The Weekly News and Visitors' Chronicle for Colwyn Bay Colwyn Llandrillo Conway Deganwy and Neighbourhood

The Garden Fete at Colwyn Bay. Bishop Edwards on Open Spaces. On Tuesday afternoon, a two days "Garden Fete and Fancy Fair" was opened on the lawn fronting St. Paul's Vicarage, Colwyn Bay, the object of the enterprise being to raise funds for the purpose of paying off the debt incurred by certain trustees for the purchase of the lawn and the other grounds lying between St. Paul's Vicarage and Abergele-road. The Fete has had precursors in several previous years, but none of them have occurred in more beautiful weather, or under more encouraging auspices. Tuesday's proceedings were opened by Mrs. Edwards, wife of the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, and, in addition to a short speech she delivered, an interesting address was delivered by Bishop Edwards. Mons. Jules Rivere's orchestra, conducted by Mr.W. Gezink, having drawn the visitors together before a grassy terrace, the Rev. Canon Hugh Roberts (Vicar of St. Paul's), in an introductory address, welcomed the Lord Bishop of the Diocese and Mrs. Edwards to the "Garden Fete," and bore testimony to the hard work done in organis- ing the same by the Chairman of the Committee (Dr. J. E. Brooks, J.P.), the Hon. Sec. (Rev. J. Henry Hope, B.A.), and their worthy Treasurer (Mr. G. P. Jenkins; F.R.A.S.) He also expressed his gratitude to the ladies whose willing efforts had led to so an excellent an assortment of goods for sale being got together. fiss Roberts (St Paul's Vicarage) having pre- sented to Mrs Edwards a very handsome bouquet which (together with a similar one to be presented to the Mrs Brodrick at the opening of the second day's proceedings) had been kindly given by Messrs Dicksons (Ltd), of Chester, Mrs Edwards proceeded to formally declare the Fete open, in a few graceful sentences. Dr Brooks, J.P., moving a cordial vote of thanks to Mrs Edwards for her kindness in at- tending to perform the ceremony, said that it would be mere affectation for him to say that what had been done in organising the Fete had been done without any trouble, but he thought that they must all feel a very great debt of grati- tude to those who had stepped forward into the breach some years ago and saved that piece of ground where they were now assembled from being built-upon. The efforts, however, of those who had stepped into the breach and prevented the land from being sold to the builders, would have been unavailing but for the help of the ladies in bringing together the goods dispose at the an- nual fete. Mr E. H. Davies (Uxbridge House), in secon- ding the vote, said that he was hoping that the Lord Bishop would find, among his many wealthy friends, someone who would relieve their worthy Vicar from the burden of the debt upon that land. He also hoped that the Bishop and Mrs Edwards would be present on an occasion in the near future, at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new tower of the Church. The Church at Colwyn Bay was a progressive one, as was proved by the fact that last Sunday St Paul's was filled with some 1,200 to 1,300 persons, and owing to the foresight of the Vicar three hundred more were enabled to worship in a tent on those grounds. [Applause]. Mr J. Brock, J.P., who supported, said that it would have been a thousand pities had that land been built upon. He suggested that the Bishop should be appealed-to to move the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to make a substantial grant to- wards removing the debt on the ground. Dr Brooks's proposition having been adopted by an enthusiastic show of hands, the Bishop, in replying on behalf of Mrs Edwards, said that that undertaking had not been called a bazaar, which was an Oriental term; it was designated a garden fete, so that they had still had to go across the Channel to get a name for it. [Laughter]. It was a great satisfaction to Mrs Edwards and himself to help in that undertaking. Apart from the linquistic aspect of the matter, he did not consider that a Bishop was called upon to attend sales-of-work and bazaars if he attended all he was asked to, he would have little left in his pocket, and little time for his work. [Laughter]. This was, however, an unexceptional case. He had looked through some old papers relating to the parish, and it was interesting to find that in 1809 the whole of the Bay was non-existent, and it began to appear, at first gradually, about 30 or 40 years ago. The first reference he could find to it, as an entity, was when it was called "Col- wyn Station." Since then, it had grown up rapidly, and was one of the most remarkable centres on that very remarkable coast, to any one who looked at it as a matter of Churchwork in the last fifty years. Great things had been done from Rhyl right to the Junction, to meet the enormous demands created by the number of visitors coming to that locality. [Applause]. With regard to that particular undertaking, it was seldom that a bazaar stood upon the thing to be bought by its aid, but that was exactly what was being done in this case. They had a fine Church, by Douglas, of Chester, and it was meet that it should not be hidden by other buildings. During the time he had been at the head of the Diocese, but especially since Canon Roberts was appointed by him as Vicar, there had been no tendency to give way to the temptation which parishes like Colwyn Bay-where the offertories and collections were very large, —were subject to, to regard their duty as merely parochial and congregational, and to forget that there were other and larger schemes to be supported outside. [Applause]. Since Canon Roberts came to the parish, generous and prompt support had been given to institutions the claims of which were not merely based upon t, requirements of Colwyn Bay. [Applause]. Therefore, he (Dr Edwards) felt a greater pleasure, as representing the Diocese, in doing what he could to help them in a matter essentially parochial. [Applause]. As Mr Davies had said, Colwyn Bay was a progressive town, and, if he were an owner of property there, or were other- wise interested in the prosperity of the place, he should give a large subscription towards securing that open space, merely as a townsman, and whether he were a Churchman or not. [Applause]. It was the business of'alf interested in Colwyn Bay to see that there were plenty of open spaces, and that was a solid argument which he would like to commend to all the inhabitants. [Ap- plause]. The Church, one of Mr Douglas's finest creations, was, like a beautiful picture, worthy of a frame which would not hide it. Had buildings been allowed to grow up around it, the Church would have been concealed, and its beauty marred. [Applause]. The land had cost £ 3,600, of which £ 2,600 remained to be paid, and he hoped that, with a united pull by the inhabi- tants-Churchmen and non-Churchmen alike, the money would soon be raised. If such an effort were made, he would be able to go to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners with a strong plea for a grant of a few hundred pounds to clear off any remnant of the debt that might remain. [Applause]. He congratulated the parish not only upon the bazaar, but also upon the exception- ally favourable weather with which they had been favoured. If they had had the bazaar on a recent Friday, he did not know where they would have been. [Laughter and applause], Business then commenced, the Stalls being placed in white canvas marquees and tents ar- ranged in a semi-circle, with a central tent divided into three Stalls for the sale of sweets, tobacco, and glass and china. Each tent or marquee was very artistically decorated with bannerets. The front of the Refreshment Tent was also adorned with a profusion of heather and evergreens, cun- ningly arranged in festoons, by M. Jenkinson, of Groes nursery, Old Colwyn. The grounds and also each tent and marquee were lighted at night by electricity, the temporary installation being excellently laid, free of charge, made by Messrs R. H. Jones and Company (Fron- haulog). At the Tobacco Stall, the follow- ing telegram occasioned considerable merriment: —Handed in at "The Railway Station" at "12 A.M. received here at 2 P.M.; charges to pay, :£10 ios. To "The Tobacco Stall, St. Paul's Bazaar, Colwyn Bay, Wales. I hear from official quarters that you are selling tobacco at prices calculated to Stagger Humanity. Please dispatch a large consignment at once to my capital.— PAUL KRUGER." After this, it was a little bit unkind-unless they doubted the boua-fides of the telegraphic order- tor Mr J. Armitage, assisted by Masters Archie Jenkins (dressed in khaki) and Stanley Horton, to invite all and sundry to have Shots at Kruger, one penny per shot," with a dart-shoot- ing air-gun, Oom Paul" being represented by a life-size full-length portrait. And, the telegram notwithstanding, they secured plenty of patronage throughout the afternoon. Other entertainments were provided at intervals. Mons. Jules Riviere's Band, performed, under Mr W. Gezink's conductorship, very attractive pro- grammes, from 2.30 to 4.30 and from 5.30 to 7 in the grounds. Mr Alfred Capper thrice gave his magical and musical drawing-room entertainment and thought-reading seance, in the Church Room. A good house also attended at the Church Room at a variety entertainment organised by Madame Riviere, the artistes being Mr L Summerfield, pianist Madame Aptommas, harpist and piano- forte accompanist Mr E. S. Redfern, piccoloist; the Misses Florence Lancaster and Amy Riviere, vocalists and Mr Arthur Herbert (Old Colwyn), humorist. In the evening, the dramatic entertain- ment entitled One of you must Marry." was attractively rendered in the Church Room, the parts being well taken as follow :—Jacob and William (brothers, Professors at a University), Mr H. Bainbridge- and Mr Matheson Gertrude (their aunt), Miss Lilian Page Louisa (her niece), Miss Gladys Page. As the afternoon was waning, an interesting organ-recital was given in St Paul's Church by Dr Montagu Venables-Williams, J.P. A ladies' competition in polishing pennies with Monkey-Brand Soap," was held on the lawn in rear of the Vicarage when the shadows were perceptibly lengthening. Around seven o'clock, Mr A. J. Fleet was very busy bringing the attrac- tions of the Refreshment Tent before the visitors, a large bevy of whom partook of supper on his recommendation. After sunset, there was a lively coinfetti carnival, and a very pleasant day terminated with the letting-off of fireworks. The Executive Committee weie, in addition to the Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer The Revs Canon Roberts and O. J. Davies, the Chevalier Harold Smith, and Messrs A. Tomlin- son, H. Hughes, E. H. Davies, and S. Wells Page. There were a large staff of stewards, who did excellent service, as and when required, namely, Messrs Wm. Jones, Exell, Arnold, LI. Davies, Hartley (junr.), Sadlier, George Jones, David Hughes, Meir, A. J. Fleet, Dunning, Clint, Hargreaves, Foster, Wm. Roberts, Bond, Geo. Mason, Mason (Grove Road), Hodgkins, Richd. Jones, R. L. Samuels, John Williams, Edward Sadlier, J. M'Cann, Hartley (senr.), Pilling. The list of stalls, stallholders, and assistants was as follows Fancy Stall.—Mrs Roberts (The Vicarage), as- sisted by Miss Arnold, Mrs E. H. Davies, Miss Dean (Woodleigh), the Misses Farrar, Miss Hird, Mrs J. H. Hope, Miss Johns, Mrs Sorby, Mrs Girling. Household Goods Stall.—Mrs Brock, assisted by Miss Bolton, Miss Dalzell, Miss Dean (Moles- croft), Mrs Bevan Davies, Mrs Lord, Mrs Mouls- dale, Miss Raper, Mrs Sarson. Children's Stall.—Mrs G. P. Jenkins, assisted by Mrs Stanley Booth, Mrs McDowell, Mrs Whitehouse, Miss Doris Astley, Miss Marjorie Davies, the Misses Horton, the Misses Jenkins, Miss Catherine Moore, the Misses Roberts, Miss Whitehouse. » Fruit and Flower Stall.—Miss Lasbrey and Miss H. Phillips, assisted by Mrs Bulmore, the Misses Parry Evans, Miss Moore, the Misses Sorby, Miss Taylor. China and Glass Stall.—Mrs Page, assisted by the Misses Brewer, Miss Holland, the Misses Page, Miss Tomlinson, Mrs Crump. Sweets Stall.—Mrs M. Venables-Willianis, as- sisted by Miss Helen Barlow, Miss Bell, Miss Brooks, Madame Riviere. Tobacco Stall.—Miss Hands, assisted by Miss A. Katherine Hands, Miss Baillie, Miss Ethel Tudor. Refreshment Stall.—Mrs Arthur Allen, assisted by Mrs Roberts, (Caerfron), Mrs Darlington, Miss Lucy Crossley, Mrs Wright, Miss Clint, Miss Splatt, the Misses Smith, Mrs Llewelyn Jones, Miss Lovatt, Mrs Fleet, Miss Grindley, Miss Fenton, Miss Lloyd, the Misses Bulls, Miss Winifred Jones, Miss Pearson, the Misses Mclntyre, the Misses Burden, Mrs Francis, Miss Francis, the Misses Fletcher. Wednesday's Proceedings. Graceful Speech by the Hon. Mrs. Brodrick. Perfect summer weather again favoured the Fete on Wednesday, when the opening ceremony was performed by the Hen. Mrs. Brodrick, of Coed Coch. At half-past two, the time announced for the opening, there was already a numerous and fashionable assembly, auguring a very suc- cessful afternoon. In the glorious sunshine the scene presented was striking and picturesque, the well-kept grass plot looking fresh and green, thus appealing not only to the eyes but to the pockets of those who realised what a beautiful centre it made to the most charming town in lovely Wales. Dr. J. E. Brooks, J.P., as Chairman of the Committee, again presided, and was supported by the clergy and prominent laymen connected with the movement. The Chairman said he had great pleasure in introducing the Hon. Mrs. Brodrick, who had so kindly come to open the fete for them. It was to him a pleasant duty to do so, because he was quite sure that with the charm and,grace of her presence no words of his were necessary. There had always been very close intimacy between the Coed Coch family and this district, and he knew nothing that could be more fitting than that an institution like that should be supported by one of the good old county families. [Hear, hear.]- Little Miss Druce Roberts, daughter of the Vicar, now presented the Hon. Mrs Brodrick with a beautiful bouquet, which, like that given on the previous day, was a gift by Messrs Dickinson, florists, Chester, and Mrs Brodrick graciously accepted the lovely floral present. The Hon Mrs Brodrick, who was cordially received, said she need hardly say that it gave her very great pleasure to perform the ceremony, as it always was a pleasure to take part in anything that was got up in the district. She thought they would all agree that speeches at bazaars were unnecessary, especially on the second day, but there was one little thing which she would like to say, because she felt she would be expressing what everybody felt. It was that they ought to publicly recognise the great energy and public spirit of those who had got up that bazaar, in this year particularly. She thought that every- body's heart and mind had been centred in one place for a long time past, in South Africa, and all the interest that we should have for things at home had been centred more or less in the different branches of the war fund. Of course, one sympathised with those charitable funds, but she had been sorry to think how many home funds and home charities had suffered. Under such circumstances, it was all the more credit- able to anyone who helped to promote charities of the sort that people had been appealing for public support year after year. It showed a great deal of energy and public spirit on the part of the Committee, and all would agree, in looking round them, that it would be a great disfigure- ment to Colwyn Bay if that piece of land were ever built upon. She appealed to all pre- sent, and especially to the townspeople, because it was a duty to take pride in one's own town and make it as beautiful as possible—[applause]—and also to those who, like herself, were neighbours, to do all in their power to support that fete and make it as great a success as possible. [Applause] She thought they should publicly thank those who had got it up, because theirs was a difficult task in view of the fact that public sympathy was for the present being diverted to another direction. It was with great pleasure she declared the fete open and wished it all possible success. (Applause] Mr G. P. Jenkins said it was his very pleasant duty, as Warden of the parish, to propose a most hearty vote of thanks to the Hon. Mrs Brodrick for so kindly performing the opening ceremony. He felt sure that her presence in there midst was responsible to a large extent for the very influen- tial gathering which he saw around him, because the Coed Coch family had ever been held in the highest esteem in this neighbourhood, and rightly so, because of their good deeds. [Applause]. He was sure that they all felt thankful that the garden fete had been a great success. Ou Tuesday they had taken over £ 200, and, seeing how har- moniously all connected with the movement were working, he felt that the time when the debt on that land should be entirely removed could not be indefinitely postponed. [Applause]. In passing, he would like to render his mead of praise to the very excellent Church organisation existing in Canon Roberts's parish, and that was due, he felt sure from his own personal experience, to the very high regard in which the parishioners held their Vicar. [Applause]. When all had worked so well, it might seem invidious to single out any .one person for special praise, but considering how hard their Chairman had worked to achieve success, and how he had attained that success, they wonld allow him to express their special indebtedness to Dr Brooks. [Applause]. Mr S. Wells Page, seconding the resolution, said he had that day been looking over the accounts in connection with that land, and it might be of interest to know that the plot originally cost about £ 3000, to which must be added certain expenses and interest on loan, for which there was no corresponding income on the part of the land, making the total cost something like £ 4000. Towards that large amount some £ 1500 had been contributed in donations and contributions, princi- pally from members of the congregation at St. Paul's, though there had also been some small subscriptions by townsmen who were not Church- men. He thought this was a very considerable sum, because it had all been raised during the last three years. Now the trustees had consoli- dated their debt, and made an arrangement to pay the sum of £ 260 a year, in the hope of being able to redeem the amount of the principal and interest in twelve years. [Applause.] He felt sure that they would regard this as a satisfactory arrangement, because as long as they were, under the old arrangement, simply pay the interest, the principal remained the same, and there was no prospect of wiping it off. So far the fetes had proved very successful, and this year they had been enterprising enough to try an innovation, a two-day's affair, being sanguine enough to hope that the money thus raised would be so large as to render it unnecessary to hold any more fetes in the future. Whether that sanguine hope was going to be realised, he would not like to say. [Laughter and hear, hear]. Re- ferring to the excellent programme of amuse- ments arranged, Mr Page referred to the assis- tance so kindly rendered by Madame Riviere. All felt that Colwyn Bay had made a great acquisition in securing the services of M. Jules Riviere as conductor at the splendid Pavilion concerts, and they felt, too, that it was a decided acquisition to have M. and Madame Riviere resid- ing in their midst, and to have Madame Riviere to assist them in that work. [Applause]. In conclusion, the speaker acknowledged the kind- ness of the Hon. Mrs Brodrick, and said that if there was one thing calculated to give an impetus to their efforts and to assure the success of the bazaar it was the presence of Mrs Brodrick, and they were extremely indebted to her. [Ap- plause]. Mr W. H. Cogswell, whose prominent associa- tion with the movement is so well-known, supported the motion. The resolution was carried with much applause, and the Hon Mrs Brodrick acknowledged the compliment with the simple yet graceful words Thank you very much." The ceremony over, the stallholders were quick to call attention to their attractive wares, whilst the entertainment department had the ad- vantage of very pushing advertisers, the result being that business was now in full swing. What lent an added zest and interest to the proceed- ings was the sweet music discoursed by M. Jules Riviere's orchestra, who gave an entirely new programme. As on the previous day, the baton was wielded by Mr W. Gezink, whom his many admirers were glad to see holding a position of so much responsibility. The various attractions included Mr Alfred Capper's entertainment, Madame Riviere's entertainment (with violin solo by M. Verbrugghen), an organ recital by Mr Arthur Allen, (organist of Bebington Parish Church), and the dramatic sketch, "One of you must marry," by Mr H. Barnbridge, Mr Matheson, Miss Lilian Page and Miss Gladlys Page. At five o'clock there was a very amusing, not to say exciting, polishing competition, and the prize was awarded to Miss Percival, of Altrincham, whilst the second prize was awarded to Police Constable Thomas, Colwyn Bay. Much curiosity was aroused as to the lucky winner in the drawing for the pony, and the successful ticket holder' turned out to be Mr McCarthy, Kinmel Cottage, Colwyn Bay. The grand climax was reached at nine o'clock, with a confetti carnival and fireworks display, the fun waxing "fast, fierce and furious." The fete was in every sense a success. All the arrangements worked most smoothly, and Dr. Brooks and his committee deserve warraesttom- mendations for having achieved such a triumph of organisation.