Dear Bryan,
For what it's worth, 'Recessional' was sung in my school in the late 40s,
not only to the tune of 'Eternal Father, strong to save', but also to
another, which I can still sing, but the name of which I don't know.
And I suspect that May 24, 'Empire Day', remained in the calendar until the
`50s, and then became (I suspect semi-officially at best) 'Commonwealth
Day', which in turn lasted until the `70s. It certainly isn't in any of the
calendars we have in the house for this year, and hasn't been observed in
public for years - it used to be observed by the flying of the Union flag on
public buildings, but I doubt if you'd find that anywhere now, other than,
perhaps the occasional church where the PCC and the Vicar agree on these
matters!
And wasn't 24 May also 'Primrose League Day?
But that's all subjective guesswork.
Yours
Alastair Wilson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryan Diamond" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 10:06 PM
Subject: @Recessional' sung in Jews' Free School in 1900s
> I have bought a recent (1998) history of the Jews' Free School by Gerry
Black.
> The school in the East End of London was a major educational medium for
the
> children ofbthe flood of Jewish immigrants.
>
> At page 131, the author says "Tghe JFS emphasised patriotism and loyalty
> to the Crown; Empire Day, introduced in 1904, was celebrated with
fervour2
> then he quotes presumably from a newspaper report:
> At 3.40 the "Flag of Britain " was sung throughout the school; Kipling's
> Recessional Hymn" was then recited, followed by lessons on patriotism.
The
> cadet corps marched ito tjhe assembly hall and sung with brass band "God
> Save the King"...."
>
> I wonder how widely was Recessional (published 1897) sung in British
> schools and for how many years, who wrote ' Flag of Britain' , and when
was
> Empire Day no longer celebrated?
>
> Bryan Diamond
>
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