IN PAGEANTRY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12252, 6 April 1935, Page 6

IN PAGEANTRY

ENGLAND’S GLORIOUS STORY. FROM ATHELSTAN TO GEORGE V. The “Pageant of England.” which is to take place at Langley’s Park, Slough, the residence of the Hon. Lady Harvey, sister of Lord Elibank, will be given twice daily from May 2S to June 11—immediately after the Royal jubilee celebrations, says the London “Observer.” This follows on the Runneymede Pageant, held last year, which was such a spectacular success, and in which Lady Harvey played the part of Queen Phillippa. Langley Park was once a Royal hunting box belonging to Windsor, and contains one of the most beautiful deer parks in the country. Miss Gwenn Lilly, who is acting as pageant master, said that the root idea of the pageant was to show something of the way in which the greatness of the land was built up, and among the towns to be responsible for the various episodes were such historic spots as Windsor, Maidenhead. Staines, Egbam, Uxbridge, Slough, and Gerrards Cross. Miss Marjorie Bowen had written the scenario, which covered a period of more than a thousand years. In the Runnymede Pageant, which she produced last June, there were some 5000 performers, and there would he even more taking part in the Slough Pageant. The chairman of the Pageant would he Colonel the Hon. Sir Eustace Fsenness, Bart. The Hon. Mrs Francis Lascelles was acting as Mistress o 1 the Robes, Lady George Cholmondeloy was to be the Mistress of the Dance, and Captain R. Chieseman was to be Master of the Horse. The ep'sodes, said Miss Lallv, would number eight. There would be one, laid in the year 925, dealing with incidents in the time of Athelstan, and this would he followed by one of 1357. in the time of Edward the Third. Then would come one of 13G4, in the time of Rioliard the .Second, and this would he succeeded by one depicting the “Field of the Cloth of Gold” in 1520. Then would follow an Elizabethan episode, laid in the year 1538, a Stuart scene in 1660, an episode of 1794. and to end there, would be a great Empire scene. In this at least 6000 performers would take part and the Dominions would be specially well represented.