Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 June 1884
Annual Festivities at Mexborough and Procession to Denaby
This annual event was celebrated on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last, and proved as attractive as heretofore, especially to the more juvenile portion of the community. The arrangements provided for the pleasure-seeking crowds were more numerous than ever, there being no less than three “roundabouts” in various parts of the town. A novelty in the shape of a ghost entertainment proved attractive, and the shooting galleries and highflyers were well patronised. The tradesmen closed their business establishments on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
On Saturday last the members of Court Crosby (3459 A.O.F.) met at the South Yorkshire Hotel, and, headed by the Wath Volunteer band, marched in procession through the streets to Denaby and after parading the principal streets of that village returned by the main thoroughfare to the starting point. The members wore full regalia and the various characters in the Robin Hood legend were assumed by the following persons, who wore the quaint costume of the Foresters of “ye olden time:”—Mr. Sylvester, Robin Hood; Mr. J. Bell, Little John; Mr. Cooke, Maid Marian; Mr. Thompson, Will Scarlet; Mr. Speight, Friar Tuck; Mr. Barlow, Allan-a-Dale; Messrs. White and Stead, with several others, were attired as archers; Mr. Albert Scholey leading the procession in a Forester’s costume.
The following officers of the society were present in the procession:—Bro. W. Grant, C.R., Bro. Sylvester, S.C.R., Bro. Hatton, secretary, Bro. Thompson, treasurer, Bro. H. Killham, assistant secretary.
On Saturday evening the Mexborough Plant band, which was reinforced by a contingent from Sheffield, played selections of lively airs in the thoroughfares. On Sunday a large number of persons visited Mexborough by rail and road, and a special train for the convenience of the visitors was run to Mexborough from Barnsley and intermediate stations. There were very few cases of drunkenness to be observed, the labours of the police being thereby reduced to a minimum.
The usual musical attractions at Mr. Waddington’s assembly rooms were largely patronised by those fond of the mazy dance, and on each occasion the proceedings were conducted with much spirit until the small hours.
At Mr. Stanford’s, the Mason’s Arms on Monday, a go-as-you-please handicap took place, much interest being taken in the proceedings. Seven competitors entered, the finals being, first, Johnson 146 laps, second Levas 144 laps, third Vickers 118 laps. The same number entered on the second day, the finish of a similar contest being highly exciting. Johnson again took first prize, the second being divided between Vickers and Wilkinson, who ran a dead heat.