SEPTEMBER 1, 1902.
WANBOROUGH FEAST SPORTS
A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING

Few villages can boast of inhabitants who live in greater harmony than our friends at this pretty spot under the hill. Whether engaged in an undertaking for the permanent benefit of the whole village - rich and poor alike - or in arranging a day's pleasure they throw aside all little differences and work with an honest ardour which might well be taken as a pattern by many other rural communities.

Early on Saturday morning, although rain was falling heavily, the committee formed to carry out the day's festivities in conjunction with the members of the Pioneer Benefit Society were astir and bent on facing adversity with a good spirit. At ten o'clock the members of the society and friends assembled at the Harrow Inn, and, headed by the Stratton St. Margaret Band, proceeded to make a perambulation of the village, calling at the residences of many of the principal inhabitants.

Prizes were offered for decorated cars and single horses with riders in fancy costumes. The judges were Messrs J.Hinton, F.Horne and C. A. Atkinson, and their awards were as follows:- Open to Wanborough only - 1st, Mr J. Garland; 2nd, Mr T. Parsons. A special prize of 10s was given by Mr James Hinton and awarded to the hospital car, arranged by Mr T. Sheppard. Open to Wanborough and Stratton - 1st, decorated car, with the title of "Under the same old flag," arranged by Mr S. Smith and Mr A. Bugg; 2nd, twins in a perambulator, Mr W.Harris; 3rd, a decorated donkey, Mr J. Goddard?s. These three prize winners came from Stratton.

At 12.30 an adjournment was made to the scene of the afternoon's entertainment, where a cold luncheon was served by Mr L. B. Rees, of the Mason's Arms Hotel, Swindon, over 100 did ample justice to a substantial repast.

MONDAY AUGUST 31, 1903.
WANBOROUGH FEAST SPORTS.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL MEETING

Wanborough Feast Sports, held on Saturday, provided a day of pleasure to the villagers and a large number of visitors, and although the sports take place a month after the feast proper they partake of all the importance of the old village festival.

Two years ago a committee of local gentlemen took upon themselves the duty of providing something to replace the fetes of former days, and their success is due not only to the excellent manner in which they filled a blank in Wanborough social life, but to the philanthrophic motives which were behind their endeavours. The Swindon Victoria Hospital was intended to benefit by the undertaking, and each year a balance of £10 has been handed over to that deserving institution.

Favoured with ideal weather, Saturday's fixture was as successful as its predecessors, alike in the interesting nature of the events and the patronage which it evoked. The proceedings began with a "character" procession in which a large number of gaily costumed personalities participated. Some were mounted but most were on foot, and the variety of colour and originality of costume elicited expressions of commendation as the procession, headed by the Stratton St. Margaret Brass Band, started from the Harrow Inn and paraded the whole of the village.

Prizes were awarded for the best costumes, and the work of adjudication was discharged by Messrs Fred Hinton, J. Holyoak and F. Arman, whose decisions were as follows:- Confined to Wanborough - 1 and 2 (equal), J. Vaine (coster) and J. Herring (equestrienne); 3,G. Gosling (charioteer); 4, J. Bizley (clown and dog); 5, J. Kent (mounted clown); 6 (equal), A. Eaton (mounted juvenile Forester) and Miss Queenie Stratford (lady jockey on donkey); 7 (equal), John Brittain (monk) and Albert Richens (walking clown); consolation, Albert Stratford (Georgian costume).

The medal (presented by Mr Patterson, of Swindon), was won by Mark Keen for a mounted old English soldier's costume. Open - 1, E.Hill, Swindon (Roman warrior); 2, Jabez Nutland, Salthrop (mounted character).