Hertford's Historic Pageant 1914
*Guest post by Philip Sheail *
In 1914, during the week of 29 June-4 July, an historic pageant took place in the county town of Hertford, as part of the celebrations to mark the millenary of the town’s foundation by the Saxon King Edward the Elder. The centenary of the pageant has in turn been marked by the publication of a book called Hertford’s Grand Pageant 1914, written by Philip Sheail in conjunction with Hertford Museum.
The book tells the story of how the people of Hertford came together to make the costumes and props, and to take part in the performance itself. It also recreates the scene that would have been witnessed by the spectators who converged on Hertford during Pageant Week. In so doing, it introduces the reader to a gallery of colourful characters and provides a revealing insight into how a town like Hertford was run at that time.
Hertford’s Grand Pageant 1914 was launched on Sunday 1 June 2014 at St John’s Hall in Hertford. This event included a performance of the songs and choruses used in the Pageant. The music was composed especially for the Pageant by James Lively Gregory, the choirmaster and organist at All Saints’ Church in Hertford, and set to lyrics written by the Pageant Master, Charles Henry Ashdown. The score for this music had lain in Hertford Museum since 1914 and as far as was known, it had never been performed since that time. Its revival was undertaken by a local choral group, the Mimram Singers, under the leadership of Peter Murphy and with David Penrose as accompanist.
The
Mimram Singers, together with their leader Peter Murphy and accompanist David
Penrose at the launch of Hertford’s Grand
Pageant 1914, held at St John’s Hall, Hertford on Sunday 1 June 2014 (Photo:
Reg Harman).
The
Mayor of Hertford, Chantal Geall, together with the Mimram Singers, and author
Philip Sheail (right) at the launch of Hertford’s
Grand Pageant 1914, held at St John’s Hall, Hertford on Sunday 1 June 2014 (Photo:
Reg Harman).
Hertford’s Grand Pageant 1914 costs £5.00 and is published in softback by Molewood Hawthorn Publishing (ISBN 978-0-9555684-2-8). It is 60 pages in length and contains 63 black & white photographs. Copies can be ordered by using the form below.
