Not Something You Expect to See in Tarvin

Recently we were sent a interesting newspaper clipping, headed Tarvin and Shepherds' Anniversary, by Susan Cowley whose Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Astbury who married Ernest Didsbury of Tarvin, and lived with the Fellows family for a number of years. Susan included a photograph of James Fellows with his dog, Moss.

The newspaper clipping gave an account of the 17th Anniversary of the St Andrews Lodge of the Ancient Order of Shepherds (Harwarden District). The day began with a grand procession to the strains of the Frodsham Territorial Band. The centre of attraction was a decorated float with the Shepherd, Mr J T Hulse, the Shepherdess, Miss Norah Hulse, and six little girls, Kathleen Mayors, Hannah Wright, Mary Pemberton, Hilda Harpey, Bertha Higgingson, and Hilda Chambers, all dressed in white with red sashes and tam-o-shantor hats. Dedecked horses were lent bt J Gunnery & Co. and bring up the rear of the procession was the above mentioned James Fellows with his dog Moss.

A service was then held in St Andrews with a sermon preached by the Rev J. S. Luxmore, and this was followed by dinner in the Manor House Lecture Room, presided over by Dr Morton, the medical officer of the Lodge. The day ended with sports on the Recreation Ground, followed by dancing to the strains of the band.

Ed : We are lucky to have two photographs in our picture gallery clearly showing how grand these events were at the time. Click on the two smaller photographs to enlarge them. The newspaper clipping did not show the date but the photograph outside Rode House appears to show James Fellows among the crowd and if this is correct then the newspaper report was from 1907.