Coronation of King Charles III on 6th May 2023

We will all be celebrating on this day, and a number of events are planned in and around the village. which may be covered elsewhere in this magazine edition. The village hall will be handling both ends of the age spectrum, by giving a Coronation mug to every under 18,¹ and providing a lunch in the hall for those who will be now experiencing their second coronation.² 

We have just experienced something that everybody living in the UK today will almost certainly never see, that is a monarch reigning for 70 years in Elizabeth II. The reasons for Elizabeth coming to the throne at the tender age of 27 were pretty unprecedented, namely two world wars. an abdication and a reluctant King who smoked to excess and died in his 50's. 

Although Elizabeth was at a tender age in 1952, she was not the youngest queen. that title belongs to Mary Queen of Scots who came to the throne in 1542 aged 6 days. Henry VI. a local lad born in Windsor Castle. came to the throne in 1429 aged 8 months and 26 days. Henry had an eventful reign. also being king of France, he had his own local issues with Scotland. and also some with the French, so nothing much changes does it? In his spare time Henry set up Eton College and had a pub in Eton named after him. Our own King Charles III now holds the record as the oldest monarch to take the throne at 73. 

Barring tragedies Charles will be succeeded by William V and he by George VII. so if you check their various ages and do the maths you will see why we state that no-one living today will see another 70-year reign. 

Anecdotes — These are a few anecdotes collected from °Wickites" who remember snippets from their childhood at the time of the death of George VI and the coronation of Elizabeth II. 

Apologies in advance if any of them have misremembered, they were very young, and it was an awfully long time ago!! 

"My first memory is arriving at Porny playground. There is an uninterrupted view of the Round Tower. The flag was at half-mast. I burst into tears. I was inconsolable. My world as I knew it had changed forever. My next memory (presumably a few days later) is of the whole school being walked up Castle Hill to watch the procession for the proclamation of Elizabeth II at Victoria's statue. 

Just before coronation day all Porny children were presented with a coronation mug by a local dignitary. My parents had a Coronation party for friends and family at their newly built home in Tilstone Close. I had a new dress (a rare occurrence). It was blue and white with a beautiful. smocked bodice. bought from the Bunny Shop in Eton High Street. I thought it was lovely. 

My maternal grandparents bought me a die-cast model of the Golden coach with its 8 Windsor Greys (I don't know what happened to it). We all crowded around a small piece of furniture. with a 9° screen and a magnifying screen in front of it to watch the proceedings. Afterwards my dad was passing round drinks and cigarettes from a wooden box. I took one. He said -You've taken it lady, now you can smoke it". It was awful. I coughed and coughed. felt sick and dizzy and have never put a cigarette between my lips since!! 

My younger brother remembers standing outside Tom Brown Tailors with his classmates to watch the Queen in an open carriage with lots of horses and soldiers on her way to Windsor. (I have no recollection of this). Nearly everyone eventually went to the ABC Cinemas in Thames Street to watch the coronation on the big screen and see pictures of Hilary and Tensing on top of Everest. We all clapped and cheered." 

Jacquie aged 10½ in 1953 

"Myself, and my younger sister, lived on the main road at the junction with Tilstone Avenue. We had a street party in Tilstone and it was organised by Mrs Wilkes and Mrs Wilson. There were lots of tressle tables and benches (I don't know where they came from). My mum had to borrow lots of small bowls as she was in charge of making the jellies. They were left to set in the back porch and covered with a sheet. She also made lots of rock cakes. My auntie made bowls of fruit punch and Bonds supplied some fruit. We were very excited watching balloons being blown up with a pump. (Could it have been helium?) We went to the brook at Dorney Common edge to let them go. We didn't want to lose them. balloons were a special treat and some of the children got upset. We watched the Coronation on our newly bought SM screen television. The Village Hall had lots of decoration and there was bunting around the rec. 

Pat Cole aged 14 and Nita aged 8 in 1953 

"My father had a position with what was then known as the War Office (later Ministry of Defence) in Whitehall. He had been able to secure tickets for seats at an upstairs window on the route of the Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace for my brother Philip (15 years old) and me (11 years old). I cannot recall many details now 79 years after the event but do recall how lucky we felt and how excited we were at the time. 

Shortly after Coronation Day there was a Royal carriage procession along Eton High Street which was decorated with bunting. I believe this procession continued over Windsor bridge and up to the castle. Pavements were lined with excited loyal subjects cheering the new Monarch. We lived at 122 High Street. Eton practically opposite the entrance to Porny school and had a balcony which gave us great views of the procession as it passed by. I have a small photograph taken at the time from an upstairs window. I also have feint recollection of a street party along the length of Eton High Street which I feel sure was replicated on a national scale.' 

Mike Newland - 6 February 2023 

I was living with my parents and grandparents in Eton Square and went to Eton Porny School. We didn't have a television, so we went to my aunt and uncles in Spingfield Road, Windsor and watched the Coronation and what I think was a 12" Bush TV with a magnifying glass in front on the screen. We were all excited because my uncle Mac was in the procession and followed the Coronation coach and was the Royal Standard bearer. He was a regimental Corporal Major in the Royal Horse Guards which later become the Blues and Royals. As I recall the weather that day was wet and the only memory I have is seeing Queen Saloti of Tonga who insisted on riding in an open top carriage and getting soaked: 

Barry Alder aged 10½ in 1953 

We thank all the above for their interesting anecdotes. In terms of street parties, we are told they were in The Wheatbutts field and on what was known as the 'new' Rec (opened in 1952 by Prince Philip), alongside numerous gatherings on a street-by-street basis. On a more sombre basis we also received memories of the funeral of King George VI. and his journey from the ceremony to where he is entombed, at Windsor Castle. He was taken to Windsor Central station by special train. 

Children from Eton and Eton Wick were taken to watch the train cross the viaduct from Chalvey to Windsor, those lucky enough to live on the right side of Somervile Road could actually watch from their back gardens! Similarly, those elder children attending Ragstone Road secondary school³ could watch from their playground. For those with an interest in railways the locomotive hauling the train was No. 4082 Windsor Castle'. 

We would hope that all our readers will enjoy the coronation weekend, maybe a unique one in history, hopefully there will be plenty of events in or around the village, and if nothing else the young ones will appreciate another day off off school and extra cakes, as they did on Coronation Day 1953. 

As previously mentioned, the Village Hall trustees will be organising Coronation celebration mugs for village children, together with a large screen broadcast and lunch in the Village Hall for our senior citizens. 

Note 1

Note 2

Note 3 Ragstone Road secondary school is now called Slough and Eton Church of England Business & Enterprise College.

This article is republished here with the kind permission of the Eton Wick Village Hall Committee. It was published in the April 2023 edition.

From the Parish Magazine - Eton Wick History Group - 100 Years 1897 -1997 Queen Victoria's Jubilees

Frank Bond introduced the April meeting of the Group with a request for suggestions for marking the Millennium; he thanked the donors of the raffle prizes and also those kind members who provide the refreshments for every meeting. Mr. Bond gave a special welcome to Eddie Wilkes; it was "lovely to see him back again"; also, he drew the members attention to the copies of Norman Oxley's book about Arthur Young Nutt, who fulfilled a period of service at Windsor Castle from 1867 to 1912, engaged initially as a draughtsman and attaining the position of Surveyor to the Dean and Canons of St. George's Chapel, Custodian of the Royal Mausoleum and Head of the Office of Works at the Castle. 

Examples of A.Y. Nutt's work were to be seen in the photographs and illustrations of the talk which followed Mr. Bond's introduction: John Denham spoke of "100 Years 1897-1997 (Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee)" In fact, the talk drifted back even further to 1887 and covered Queen Victoria's Gold and Diamond Jubilees when Eton and Eton Wick both joined with Windsor for the celebrations. 

The Jubilees provided a wealth of proof of the tremendous loyalty and enthusiasm which the public held for Victoria and the Royal family, and the ingenuity of people like Mr. Nutt with his ceremonial arches at the College end of Eton High Street and on Windsor Bridge, the parties, the processions, the military bands and the street decorations. 

Mr. Denham was also able to entertain with anecdotes about more local everyday matters, such as the savings bank, which was introduced for local children in 1897, their increasing numbers which resulted in pupils being refused from Boveney Newtown; the licensing for marriages of Eton Wick Parish Church and its first marriage between Ann Deverill and Alfred Seymour. 

Eton Wick's Football team's game against the Eton Temperance team on 20th November 1887, when Eton Wick lost 2-0: We heard how Toddy Vaughan had planted the oak tree on the green in Common Road - this could have been in either 1887 or 1897 and the History Group are going to fix a plaque to the tree, with due celebration, later on this year. 

We look forward to our next meeting, scheduled for 25th June, when the topic for discussion will be °THE IINFLUENCE OF ETON AND ETON COLLEGE ON ETON WICK", 

Perhaps those who have not yet returned their questionnaire to Mr. Bond could do so before that meeting.  

Photographic History of Eton Wick and Eton - Shakespere Stores

 

Shakespeare Stores, Alma Road
Fred and Olive Willsher
outside their shop in 1939

Olive ran the shop; Fred was a musician on a liner. In its early days the shop was in the hands of Charles Ayres; the Willshers took the shop on from Lucy and Jess Binfield in the mid-1930s and handed over to Mr and Mrs Gerry Chinnery in the mid 1940s. Note the pre-war style advertising plates on the shed door. The last business use before becoming a domestic residence was by Harry Cook, Builder/Jobber. 

This article was first published in A Pictorial History of Eton Wick & Eton.

Tough Assignment - Chapel Officials in 1961

Chapel Officials in 1961
Society Stewards		Mrs Annie Chew
		Miss Daphne Hogg,
		Messrs Harry Cook and
		Ernest Drake
Assistant Society Steward		Mr Leslie Hogg
Chapel Steward		Mr Harry Cook
Trust Secretary & Treasurer		Miss Sylvia Chew
Poor Stewards		Mrs Sophie Chamberlain
		and Miss Nancy Banister
Organist		Mr Tom Dally
Assistant Organist		Miss Joyce Chew
Cradle Roll Secretary		Mrs Lily Bye
Class Leaders		Mrs Annie Chew
		Mr Tom Dally
		Miss Marjorie Morris
		Miss Sylvia Chew
Sunday School Superintendent		Miss Marjorie Morris
Treasurer		Miss Sylvia Chew
Secretary		Mr Peter Morris
Register		Mr John Foster
Teachers		Misses Mable Woolhouse,
		Sylvia Chew,
		Marjorie Morris
		Messrs Peter Morris and
		Leslie Hogg.
Helpers		Miss Muriel Cleary and
		Mr John Foster
Sisterhood President		Miss Dorothy Banister
Treasurer		Mrs Annie Jacobs
Secretary		Mrs Hilda Paice
Thrift Club		Mrs Daisy Morrell
Sick Visitor		Mrs Cresswell
Women's Work Secretary		Mrs Hilda Paice
Treasurer		Mrs Ivy Hogg
Home Missions Secretary		Miss Marjorie Morris
Overseas Missions Secretary		Miss Sylvia Chew
JMA Secretary		Mr Peter Morris
Youth Club Leader		Miss Daphne Hogg
Helpers		Mr John Foster
		Misses Muriel Cleary
		and Nancy Banister
Ladies Club President		Mrs Hilda Paice
Secretary		Mrs Edna Nelson
Treasurer		Mrs Mary Betchley
Chapel keeper		Mrs Daisy Morrell
Chapel Membership - 31		Sunday School Scholars-74

These are the people that led the Methodist congregation and the other active members at the Chapels 75th anniversary.

The Eton Wick History Group is most grateful for the kind permission given by the Eton Wick Methodist Chapel to republish this history, Tough Assignment on this website.

EWHG Meeting - The Great Water Conduit of Windsor Castle

 

Old Days of Eton Parish - CHAPTER XV. - CHIEFLY ABOUT THE PARISH SCHOOLS.

ETON had several opportunities in the nineteenth century of showing its loyalty to the Royal Family. 

One memorable occasion was after the marriage of Queen Victoria, when she and Prince Albert drove through from Slough on their way to the Castle. Eton street was adorned with triumphal arches, and the royal pair was enthusiastically welcomed. 

So again in 1863, on the occasion of the Prince of Wales' marriage, the whole town was likewise decorated. Mr. Thomas Hughes gave a fat sheep, which was roasted whole in the Brocas, and zoo children were regaled with hot roast and boiled beef, pudding and beer. After-wards each child was presented with a cup of wine and retained the cup in memory of the event. This was before the days of the Temperance Movement!

A tree called the Alexandra Elm was also planted in Brocas meadow by Mr. Hughes, but has since dis-appeared. A nut tree planted the same day stands in the grounds of the Crown and Cushion Inn. 

But the crowning festivities were on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887, when for a whole week both Eton and Windsor kept up continual festival in splendid weather. In spite of the excitement and the enormous crowds, the general behaviour was all that could be desired ; good humour, good temper, and good manners marked this genuine rejoicing. 

But to return to matters which directly concerned the parish. In October 1858 a further step was taken to meet the wants of the increasing population. The Porny Schools, built in 1813, only afforded accommodation for thirty-three boys and thirty girls, and there was but a small Infant School which held twenty scholars. It was accordingly arranged to exchange the school premises for a site belonging to Mr. Penn, then Lord of the Manor, and on this to erect a complete set of suitable buildings. The plans were prepared by Mr. Street, and the building was carried out by Mr. Hollis of Windsor at a total cost of £3000.

Hitherto all measures for the education of the poor had been carried out, here as elsewhere, solely by the voluntary efforts of the Church-people. Now for the first time the State was open to an appeal. The Educational Committee of the Privy Council, which at this time had assumed the care of elementary education, made a grant of £554; the rest was raised by local subscriptions including £250 from Eton College and £100 from Baldwin's Bridge Trust and the National Society. The new schools were placed under the management of a Committee of thirty-two which was to include the existing Porny Trustees. These schools were opened in 1863, their trust deed being drawn in accordance with the regulations of the National Society for the Education of the Poor in the principles of the Church of England. It is on that ground that they are termed the Eton National Schools. The title implies that they are Church Schools under Church management. 

In these new schools the seventy Porny Scholars continued to receive their education free: for the rest of the children weekly payments were made by their parents at varying rates from twopence per child. 

It will be convenient here to recount briefly the nature of the changes introduced since. 

In 1864, these schools were placed under Government Inspection, but no grant was made, on the grounds that the Porny Endowment of £156 a year was sufficient without Government aid.

In 1865 the Porch to the Girls' and Infants' departments was built, in memory of Mark Anthony Porny. 

In 1866 the Infants' School, as not covered by the endowment, was allowed a small Government Grant—and in 1871 the grant was extended to all the departments. 

In 1870 under Mr. Forster's¹ guidance the State made its first serious effort to extend the school system, and Board Schools were started, where required, at the ex-pense of the rates, and in these no catechism or distinctive religious truth was to be taught. This is known as the Cowper-Temple clause.² The Voluntary Schools were to be maintained, side by side with the Board Schools³, under state supervision receiving certain state aid, on the condition that any parent might withdraw a child from religious teaching under a conscience clause. 

No grant was to be given for a child who had not made 250 attendances in the year. 

In 1870 to 1875 while Board Schools were growing and drawing largely on the rates, increased demands were made on Voluntary Schools for improved buildings, better apparatus and smaller classes. 

In 1876 school attendance was made compulsory, and arrangement was made for the payment of school fees for poor parents, without thereby depriving them of the franchise. 

In the same year restrictions were placed on the employment of children, before they had reached a certain age. 

In 1883, in the Eton schools, a new classroom to accommodate sixty pupils was added to the. Boys' department. 

In 1889 a new code was introduced, by which individual examination was abolished, and increased expenditure in school buildings was enforced; in the following year our school buildings were repaired throughout, and a block floor laid in the Boys' school. 

In 1891 admission to schools became free from October 1; and, in lieu of the children's pence, the Government gave a Fee Grant of 10s. a head. The introduction of free schooling proved of doubtful advantage to the Eton children. Many parents being relieved of payment were less careful to keep their children regular, and a still further loss to the finances of the schools was entailed by the withdrawal of part of the Porny Endowment from the ordinary income of the schools. It was to be devoted to the instruction of the children in cookery and such like subjects, and towards evening classes, prizes and exhibitions. A portion how-ever was reserved for Sunday school purposes, and for the repairs of school buildings. 

In 1895, to carry out the scheme of the Charity Commissioners, three representatives of subscribers of 5s. and two representatives of parents, and two of the local authority, were elected and added to the old body of Trustees. 

Cookery classes were established in 1897, and the first Porny Scholars under the new scheme were elected. In 1898 a considerable sum was raised by a voluntary rate and both the Boys' school and Infants' school were enlarged, and the playgrounds extended and re-fenced, and better offices arranged. The Lord of the Manor gave the additional ground. 

In 1900, the attendance necessary to earn a grant was raised to 35o; and other stringent regulations were also made. 

The Act of 1902 brought about greater changes still. Under that Act the terms Board' and Voluntary' were discontinued, and henceforth schools were distinguished as ' provided or Council schools,' and non-provided.' The former were those built and maintained entirely by rates and taxes. By the same Act the supreme control of the Eton non-provided schools was vested in the County Authority, whose business it became to settle the number and quality of the teaching staff and to provide for all other working expenses out of the rates. 

In consequence of this, the large body of managers, which under the trust deed had carried on the schools, was superseded, and its place taken by the small body of six persons. This included four foundation managers, the Vicar being ex-officio, and three churchmen to be elected by the subscribers to the schools, and two others representing the ratepayers generally, one being chosen by the Urban District Council, and the other by the County Council. 

The duty of this body was to carry out the instructions of the County Authority, to select teachers subject to its approval, and to see that the interests of both teachers and scholars were duly cared for, and the schools kept in good order. 

By what was known as the Kenyon-Slaney clause,' this body was to assume control of the religious teaching, instead of the responsibility, as in the trust deed, resting on the Incumbent only. An amendment, made in the House of Lords, secured that the authority of the Bishop should decide whether the religious instruction given was in due accordance with the trust deed. While the expenses in all secular matters were to be met by the county rate, the Church was still to be responsible for keeping the fabric of the buildings in good repair, and for any structural alterations which the County Authority might deem necessary. 

Several improvements were ordered by the Authority, one of the chief being better cloak rooms for the girls, and the schools started on their new career on October I, 1903. The new Foundation Managers were the Vicar, Messrs. Ainger, Devereux and Walls. The Manager elected by the County was Mr. R. I. Drake, and by the Urban District, Mr. Heygate. 

A similar board of Managers was appointed for Eton Wick schools. 

Notes

1 Mr. W. E. Forster was Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education when Mr. Gladstone was Prime Minister. 

2 It was left to each Board to decide whether there should be any religious teaching at all. 

3 The object, as expressed by Mr. Forster, was "not to supplant but to supplement" Voluntary Schools. 

OLD DAYS OF ETON PARISH by The Rev. John Shephard, M.A. was published in 1908 by Spottiswoode and Co Ltd. The text has been copied from the original book that is now out of copyright.

Eton Wick Newsletter - Our Village April 2023

 

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The Eton Wick Newsletter is published here with the kind permission of the Eton Wick Village Hall Management Committee

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