AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 184, 6 August 1931, Page 7

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY

BRITONS ENJOY OPEN AIR THUNDERSTORM ENDS OUTING [British Official Wireless.] Received Aug. J, 11.40 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 4. Fine weather prevailed yesterday over the greater part of England ami very large August bank holiday crowds thronged the beaches and seaside places. Riverside resorts proved popular ami the heaths, downs and public parks around London were in the possession of picnic parties. Road traffic was exceptionally heavy bur there was a remarkable absence of serious accidents duo, it is believed, to the desire shown by the drivers of motor cars and coaches to observ? the social am] moral obligations suggested in the Ministry of Transport’s highway code. Railway traffic also was heavy, a large number of special tririns neing run to Sussex and Kent resorts from London, while Southend, where it was stated GO.OOO slept on Sunday night, experienced the usual invasion. A total of 110 holidaymakers’ trains arrived in Blackpool during the day. Several bathing fatalities are reported, including the drowning of three of one family at Wittering, near the Isle of Wight. Y'csterday was the 60th anniversary of the institution of the August bank holiday, which was first observed in 1871 after the passing of the Act in that year. The end of the bank holiday weekend coincided with a severe storm. Thunder broke over Rondon anl the south eastern counties last night, and the crowds returning late were drench ed by heavy .rain. High seas in the Channel and Thames estuary buffeted pleasure steamers, delaying some for 1 or 5 hours. The crossing from France was declared to bo the worst this summer. The storm was followed to-day by a thick fog over the sea, in which an oil tanker of 6,000 tons went ashore near Dungeness, but was refloated this afternoon. All shipping was slowed down.