Leicestershire Pageant

Other names

  • Leicestershire Jubilee Pageant
  • ‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’

Pageant type

Jump to Summary

Performances

Place: The ruins, Bradgate Park, near Newtown Linford (Leicester) (Leicester, Leicestershire, England)

Year: 1977

Indoors/outdoors: Unknown

Number of performances: 4

Notes

23–25 June 1977

Thursday 23 June 1977, 7.45pm; Friday 24 June 1977, 7.45pm; and Saturday 25 June 1977 3pm and 745

Name of pageant master and other named staff

  • Pageant Master: Ayling, Jack
  • Advisers from the Education department: D. Hughes (arts), M.T. Gilmour (Drama), Mrs M. Whittam (Fashion/Fabric)
  • Arena Management: M.Pettifor, T. Goddard, R. Hale
  • Bradgate Park Liaison: E.C. Turner, County Hall
  • Prologue: Beaumont Leys School (Leicester)
  • Script Co-ordinator: Paul Waring
  • Producers: Paul Waring and Jenny Shipstone
  • Costume/Design: Margaret Purple
  • Script: Paul Waring
  • Link Scripts: Paul Waring and Jenny Shipstone
  • Episode One: Beaumont Leys School (Leicester)
  • Production and Script: David Slinn
  • Costume/Design: Margaret Purple
  • Episode Two: Newbridge High School (Coalville)
  • Production and Script: Janet McMillan
  • Stage Manager: Lesley Messenger
  • Costume/Design: Joy Ainsworth, Randle Morgan
  • Episode Three: Humphrey Perkins High (Barrow-Upon-Soar)
  • Production and Script: Simon Wheeler
  • Costumes: Jill Collins
  • Episode Four: Ellis School (Leicester)
  • Production and Script: Christine Hewson
  • Stage Manager: Barry Stephenson
  • Costume/Design: Paula Taylor
  • Music: Jo Kay and Barry Stephenson
  • Episode Five: The People of Newtown Linford
  • Written and Produced: Jack Ayling
  • Production Team: John Nixon, John Boyd, Marie Nixon, Kate Sinclar
  • Costumes: Betty Patrick and Ladies of Newtown Linford
  • Chorus Master: Roger Kendall
  • Episode Six: English Martyrs Roman Catholic School (Leicester)
  • Producer: Cecilia Pugh
  • Script: Geoffrey Walker
  • Costume/Design: Jenny Tomlinson, Yvonne Durant, Brenda McErlean
  • Episode Seven: Burleigh Community College (Loughborough)
  • Written and Produced: David Jagger
  • Stage Manager: Norman Hockley
  • Costume/Design: Louise Binks
  • Episode Eight: King Edward VII Upper School (Melton Mowbray)
  • Written and Produced: Patricia K. Bray
  • Episode Nine: Burleigh Community College
  • Written and Produced: David Jagger
  • Episode Ten: Newbridge High School
  • Written and Produced: Lesley Messenger
  • Stage Manager: Janet McMillan
  • Costume/Design: Joy Ainsworth, Randle Morgan
  • Effects: Don Hoult
  • Episode Eleven: Ellis School
  • Production: Christine Hewson and Mina Patel
  • Costume and Design: The Pupils
  • Script: Christine Hewson and Gursewak Joshi
  • Production Control Team: John Nixon, John Boyd, Paul Waring, Marie Nixon, Kate Sinclair, Olwen Poole

Names of executive committee or equivalent

Members of the Pageant Sub-Committee of the County Council:

  • Chairman: Nathan Harris
  • Chairman of the County Council: George Farnham
  • G.B. Gibson
  • H. Wileman

Members of the Production Committee:

  • George Farnham
  • D. Slinn and P. Waring (Beaumont Leys School)
  • Mrs J. McMIllan and Mrs L. Messenger (Newbridge High School)
  • S. Wheeler (Humphrey Perkins High School)
  • Miss C.M. Hewson and Mrs O. Poole (Ellis School)
  • G. Walker and Mrs C. Pugh (English Martyrs RC School)
  • D. Jagger (Burleigh Community College)
  • Mrs P.K. Bray (King Edward VII Upper School, Melton Mowbray)

Notes

Patrons: The Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire; HM Lieutenant with special responsibility for Rutland; Mayors and Chairmen of towns and boroughs in Leicestershire.

Names of script-writer(s) and other credited author(s)

  • Slinn, David
  • McMillan, Janet
  • Wheeler, Simon
  • Hewson, Christine
  • Ayling, Jack
  • Walker, Geoffrey
  • Jagger, David
  • Bray, Patricia K.
  • Messenger, Lesley
  • Joshi, Gursewak

Notes

  • Episode One: David Slinn
  • Episode Two: Janet McMillan
  • Episode Three: Simon Wheeler
  • Episode Four: Christine Hewson
  • Episode Five: Jack Ayling
  • Episode Six: Geoffrey Walker
  • Episode Seven: David Jagger
  • Episode Eight: Patricia K Bray
  • Episode Nine: David Jagger
  • Episode Ten: Lesley Messenger
  • Episode Eleven: Christine Hewson and Gursewak Joshi

Names of composers

  • Groocock, Walter

Numbers of performers

300

Financial information

Object of any funds raised

Prince of Wales’ Silver Jubilee Appeal

Linked occasion

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee

Audience information

  • Grandstand: Not Known
  • Grandstand capacity: n/a
  • Total audience: n/a

Notes

Grandstand: not known but presumed.

2000 (first performance).

Prices of admission and seats: highest–lowest

50p–30p

Admission: 50p; schoolchildren, students and pensioners: 30p.

Associated events

There was an Open Air Service (Sunday 26 June 1977, 6.30pm) in the Pageant Arena, led by the Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Leicester, Dr R.R. Williams. In his sermon the Bishop reminded the congregation of the special significance of the Bradgate Park in Jubilee year: ‘The park’s connection with Lady Jane Grey—the nine-day Queen—should remind us of the stability of our present Queen’s reign.’

Pageant outline

Prologue

A party of schoolchildren are making a study of Bradgate Park and the Ruins. They meet two strange time-travellers, Commander Janus and Captain Jason. The time travellers are visiting the park, too—they ask the school party if this is the Leicestershire where they can ‘buy pork pies, shirts, coal and socks’. The teacher tells them yes, but also explains that Leicestershire has an important place in history. The Time Travellers invite them to travel back, using their time machine, to look at some of the famous people and incidents associated with Leicestershire through the ages.

Episode I. A Brief Glimpse of Roman Life in Leicester

The schoolchildren observe a group of Romans marching, as the teacher explains their strange words. The Romans joke amongst themselves about the hardship of their march, and the roads they have built. After the Roman pass through, a Roman market and forum is set up; a wall is built in the background (the Jewry Wall); then the Roman soldiers march back in. A trial of a native Briton, accused of stealing a pig, is taking place. He is pardoned on account of his motives (being driven by hunger) but is sentenced to work. The children continue to observe the Romans—as the teacher comments on their underfloor heating; their bathing habits; their mosaic pavements; their courts; and their markets. As the Romans move off, Captain Jason summarises: ‘And so the Roman occupation of this country showed itself in many ways in Leicester. There was a good road system, an excellent Roman forum, and a good system of law and government which the Coritani people accepted and participated in to the mutual benefit of all.’

Episode II. Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester

The children express their wish to see another episode; the teacher asks them if they know De Montfort Hall, to which one replies ‘We saw the Wurzels there last month.’ The teacher explains that the hall was named after Simon de Montfort, second Earl of Leicester, the man responsible for calling the first ever parliament (in 1258, de Montfort headed a group of nobles who compelled Henry III to abide by Magna Carta; but in 1264 the King fought de Montfort and captured one of his sons. Later that year de Montfort captured the King and effectively became regent, calling the first Parliament in 1265, before being killed in battle with Henry’s son, Edward). The first scene shows De Montfort capturing the King—who he then implores to abide by Magna Carta. The next scene, outside the gates of Leicester in 1265, shows common folk, old and young, hopeful and cynical, talking about de Montfort, and thus Leicester, putting the King in his place. Some worry that it will bring trouble—and lo and behold, the next scene shows soldiers, injured and bitter from the ensuing war, on their way back to Leicester, talking about de Montfort’s death.

Episode III. [Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 as Part of the Wars of the Roses.]

The first scene shows Richard III of York on his way to Leicester and planning battle with Northumberland—who is less than enthusiastic; Richard doubts his loyalty. After Richard exits, Northumberland ponders his own loyalty as well as that of Lord Stanley. In the next scene, Stanley talks to his son-in-law, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, about the ongoing war—and the possible mutiny of Northumberland. Richmond intends to bring Stanley to the side of Lancaster rather than York, but Stanley will not commit. In the next scene, Richard III talks to himself—expressing worry about the battle to come. In the next scene, the battle begins to take place. Richmond attacks, still unsure of Stanley’s support; Richard chastises Northumberland for his cowardice, before valiantly charging into battle. Stanley finally shows his hand and attacks Richard’s troops, as does Richmond. Richard III says the immortal line, ‘A horse! A horse! My Kingdom for a horse’, and is killed. Richmond is crowned King Henry VII.

Episode IV. Cardinal Wolsey Recalled to London by Henry VIII, 29 November 1530

Escorted by Sir Richard Kingston, Constable of the Tower of London, Wolsey shelters at St Mary’s Abbey, Leicester. It is here he dies, a broken man. The teacher remarks to the children that there is no end of famous people associated with Leicester. The time travellers now instruct the children to look at the ruins around them—the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey.

Episode V. Scenes from the Pageant of Bradgate—‘The Lady Jane Returns’ [last performed in June 1976 as part of the Pageant of Bradgate, hence long duration], 1550

Adrian Stokes and a trumpeter enter, and announce the arrival of King Edward VI, who then enters with the Duke of Northumberland, Henry Marquis of Dorset [also Duke of Suffolk] and Frances Duchess of Suffolk. Edward takes his seat on the throne, and summons Northumberland—enquiring after Lady Jane Grey’s learning. Edward then reads out the deeds of Bradgate House, appointing Henry with powers to rule over the Manor of Groby. Music is played for the King, before all exit. A narrator then describes the beauty of Bradgate and its region, before Lady Jane appears, bringing a book—the narrator describes how she stands where she once stood, in Bradgate House. Mistress Tylney enters; Jane graciously begins to teach the eager maid how to read. John Aylmer, Jane’s own tutor, enters with Adrian Stokes; Jane listens as the men discuss how the Marquis of Dorset is now the Duke of Suffolk, and how Lady Frances will now be given the lease of Beaumanor. They then discuss poachers—Adrian expressing his annoyance, though Aylmer is more forgiving. Aylmer calls forward Jane, and explains that he must leave for several days on business of the Church. Jane wants to come, but Aylmer will not allow her. Lord Guildford Dudley now enters and finds Jane alone, who expresses her wish to be free. Dudley tells her that he can ride away with her, but becomes sheepish when Lady Frances enters. Frances admonishes the sheepish lord, and leads him away, leaving Jane alone once more. The hunt now enters, with Henry and Adrian at its head, and maids serving drinks. Roger Ascham, a tutor, enters, and talks to Jane about the hunt and about learning. Jane is somewhat morose, seemingly in love with her tutor, Aylmer, or perhaps burdened by the ‘grief, trouble, fear’ of learning. Ascham assures her that learning brings the most pleasure, before they both leave. Lady Frances talks to Northumberland—and is not taken in by his flattery. He cuts to the chase and makes it clear that he is looking for a bride for his son, Dudley, and has decided upon Jane, in order to provide a Tudor claim to the throne in light of the frailty of King Edward. Frances assents. Henry, Duke of Suffolk—husband of Frances and father of Jane—enters, in a grumpy mood. After hearing their plans, he predicts trouble—but assents. The scene now changes to several archers, who practice their craft while squabbling and talking about the state of England. Eventually the squabbling descends into fighting. After they all leave, Henry and Jane enter to the centre—Jane now an adult and married. He explains, to her distress, that when Edward dies she will be named as Queen. He tries to persuade her, and says that it will bring dishonour if she does not accept the crown. She accepts, but weeps. Her husband, Dudley, now enters—Henry angrily instructs him to talk sense to Jane. Jane and Dudley exit, and Adrian enters, followed by Northumberland; the latter announces to Lady Frances that the King has passed, and that Lady Jane is queen. She enters, and accepts, though reluctantly—and asks to be left in the little garden so that she may ‘carry its sweet memory wherever fate may lead me.’ As the scene finishes, the teacher exclaims ‘What a pity she was only a Queen for nine days before she was executed.’

Episode VI. John Wesley Visiting Leicester

John Wesley visited Leicester several times in the course of his journeys. The scene is his visit on 31 August 1770 when he preached in the Castle Yard. After he has done so, the teacher explains to the children that Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church, and travelled eight thousand miles a year on his horse. A pupil exclaims ‘Cor what a horse! Nearly as good as Red Rum!’

Episode VII. Robert Bakewell, the Sheep Breeder from Dishley, Meets John Heathcoat, a Mill Owner

Heathcoat and Bakewell discuss the latter’s advances in agriculture and then, as Bakewell leaves, a mob enters, led by Ned Ludd, intent on destroying the machines in Heathcoat’s factory. They discuss the problems of jobs and mechanisation and then they push past Heathcoat and his watchmen to wreck the machines.

Episode VIII. Visit of Queen Adelaide, c. 19th Century

A party of hunting gentry in the Park are surprised by the appearance of a group of maids, who are under the direction of the Steward and his son. The maids prepare a picnic just in time for the arrival of the Royal party: Queen Adelaide, the Queen Dowager, Earl Howe of Gopsall, and the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting. Members of the hunting party are invited to join the royal picnic, which, it is learned, celebrated the Queen’s birthday. After the partaking of food and wine, with entertainment by the Queen’s musicians (a Wind Quintet), toasts are proposed and drunk. The Queen’s party then leaves with the members of the hunt, and the Steward and his son direct the maids in clearing up.

Episode IX. Thomas Cook, c. 1841

A group of people are filing into a railway station at Loughborough after Thomas Cook’s first ever excursion. They discuss the day out and speak to Cook himself. As the crowd in general goes out to the train, the working men step aside and remain as the work force of the Taylor’s Bell Foundry. Paul Taylor announces the handover of Great Tom to the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. The Dean replies and then a team of handbell ringers entertain the assembly.

Episode X. Fire at Whitwick Colliery, 1898

This episode concerned a disastrous fire that killed 35 of the men working underground. The first scene shows the beginning of the fire; some miners are seen sounding the alarm, and helping a victim who escaped, as women look on and cry. The next scene shows the men discussing what to do, and concluding that the men inside are completely trapped and probably dead already; the only option, therefore, is to smother the fire and to seal them in. A vote is taken, and the smothering is done. The final scene shows bodies being lifted from the mine as women sob. While this scene is enacted, a miner reads a list of the dead.

Episode XI. The Immigrant Community in Leicester Keeps Alive the Tradition of its Motherland

Here they celebrate Divali, the Festival of Lights. Janus tells the children: ‘We are nearing the end of our travels through time, and before Captain Jason and I move on to record more events of this century we would like to show the contribution being made to the life of Leicestershire by another group of citizens today.’ A procession of immigrants enter, as music plays and people sing. Many are carrying lights, and two people represent Rama and Sita. A narrator explains: ‘We are celebrating Divali, the main festival of the Hindus. This is the festival of Lights held in India at the end of the great summer rains, when the harvest is gathered in. We tell the story of Prince Rama and his wife Princess Sita. Prince Rama spent some time in the jungle where he was loved by all the animals. His people were unhappy though, and the harvests were bad. At the end of 14 years, his brother fetched him home and his people took lights to guide him through the forest, and there was great rejoicing. Now we decorate our houses, put lights in the windows and send greetings cards.’ A dance is then shown, before the procession moves off with more singing and dancing.

Finale. The Pageant Song… a Memory of the Pageant of Leicestershire, City and County Performed in Abbey Park in Leicester in 1932

God Save the Queen

Key historical figures mentioned

  • Montfort, Simon de, eighth earl of Leicester (c.1208–1265) magnate and political reformer
  • Henry III (1207–1272) king of England and lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine
  • Wolsey, Thomas (1470/71–1530) royal minister, archbishop of York, and cardinal
  • Edward VI (1537–1553) king of England and Ireland
  • Dudley, John, duke of Northumberland (1504–1553) royal servant
  • Grey [other married name Stokes], Frances [née Lady Frances Brandon], duchess of Suffolk (1517–1559) noblewoman
  • Grey, Henry, duke of Suffolk (1517–1554) magnate
  • Grey [married name Dudley], Lady Jane (1537–1554) noblewoman and claimant to the English throne
  • Aylmer, John (1520/21–1594) bishop of London
  • Dudley, Lord Guildford (c.1535–1554) husband of Lady Jane Grey
  • Ascham, Roger (1514/15–1568) author and royal tutor
  • Wesley [Westley], John (1703–1791) Church of England clergyman and a founder of Methodism
  • Bakewell, Robert (1725–1795) stock breeder and farmer
  • Heathcoat, John (1783–1861) inventor of the bobbin net machine and lace manufacturer
  • Ludd, Ned (fl. 1811–1816) mythical machine-breaker
  • Adelaide [Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen] (1792–1849) queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, consort of William IV
  • Cook, Thomas (1808–1892) travel agent

Musical production

The Leicestershire Christian Folk Group played before each performance except Friday. Pieces included:
  • ‘Greensleeves’.
  • ‘The Pageant Song’ (from the 1932 Pageant). Words by Hugh Goodacre and music by Walter Groocock.

Newspaper coverage of pageant

Leicester Mercury

Leicester Advertiser

Melton and Rutland Journal

Book of words

n/a

No Book of Words known.

Other primary published materials

  • Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (Leicester, 1977)—Programme.

Price: 15p

References in secondary literature

n/a

Archival holdings connected to pageant

  • Leicestershire Archives:
  • Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (1977)—programme. 394.5.
  • Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (1977)—script. 394.5.
  • Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (1977)—assorted clippings. DE816/4

Sources used in preparation of pageant

  • Forsyth, Marie. History of Bradgate. Leicester, 1976.
  • Kelly, Wm. Royal Progresses and Visits to Leicester. Leicester, 1884.
  • Potter, T.R. Parochial History of Charnwood. [Place and date of publication unknown]
  • The Leicester Chronicle. Leicester, 1842.

Summary

The Leicestershire Pageant in June 1977, also titled ‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’, was staged to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Taking place in the 1970s, there were some notable updates, in both style and content, to the pageantry on offer—though in many ways it also still resembled Louis Napoleon Parker’s original vision. The pageant took place in the ruins of Bradgate House in Bradgate Park, the site of several other pageants in the previous two decades. There were three evening performances and one Saturday matinee. Though nowhere near the size or scale of Leicestershire’s massive 1932 Pageant, it was still a notable (though now seemingly forgotten) event. Crowds were not as large as expected, but 300 performers took part, a large cast for this period, and it seems possible that at least 10000 saw the pageant. In its nuanced approach to updating the historical pageant format, it stands as testament to the ability of public participatory theatre to adapt to a range of societal changes, for a range of contemporary purposes.

The pageant was sponsored and mostly organised by the Leicestershire County Council and was the ‘personal brainwave’ of the Chairman of the Council, George Farnham.2 At the episodic level, the schools of the county took over, with teachers providing direction, management, production, and the script. Jack Ayling, a Leicestershire man who had written the highly successful pageant ‘Lady Jane Grey Returns’ in 1953 (re-performed several times in the 1950s–1970s), served as pageant-master. In an effort to bolster support for the pageant, the County Council also connected the 1977 pageant to Leicester’s massive pageant forty years earlier in 1932 —writing, in a press report, that the finale of the Pageant Song of Leicester (1932) may be ‘a nostalgic reminder of the great pageant performed in 1932… Any senior members of the audience will be welcome to join in!’3

According to the souvenir programme, it was the Queen’s wish that the Silver Jubilee should focus on young people. The vast majority of the performers were, therefore, children, and any profits went to the Prince of Wales’ Silver Jubilee Appeal Fund, which sought to encourage and help young people to serve the communities in which they lived.4 The pageant naturally had a strong educational theme, operating as a review of the outstanding events in the county’s history from Roman times right up to the present day, encouraging local patriotism and civic duty. In terms of style and content, the narrative was a clever mix of light humour, contemporary ‘pop’ references, serious historical incidents, and science-fiction. A particularly novel approach was having a group of contemporary school children taken through history by two time-travellers, Commander Janus and Captain Janus—who they first met in Bradgate Park looking for ‘pork pies, shirts, coal and socks’—the classic culinary and industrial products of the county.5 Even more innovative and unusual was the final episode in the pageant, which showed ‘the Immigrant Community in Leicester [keeping] alive the tradition of its Motherland’. A group of Indian immigrants to the city entered in procession, carrying lights, portraying the celebration of Divali, the Festival of Lights. Captain Janus told the children that they wanted ‘to show the contribution being made to the life of Leicestershire by another group of citizens today.’ A traditional Indian dance was then shown, along with singing.6

This episode positively reflected the far-reaching demographic trends that Leicester had undergone, particularly since the 1950s. As the Leicester Mercury noted:

It was good to see the immigrant community in Leicester taking part, keeping alive the tradition of its motherland… The inclusion of the Indian contribution to a pageant of British history surprised some, but was an excellent way of bringing things right up-to-date and giving us a glimpse of the fully integrated community of the future.7

However, in between the time travellers and the Indian community of the city, many of the episodes were classic historical pageant fare. The history of the county was joined to a larger national story, with the visits of Kings and Queens and important ecclesiastical figures, such as Thomas Wolsey and John Wesley; and it emphasised Leicester’s role in both democracy and conflict, with Simon de Montfort establishing the first Parliament, and the county playing a central role in the climax of the Wars of the Roses. Particular attention was given to Lady Jane Grey, who had resided in Bradgate House, in a lengthy episode—in the actual ruins of her home which formed the backdrop to the pageant itself, no less. Romans featured in the first episode, as had been the case from the beginning of the pageantry movement. Being a pageant of Leicestershire, Richard III also featured in a long Battle of Bosworth scene. Even Thomas Cook, the famous son of Leicester and holiday-tour provider, was given an episode. Perhaps reflecting the relative decline of the hosiery and footwear industries by this point (soon to be terminal decline), little attention was given to the industrial history of the county—the only real portrayal being negative (the nineteenth-century Luddites, and then a disaster at Whitwick Colliery in 1898).

If the pageant had many classic themes, and fulfilled an educational objective, the dialogue was still mostly amusing and full of contemporary references. Word-play and jokes were frequently used, and were provided by both contemporary school children and historical characters. In the first episode, depicting the Roman occupation, for example, a soldier mused ‘What did Julius Caesar say—“I came, I saw, I conquered.” Well, that’s how I feel about this march. I came, I’m sore, and I’m certainly conquered!’8 In the same episode, when a Roman officer declared: ‘Here we are then—the camp on the Leire River—Leire Castra’, one of the contemporary school-children joked: ‘Sounds like a Dalek pronunciation of Leicester!’9 In the second episode, the teacher asked the children if they knew De Montfort Hall, to which one replied: ‘We saw the Wurzels there last month.’10 In the John Wesley scene, when told that the preacher travelled 8000 miles a year on his horse, one pupil exclaimed ‘Cor what a horse! Nearly as good as Red Rum!’11

Total audiences of 25000 were expected, but it seems likely that the pageant did not get close to this figure—the opening performance, for example, was seen by only around 2000, though the Mercury later reported (vaguely) that the pageant-run was seen by ‘thousands’.12 It was, after all, not a major event on the scale of 1932; according to George Farnham, it was merely ‘a shoestring operation’.13 Press opinion, though fairly scanty, was positive nonetheless. The Leicester Mercury described the event as ‘the climax of the LCC Silver Jubilee celebrations’ and ‘spectacular’.14 In their opinion, ‘the most memorable scenes were those involving action and fighting, where the kids could really let themselves go. You could see the enjoyment on the faces of the young boys… as they played soldiers fighting out the Battle of Bosworth.’15 Despite the decrease in size from 1932, the Leicester pageant operated on many of the same levels, with dialogue, locally made props, local pride, and amateur performers. With the post-war popularity of pageants in Melton Mowbray (1949 and 1971), and the many performances of the Pageant of Bradgate, historical performance was still alive in 1970s Leicestershire.

Footnotes

  1. ^ ‘400 at Service in Bradgate Ruins’, Leicester Mercury, 27 June 1977, 5, cutting, Leicestershire Archives. DE816/4.
  2. ^ ‘Hundreds of Pupils in County’s Big Jubilee Pageant’, Leicester Mercury, 28 May 1977, 11, cutting, Leicestershire Archives. DE816/4.
  3. ^ Press Report, Leicestershire Archives. DE816/4.
  4. ^ Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Colonel R.A. St G. Martin, OBE, JP, ‘Foreword’, in Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (Leicester, 1977).
  5. ^ Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (Leicester, 1977), script, Leicestershire Archives. 394.5.
  6. ^ Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (Leicester, 1977), programme, Leicestershire Archives. 394.5.
  7. ^ ‘Prince’s Faith Justified at Bradgate Ruins’, Leicester Mercury, 24 June 1977, 25, cutting, Leicestershire Archives. DE816/4.
  8. ^ Jubilee Pageant—‘Leicestershire—This Our Life’ (1977), script.
  9. ^ Ibid.
  10. ^ Ibid.
  11. ^ Ibid.
  12. ^ ‘Hundreds of Pupils in County’s Big Jubilee Pageant’, Leicester Mercury, 28 May 1977, 11 and ‘400 at Service in Bradgate Ruins’, Leicester Mercury, 27 June 1977, 5, cuttings, Leicestershire Archives. DE816/4.
  13. ^ ‘Hundreds of Pupils in County’s Big Jubilee Pageant’, 11.
  14. ^ ‘Prince’s Faith Justified at Bradgate Ruins’, 25.
  15. ^ Ibid., 25.

How to cite this entry

Angela Bartie, Linda Fleming, Mark Freeman, Tom Hulme, Alex Hutton, Paul Readman, ‘Leicestershire Pageant’, The Redress of the Past, http://www.historicalpageants.ac.uk/pageants/1120/