Occasion
Much indignation has been felt and expressed in the village that no special celebration was provided publicity the children on Saturday. The children at the Balby Street school were entertained, but the children attending other schools were not provided for. Nevertheless, they did not go unnoticed, the parents in each of the streets subscribed and make teas.
Tables were carried into the streets and gaily decorated. In some of the streets the repasts were sumptuous, and arrangements splendid. Some streets also provided “peace” mugs, and later in the evening indulge in various outdoor games. On the whole, a very happy time was spent. The streets were gaily decorated throughout the village. In many of the streets were hung effigies of the Kaiser, and these were burnt later, on the bonfires. A few friends from Tickhill Street and Tickhill Square got up an impromptu fancy dress procession, and paraded the East End of the village in the afternoon, and also visited the cricket field where a match was in progress.
The procession was headed by a banner which bore the inscription “Lest we forget, In aid of the blind soldiers and sailors at St Dunstan’s hostel.”
Peace celebrations will be held at a later date, probably at the end of August on a scale in keeping with all that has been done at other places. A special feature will be the entertainment of all demobilised soldiers and sailors resident in the parish of Denaby.
A strong committee has been formed representative of public bodies and the inhabitants.
The first meeting of the committee was held on Thursday evening, when it was announced that many generous subscriptions had been promised, including one of £25 from Mr W.H.Chambers.
Conisborough Festivities
Conisborough was very lavishly decorated on peace day. A particularly fine display had been arranged in Coronation Terrace, which was heavily arched and festooned, there was also a very niceshow in Willow Street, to mention only two of the many side shows which Conisborough had prepared against “Der Tag.” Mr Tom Booth turned out with a decorated lorry bearing the motto “Victory” and decked with fairy lamps, and other individuals responded with noteworthy displays.
On Saturday morning about 10 o’clock the well-known melody of the hymn, “Peace perfect piece,” was wafted from the church tower, and was followed by a triumphant peal. Generous provision was made for the schoolchildren, numbering exactly 3, 188.
They were entertained to tea in their several schools, and sports were afterwards arranged for them in fields lent by Mr Norwood and Mr Carter. There was also a procession, which was headed by the Conisborough United Brass Band, and the band afterwards visited each field, and later played selections in the Castle grounds. The inhabitants in the neighbourhood of the Castle with one consent arranged celebrations on their own account, provided a common tea, and conducted sports for the children, extending the festivities into Monday. There was any amount of fancy dress, and plenty of mild mafficking.
The rain spoiled the fireworks, but the illuminations were excellent, and the bonfires, particularly the one on the Cadeby pithill, helped to carry the festivities well into the night. The Boy Scouts had a torchlight procession to the Castle, and gave a display of fireworks from the ancient ramparts. Tea was provided in the church hall for the old people and the war widows. Today (Saturday) the Conisborough special constables are proposing to wind up the celebrations by entertaining the discharged sailors and soldiers of Conisborough in the station road school.
On Saturday night, Mr A.Moody, of the Alma Inn, gave a very enjoyable dinner at the helm in in honour of the occasion. The guests of the evening was Sgt Lawrence Calvert, V.C., M.M., and quite a number of ex-soldiers attended. After dinner Mr Alfred Lant presiding, felicitous speeches were made by Sergey Calvert, Mr H Vine, Mrs G Ellis, Mr T Davies, and Mr Moody, and some capital songs were given.
The discharged soldiers connected with the recreational gave a very enjoyable dance in the Station Road school on Friday night.
The children of the miners employed at Edlington were conveyed by motor and given a share in the peace treat.
In celebration of the peace a free bar was declared at the Castle working men’s club on Saturday evening.
The Conisborough United Band, after assisting at the Conisborough peace celebrations on Saturday, went to Braithwell on Sunday, and accompanied the singing in the morning service in the parish church. After service they played at the Butter Cross, and their performance was much appreciated.
Peace day was celebrated by the opening of a new working men’s club, called the Mona Club in Doncaster Road.