Our Annual Festival, falling upon a Saturday, was kept this year on that day and Sunday. On Saturday morning there were celebrations of the Holy Communion at 7 and 11, and in the afternoon the children’s service at 3.15. According to usual custom the children met at the Schools, and having been formed into a procession, marched with the Hampton Brass Band to the Church.

Nearly 500 children with their teachers filled a large portion of the Church. The short service which consisted in great part of hymns’ was bright, and the singing well taken up by the children who had learnt the hymns. As soon as it was over the procession was once more formed, and passing round the race course staked out in the Vicarage grounds, defiled into circles of seats which had been arranged respectively for the boys, girls, and infants.
The 100 flags, which to the intense satisfaction of the children had been carried in the procession, now decorated the race course and other parts of the Vicarage grounds. As soon as grace had been sung, the children set to work in good earnest on the bread and butter, buns, cake, and tea, which had been prepared in plenty for the repast. Bands of willing workers carried cans of tea and handed cake and buns till all were satisfied, when grace was again sung and the children scattered in all directions to take part in the various games arranged for their amusement A dense crowd however, was soon collected near the central ring, where Punch and Judy assisted by dog Toby gave their first performance. The children of course were highly delighted with all the quaint comicalities of these favourite little actors, but it would seem that there are a good many grown-up children too, for at each of the four performances during the afternoon there was the same crowded audience of young and old alike. During the first performance of Punch and Judy the teachers retired to the inner lawn for their tea, and then all were ready to do their part and keep the games and races going.

We will not mention names, but our best thanks are due to very many who kindly undertook the management of various parts of the programme assigned to them, to others who kept guard over the swings and joined with the smaller children in their games. It would be difficult to give a complete list of all the races and games which (many of them) were going on at the same time. There were races arranged beforehand according to age and sex in which every child in the School could try for a prize, wheelbarrow races, three-legged races, sack races, and spoon races for the women. Then there was bobbing for sugar plums, bell in the ring, the basket trick, and quintain, which, however, has not yet been got to work quite successfully. The Band played during the intervals allowed by Punch and Judy and towards evening was responded to by a goodly company of dancers. The weather, a most important item on these occasions, was perfect, and we believe that most of the people, as well as the children, enjoyed themselves thoroughly. On Sunday there were festival services inthe Church, which were bright and well attended. The preachers were both of them well known to the congregations and gladly welcomed back again: the Rev. J. C. Buckley and the Rev. Frank W. Keene.

Source: The Hampton Hill Parish Magazine - 1885 September