The Narrative Chorus: 1905 Sherborne Pageant Album

Sherborne School Archives, Abbey Road, Sherborne, Dorset, UK, DT9 3AP.

 

The Sherborne Pageant Participants Project, run by the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society, is keen to find out more about those who took part in the Sherborne Pageant. For further information visit: www.sdfhs.org/sdfhs-projects/introduction-to-sdfhs-projec...

 

Further information about the Sherborne Pageant can be found on the Sherborne School Archives website: oldshirburnian.org.uk/sherborne-pageant-1905/

 

Illuminated address, bound in white vellum, presented to L.N. Parker in the Digby Assembly Rooms, Sherborne on 24 October 1905. Includes 863 signatures of performers and assistants who were involved with the staging of the Sherborne Pageant on 12-16 June 1905, arranged by episode (the narrative chorus, the orchestra, episodes 1-11, the maypole, the pedestal group, shield children, assistants at the gates, assistants at the stands, workers) [Sherborne School Archives, ref. SS/PAG/11/5].

 

L.N. Parker in 'Several of My Lives' states that the narrative chorus 'is a male-voice chorus in dignified robes, whose function remotely resembles that of the chorus in Greek drama. In majestic verse and stately music it introduces, links, and explains the episodes. It fills the gaps between them, and so ensures the continuity of the performance.'

 

Photograph of the Narrative Chorus: www.flickr.com/photos/sherborneschoolarchives/17572074523...

 

The signatures of members of the narrative chorus who performed in the Sherborne Pageant, 12-15 June 1905:

 

Edgar Allen (1895- ) (treble), twin sons of John and Sarah Allen, then of Sydling St Nicholas, later of Southampton.

 

Percy Allen (1895- ) (treble), twin sons of John and Sarah Allen, then of Sydling St Nicholas, later of Southampton.

 

Charles William Bishop (1893-) (treble), carpenter (journeyman) (1911), son of John Larcombe Bishop of Long Street, Sherborne.

 

John James Bishop (1890-) (treble), builder’s clerk (1911), son of John Larcombe Bishop of Long Street, Sherborne.

 

George Frederick Bull (tenor), brewers’ agent (Traveller), Coldharbour, Sherborne.

 

Fred Churchill (treble).

 

Maurice Collins (treble).

 

Cecil John Cooper (1885-1944) (alto), solicitor's clerk, son of Henry Cooper.

 

Henry Cox (bass), grocer, Long Street, Sherborne.

 

John Henry Leopold Dalwood (1893-) (treble), son of John James and Emma Dalwood.

 

Ernest Charles Davey (c.1889-) (treble), son of Reuben William Davey, Cheap Street, Sherborne.

 

Harold Dodge (1879-1959) (bass), ironmonger, Cheap Street, Sherborne.

 

George W. Down (alto).

 

Henry Durrant (1864-) (bass), grocer & provision merchant, Cheap Street, Sherborne.

 

Charles Fincken (bass), Corn Merchant’s Traveller, Westbury, Sherborne.

 

Leonard St Aubyn Gent (1892-1974) (treble), son of Henry William Gent and Alice Mary Gent. Pupil at Fosters School c.1903.

 

Edward Gillard (treble).

 

John Hazzard (1876-) (bass), son of George Hazzard, Horsecastles, Sherborne.

 

Tom Hitchcock (c.1871-) (tenor), gardener, Greenhill, Sherborne.

 

Henry Charles Hoff (1873-1921) (bass), Town postman, later a tailor. Lived at 5 Raleigh Place, Westbury, Sherborne, and later at Cabel’s Drain, Newland, Sherborne. Son of Charles Hoff and Augusta Caroline (nee Baker). Married to Anna Almatina Churchill Green (1872-1925).

 

Charles H. Hyde (1884-) (alto), County Council clerk. Son of Henry Hyde, Raleigh View, Sherborne.

 

Percy A. Hyde (1889-) (treble), son of Henry Hyde, Raleigh View, Sherborne.

 

Wilfred J. Hyde (1891-) (treble), son of Henry Hyde, Raleigh View, Sherborne.

 

Edward Bradford Ingram (1886-) (bass), son of William John Ingram, Schoolmaster, National School, Westbury, Sherborne.

 

George W. James (1892-) (treble), son of John James, confectioner, Horsecastles, Sherborne.

 

Arthur Lambert (c.1892-) (treble), son of Albert Lambert, groom, Long Street, Sherborne.

 

Charles Alfred Loman (c.1876-) (tenor), tailor, Bristol Road, Sherborne.

 

Cecil Patten March (1892-) (treble), son of John Thomas and Alice Mary March, Long Street, Sherborne (Cecil was a carpenter in 1911).

 

Arthur Martin (1894-1917) (treble), Rink boy (skating rink) in 1911; son of Charles and Edith Martin; Charles was a groom, living in Lower Acreman Street, Sherborne (1901 and 1911). Leading Stoker on HMS ‘Vanguard’, Royal Navy, killed by an internal explosion at Scapa Flow on 9 July 1917, aged 24.

 

Frederick Martin (1897-) (treble), confectioner’s errand boy in 1911; son of Charles and Edith Martin. Charles was a groom, living in Lower Acreman Street, Sherborne (1901 and 1911).

 

Henry George Nash (1849-) (bass), draper, with a house and shop in Cheap Street, Sherborne.

 

Thomas Roberts (treble).

 

James Henry Charles Sawtell (1857-) (tenor), printer, Yeovil Road, Sherborne. Son of Anne Templeman Sawtell (1826-).

 

William T. Sheldrick (c.1897-) (treble), son of William Sheldrick, Wingfield Road, Sherborne.

 

Joshua Skinner (c.1893-) (treble), son of William John Skinner, tailor, and Florence Elizabeth Skinner, Newland, Sherborne. Pupil at Fosters School c.1903.

 

Arthur Burton Stabler (1868-) (tenor), Postmaster.

 

John Stiling (c.1895-) (treble), son of John Stiling, coachman and groom, Castleton.

 

John Newman Taylor (1864-1942) (bass), Sergeant-Major. Gymnastic instructor at Sherborne School 1886-1912, retired 1933. Chief Officer Sherborne Fire Brigade. Married to Marian Stace. Lived at Greenhill, Sherborne.

 

Percy Thomas (c.1894-) (treble), son of Annie E. Thomas, widow, Coldharbour, Sherborne.

 

William Voake (treble).

 

Leonard Warr (c.1892-) (treble), son of Walter Warr, hairdresser, Half Moon Street, Sherborne.

 

John Archer Witherington (1851-1935) (bass), gardener (domestic), Back Lane, Sherborne. Married to Emma Alma West.

 

Edgar Wood (treble).

Done