A pageant-related visit to Hertford
It was a short journey from London on 1 June 2014 to the small county town of Hertford, to see the launch of a book by Philip Sheail entitled Hertford’s Grand Pageant 1914. In common with many other towns and cities in the Edwardian era, Hertford had a historical pageant, and there is something especially poignant about this one, which took place only a few days before the declaration of war. In the midst of so many First World War centenary commemorations, it was particularly interesting to be at an event that marked the centenary, not of war, but of a pageant.
The mayor of Hertford attended to launch the book. Excellent tea and cakes were served, and there was a small exhibition that gave the large audience (perhaps 120 people?) some useful context about Edwardian pageantry.
The mayor of Hertford (centre), with Philip Sheail (right)
and the Mimram singers
The Hertford pageant was small by Edwardian standards – with around 600 performers – but it made a big local impact. The script was written by Charles Ashdown, who had made his pageant debut at nearby St Albans in 1907, and most of the local Hertford dignatories were involved in one way or another. This is not the place to give a detailed account of the pageant: I recommend that readers buy Philip’s book, which was on sale at the launch for only £5, and can be bought at Hertford Museum or online.
The audience at St John’s Hall, Hertford.
The highlight of the book launch (with apologies to the mayor) was a performance of original pageant music from 1914 by the Mimram Singers. Each song was introduced by Philip, and the choir was dressed in Edwardian costume. The audience was given the words on a songsheet, although perhaps fortunately nobody tried to join in. The music of the pageant was fairly typical for the period, with uplifting songs about valiant heroes such as Bretwalda, and a song about Hertford, full of local patriotism and pride.
Song sheet that helped the audience follow the words of the
songs. The words are by Charles Ashdown and the music by James Lively Gregory.
The launch took place on a very pleasant day, and we took the opportunity to sample the offerings of a number of real ale pubs in Hertford and Ware. South Herts CAMRA has an interesting promotion at the moment: if you visit 28 pubs in the region and get a sticker from each one, you are entered for a competition to win beer festival tickets. We managed to visit seven of the 28 (drinking half-pints in each, of course) in the one afternoon, with the pageant music still in our heads.
Mark Freeman
*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.*
Philip Sheail, 'Hertford's Grand Pageant 1914'