WHILE planning this year’s Bramhope Village Show (which takes place on Sunday, September 10) the show committee found in the archives the programme for the very first Bramhope Show held in 1948 and a long article from the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer describing the event.
A spokesperson said: "The programme makes fascinating reading. The event was called a Country Fair and was held in July, rather than September the regular date for the Bramhope Show for many years, but as now was held at the Robert Craven Institute on Old Lane, more popularly known as Bramhope Village Hall. It was formally opened by the local MP for the Ripon Division constituency, Colonel Malcolm Stoddart-Scott, (who lived at Creskeld Hall) who gave a speech on the importance of community life. The show nowadays is usually attended by our MP, but minus the speeches.
"Many events continue as part of the show to this day. Then as now there was children’s entertainment, live music, (though Ledona ‘BBC Pianist and Vocalist’ sounds rather more staid than rock group Recycled!), a children’s fancy dress parade, stalls from local organisations, side shows and refreshments. The many competitions for fruit and vegetables, photography, art, crafts and so on that form the core of the current show do not feature in 1948.
"Some aspects of 1948 are unlikely to make a reappearance today. At 6pm there was an Ankle Competition: “Ladies! Enter for this event, you may win a pair of silk stockings fit to grace the neatest ankle present”. There were no fewer than 35 entries and the prize was won by Mrs Glancy of The Rowans. The proceedings ended with God Save The King at 7pm. In the evening there was a “Grand Flannel Dance”."
As Rachel Dunn, chair of the current Show Committee says: “We puzzled over what this could be, but some research showed that this meant informal dress. Instead of a suit and tie, men could come in the flannels they wore for cricket or tennis.”
The spokesperson added: "The programme is packed with advertisements, a fascinating insight into life in 1948. Rationing was still in existence, Yeadon Airport promoted flights for holidays and business, a Leeds company manufactured electric vehicles and a Comptometer Training School offered a career path for your daughter much above that of an ordinary clerk."
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