Yeovil's Virtual Museum

1937 Festival of Youth

Part of Yeovil's celebration of the Coronation of King George VI

 

Yeovil's Festival of Youth was a part of the official municipal celebrations on the occasion of the coronation of King George Vi and Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday, 12 May 1937. The festival was held at the Huish football ground.

The aim of the festival was described in the souvenir programme; "While the Coronation of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth has given cause for general rejoicings on the 12th May 1937, it has also been the means of achieving what the organisers of youth movements in Yeovil have long desired - an opportunity for greater co-operation between the various bodies in order to bring before the public the needs of young people in our town and to show what local organisations are doing to supply that need.

We have seized the occasion to inaugurate what we hope will be an annual Youth Festival, in which every organisation catering for young people may participate, and at which the young people themselves may find interest and friendly rivalry in competing for the handsome Challenge Trophies which the Yeovil Town Council has generously presented as a token of interest in the scheme.

The Challenge Shields are intended for annual competition, and will be awarded to the boys' and girls' organisations whose team gains the highest number of marks in the events in the sports programme at this and succeeding Youth Festivals; but mementoes will also be presented to the individual winners of each event.

What is done now to make the youth of Britain healthy and happy will encourage boys and girls to take their place as active and competent citizens when the time comes."

Although hoping to become an annual event in Yeovil, as far as I can ascertain this event of 1937 was the only Festival of Youth in Yeovil.

 

 

2.15 pm		Procession to form for leaving the Car Park at 2.15pm and to be led by the Salvation Army Boys' Band and the Boys' Brigade Bugle Band.
2.50 pm		Display, St John's Boys' Gym and Athletic Club
3.20 pm		220 Yards Team Race, Junior Boys under 15 (in teams of four)       - St John's Boys' Gym       - Yeovil Boys' Brigade
		One Mile Team Race, Senior Boys under 18 (in teams of four)       - St John's Boys' Gym       - Yeovil Boys' Brigade
3.35 pm		Display, Girl Guides and Girls' Life Brigade
3.50 pm		800 Yards Relay Race, Junior Boys (in teams of four)       - St John's Boys' Gym       - Yeovil Boys' Brigade
		800 Yards Relay Race, Senior Boys (in teams of four)       - St John's Boys' Gym       - Yeovil Boys' Brigade
		400 Yards Relay Race, Junior Girls (in teams of four)       - St John's Girls' Friendly Society       - Yeovil Girl Guides       - Yeovil Company Girls' Life Brigade
		400 Yards Relay Race, Senior Girls (in teams of four)       - St John's Girls' Friendly Society       - Yeovil Girl Guides       - Yeovil Company Girls' Life Brigade
4.05 pm		Display, Girls' Physical Training (Methodist Girls' Club and Yeovil Girls' Physical Training Class)
4.15 pm		High Jump, Boys (Teams of Three)       - St John's Boys' Gym       - Yeovil Boys' Brigade
		400 Yards Skipping Relay Race, Junior Girls (Teams of Four)       - St John's Girls' Friendly Society       - Yeovil Girl Guides       - Yeovil Company Girls' Life Brigade
		400 Yards Skipping Relay Race, Senior Girls (Teams of Four)       - St John's Girls' Friendly Society       - Yeovil Girl Guides       - Yeovil Company Girls' Life Brigade
4.30 pm		Display, The Boys' Brigade
4.45 pm		Parade of Personnel
4.50 pm		Presentation of Prizes by His Worship the Mayor

 

 

 

 

The cover of the Souvenir Programme of the Festival of Youth.