Good morning to you, Shallcross,
Well I have to agree with you that whatever Mrs Ramsden-Jodrell had to say that afternoon it didn’t look at all interesting.
I imagine the good Colonel dispensed with the services of her speech writer immediately after the event.
The date on the bottom of your photo is 11th September, 1920 or 9/11 in today’s terms.
At the meeting of the Park Committee a month earlier (in fact 19.08.1920) the following items were discussed by those present:
The Committee:
Messrs G.W. Little (in the chair), S. Bennett, Mr. Muirhead, A. Keens, T. Marshall, F. Moore, J. Williamson, J.H. Greenhalgh, Col. Hall, Rev. T. Pasley and Miss Simpson.
1/. A letter was read from Mr A. Dean accepting office as Secretary to the Gala and Fete to be held
on Sep 11th, and expressing his willingness to do what he could to make the Gala a success.
2/. Proposed by Mr Greenhalgh and seconded by Miss Simpson that Mrs Ramsden-Jodrell be invited to open the Recreation Ground on Sept 11th and that W. Little write to that effect.
So even though your photo states that Mrs. R-J was opening the playing fields it was in fact the Recreation Ground or Memorial Park. It was certainly nothing to do with football anyway.
There was one other item of note and concern during that meeting and it was raised by Mr Bennett:
This concerned the bad behaviour of local boys and complaints had been made to Mr. Muirhead.
Apparently these naughty boys, whilst bathing had caused some offence to those of a delicate nature and a suggestion was made that a shed might be made available for the purposes of dressing by the river side. Immediately Mr. Little offered to provide one.
Miss Simpson asked that provision should be made for Girls to bathe and the matter was left in the hands of the Works Committee.
Rather strangely there was no mention of a shed for the girls.
Even though it was the opening of the Memorial Park (I’m getting confused myself now) the Reporter Newspaper headlined it thus:
whaley war memorial
Mrs Ramsden-Jodrell Opens the Weir Playing Fields.
Hope this sets the record straight.
R. S-S
