History: Daffodil carnival and Richmond’s effort

BY ROBYN PARKES

Lady Liverpool established her own wartime charity, the Lady Liverpool League, on the outbreak of World War 1 to raise funds for soldiers. Branches, run by local women, operated all over the country.

In August 1917, she visited Richmond to meet the Mayoress, Mrs G Chisnall, and other local ladies to make an appeal on behalf of the Expeditionary Force to join her efforts and a Daffodil Carnival was decided on.

The concept was for each area, Richmond being one, to form into groups, elect a princess, organise, and run events to raise funds over a period of a month. The group that collected the most money in each area was able to have their princess represent the others as Queen and she was credited with all local funding raised to take to the culminating event.

Richmond divided into four groups, Richmond Fire Brigade, Richmond Borough Council, Trades community and Farming community, with Hope and Appleby joining.

Richmond Borough Council’s efforts to raise funds for their candidate, Miss Thomas, began with a ball. Over the following month they ran afternoon tea booths, a social, baby show, bran tubs (lucky dips), weekly cake and sweet stalls, dancing classes, children’s concert, benefit picture show, concerts, luncheons, a fancy dress dance and a Fair Day held at the Recreation Grounds with stalls of every kind. Their final events were a picture, a dancing exhibition and a musical event.

The farming community elected Greta Robinson and began their efforts with a lecture delivered by a returned soldier and musical items. Also held were jumble sales, farm produce stalls, a ball, social, recitals, garden fete, races and a produce day competition. Their last event was a grand concert held in the Oddfellows Hall.

Richmond Volunteer Fire Brigade chose Miss Iris Cross as their princess and efforts began with an evening social and a torchlight procession. Weekly progressive euchre parties were run, a social dance, supper dancing, Brigade tournament, lecture, stalls, sports, treasure hunts, and Brigade competitions with a grand fete day being one of their last events.

‘Trades’ elected Miss E Burroughs. They first organised weekly socials at the Institute with a barrow parade and surprise bags to sell. Also held was a weekly produce stall, a guessing competition, music competitions, recitals, afternoon teas, concerts, gymkhana, baby show, flower show, a fair day with sports, parades and prizes for decorated barrows and prams, and an evening parade with a decorated lorry illuminated with Chinese lanterns, headed by the National Reserve Band.

Their biggest event was a spectacular concert of songs and musical items followed by a march, with all the Allies being represented in national costume. In Nelson was the culminating day for the Carnival on 15 September. Trafalgar St was lined with various stalls, many flowers, and plants, and children canvassing the city selling buttonholes.

A public luncheon took place at the Council Chambers followed by a procession through the streets from Church steps to Trafalgar Park, with Richmond’s queen candidate, Miss Burroughs, leading. Each queen was in a car decorated with the colours of the country they represented, Richmond’s being France.

The total raised for Lady Liverpool fund was £4542, 12s, 10d, all to provide comfort for soldiers at the front.