​

​The Jubilee
By Leslie Hobbs     6th May 1935

Leslie W. Hobbs 1897 - 1973

1
To Celebrate the Jubilee
On nineteen thirty-five
And to prove we were Patriotic
And the parish still alive
We called a dozen meetings
With the Rector in the chair
And some made good suggestions
While others talked “Hot Air”
If we said “Yes” to every chump
That aired his views around
We’d have a blooming pageant
And a recreation ground
Or else a three course luncheon
If you ever heard such rot
You’d never believe the daft ideas
Some local folk have got.
2 
But we had to fix on something
Or we’d be talking yet
So we said we’d give the kids a treat
And a day they’d ne’re forget.
We’d give them kiddies such a tea
T’would really make them look
And beside the tea some races
And a mug and picture book
But these things all cost money
So we moved in this direction
To try and raise the cash, we’d have
A house to house collection.
The cash came in, t’was not a lot
It would give the kids a treat
And we hoped for something over
To provide a wayside seat.

3
At last the sixth of May came round
King’s weather. Fine and hot
It was just the stuff we wanted
For the programme that we’d got.
There’d be a service in the Church
And on into the Park
For races, teas and presents
And the beacon after dark
The village looked like London
With it’s flags and bunting gay
For the folks had decked their houses
In the good old fashioned way.
The committee worked hard all that morn
Preparing for those teas,
Tho’ all the committee didn’t work
Some blighters took their ease
There were forms and tables to be placed
And the course for the race pegged out
And lots of bread and butter cut
And the blooming school turned out
 4
First, they’d have tea in the school,
Then down on the playing pitches
Then they’d have it in the Park,
The noggle headed -------!!
By dinner time t’was all arranged
There was nothing else to do
Till we joined in the procession
On the Ring at half past two.
For looks, that short procession
Would have been most hard to beat;
The city fathers lead the way
They marched a blooming treat.

​5
Then came the British Legion
Complete with Legion Banner;
Thank God, tho’ they weren’t many
They marched in a better manner
These were the most important
There were many more besides
And to represent the youngsters
There were Scouts and Cubs and Guides
The service in the Parish Church
Was short but most impressive
A lot of people gathered there
But the crush was not excessive.
Then out into the sunshine
Each one on pleasure bent
For all meant to enjoy themselves
Before the daylight went.
 6
Before the tea were races
Just to make the children eat;
And at five the tea was ready
And each child took a seat
The way those kiddies ate and drank
Was really wonderful
And not one left the table
But had a tummy full
After tea the presentations
Of beakers, mugs and books
And every child was satisfied
If one could judge by looks.
And then throughout the evening
The kiddies played and ran
And thoroughly enjoyed themselves
As only youngsters can.

7
​​At eight o’clock they had a rest
And those who could get near
Gathered round the wireless set
His Majesty to hear.
For the King addressed his Empire
On this his Jubilee Day
And the whole wide world was listening
To what he had to say.
And then as dusk began to fall
The children of all sizes
Gathered round the Rector
To receive their well-earned prizes.
And then at last there came a lull
For everyone was tired
But all were in the Park at ten
To see the beacon fired.
 8
For all around old England
These beacons formed a ring
And in Hyde Park the first was lit
By his majesty the King.
And we had an official Beacon
The scouts had made it well
Tho’ how long the bloomin thing would burn
One really couldn’t tell.
The time to light the Beacon
Was on the stroke on ten
And to show it was an official one
We were to fire a rocket then.
So at ten o’clock a rocket
Went upwards with a bang
The poor think couldn’t help itself
T’was fired by skipper Lang.

9
​​Then t’was time to light the Beacon
And it was good to see
The flames burst forth when it was lit
By Mrs Dufosee
It made a simply ripping blaze
The sight was really fine;
And folks joined hands around the fire
And all sang “Auld Lang Syne”
And as we journeyed homewards
On this night of nights
We could see the beacons burning
All around the Dorset heights.
And so the day was over
The kids had had their treat,
Now the folks were looking forward
To the promised wayside seats.
 10
Well days and weeks and months rolled by
And everybody feared
T’would be the Coronation
Before those seats appeared.
At last events began to move
The committee got permission
To bay back part of the Park Wall,
​In a suitable position.
They chose a site on Bazil Hill
What better could they do
T’was sheltered from the keen east wind
And had a lovely view,
So then the seats were wanted
And wanted pretty quick
And so they gave the order
To good old Richard Dick.

11
​​Then folks said now we shant be long
That’s when they made an error,
For when it comes to hurrying
Old Dick’s a tidy terror.
At last, the seats were in their place
And on the wall is shown
The year, and the word “Jubilee”
Inscribed in Ham Hill stone
The seats are really nice ones
Concrete ends and rails of oak
The rails were bought, but the concrete ends
Were given by four good folks,
Now while we are on the subject
There’s just one other thing
To commemorate the Jubilee
We tidied up the Ring
 12
T’was in such a bad condition
It quite gave one the hump
It was nothing but an eyesore
A blooming rubbish dump.
Now as we had no money
We asked the chosen few
Who sit on the Parish Council
If they’d see what they could do.
They gladly undertook the job
They’re nothing if not thorough.
And now they’ve done the job we know
They are the brains of the borough,
For they have levelled it and turfed it
And planted shrubs and trees
And got from the District Council
A stone curb, if you please.

13
​It cost them quite a tidy bit,
But they had their money’s worth,
In fact as labour was so cheap
They kept a man on turfing turf.
And that’s how we kept the Jubilee
The day is past and gone,
But the seats will last a long time
For the folks to sit upon.
And the Ring looks so much better
Than it ever did before
So we feel we’ve done our duty
For what could we do more?
And so you have these verses
As each child received a gift
That we mayn’t forget the Jubilee
Of our good King George the Fifth.

Transcribed by Lesley Wood
March 2022