AVONSIDE CHURCH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17756, 7 May 1923, Page 4

AVONSIDE CHURCH.

BRILLIANT EASTERN FAIR.

' The King Edward Barracks presented a gorgeous spectacle of Oriental splendour on Saturday, when the Grand Eastern Pair, organised by the Avonside parish with the object of providing funds for t'no re-erection of the vicarage, was opened. Some time ago the viearago was demolished, owing to its age and condition, and though a temporary residence was secured for the vicar (the Bev. 0. Fitzgerald), the desirability of the vicarage being restored to its own proper site, convenient to the church, is apparent. The Great Eastern Fair is easily the best, of the many big fairs undertaken by Avonside, notable amongst which, and still vividlv remembered, Live been the Swiss Village Fair in 1911, Ye Oldo English Faire in 1912, and the Grand Allies Feto, in 1919. Each stall for the present fair was carefully designed by Mr George Hart to represent iv bazaar in an Eastern town, and under the supervision of Mr C. N. Aiken a number of voluntary workers put in a great deal of time during the past four months in building the stalls, the final Eastern touch to the structures being attended to by Mr Meredith. The result was apparent on Saturday, _ when the patron eould easily imagine himself transported into a cosmopolitan Eastern town. Nearly all the 500 assistants were garbed in various Oriental costumes, and the vivid colour scheme was something well worth seeing, the grand march, in which about 100 young ladies, trained by Captain F. Farthing, performed various evolutions, being, a particularly brilliant scene. In the evening especially the whole fair, brilliantly illuminated, provided a sjot of colour, picturesque and wholly typical of the »sthetie East. The fair reflects the greatest credit on its organisers and all who have worked so hard to make it a success. In every Oriental town, nearly everyone has something to sell, and so it is at the fair, and, given favourable weather conditions, the object of the fair, the raising of £IOOO, should easily be attained. The Hon. Sir E. Heaton Bhodes, who had agreed to open the fair on Saturday afternoon, was unable to be preB ent, and the ceremony was performed by the Mayor (Mr J. A Mesher), who expressed his pleasure that his first public Mayoral function should be of such a character. The work of the church, he said, should appeal, to a ommunity more than anything else If all the churches were closed, what kind of a city should we have 9 The Churcn stood for all that was noblest a "ness became brisk lately after the opening, and no doubt will continue to be so for the remainder of the time the fair is open, from 2 1 until 10 each day, d !* Eluding Wednesday; aChairman, the Kev. u. x»* '

Book Ml i Brittan, Misses &£s', Hazell, Taylor <2> i)oU Staff-Mrs People-. Mi«=» Thomson { \™L?*f*ti «•"-*•»«& charge), Mesdamea Huntor, Russell Perenll, Mnrshili, Black Christian. Saunders N. Bridgena, G. Wilson, Misses B. PeTenll, Bridges, M. Reaby. _ Handkerchief .Stall-Misses Tompkins, P. Butters, M. Bridgman, Milne. Torreni (2), Cooper, Messina, Cross, Blunt, Muff, 1. Cooper, E. Peters, Batson, Raven, E. Moore, N. Ward, L. Arclibold, M. Cooper. Gentlemen's Stall—Miss L. G. Smith, (in oharge), Masdames Ormandy, Rogers, Mibscs 0 Ford, R. Kinvig, Vernazoni, G. Hiron, D. Francis, J. Mayer, L. Donaldson, Mr L. ilably. Cake Stall (No. I) Mrs Wardl* (In oharge}, Wyatt, Misses B. Wyatt, E. Wyatt, S. Collins, McLelliwd, Wardle (2). Cake Stall (No. 2)—Mesdamea McGregor, Hitchcock, Coleman, Misses Lewis, Black, Rinaldi, Waldren, Otley, Wilkinson, Preddy, Suckling, Younp, Dinnecombe, Parks, Messrs R. Smith, and Carmicha«l. Ice Cream Stall —Misse* M. aond A. King (in charge), E. Lightfoot, L. Cordner, E. Clark. /

Fancy Stall—Mrs Hills and Miss A. Hills.

Sweet Stall (No. I)—Mesuames "WagitaS and McDonald. IvHsbbb Hazard, McGregor, E. Malum, Wugstaff, Meadowcroft, Bashford, V, Mahan. Sweet Stall (No. 2)— Mrs Griffiths ond Mrs Dunnage. Misces Dunnage (i), Painter, SteT>hens-f2) Wood, Rich. Variety—Mesdomes Clark, Cooper, Elles, OtJey, Misses Simpson, Allard, J. Denton, M. Denton, 3. Clark, .0. Kerr. Flower Stall—Mrs Mason (in oharge), Misses Crawford, Abraham, Page, Donaldson feridgman, Bucks, Wright, Pirrio, Harvey Love.

Work Stall—Mesdames Pullar. Vincent, and Kmaldi, Misses Harkiwss, EJ» Vincent, Hags, Falck, N. Orchard, R. Pullar. K. Vincent. Produce—Mesdames McCaushuid, Fox, Crook, Burnts Bishop, Irwin, Gre«n, and members of Mens' Club. Refreshments—Mcsdamos Sprosen, Macfarlane Clark, Mahan, Aiken, Tiroin* Hancox, Kfcell, Pannell, Todd,' Hood, Taylor, Smith, Sowden! WaS Kdlner, Preddy Hisman. J. W. Smith' WnT P w n i;i? rid * l X?' AVsndo ", Portorfield! Wade, Bradbury, Misses Bailey, Kinviff T "i<c, Hellicr. Craze, Roach (V\ M,. d • (in charge) Mrs. C. M«ilen '£^™ Fury Well an d Christmas ( Trie kt Aidan's)-Mrs Metheroll, Mis,« Iri' McthoreH, Oram, Biddick, Kord dames Pickford. Biddi-k In™, tv ,^ e3_ Bran A fine programme is offered each afternoon and evening, including » floral and laary dance, organised by Mrs Meredith with Miss 6 Mollie Whitham as solo danseuse, and a ballet of 3Gmaypole dance, scarf drill, dumb-bells EL S'JS 7 membo - 8 of the A " i £ £ ° pe ' an "testing display by 36 Warwick School children, a g X march bv representatives of the various stalls fancy dancing by Miss McDonalds pupils, display by St. Michael's Boy Scouts under Commissioner H. Froggatt, and a Scotch dancing competition, running throughout the fair, under the management of Mr George Buist, with Mr Alex Fraser as judge. On Saturday the Highland Fling competition was won by Joan Chug, with Mazy Shirley Lcond. Amongst the numerous side-shows are a hoop la, burlesque art gallery, box ball, Aunt Sally, Klondyke* andmny other attractions. • Music is provided by Mr Bennett's Chamber orchestra.