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Following John Wesley’s visit to Mr Ellis in the little village of Markfield on the edge of Charnwood Forest in June 1741, Methodism arrived in Leicestershire. This was a favourite stopping place for Wesley preaching here on fifteen occasions.
Dr Ford, the Vicar of St Mary’s in Melton was a lifelong friend and convert of Wesley. Therefore, although Wesley preached across the county of Leicestershire on at least twenty-four other occasions, he never came to Melton Mowbray to preach.
We know that a Methodist Society existed in Melton from around 1779 and two of its members were James and Ann Brown. Their grandson and his wife, John and Mary Miles were buried in the grounds of Sage Cross Church.
The first Methodist Chapel to be erected in Melton, was on the same site as where Sage Cross Church stands and was opened on 18th September 1796. The land was owned by Mr Robert Pearson who was a druggist near the Cornwall at the top of Corn Hill, or High Street as we know it today.
Over the next twenty-five years, the congregation grew steadily and by 1825, increasing membership led to the chapel undergoing substantial alterations turning it more into a new building when it opened in October 1825.
On April 7th 1870, a meeting was called to discuss building a new chapel and schoolroom as the suggestion to further enlarge the old chapel was turned down. A new Church was agreed and whilst it was being built, services were held in the Temperance Hall on King Street and the Sunday School at the British School across the road. The first service in the new Church was held on August 17th 1871.
In July 1932 a conference agreed to the Union of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Church, however no enthusiasm was shown locally. However, the last service was held at the Primitive Church on the 7th November 1965 and the Union commenced.
In the 1980s, the Central Methodist Church was knocked down leaving only the Church Hall standing. A new modern building for worship was erected and opened for its first service in April 1988.
Modern Sage Cross Church
Earlier this year, the Sage Cross Church merged with the Sandy Lane Church and the building put up for sale, bringing an end to 228 years of Methodism at Sage Cross.
In the May 2024 Historic Melton article, I looked at the story of the Old Vicarage, Seedsfield Hosue on Leicester Road.
Seedsfiled House – The Old Vicarage
Compared to other areas in town, Leicester Road was quite late in being developed with West End Villas, a pair of three-story semi-detached villas, opposite Aldi car park being the first houses to be built around 1880.
The builder, Robert Weaver, lived in one of them with his wife Dorothy, and the other was occupied by Rev Joseph Twidale and his wife Catharine, of the Baptist Church, now the United Reformed Church.
The lake behind the villas, and what is now a vehicle storage yard, is known as Weaver’s Lake and was most probably dug to provide earth for the railway embankment running across the bottom of the grounds.
A few years later in the late 1880s, a new property known as Seedsfield house was erected on Leicester Road and this was built for Joseph Dickinson, a pork pie & cheese producer.
Only a few years earlier, Joseph had submitted a claim for injury to his seeds field. The claim was made up of two items: the award of his valuer, £2 10s and 15s for man’s time rolling and seeding down the portion damaged. Maybe the house was built on that very field, hence the name.
No more houses were built on Leicester Road until the 1930s when the Melton Urban District Council built the Lake Terrace estate. Around the same time, the owners of Seedsfield House had decided to build a smaller more modern property on vacant land next door and in the late 1930s, a new Seedsfield House was built.
Consequently, the old Seedsfield House was put up for sale and purchased by the St Mary’s Church for use as a vicarage. The first vicar to take up residence was the Rev Canon Harold Bates and his wife, who moved from the original vicarage (Blakeney Institute) opposite St Mary’s Church.
Harold Bates was the vicar at St Mary’s from 1937 until he died in 1945. He was a veteran of WW1 and helped the Reverend Tubby Clayton set up Talbot House, Toc-H in Poperinge Belgium. During WW2, Harold could quite often be seen at night patrolling around his beloved St Mary’s.
In 1962, the Church purchased a new property at 67 Dalby Road for use as a new vicarage, resulting in Seedsfield House being sold off and becoming known as The Old Vicarage.
One hundred and eighty-seven years ago, on the 6th April 1837, an event took place in town that put Melton Mowbray in the news. The event involved some notable Meltonians and today we know the event as “Painting the Town Red” but at the time it was reported as an “Aristocratic Spree or Riot”.
Today the phrase “Meltonian” means “A native or inhabitant of the Melton district” but back in the 1830’s the term Meltonian also included people that came to Melton to take part in the past times fox hunting and horse racing.
3rd Marquess of Waterford – Henry Beresford
But who were these Meltonians? A gentleman named Henry Beresford, the 3rd Marquess of Waterford and his aristocratic friends, including Mr Reynard, Sir F Johnstone and the Hon. Mr Villiers had spent the day at Croxton Park races and were making their way back into Melton. They were stopped at the Thorpe End toll house and refused entry as they were too drunk.
They then rode around town and entered by a different route ending up at Lord Rokesby’s Club in Burton End. At around 3am in the morning, they returned to the toll house and boarded up the windows.
A Spree at Melton Mowbray – Larking at the Grantham Toll Gate – or Coming kn for the Brush by H Alkin
After getting their hands on some red paint, they proceeded down Sherrard Street, into marketplace and down Burton Street causing mayhem as they went.
The doors of the properties of Mr Norman and the surgeon Mr Berridge were smeared with red paint and the door knockers from Mr Gray, Miss Gray and Mr Corner were ripped off. Flowerpots at Mr George Bishops were also smashed and at the Swan Inn, the Marquis was lifted up and he painted the White Swan turning it into a “Red Eagle”.
Most of the houses in this part of town including the Post Office came in for a splash of red. A caravan at Burton End was tipped over and the Red Lion pub sign was ripped down and thrown into the canal.
A year after this event took place, the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane London hosted a play titled “The Meltonians” which ran for 17 performances from the 16th April to 5th May 1838. The play which was written by Richard Brinsley Peake was described as “a perfectly illegitimate drama and extravaganza.”
One of the things Melton is famous for is its involvement in the wool trade, being part of the Trade Council of Edward III in 1339. In the March edition of Historic Melton, I look at the connection between Park House on Leicester Street and the ancient medeival wool trade.
Melton Cloth is traditionally made of wool that is woven in a twill form and recognised for its windproof and waterproof qualities. Garments such as donkey jackets, Navy Pea coats, military uniforms and the scarlet hunting jackets are examples of clothing made from Melton Cloth. Queen Victoria even had a pair of curtains commissioned for Windsor Castle made from Melton Cloth.
But what is there today in Melton that connects us to this historic trade?
The building we know today as Egerton Lodge was built in the 16th Century and originally known as Park House. It is often confused with Parke House situated at Thorpe End which was named after a local solicitor, James Parke, who lived there in the late 18th Century.
Egerton Lodge & VC flower bed
In 1597, Park House was home to William Alkins, a Town Warden. He was also a Merchant Stapler working for the Company of Merchants of the Staple of England, a company incorporated by Royal Charter in 1319. Dealing in wool and skins it also controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period.
An ancient woolhouse run by the Merchants of the Staple believed to have been built in the early 1200’s once stood on the South side of Sherrard Street. Although this disappeared many years ago, remnants of this 13th Century building still exist.
Park House
Another Park House, now the House of Beauty by Bailey, stands on Leicester Street. Standing proud on its roof is an intricately carved medieval pinnacle believed to be from the woolhouse and sited there when it was built in 1892. Stone tracery from one of the woolhouse windows is also said to be preserved in St Mary’s Church.
Medieval Stone Pinnacle
Park House name tablet 1892
There were also several pubs in town that hinted towards the wool trade, for example, the Golden Fleece on Leicester Street, the Woolpack Inn, originally on Sherrard Street then later at Thorpe End and the Bishops Blaze on Sherrard Street. Bishop Blaze was the Patron Saint of Wool Coombers.
Like many of Melton’s historic buildings, evidence of the wool trade has now been lost but signs are still there if you know where to look.
On the 80th anniversary of the Paras arriving in Melton, the February 2024 Historic Melton article took a look at the story of the units of the Parachute Regiment that were part of the 4th Brigade.
The airborne troops of the 4th Parachute Brigade (Bde) had been fighting in Tunisia, North Africa and in September 43, they were part of the force known as Operation Slapstick that invaded Southern Italy to recapture and liberate it from Axis forces.
The 4th Bde, which was made up of 156 Parachute Battalion (Bn), 10th & 11th Parachute Bn, 2nd Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery and the 133rd Parachute Field Ambulance (PFA), was withdrawn back to the UK to make preparations for the invasion of mainland Europe as part of D-Day.
On 27th November, the units of the 4th Bde boarded the troopship “Staffordshire” and set sail for England. They arrived back in England, docking in Liverpool on December 16th, a cold damp day, so different to the sunny climate they had left behind.
Following their arrival at Liverpool, 156 Bn, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Des Voeux made their way to their new billets at various locations in Rutland. Des Voeux was not happy with the situation, so he arranged for them all to be brought together in Melton Mowbray in February 1944.
Lt Col Sir Richard des Voeux
Commanding Officer 156 Battalion
156 Bn were not the first of the Airborne troops to arrive in Melton as just prior to Christmas 43, No 16 Parachute Field Ambulance arrived back in the UK and took up residence in their new billets at Scalford Hall and The Spinney. However, their stay was short as by the 4th January they had received orders to move out to new billets at Culverthorpe in Lincolnshire.
Scalford HallThe Spinney
On arrival in Melton, the troops of 156 Bn were billeted in several hunting lodges in town. The Bn HQ along with HQ Company were billeted in Staveley Lodge, Support Company at the Spinney, ‘A’ Company were at Scalford Hall and ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies at Newport Lodge. However, following several arguments with the owner of Scalford Hall, a certain Colonel Mustard of Colman’s Mustard fame, ‘A’ Company moved into the Spinney to join the Support Company.
Meanwhile, the Bde HQ set up at The Grange in Knossington and 10 Bn were to set up camp at Burrough Court, as well as several buildings in Somerby, including Somerby House, Somerby Hall, Grove Stables and The Vines at Thorpe Satchville.
133rd PFA set up base at Barleythorpe Hall, just across the border into Rutland and the 2nd Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery were based at Harrowby Camp in Grantham.
Following their return to the UK, the 11th Bn were scattered around the Leicester area but in May 44 moved into the militia camp up on Welby Lane here in Melton.
The Red Devils had arrived in Melton!
One of my previos blogs, looks at the story of the Medium Machine Gun Platoon from 156 Battalion. To read it click here.
Back in January 2024, HistoryFare started a regular column in the Melton Times, called ‘Historic Melton’.
The history of Melton Mowbray can be traced back hundreds of years and the first Historic Melton article published in January 2024 looked at the origins of the name ‘Melton Mowbray’.
Melton’s history can be traced back thousands of years and there are several theories on where the name ‘Melton Mowbray’ comes from, and we need to consider each part in its own context.
The first theory is that ‘Melton’ is a derivation of ‘Milltown’ due to the two water mills that existed for several centuries and were mentioned in the Domesday Book. These were sited at Beck Mill Holm at the end of Chatterbox Lane off Kings Street and Corn Mill Holm where the River Eye meets the Scalford Brook at the back of Mars/Petfoods.
The second theory again relates to the Domesday Book of 1086. In this great survey, the town is listed as ‘Medeltun’. ‘Medeltun’ or ‘Middleton’/‘Middletown’ descends from the town being a central township with a Mother Church (St Mary’s) surrounded by 5 hamlets: Burton Lazars, Eye Kettleby; Sysonby, Welby & Freeby.
Domesday Book
Over the years, the name Milltown, or even Medletun has morphed into what we today now know as Melton.
The first Norman Lord of the Manor was Godfredus or Geoffrey de Wirce who was originally from France, around the Anjou/Brittany border area. Geoffrey had fought alongside William the Conqueror and continued to be the King’s advisor. He married a Saxon Lady named Alviva who was a niece of Lady Godiva from Coventry in Warwickshire.
Lady Godiva Statue Coventry
Alviva, a Saxon heiress, was a noiece of the Earl of Leofric of Coventry and his legendary wofe, Lady Godiva. During the 11th Century, Lady Godiva held lands across Leiocestershire, namely the manors of East Norton, Billesdon and Appleby. Alveva was also a landowner being the Lady of the Manor of Castle Donington and Manor of Aylestone.
This marriage brought about the signing of a document in 1077 proving that back then, Melton was a thriving market town.
It would appear that Alveva and Geoffrey had no children, or no surviving children as after his death in 1088, his vast estates including the manor of Melton reverted to the Crown and were then divided between Nigel de Albini and Robert de Mowbray (Molbrai) Earl of Northumberland with the Melton lands being passed to Albini.
Nigel was the Bowbearer to William Rufus (King William II) and was ‘girt with the sword of knighthood’ (knighted) by King Henry I, with whom he was a great favourite.
Robert de Mowbray marched against King Malcolm of Scotland, contrary to the orders of King William Rufus. As part of his punishment, his lands were given over to Nigel de Albini who by all accounts was a favourite of the King.
Nigel had two sons Roger and Hamo, by his second wife Gundreda and Roger assumed the name of Mowbray by Royal Decree. It is therefore from the Mowbray family name that the latter part of the towns name originates.
Historic Melton – January 2025
The Mowbray family crest can still be seen in various places around town such as stained glass windows in St Mary’s Parish Church and on the porch of Egerton Lodge. The family crest also forms the basis of the Melton Mowbray Town Estate crest.
Melton Mowbray became home to many rich and famous during the height of the hunting sporting seasons and the surrounding villages were not exempt.
In the village of Thorpe Satchville which lies 5 miles from Melton along the B6047, there is a hunting lodge by the name of “Pinfold” which was purchased during World War One by the Belgian millionaire financier, Captain Alfred Loewenstein who had set up his Belgian Breeding Stock Company at the premises.
The Pinfold
In 1926, Captain Loewenstein, who was said to be the 3rd richest man in the world, and his business and Pinfold were at the centre of a tax claim where £10,000 for both 1924 and 1925 when tax assessments had not been completed. Loewenstein appealed against the decision but his case was dismissed.
In November 1926, the same year as he had transferred his Headquarters from Biarritz in France to Thorpe Satchville, Loewenstein, who was known for his flying, brought across his fleet of aircraft known as “Loewensteins Flying Circus” for the hunting season. The aircraft would operate from Croxton Park where he had set up an aerodrome on the grounds of the old Croxton Park racecourse which he had leased from Belvoir Estates Ltd to train his racehorses.
Captain Alfred Loewenstein of Pinfold, Thorpe Satchville, Melton Mowbray, the Belgian millionaire banker and his young son “Bobby” before going off to a recent meet of the Quorn.
In 1927, Alfred sold off 700 pedigree dairy cattle and sheep from the business due to the inclement weather that had affected Leicestershire farmers recently. His farm at Thorpe Satchville had also been let.
On the 4th July 1928, Alfred was flying from Croydon to Brussels on a business trip in his 3-engined Fokker plane. The aircraft was flown by the pilot, Captain R Drew, assisted by the Engineer/mechanic Mr Robert Little.
Loewnesteins 3 engined Fokker
Also on the aircraft were Mr Arthur Hodgson, his secretary; Mr Baxter, his valet; and his typists Miss Ellen Clarke & Mlle Paule.
Not long after take-off, Alfred left his seat and went to use the lavatory that was in a separate compartment towards the rear of the aircraft.
A short while later, at some point over the channel, his valet, Mr Baxter, noticed that Alfred had not returned to his seat and knowing that Alfred had not been well recently, Mr Baxter went to see of all was OK.
Inside Loewensteins Fokker
To Mr Baxter’s surprise, Alfred Loewenstein was nowhere to be seen and it was assumed that he had used the wrong door either going to or leaving the toilet and had fallen from the aircraft at a height of 4,000ft over the English Channel.
The valet immediately informed the pilot who landed on the beach at Mardyck near Dunkirk where the authorities were informed. His decaying body was found in the sea a few weeks later by a Boulogne fishing boat who brought it ashore at Calais. The body was naked with the exception of pants and socks marked “AL” and a wrist watch with his name on.
The death of Alfred is one of the worlds unsolved mysteries, was it a freak accident, was it suicide, was he murdered? There are lots of theories, but we won’t delve into these now. But feel free to look up on Google and YouTube as there are lots of articles, books and videos about this mystery.
Following his death, The Pinfold was inherited by his son Robert “Bobby” Serge Loewenstein who was familiar with the property from his earlier hunting trips.
Bobby Loewenstein
When World War Two broke out, Bobby was in America on business and immediately returned to Europe via a Clipper and on returning to Belgium, he joined the Belgian Army.
He came to the UK when King Leopold surrendered and joined the Air Transport Auxiliary in the summer of 1940 with a rank of Second Officer. On joining the ATA, he gave his Next of Kin as Mr Jack Misonne, Villa Begonia, Biarritz, France and Mrs Burnaby, Thorpe Satchville.
Following his initial interview, he wrote to Group Captain G. d’Erlanger of the ATA at White Waltham airport at Maidenhead “Dear Sir, I appreciate very much your giving me an interview and a test. At this critical stage it would seem that everyone who can contribute in any way should do so. I am told that I have an opportunity of joining the Fleet Air Arm, but as I have offered my services to you and I have two friends, Leo Partridge and Rupert Belville, in the Air Transport Auxiliary, I would naturally prefer to join your organisation. I understand that the delay in my nomination is due to the Air Ministry. If it would expedite my appointment, I would be willing to give up my salary until such a time as you get their agreement.” His appointment was confirmed on the 6th July 1940.
On the 1st August 1940, he was promoted to First Officer ‘C’ Class then again to First Officer ‘B’ Class on 12th January 1941. His ATA paperwork confirms that he had previously flown the following aircraft types, Moth, Stinson, Beechcraft and Spartan and was the owner of a Stinson. He was also experienced at flying in England, Ireland, France, Belgium and the USA.
On 21st September, Bobby wrote again to Gp Capt d’Erlanger “Dear d’Erlanger, This is to confirm our conversation of the other day. It is my opinion that anyone who is in a position to undertake such war work without remuneration should do so. Therefore I suggest my salary be paid towards the start of a charity fund for the pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary or for any better cause we mutually agree on.”
As a result of his wealth, Bobby also paid for a presentation Spitfire MkVb W3239 which was named “Bob”. It was built at Eastleigh and entered service with No 609 (West Riding) Squadron as PR-N on 27th May 1941 at RAF Biggin Hill. Unfortunately, ‘Bob’ was lost in action on 8th July 1941 when it was shot down after being attacked by a Messcherschmit Bf109 resulting in its engine cutting out and it force landing on Goodwin Sands. Its pilot, Sergeant John A. Hughes-Rees surviuved but was wounded.
Winston Churchill visiting 609 Sqn with Spitfire W3239 ‘Bob’ in the background
Another shot showing Winston Churchill with Spitfire W3239 ‘Bob’ and Sergeant John A. Hughes-Rees in the background
During his career with the ATA, Bobby flew numerous different types of aircraft including the Anson, Audax, Battle, Blenheim, Courier, Curtiss Hawk, Fairchild, Harvard, Hurricane, Lysander, Magister, Master, Oxford, Puss Moth, Spitfire, and Tomahawk.
Tragically, Bobby never got to see his Spitfire as he was killed on 29th March 1941 flying Blenheim Mk V V6263 on a ferry flight from RAF Speke to RAF Lyneham. During the flight an engine failure occurred and the aircraft crashed near White Waltham. According to his records, the evidence suggests the aircraft stalled during a tun on approaching to land at too low a height to effect recovery possibly caused by sluggish pick-up on one engine. There is probability that the circumstances were aggravated by the fact that the airscrews appear to have been in coarse pitch. This accident as caused by an error of judgment on the part of the pilot.
Following his death, his body was initially taken to Maidenhead mortuary before being brought to St John’s Catholic Church here in Melton Mowbray on Wednesday 31 March 1941 where he laid at rest overnight. The following morning, a requiem Mass was held followed by the funeral service in the afternoon which was conducted by Father A E Berington. After the funeral service, his body was taken to Twyford for internment at St Andrews Church.
St John’s Roman Catholic Church Melton Mowbray
St Andrew’s Church Twyford
If you look at his casualty record on the CWGC website, it shows his body as being buried in the Belgian Airmen’s Field of Honour within the Brussels Town Cemetery. This is due to a Belgium lady campaigning to get all the bodies of Belgium airmen recovered to Belgium and Bobby was amongst those who were repatriated in 1948.
On the morning of 18th September 1944, the men of the 156 Battalion Parachute Regiment left their billets in Melton Mowbray. They boarded trucks and made their way to Saltby airfield where they boarded C-47 and C-53 aircraft of the 314th Troop Carrier Group (TCG) who were going to fly them to Arnhem and drop them over the Drop Zones as Operation MARKET GARDEN had begun.
H.M. The King inspecting the 156 Parachute Battalion. Newport Stables, Melton Mowbray.
The King is shown some of the equipment of the M.M.G. Platoon that is dropped by container.
L-R: Lt-Col. Sir Richard Des Voeux, an MMG Pln soldier, HM The King, Major ‘Teddy’ Ritson, Brig. J.W. Hackett, Lieut. ‘Blanco’ Clegg, Maj. G. Lea (Brigade Major, 4 Para Bde) & Lt-Gen. F.A.M. Browning.
16th March 1944.
The men of 156 Battalion were spilt across several locations in Melton Mowbray. The Battalion HQ and HQ Company were billeted at Staveley Lodge. ‘A’ Company were originally at Scalford Hall until a disagreement with the Owner, Colonel Colman, then they moved into The Spinney to join Support Company. ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies were billeted at Newport Lodge.
The Spinney
They would be transported in RASC Bedford 3 Ton trucks that would have been parked in a secure parking location on the cattle market car park and driven to the billets in the morning to pick up their passengers. The trucks were marked with a chalk number by the Motor Transport Officer and the men were allocated into ‘sticks’ and assigned to chalk numbers.
Chalk numbers were a simple method of allocating the right group of paras and their equipment to the correct aircraft as the same numbers were also marked on each aircraft fuselage in chalk, hence the name ‘chalk numbers’.
32nd TCS aircraft (this same aircraft crash-landed in a blinding snowstorm at RAF Harlaxton, thinking it was Saltby on 29 Jan 45)
Operation MARKET GARDEN began the day before on the 17th as the 314th TCG flew out paras from No’s 1, 2 & 3 Battalions that were based around the Grantham and Bourne area. Captain Tom Wainwright who was OC Support Company, looked up at the air armada from their barracks at the Spinney and had a premonition that the operation would not go well.
Jean French, a local girl, who after the war married Cpl John Smith of the REME attached to 156, recalls that day “On the morning of the Battle of Arnhem, we didn’t know what was going on, all the paratroopers were confined to barracks. That morning, the sky was suddenly full of aircraft, the noise is something I will never forget.”
One of the ‘sections’ of Support Company was the medium Machine Gun Platoon (MMG) commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Jeffrey Noble aged 19. The 156 Bn MMG was reformed in September 1943 enroute to Bizerta in Tunisia as it made its way for embarkation to Taranto in Italy as part of Operation SLAPSTICK.
Lt Jeffrey Noble
Jeffrey Fraser Noble was born in Ilford, Essex on 15th October 1923 and finished his schooling at Southend High School. On 14th May 1942 Jeffrey joined the Queen’s Royal Regiment where he was put forward for officer training. Following his commission as 2nd Lieutenant he was one of the first cadets to transfer directly into the Parachute Regiment, where he trained first at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire and then on 8th June he completed the parachute course at Ringway, Manchester. At Ringway, his report described him as very keen and fearless, but a little awkward.
Jeffrey was assigned to the 156 Parachute Battalion and tasked with escorting a draft of 70 men from the UK by ship to join the Battalion based in Sousse, Tunisia. It was here that he met his new CO Lieutenant Colonel Sir Richard des Voeux who took him under his wing, giving him the nickname ‘The Boy’ on account of his youthful looks, and the name stuck.
The MMG Platoon was equipped with four Vickers Machine Guns which were water cooled, tripod mounted weapons with each gun requiring a crew of four to operate effectively but Jeffrey Noble had no experience of the Vicker machine gun.
In order to train all the volunteers that had been drafted from the Battalion, Sergeant John Kinsley-Smith and Sergeant Cliff Brownlow were brought in from other units to assist with forming and training the platoon. Together with ‘The Boy’ they controlled recruitment to the MMG and built a strong unit.
Cliff Brownlow had previously served with the Battalion in its earlier days in India when it was known as 151 Battalion. When the Bn moved from India to Egypt, the number was changed from 151 to 156 as part of a deception plan to confuse the enemy into thinking there were more parachute battalions than there actually was. Brownlow went on to become Jeffrey Noble’s 2i/c.
The Medium Machine Gun Platoon had a strength of 36 men that were sub divided into Sections and Sub-Sections as follows:
Platoon HQ
No. 1 Section
No. 1 Sub Section
No. 2 Sub Section
No. 2 Section
No. 3 Sub Section
No. 4 Sub Section
In addition to their own personal kit, each member of the MMG had to carry 2 – 3 belts of ammunition for the Vicker machine guns.
Jeffrey Noble and the rest of the MMG were aboard aircraft identified as Chalk #618 & #619 . Both these aircraft were operated by the 32nd TCS and 50th TCS respectively.
Chalk #618 & #619 were part of Serial A-31 provided by the 314th TCG as part of the MARKET #2 mission. Their objective being DZ-Y near Arnhem dropping much needed reinforcements for Lt Col John Frost’s men who were holding the North end of the Arnhem highway bridge crossing the Rhine.
The main body of the 11th Bn who were billeted at the militia camp on Welby Lane, and the 156 Bn took off from Saltby between 1100 and 1120hrs aboard the Dakota’s of the 32nd & 50th Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) from the 314th TCG. The take-off was originally planned for 08:00hrs but was delayed due to fog.
Due to the weather conditions over England, it took longer for the formation to form up, but as the weather cleared, the formation came together.
As Jeffrey Noble’s aircraft (Chalk #618) flew across the English countryside, a parachute on one of the supply containers slung to the underside of the aircraft came loose, most probably as a result of bad packing. Consequently, the pilot, 1st Lt Glenn E Purkey, was finding it difficult to keep the aircraft flying straight, level and in formation.
The crew chief, T/Sgt Harry R W Ray, approached Noble and asked if the container could be jettisoned. This was something that Noble did not want to do as the container was filled with ammunition for the Vicker machine guns.
There was a plan that the Guards Armoured Division would be on the ground at DZ-Y to greet the paras when they landed, but he knew from previous experience in North Africa and Italy that plans rarely went to as expected. However, it was finally agreed that the container was to be jettisoned and consequently, the release lever was pulled.
As the container fell away, the parachute and rigging lines became tangled and caught on part of the aircraft causing the container to remain hung up and banging against the bottom of the tailplane. This could potentially cause several issues such as if the paratroopers were to jump, there was a risk that their parachutes could get caught up on the container. Another issue was that if the aircraft was to land, the container could cause the aircraft to crash on landing.
Consequently, for a while the aircraft fell out of formation and circled as various ideas were discussed between the crew and passengers. There were several ideas put forward on how to release the container and its parachute, some of which were quite bizarre. One idea was to tie a bayonet to the aircraft broom and dangle a ‘volunteer’ out of the aircraft door to try and cut it free.
Unfortunately, it could not be released, so an emergency landing at an American base in East Anglia was authorised. The aircraft mad a safe landing and on stopping, the paras jumped out, cut the container free and then made scarfs out of the parachute after cutting it into strips. In a later letter from Lt Noble, he indicates that the scarves were vivid in colour so could have been either red, green or yellow.
The container had caused damage to the aircraft structure and the pilot declared that the sortie was over and the aircraft was U/S. Additionally, neither the pilot or his co-pilot knew the way to Holland from their current location as the Navigator was in the lead aircraft.
Finally after a few ‘technical adjustments’ with a sledgehammer, the paras persuaded the aircrew to take off and head East until they could see the flak.
The other aircraft that was carrying the remaining half of the MMG was Chalk #619 43-15180 being flown by Captain Leonard A Ottoway and this was the lead aircraft in the 50th TCS formation and as such was equipped with the SCR-717 radar and extra crew members.
Captain Leonard Ottoway
Leonard Ottoway was an American from Oklahoma in Texas but earned his wings whilst serving the the Royal Canadian Air Force prior to transferring tot he United States Army Air Force.
At about 13:45 Hours, just after Chalk #619 had passed the Initial Point (near the village of Vught) whilst approaching the DZ, it was hit by enemy anti aircraft fire. It was one of five aircraft transporting troops of 4th Parachute Brigade hit by flak at around 13:45hrs.
Chalk #619’s LH engine and fuel tank were hit and the underside of the aircraft started to burn including the underslung storage containers. Other aircraft crews from the 314th noticed that #619 moved out of formation at about 14,000ft and the landing gear was lowered. It is believed that this was due to hydraulic failure rather than being manually selected down ready for a landing.
As the aircraft struck the ground, the undercarriage broke off upon impact one of the fuel tanks exploded and the LH wing broke off resulting in the aircraft turning over onto its back and catching fire. The crew and paratroopers had no chance of survival, and no parachutes were observed coming from the stricken aircraft. Tragically, all those onboard were killed in the crash except one paratrooper who was thrown clear of the wreckage.
Pte Tommy Stevens
Locals in a nearby house on the Bonegraafesweg in Ochten were the first on the scene of the crash and found Private Tommy Stevens of No 3 Sub Section lying their badly wounded with a broken back as well as sever wounds. They took him to their house where he died of wounds later that day.
Later, Dr Van Driel arrived with a group of locals from Ochten and Eldik to bury the dead in a mass grave next to the wreckage. The individual soldiers could not be identified and as such were buried as unidentified soldiers.
After the war, a service of commemoration was held, a fence was erected around the gravesite and flowers were laid on the graves. In May 1947, the bodied of the paratroopers were exhumed and reburied in the CWGC cemetery at Jonkerbos War Cemetery. As the bodies could not be individually identified, their CWGC headstones bear a special inscription “Buried Enar This Spot”.
As for the US crew members, they were exhumed in 1945 and reburied in the US Ardennes Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz in Belgium. The body of Capt Herbert Pluemer was repatriated to the US at the request of his family and now lies buried in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
Major John Waddy
Major John Waddy, Officer Commanding ‘B’ Company of 156 Battalion described what happened: “I stood by the side of the open door of my aircraft as we travelled towards our drop zone near Arnhem. There were 36 Dakota aircraft in the serial carrying the 156 Battalion. Many of the American pilots and crew of these aircraft were green, as our battalion had found to its cost on a previous exercise when they dropped us miles from our DZ. Bearing this in mind, Brigadier Shan Hackett (4th Parachute Brigade Commander) had suggested that I closely monitor our route, which is why I was looking out of the open door. The flak was becoming more intense as we travelled across the Dutch countryside. When the aircraft to my right was hit on the port wing and caught fire, it began a steep dive of around 45 degrees. When it hit the ground, it exploded in a fireball. I looked at my men who were seated each side of the aircraft and who, in the din, had not noticed what had happened. I said nothing.”
Major Geoffrey Powell
Major Geoffrey Powell, Officer Commanding ‘C’ Company was another witness to Chalk #619 being hit. He recalls in his book Men at Arnhem, “Suddenly the flak was real. As I looked back down the line, the plane just behind seemed to lurch to one side, a bright red spot on its port wing glowing in the sunshine before it spread in a stream of flame towards the fuselage. Then the nose of the plane dipped, and it disappeared from view. No parachutes appeared. I knew that it carried men from the battalion, and I tried to stop speculating who was inside it.”
Unaware of this tragedy Jeffrey Noble’s aircraft flew on, arriving at the drop zone near Ede, eight miles from Arnhem. Jeffrey described the drop zone as shrouded in smoke with no signals visible and, without a navigator on board, they jumped solely on the guesswork of Jeffrey and that of the crew chief. Once on the ground, Jeffrey found out what had happened to the other half of the MMG Platoon and shortly afterwards met up with Cpl Harry Bankhead of ‘C’ Company and informed him that due to the Dakota carrying the other half of the platoon, their strength had been reduced from 36 men and 4 guns to 14 men and 2 guns.
A Vickers Medium Machine Gun crew covering part of the western side of the Oosterbeek Perimeter
DZ-Y was now the scene of a battle in progress and due to the late exit from the aircraft, several men at the end of the stick landed in the German-occupied territory. After a shaky start, accompanied by occasional shots and explosions, Jeffrey arrived at Battalion HQ where he found he had only one machine gun instead of four and just some 10 men instead of his original 36. Several later turned up wounded – including Sergeant Brownlow and Corporal Ball – and more arrived after various adventures. Jeffrey forcibly seized another gun from a 1st Parachute Battalion jeep, and they formed an ad hoc Section.
The crew lists and passenger lists are detailed below for both aircraft:
Chalk #618 A/c 42-9379432nd TCS
Pilot – 1st Lt Glenn E Purkey
Co-Pilot – 2nd Lt George L Johnson
Crew Chief – T/Sgt Harry R W Ray
Radio Operator – Cpl Walter R Rice
Lt J F Noble (Pltn HQ), POW
Pte P McCarthy (Pltn HQ), POW
Sgt C J Brownlow (No 1 Sect Cmdr), POW
L/Cpl H Littlewood (No 1 Sect Cpl), POW
Pte G R Burrow (No 1 Sect Orderly), Escaped
Pte F Eggleton (No 1 Sect), Escaped
Pte W F C Grounsell (No 1 Sub Sect), POW
Pte E A Ball (No 1 Sub Sect), POW
Pte N Robinson (No 1 Sub Sect), POW
Pte W Mills (No 1 Sub Sect), Escaped
Pte G O Taylor (No 1 Sub Sect), Escaped
Pte C Smith (No 1 Sub Sect), POW
Pte F Turner (No 2 Sub Sect), POW
Pte W J Greenwood (No 2 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte R Davidson (No 2 Sub Sect), Escaped
Pte R Hunter (No 2 Sub Sect), POW
Pte T Heath (No 2 Sub Sect), Escaped
Chalk #619 A/c 43-1518050th TCS
Pilot – Capt Leonard A Ottoway, KIA
Co-Pilot – 2nd Lt Henry G Honeysett, KIA
Navigator – Capt Herbert Pluemer Jr. , KIA
Crew Chief – T/Sgt George A Collier, KIA
Radio Operator – Cpl. Xon C. Connet, KIA
Y* – S/Sgt Joseph W Bobo (SCR-717 Radar Operator), KIA
Sgt J C Kinsley-Smith (Pltn HQ), KIA
Pte H Clayton (Pltn HQ), KIA
Cpl O Lilley (No 2 Sect Cmdr), KIA
L/Cpl J F Clayton (No 2 Sect Cpl), KIA
Pte H J Philpotts (No 2 Sect Orderly), KIA
Cpl G T Brownlow (No 3 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte G Tutton (No 3 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte A Butler (No 3 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte D L George (No 3 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte R Killingworth (No 3 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte T Stevens (No 3 Sub Sect), DOW
Pte H Stanyer (No 4 Sub Sect, KIA
Pte J Wilson (No 4 Sub Sect , KIA
Pte E E Johns (No 4 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte P Taylor (No 4 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte G H Gillever (No 4 Sub Sect), KIA
Pte R Fuller (No 4 Sub Sect), KIA
Out of the 34 paratroopers and 10 USAAF aircrew who flew to Arnhem in Chalk #618 & 619, 22 were killed when Chalk #619 crashed and 1 later died of wounds. Another Para was KIA in fighting at Wolfheze. 6 Paras made it back to England after escaping as part of Operations BERLIN & PEGASUS and 10 paras were captured and taken as Prisoners of War.
Jeffrey was always haunted by the great loss of life of men under his command on Dakota Chalk number 619 and the 6 US aircrew when their Dakota aircraft was shot down on its approach to the DZ at Arnhem.
It is worth remembering that 156 had suffered the highest percentage losses of all the battalions who fought in the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem, including the loss of their much-admired commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel des Voeux. With only 37 men out of 600 returning after the battle (10 of whom were evaders and escaped after the battle).
A memorial honouring those who died in the tragic loss of Chalk #619 has been erected at Bonegraafseweg 61-69, Dodewaard.
Melton Mowbray has a rich and varied history that can be traced back hundreds of years. Archaeological remains from the Bronze Age (c.600BC), Roman (43-409AD), Anglo Saxon (500-650AD), and Viking/Danelaw (800-900AD) periods have all been found in the town and surrounding area.
There is lots of evidence of the Danes in the area as all along the Wreake Valley, the Danish suffix “-by” is common in the viilage names, e.g. in Asfordby, Dalby, Frisby, Hoby, Rearsby and Gaddesby.
However, the first documented evidence of Melton was in the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as “Medeltun”. Medeltun or “Middletown” comes from it being a central township with a mother Church (St Mary’s) surrounded by 5 hamlets: Burton Lazars, Eye Kettleby, Sysonby, Welby & Freeby.
Another version of where Melton comes from is that it ortiginally was known as Milltown due to having a couple of watermills.
Whatever the correct origins of Melton are, I suppose we will never know, but over the years, the name “Medletun” or “Milltown” has morphed into what we know today as Melton.
The Mowbray part of the name comes from the Mowbray family who were granted the land after the Norman Conquest and became Lords of the Manor.
Another major part of the town’s rich history is the Melton Mowbray Town Estate which has been in existance since 1549 as a result of the dispute between King Henry VIII and Rome.
In 1549 in Melton, ther had been for almost two hundred years, a cell of the Priory of Lewes and it maintained a chantry house for the priests next door to St Mary’s Parish Church. This building was known as the Priory, but today we know it as the Anne of Cleves House. For more information about the Anne of Cleves house and one of it’s occupants, William Gonson who was a Vice Admiral in King Henry VIII’s Navy, see my blog Vice Admiral William Gonson.
These priests that stayed at the Priory, served the chantries of the parish church of two local gilds of Our Lady of Mary the Virgin and St. John Divine. They were abolished in the next decade and their properties confiscated by the Crown.
Just how some of the lands owned by these gilds passed into the hands of what we know today as the Town Estate and not the Crown has been lost into the mists of history. But what we do know is that on the 29th September 1549, the land formerly owned by the Gilds passed into the ownership of William Gyles and Michael Purefey, who in turn sold them onto Christopher Draper. Christopher Draper was a Meltonioan who in 1569 became Lord Mayor of London.
Draper subsequently sold the land to the Churchwardens and their accoiunts dated 23rd November 1549 record: “Paid by Nicholas Cowlishaw to Christopher Draper of London this xxi day of November ffor a parsell of land with appertennces lately called the cheippal hosue in Melton bought to the town of Melton use xxi1” (£21.) It is thought that the money for this purchase came from the sale of Church silver.
In turn, Nicholas Cowlishaw and Thomas Postern conveyed these lands by the enfeoffment of 20 townsmen. The trusts deeds state that the income from the lands were “annually and for ever to pay and contribute to the support of a schoolmaster to teach and instruct boys in grammar in Melton Mowbray.” This is the foundation deed of the Melton Mowbray Town Estate and is dated 30th November 1549.
As part of the Melton Mowbray Town Estate 400th Anniversary Celebrations in 1949, during the Whit-week (6th – 11th June 1949), Melton Mowbray put on a huge birthday party known as the Melton Mowbray Whit Week Pageant celebrating the rich history of our wonderful historic market town.
Preparations for the event started months earlier with a public meeting being held in the Corn Exchange on Tuesday 22nd February 1949 at 7:30pm.
Public Meeting
Nearly 200 people attended the meeting, and they not only expressed their interest in a historical pageant to celebrate the Town Estates 400th anniversary, but they also authorised the Town Wardens to spend £1,500 on the event.
Pageanat advert from the Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette adted 11 March 1949.
The pageant celebrations lasted a week as local businesses, townspeople, villages, schools and the whole community from across the Borough marked the occasion.
Thousands of visitors came to Melton to watch the celebrations that made an appearance in the national press who wrote about the anniversary and one of the first outside BBC broadcast crews came to Melton, filming for the Around and About programme. Naturally, this news caused great excitement amongst locals who were keen to make sure that the town looked good.
Leicester Evening Mail 30 May 1949
Rehearsals took place in fields, gardens, village halls and churches across the Borough in preparation for the opening day on 6th June 1949. The pageant involved the whole community and cost £1,500 to put on.
The Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette published on the 27th May 1949 published a small article about the recent Urban District Council meeting “Be Festive!” The chairman at Wednesday’s Urban Council meeting requested townspeople to make Melton look as festive as possible for the 400th anniversary of the Town Estate during Whit week. Most people would have flags left from previous highdays and holidays, and he suggested they were looked out and hung out.
Food rationing
As this was only four years after the end of the second World War, and food rationing was still in existance, Mr Anthony Nutting MP informs the “Melton Times” that he has done his best by persuading Dr. Edith Summerskill, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Food under Clement Attlee’s Government, to grant an extra allowance of tea, sugar and margarine so that light refreshments may be provided on each night of the Pageant.
Among the activities were agricultural shows, sports events, art shows and exhibitions and special church services. But the main event was a huge pageant telling the history of Melton Mowbray from the Saxon times to the Victorian era.
Owing to previous engagements, the Duke of Edinburgh was unable to accept an invitation to perform one of the opening ceremonies on one of the 6 nights of Whit week. The Duke & Duchess of Rutland accepted as well as the Baroness Ravensdale.
Pageant Programme cover
The pageant took place in Egerton Park where there was a grandstand for 1,500 people along with plenty of standing room. There were 200 seats at 5s, 300 at 4s and 1,000 at 3s. Marquees were also erected providing refreshment facilities.
Played against a tall green black-cloth of trees – trees that could have shaded Danes and Saxons, one thousand years of Melton’s history swept by in glorious pageantry.
The huntsmen and hounds of the Belvoir, Cottesmore and Quorn hunts, which through the century and a half of their existence had made Melton the centre of the hunting world, were seen at Melton’s Whit week pageant taking part in the conclusion of the Midnight Steeplechase scene. A meet of the hounds will include the traditional ceremony of the stirrup cup.
Civic Service
The Town Estate’s 400th anniversary celebrations opened on Whitsunday with a Civic Service in the Parish Church, at which the Bishop of Leicester preached. Prior to the service taking place, the past and present Town Wardens, the Feoffeees, the Executive Committee, the Member of Parliament, the Chairman and Members of the Urban and Rural District Councils, together with their principle Officers were received by the Vicar in the Colles Hall and escorted to the West door of the Church into their seats.
Part of the procession of the Guild of Our Lady in the Pageant
Before the service, a Chain of Office that was presented to the Town Estate by Mr. W. E. Katz, was handed by the Bishop of Leicester to Mr. R. W. Brownlow J.P., who placed it on the Senior Town Warden, Mr. R. Gates. The Chain consisted of a handsome, silver gilt ornament with a circular medallion carrying the town crest, a red lion rampant on a blue ground. It had an inscription around the medallion that read “Melton Mowbray Town Estate 1549-1949”. The medallion was on a guilt chain, supported by St. John of Jerusalem on one side and the Virgin Mary on the other, both of which recalled the two Melton guilds.
The service was conducted by the Rev. C. M. S. Clarke, M.M., M.A., Vicar, and the lesson was read by Mr. R. W. Bronlow, Senior Feoffee of the Town Estate.
Cricket Match and Exhibition
Whit Monday’s activities began in the morning with a cricket match between Egerton Park C.C. and Hawks C.C. (Yorkshire) on the ground adjoining the pageant arena. The match commenced at 11:30am, with a lunch break at 1:30-2:15pm and concluded when the stumps were drawn at 6:30pm.
Egerton Park C.C. V’s Hawks C.C.
The Hawks opened the innings with the President of the Yorkshire League, Mr Herbert Robinson opening with Mr Brian Sellers. Sellers played in 334 first-class matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 1932 and 1948.
Brian Sellers
In the afternoon, Mrs. J. Burns Hartopp officially opened the exhibition of hunting pictures by John Ferneley, Sir Francis Grant and others and the exhibition of local photographs in Egerton Lodge. The original “Melton Hunt Breakfast” by Sir Frances Grant was loaned to the exhibition by the Duke of Rutland.
Among the many photographs and other artifacts on display, several stood out including local tradesman’s account books. Mr. E. Hayes, the fishmonger from the Market Place welcomed more donations from local tradesmen, but stipulated that they had top be at least 100 years old. Other documents included records from the Town Estate that were nearly 400 years old.
This exhibition remained open throughout the week and Mr. Guy Dixon, presided at the formal opening of it.
Before the pageant got underway, there was a display of folk dancing, singing, discus and javelin throwing by the residents of the Melton and Ashby Folville Polish Hostels.
On Monday, the pageant was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, who were introduced by Mr. Gates.
On Tuesday evening, a demonstration by the Poles again preceded the pageant and was opened by the Bishop of Leicester and introduced by Mr. A. Bramley, J.P.
Toy Soldiers
On the park greens on Wednesday evening there was a bowls drive organised by Melton and District Bowling Association for which novices were encouraged to enter.
In the evening, the pageant was preceded by a display by the Melton Mowbray Toy Soldier’s Band and again by the Poles. The pageant was opened by Lady Newtown Butler, and introduced by Dr. J. M. Manson.
Thursday’s events were again preceded by the Toy Soldier’s and the Poles display, and it was opened by the Earl and Countess of Gainsborough, who were introduced by Mr. A. P. Marsh, O.B.E.
After the pageant on Friday, which was opened by the Baroness Ravensdale who was introduced by Mr. R. W. Brownlow, J.P., there was a pageant costume dance in the Corn Exchange.
On the final day, there was another cricket match on the adjoining ground, this time between Egerton Park and Oakham. Following the display by the Poles, the pageant was opened by Mis Burns Hartopp, County Officer of St John Ambulance Brigade whow as introduced by Mr. Frank Easom.
Polish Handicrafts
From Monday to Friday, in the Girl’s Modern School on Wilton Road, there was an exhibition of Polish handicrafts in embroidery, wood and leather.
There was nearly 500 actors in the pageant, some of whom took part in more than one episode.
Spokesman in the prologue and epilogue, the figure of Time, was portrayed by the Vicar, Rev. C. M. S. Clarke, M.M.
The Episodes
Leading characters in the episodes were:-
Episode I
Saxons: Mr. L. Carter, David Downing, Derek Green, Brian McNeil, Miss Marjorie Craig, Mr. T. A. Bodycote, Mr. Stanley Jones, Rosemary Burditt, Miss Joan Jenkins, Dick Whittington.
Danes: Don Moss, Jocelyn Dry, Peter Dunckley, Gordon Hart.
Episode I depicted the Saxon settlement at Melton. As the largers buried their chieftain, Cealwin, the Danes swept down and overcame the Settlement.
Saxons with shields and womenfolk walk onto the arena with the body of Caelwin for burial
The centuries go hand in hand in Meltons Pageant. These Victorian ladies and gentlemen were photographed at a rehearsal and were watching the arrival of the Danes.
Episode II
Scene I: Mr. J. Mead, Mr. G Seagel, Mr. A. Healey, Mr. T. W. Pacey, Mr. E. Heawood, Mr. A. C. Shepherd, Mr. E. White, Mr. C. Poage, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. C. Broxholme
The scene, in the year 1160, shows Roger Mowbray, played by Mr. J. Mead, recently returned from the Crusades, making a grant of land to the Knights Templars in Melton for a hospital for the town, and land at Burton for a lepers hospital.
Sir Roger de Mowbray granting land to Knights Templar, watched by Lords and Ladies
Scene II: Mr. M. J. Knights, Mr. M. Marsh, Mr. T. Gildove, Mr. G. Seagel, Mr. A. Stapleford, Mr. W. Hopkins, Mr. T . W. Pacey, Mr. A. Healey, Mr. C. Page.
In the courtyard of Melton Castle in 1194 A.D. Prince John’s partisans took William Mowbray as their prisoner (Mowbray is played by Mr. Maxwell Knights). Richard Coeur de Lion arrived on horseback (the part was played by Mr. Michael Marsh) and rescued the Lord of the Manor of Melton.
Crusaders
16th Century Grammar School Boys
Episode III
Mr. A. Bennett, Mr. J. R. Holton, Mr. A. Goddard, Mr. C. Foyster, Mr. M. Sweeney, Mr. A. Nudds, Mr. A. McDonnell, Mr. Plummer, Miss D. Buckley, Miss J. Toon, Mr. J. Griffin, Mr. R. Brown, Mr. P. Bolger.
A group of 16th century Melton Grammar School boys were on the scene when the King’s Commissioners stopped processions of the Melton Guilds, led by priests and lay members carrying banners. The guilds were suppressed and it was suggested that their lands were to be purchased on behalf of the town with the income being used to support the school and be administered by a town estate.
“Lord Mayor” in Coach
Episode IV
Mr. Brander-Rimmer, Mr. Barksby, Mr. L. Routh, Mr. Clarke, Mr. C. A. Plumb, Mr. P. Cox, Mr. P. Maher, Mr. R. Sutton, Mr. D. Lark, Mr. A. Bewley.
A colourful Elizabethan faire scene that included the arrival of a Meltonian, Alderman Sir Christopher Draper, Lord Mayor of London, in his coach. The part was played by Mr. Brander-Rimmer.
Christopher Draper Coat of Arms
Sir Christopher Draper was the son John Draper & Agnes Gunston being born in Melton Mowbray circa 1511. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers and became their Master, being elected for the last time in Apr 1581. He was also the Sheriff of London in 1561 and the Mayor of London in 1566.
Taking part in the Elizabethan Faire must have been the youngest performer, two-and-a-half-year-old Christine Lowesby who skipped around happily with her mother, although she was wheeled home in her pushchair after the event.
Girls with their recorders accompanying country dancing at the Elizabethan Fair
Thirteen-year-old William Pycroft, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Pycroft of 7 Brookfield Street was to have taken part in the Elizabethan Faire as a “tumbler”, but disappointingly for him, before the event started, he fell from a tree in Egerton Park which prevented him from taking part as he was taken to Melton’s War Memorial hospital suffering from concussion as was admitted with a suspected fracture to the base of his skull.
Episode V
Mr. J. L. Smith, Capt. W. Richey, M.B.E., Private J. Rogers, Capt. W. Harris, Sgt D.H. Smith, Sgt G. R. Bennett, Capt. D. E. Harris, Sgt R. Smith, Pte F. H. A. Pocock and members of the Boy’s Brigade.
FHA Pocock, one of the many characters on horseback in the Melton Pageant
Two short scenes featuring Roundheads and Cavaliers took place culminated in a battle that took place at the top of Ankle Hill in 1645 and resulted in heavy casualties. The R.A.V.C. horses were seen in great advantage during the action.
Pie for Queen Victoria
Episode VI
Was mainly crowd scenes showing the cheese market. Queen Victoria was played by Mrs. Mayo, and the R.A.V.C. were responsible for the Midnight Steeplechase, after which Queen Victoria was presented with a Melton Pork Pie.
The steeplechase was held in honour of Lady Augusta Fane’s birthday and was won by Major Burnaby, with Count Zbrowski coming secoind after being thrown at the last fence. The riders from the R.A.V.C. would wear white nightshirts over their red coats.
Mr. H. L. Barnes, A.R.C.O. composed the music for the pageant and the Pageant Master, Mr. George Irving, wrote the words of the pageant song.
The Melton Town Band under direction of their bandmaster Cyril Walker took part and the choir, conducted by Mr. Barnes consisted of members of St Mary’s Parish Church Choir, Melton Choral Society, Melton Singers, Sage Cross Methodist Choir, Sherrard Street Methodist Choir, Baptists Chapel Choir, Asfordby and Hinckley Choral Societies and the Townswomen’s Guild.
In addition to the choir, there were over 450 costumed performers in the pageant including boys from the Grammar School, as well as tradesmen, solicitors, clerks, typists, accountants, farmers and a tax inspector. Horses and riders were provided by the R.A.V.C. and hounds from the Belvoir, Cottesmore & Quorn hunts.
It was reported that the number of visitors far exceeded expectations with holiday makers from Leicester, Nottingham and other towns flocked into Melton. A total of 13,301 visitors attended the pageant with 9,856 watching the agricultural show; 5,000 supporting the Polish exhibitions and 2,209 visiting the art exhibition.
But what did people remember of the celebrations?
Would it have been the enthusiastic Saxons building their pea stick fires, burying their chieftain and the battle with the helmeted Danes?
How about the minstrel’s song and King Richard’s visit or the messenger’s swift leap from his horse?
Could it have been the unspectacular but yet pleasant procession of the Melton Guilds?
Or what about the Elizabethan Faire which was most colourful of all the scenes played out with its small, agile tumblers, maypole dancing and playing boys?
Was it the youthful verve and vigour of the battle between the red-coated white collared Roundheads and romantic Cavaliers?
Or maybe the 19th Century scene with its cheese fair, Queen Victoria’s visit and the acrobatics of nightgowned Midnight steeplechase riders, or the huntsman’s horn as the hounds nosed around the crowds while riders in red coats were handed a stirrup cup?
A reporter who “sampled” the comments of the audience found fairly general agreement that the Elizabethan fair, the mounted battle and the hounds with riders in hunting red were the most outstanding events of the pageant.
One woman said that when she saw the two opposing forces of horsemen beginning to gallop towards each other, she shut her eyes, afraid of the consequences – a tribute to the realism of the affray. One of the R.A.V.C. Roundhead riders in the Civil War scene was thrown from his horse as the two sides charged. He was not hurt but his horse received a ‘slight’ sprain to one of its legs.
Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette 17 June 1949
Following the appeal from the Urban District Council meeting for the town folk to be festive, townspeople and tradesmen hung out flags and bunting from their homes and businesses.
Shop keepers took part putting displays in their shop windows ranging from fish to old records and most shops dressed their windows with backgrounds of coloured crepe paper, bunting or flags.
A butcher’s shop had a fish tank in which tropical fish swam alongside aquatic plants. A plumber’s shop also adopted the idea of an aquarium for the central feature of its unusual display.
A firm of bootmakers displayed boots and shoes in different stages of manufacture as well as miniatures of shoes and hunting boots on display next to a 200-year-old leather bottle. On a 100-year-old shoemaker’s bench was perched a foot high model of a shoemaker wearing a blue apron and nodding as he hammered nails into the sole.
The display in a chemist’s shop included old professional books, one of which was printed in 1776. They also displayed samples of medicines made from foxgloves and a metal pestle and mortar that was 100 years old which together weighed more than a hundredweight.
One office window displayed a deed from 1668 that related to a property in Sherrard Street from the reign of King Charles II. In the window of a ladies’ wear shop was a gracefully gowned figure of a lady gowned in rose pink crepe paper trimmed with half d’oyleys for lace.
A B.B.C. reporter that went to the Monday pageant, after absorbing the background of the celebrations, saw the performance of the pageant at night. The result was an 800 word broadcast after the 6 O’clock Midland Regional News on Wednesday. It was a compact, mellifluous word picture of the pageant that was interesting to listen to and smooth with praise for those involved with the creation of the show.
