Thankyou to Pauline Thompson for sending us in this interesting piece of literature , put together with some well invested research time.
''This Village deferred its recognition of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to Friday June 25th and on that day the gala was of such a character as it may fairly be stated to rank as first and foremost of any holiday ever held in the parish, for a site was produced the like of which has never been seen before in Milton Keynes village by the oldest inhabitants, namely, the illumination of the Rectory and pretty grounds surrounding which will be referred to later.
The church bells honoured the event by pealing forth many strains at intervals during the day and many of the inhabitants had decked their houses with flags and bunting. Conspicuous amongst these we noted the house of Mr John Dover, the first in the village from the Newport Pagnell entrance, and here over the gateway was a streamer of flags, while similar adornments met the eye in various parts of the front garden. Mr John Taylor, who resides next door, has suspended over his entrance the Royal Arms, flags etc. Mr. Paine, too, at the other end of the village, and also Mr. Claridge, had good displays of flags; bunting etc. marked the entrance to the rectory grounds. All betokened the desire to give effect to the event the village intended celebrating.
The Fenny Stratford band was engaged for the occasion and played some pleasing music both during the afternoon and evening. The proceedings commenced with the procession of school children and parishioners, headed by the band. Games, swings etc. were provided in the rectory grounds and these were entered into with the spirit that told the youngsters meant to thoroughly enjoy themselves. A cricket match was also played and was well contested by the two teams selected to play the match, Mr. Dover's team coming off victorious. A tea was provided in a large marquee situated in the grounds, and this was most heartily enjoyed, the ladies of the village adding materially to the comfort and pleasure of the participants by assisting in providing for those who partook of the tea, also waiting at the tables.
A presentation of books to the school children afterwards took place in front of the rectory. Mr J. Payne, being deputed to make the presentation,said that it was his pleasing duty to present each of the children with a book commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and he trusted that they would be read with pleasure and an example taken from their contents, of the life of her Majesty for therein they had an ideal pattern.
They would find in the books much that would interest and instruct them and thus they might improve any idle moments they might have.
The books were 'The Queen's Resolve' and 'The Story of Queen Victoria' and each contained on the first page the following: “Presented to ........... by the Parish of Milton Keynes in memory of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, 1837 – 1897,” the names of the recipients being inscribed in each.
A capital photograph of a group of the company, numbering nearly 200, was here taken by Mr. Thorneycroft, photographer, Newport Pagnell.
In the evening a capital supper was given to the villagers on the lawn in front of the rectory where 11 tables were excellently arranged and here, again, much pleasure was evinced by those assembled. Roast meats etc. formed the principal food and these were cooked and prepared by the Rector and the farmers, who were evidently determined that nothing should be left undone that would be likely to conduce to the pleasure of the general inhabitants. Aged and infirm, old and young participated in the treat, which will, no doubt, carry with it very pleasant memories, and be an incident for topic in after years. That enjoyment reigned supreme goes almost without saying, for there was food and plenty to spare and the social character of the gathering was of a most pleasing and harmonious nature.
At the termination of the repast Mr G. Fiennes, addressing those present, said anyone who saw the magnificent spectacle in London on Tuesday last could not have failed to recognize that Queen Victoria was loved by people all over the world. Therefore they had to ask themselves what all the pageant meant. It meant that no other Queen, save Victoria, could have drawn together the scattered members of the race from all parts of the world in such love and loyalty, and such a bond of strength as they saw that day. (Applause). Not only were members of the English race present in the vast assembly but it comprised black men, brown men and yellow men. He would tell them a little story of what he saw himself in the island of Borneo.
He went into the house of one of those “wild men of Borneo”, who were represented in the great procession, namely the Dyaks, and saw a picture of the Queen. He asked the “wild” man whether he knew who the picture represented and he immediately replied “the Queen”. That was one of the many evidences that were frequently occurring, that wherever one went, wherever the Union Jack was flying, the Queen of England was known and her name respected. (Hear, hear).
Then there was another side to the procession and the Jubilee celebration, that was the enormous power and influence which this country had obtained all over the world. (Applause).
And they could see in the near future the language of the Anglo-Saxons, or Britain, becoming the universal passport in every country. (Applause). That was a direct sign that the destiny of our race was only just beginning. They had before them an evidence that Britain was the nation that had the power of spreading, in the not distant future, the blessings of civilization, good government and Christianity to all the four quarters of the globe. (Loud Applause). He would therefore ask them to sing a verse of God Save the Queen.
This was heartily taken up by the band and the company. Lusty cheers were then given for Mr. Gerrard Fiennes, the Hon. And Rev. W.T. Fiennes, the respected rector,
and other members of the family. Corporal Cole of the Bucks Hussars supported the remarks as to Her Majesty in a short but appropriate speech.
The decorations, which were conducted by Mr Capel of Bedford, and reflected much credit on those who had charge of them, were of the most unique and splendid character. The front of the Rectory House, which lent itself most admirably for the purpose, was decked with lamps in such a way as produced a picture once seen never forgotten. The four lower windows were treated separately, with one coloured lamp red, white, blue and ruby, the door in the centre being framed with red, white and blue lamps alternately.
The six upper windows were decked with separate colours as a contrast to those below, green lamps being here and there intermixed, while above was a long line of lamps the full width of the house, and over this the overhanging two sides of a triangle eaves were similarly decorated, the centre being filled in with the “V.R.” in ruby lamps. Along the high boxed edge of the pathway leading to the church were chains of lamps, each chain being hung with lamps of the same colour and from these depended other chains across the footway, the whole giving one the idea that the Olympia Gardens had formed the groundwork of the design. The flower beds were also edged with lamps and alternate chains of red, white and blue lamps were hung in front of the towering box hedges with which those pretty grounds abound.
The general effect was most enchanting and presented on the whole a pleasing fairy- like appearance and a picture that the eye took in and the mind will ever remember. There were upwards of 2,000 lamps in and around the rectory, so that one can form a good idea of the effect such a large number would be calculated to make, but none but those present could conceive the artistic arrangement produced by Mr Capel's employees.
The Newport Pagnell Jubilee Minstrels gave an open air performance in front of the rectory, the illuminated background forming a pretty picture, while the impromptu footlights showed to advantage the black visages of the minstrels. These were under the management of Mr. G. H Sampson, and their programme, which evidently amused the audience, was a capital one.
At 10.30 this pleasing commemoration ceremony terminated by the band playing God save The Queen, and cheers for the esteemed rector, who had so generously contributed to the grand success of the holiday, and for the liberality and kindly feelings he and the members of his family had displayed on this auspicious and happy occasion. ''