Arboreal clues to royal events

Turning our backs on the giant redwoods, we look at the three pairs of oaks planted to commemorate 20th Century coronations.

Perhaps that should be look for... Once there were plaques at the foot of the trees to remind us what they commemorated.

Over time, the plaques have been lost - one turned up in a car boot sale a decade ago - and, over time, the town has forgotten what these trees stand for.

However, with the help of Darlington Borough Council's tree man Peter Sherry, we hope we have identified correctly the three pairs of lost oaks.

October 22, 1902

THE coronation of King Edward VII was a messy affair. His mother, Queen Victoria, died on January 22, 1901, and with the Boer War dragging on, his coronation was delayed.

A date was set for June 24, 1902, but two days before the event Edward complained of rapidly worsening abdominal pains.

Dr Frederick Treves - physician to the Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick - diagnosed appendicitis that could only be cured by emergency surgery.

"I have a coronation on hand," protested the king.

"It will be a funeral, if you don't have the operation," said the doctor.

It was a brave decision. Edward was old, obese and flatulent, a terrible surgical risk.

The royal guests who had gathered in London for a coronation were sent home; courtiers planned for a funeral. Treves operated. He made a single incision, drained the abscess and left the appendix.

The king recovered, a new word - appendicitis - entered the English language, and the coronation was held on August 9.

Darlington did not get around to planting its pair of oaks in South Park until October 22. The oaks are beside the cafe (which was not built until six years later), close to the sequoias planted 40 years earlier for Edward's wedding.

The mayor, Edward Daniel Walker, and his wife performed the honours.

ED Walker was a Brighton lad who made good through newspaper shops on railway station platforms. He was known as the "WH Smith of the North" and for best part of a decade he owned The Northern Echo.

As he planted the oaks, Mr Walker - who has the homes in Coniscliffe Road named after him - made some serious puns about how deep-rooted the affection for the monarchy was in Darlington, among the nourishing and sustaining soil of the people.

He and his wife were presented with inscribed, miniature gold spades.

"Tea and light refreshments (were served) in the large marquee erected near the park-keeper's residence, and the mayoress personally distributed innumerable pieces of huge coronation cake."

A telegram was despatched to the King telling him of the successful planting, and he replied with his thanks.

June 22, 1911

TWO oak saplings were planted "on the lawn adjoining the bowling green" by the mayor, Dr Lewis Eastwood, to mark George V's coronation, amid huge jollifications.

Eight thousand "young loyalists" - all schoolchildren - paraded with military precision from the Market Square into High Row, where they sang the National Anthem and saluted a Union Flag that had been sent by the children of Darlington in New South Wales.

From there they went to the park, where all the youngsters were given a ticket that entitled them to a free bag of cake and sweets.

Entertainment was provided near the bandstand by "Carl Harmon's Royal Marionettes and Punch and Judy Show combined, by Professor Fearon with his Punch and Judy Show, and by Espin Fox, the ideal Entertainer, Conjurer, Juggler and Ventriloquist".

A grandstand had been erected nearby for dignatories. In the Skerne, the Darlington Amateur Swimming Club took part in distance races as well as competitions called "graceful diving, walking greasy pole in costume, night shirt and umbrella race".

Bands played, Japanese Daylight Fireworks flared away, and at 10pm there was a fireworks display followed by a "monster bonfire".

So probably no one noticed Dr Eastwood and his wife sneaking off at 3.30pm to plant the oaks.

Dr Eastwood, came from Illingworth and started off in a chemists in Halifax. He had come to Darlington in 1871, and in 1877 started his own doctor's surgery.

The Eastwoods said they hoped their trees would "grow and flourish exceedingly".

One has, and last week received a major haircut as part of the park's £4m overhaul. The other, nearest the gate, has not, and is now a wizened, gnarled and stunted little thing.

May 12, 1937

TWO more oaks were planted for the coronation of George VI, but no one really knows where. They were "on a terrace above the lake" and, hopefully, we have located the right ones on our map.

The park was again the centrepiece of Darlington's celebrations.

"The masses of floral decoration struck a distinctive note and won great admiration," reported the Darlington and Stockton Times.

"The illuminations...were a captivating sight. Admired by all were the pylons in the ornamental lake which constantly changed colour in delicate shades of red, yellow and green. The strings of coloured bulbs which lit the treetops were reflected in the lake in a wonderful manner."

There were all sorts of sports and stalls in the park, including 120 children from five schools performing a folk-dancing display to relayed music, and 100 women under the direction of Miss Gladys Mutimer in a keep-fit demonstration.

In the evening, when the fireworks were lit, "gasps of awe heralded each successive effect. The beautiful Niagra Falls was perhaps the most popular but the Golden Rain rockets must have run a close second. The display also included a setpiece working model of Locomotion No 1 and portraits of the King and Queen elicited a hearty cheer from everyone".

So, again, probably no one noticed the mayor, Councillor Richard Luck, and his wife sneaking out to plant the trees. The mayor was the third of four generations of Lucks to run the family drapery shop on High Row. Lucks was a fixture for 162 years until it closed in 1966, its building being taken over by Dressers, and now lying empty.

The Lucks expressed the time-honoured wish that the trees should flourish. They have - if they are the lone pair to the west of the Fowler monument, as we think they might be.

Village celebrations fit for a king

JUST as in Darlington, the coronation of King George V on June 22, 1911, was celebrated vigorously elsewhere in south Durham. Every town, village and hamlet organised its own event, which usually involved a parade, children's sports, a free tea and commemorative mugs, and medals for the children. Some places were very inventive:

Hurworth: A bicycle parade in fancy dress and comic costumes was held, followed by a bonfire and a dance.

Hurworth Place: A torchlight parade and bonfire were held on Mr Layfield's field.

Croft: "The animal race gave rise to great merriment."

Dalton: "Old English sports and merry-making."

Stapleton: Tea in the Mission Room, followed by "sports, quoiting and other amusements".

Sadberge: The National Anthem was sung on the green at 9.15am, followed by a married versus singles cricket match. The match was drawn - it ran out of time because the green was needed for the post-lunch children's sports.

Melsonby: The Melsonby Brass Band "discoursed sweet music" during tea.

Heighington: Tolling of the church tenor bell at 8am. At 9am, ladies versus gentlemen cricket match. "Many of the ladies displayed very considerable skill in the handling of the ball and bat, but unfortunately they experienced some bad luck which prevented them carrying off the honours of the day."

At 11am, a church service was held. At 1pm, the Heighington Coronation Band led a parade to the green for sports, which culminated in a bonfire and fireworks.

Hamsterley: A procession of horses and vehicles finished with tea, fireworks and bonfire.

Bishopton: Fireworks. Coronation beakers were presented to children.

Staindrop: There was a best-dressed shop competition, a bran tub for the under-fives, and the entrance to Raby Castle was illuminated by fairy lamps in the design "GR and M" (George's queen was Mary).

Barnard Castle: Started the earliest with a 7.30am peal of church bells. There were horse parades, a Durham Light Infantry parade from Deerbolt camp, and every child had tea in the school.

Shildon: There was a cycle parade at 9am, followed by a horse parade featuring 30 pit ponies. A total of 3,500 children then took part in a "monstre procession" to the showfield, where tableaux were acted out.

There was a balloon ascent, fireworks, and a torchlight and lantern parade. "The roseate hues of early dawn had begun to make their appearance ere the streets of Shildon resumed their customary nocturnal quietude."

Blackwell, Darlington: A tea tent was set up in the grounds of Blackwell Grange, where there was "roast beef, hams, tongues and a good assortment of fruit".

Cockerton, Darlington: Scouts paraded. Children were given an orange and sweets in the morning, and chocolate in the evening. The men received some tobacco.

Harrowgate Hill, Darlington: A greasy pole was erected in a field.

Dinsdale and Girsby: There was a celebration in the grounds of Dinsdale Hall.

Barton: The Union Flag was hoisted up the village cross at 8am, and a cricket match between villagers began.

Mr TS Rowlandson's team (59 runs) beat Edward Hall's (30 runs). Children paraded in the village, singing the National Anthem in front of each house that had contributed to the fund to pay for the day's festivities.

Neasham: There was a comic bicycle parade.

Middleton Tyas: Married men (57 runs) played singletons (52 runs) at cricket, and dancing continued until 3am.

Cowtons: North versus South cricket match at Pepper Arden.

Coatham and Brafferton: The ladies won the cricket match played at Hall Garth, and a royal oak was planted in the grounds.

Aldborough and Stanwick: Cricket was played on the green, where a "capacious marquee" was erected.

Walworth: "The beer drinking race caused an immense amount of amusement. In the latter race, the competitors had to run 50 yards drinking a bottle of beer and return to the starting point."

Haughton: There was a best-decorated house competition.

Middleton St George: A parade from Fighting Cocks station to St Laurence's Church was followed by a bonfire and fireworks.

Manfield: There was a ladies versus men cricket match.

Coniscliffe: There was a celebration in the Westolls' gardens, where everyone was given a souvenir. A Chinese lantern parade and fireworks finished the day.

Published: ??/??/2004

Echo Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF, e-mail chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk or telephone (01325) 505062.