PEACE CELEBRATIONS
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Morecambe Childrens' Day
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Effigies Burnt at Night
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The Morecambe Corporation wisely decided not to celebrate peace as an "entirety" on Saturday, but to give the children an opportunity of enjoying themselves in a manner which most appeals to children and, at the same time, creating an impression in their minds which will ever be a memory of a great and glorious day. With what truth we know not, but it is said that Morecambe is to celebrate peace in September in a manner which shall be worthy of the town, and we certainly think this is a most reasonable proposition and one which, we hope, will be taken up whole-heartedly by the townspeople.
One could hardly expect our hard-worked company housekeepers and shopkeepers to proceed to indulge in a round of festivities last Saturday in view of the enormous number of people who came into the town from the holiday towns and other places, and they are certainly entitled to jubilate as well as anybody else.
 The butchers made holiday, however; the first time they have closed a whole day for many years (always excepting the compulsory closing owing to meat restrictions) and we hope they had an enjoyable holiday. The grocers closed about five o’clock, others followed suit and the early evening and night were generally given up to merry making.
As we have just said, the Corporation arranged no official programme in view of the possibility of later celebrations but the children were well provided for by an energetic committee of helpers of which Coun A W Gorton was the secretary. The previous day the children in the elementary schools were presented with a beautifully designed cup of pure China ware This bore in emblem of the flags of the Allied nations with "Peace 1919" engraved in the centre, a dove representing the sign of peace. On one side of the cup there was a representation of artillery going to war, and on the other side a ploughman proceeding to avocations of peace. The cup also bore the words, "Borough of Morecambe 1919”. This cup is well worth preserving, and it certainly is an artistic production worthy of a memorable and never to be forgotten epoch in the history of nations. The Mayor and Mayoress (Ald and Mrs Wright) visited each school giving appropriate addresses, and the Mayoress asked each teacher to hand the Cups, to the children on their dismissal, on her behalf.

Saturday morning broke rather dull and it was feared the weather was not going to be as propitious as the occasion really warranted, but as the morning advanced the conditions greatly improved and there was no fault to find with the rest of the day. The children assembled in two fields off West end Road to the number of about 3000 and a brief service was held was held commencing with the singing of the revised National Anthem, and suitable addresses were delivered by the Mayor and Councillor Siddle. ”O God our help in Ages Past” was sung and then there immediately followed hearty cheers for the King.

The programme of sports followed in connection with which the following acted as the officials:- Messrs F. J. Peacock, Gifford, W. Siddle, Neveson, Spark, H.H.Smith, Hartley, M.  Stoddard, W. Aspden, S. Poole, Raynor, Hassall, Morphet and Stead. The various events were conducted with great spirit and the youthful competitors were paid cash prizes.

The following are the results of the sports :-

GIRLS (under 11 years of age)
100 YARDS FLAT RACE
A Edmondson 1st – 2nd V Bailey 3rd L Jackson

SKIPPING ROPE Competition (100 yards). 1st O Nelson 2nd B Miller 3rd E Barker 4th M Nuttall

GIRLS (over 11 and under 14 years of age)

200 YARDS FLAT RACE          
1st D Walker 2nd P Booth 3rd M Shaw 4th O Young

SKIPPING ROPE Competition (200 yards).  1st A Birchall 2nd S Travis 3rd M Elkin 4th M Howarth

BOYS (under11 years of age) 100 YARDS FLAT RACE: 1st W Dixon 2nd F Berry 3rd J Maltby 4th H Atkinson.

SACK RACE (50 yards) 1st F Naylor 2nd H Harrison 3rd F Woodhouse 4th R Taylor

WHEELBARROW RACE, (50 yards) 1st J Harrison and H Halstead, 2nd H Atkinson and F Naylor 3rd A Heys and N Gregson 4th S M’Cormack and F Fozzard.

BOYS (over 11 and under 14 years of age)

100 YARDS FLAT RACE) Event 10

1st;H Pyrah 2nd J Edmondson 3rd R Brittain 4th R Wright

200 YARDS FLAT RACE (Boys   14 to 16)
1st C Baron 2nd Heaton 3rd H Pyrah 4th Sharp
SACK RACE (100 yards) Event 12
1st Lawton 2nd Hoskin, 3rd Threlfall, 4th Croston

WHEELBARROW RACE (50 yards)
1st Woodhouse and Gardner, 2nd, Heaton and Drake, 3rd Lock and Myers, 4th Newton and Moss.

Running Long Jump for Boys (over 11 and under 14 years of  age)
Boys (11 to 12 years of age)

1st Prize Kenyon, 2nd Ellison, 3rd Nixon, 4th Clare. Boys (12 to 13 years of age)

1st Gilbert, 2nd, Parkinson, 3rd Lord, 4th Harrison

BOYS (13 to 14 Years Of age)           
1st McIntyre, 2nd, Bently, 3rd,, Gardner, 4th Tatlow.

In no thoroughfare in Morecambe was there relatively, a better display of decoration than in Back Pedder street, More euphoniously known to the initiated as Pilling Street. Bunting and flags were lavishly displayed, and to the huge delight of residents and visitors alike, a striking effigy of the Kaiser was suspended at the foot of the street and higher up the street opposite to the "Times" Office Works, was a capital effigy of "Little Willie.", It is no exaggeration to say that the street was visited by thousands of people on Saturday, and the scene at night when the two effigies were set fire to was an extraordinary one.
 In passing it may also be said that Back Pedder Street has a record to be proud of in regard to its part in the war. Nearly every house sent its quota to the colours, and among those who went out to do battle for the homeland, are many who are now sleeping their last sleep in some far away battlefield grave.

The people of Sun Street also rose to the occasion. They decorated the street well and much amusement was caused by the little moving tableau which might well have been titled "The Kaiser's' Progress," A life-sized effigy of the discredited Teuton war lord was wheeled round the town on a hand-cart,accompanied by the Sun-street "Jazz Band," whose efforts at harmonics were more noticeable for vigour than for tunefulness. However, as the essential of success is ability to make a great noise, it may be conceded that the improvised band was success. The "musicians" repaired to the fair ground and to the unconcealed joy of the youngsters they rode their victim on the "hobby-horses", which later shared the common fate of such effigies, in that it was duly incinerated.

The people in the town made a brave show and there was plenty of bunting and the regulation form of decoration. In some cases more elaborate efforts were put forth but for the most part the decorations were modelled upon stereotyped lines. The Corporation arranged to revive the e1ectric lighting on the Promenade, in the evening and this following a glorious sunset made a most effective display. In the evening there was a good deal of gaiety at the places of entertainment especially at the Tower where there was a great joy ball from 10 to 12. It was altogether a great success and the management must be congratulated upon the manner in which everything passed off.