July 19, 1937

EXCITEMENT was building as final preparations were made for the Royal Welsh Show to be held in Monmouth this week.

Spectacular jumping, imposing parades of prize-winning stock, thrilling trick riding by men of the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, sheep dog trials and a carnival bands contest were among the many attractions.

The three-day show promised something for everyone from young to old, and aimed to provide entertainment and education.

As the Free Press reported, the show has had many favourable sites, but none so picturesque or conveniently situated as Troy Field.

On Wednesday, the first day of the show, when the opening ceremony will be performed by the mayor of Monmouth, the Rev Owen Jones, the Monmouthshire Foxhounds will add a further splash of colour and a sporting touch to the main ring, and on the second day their place in the grand parade of stock will be taken by Lady Curre’s famous ‘white’ pack.

Each day will be full of interest: for those who like watching animals there are magnificent displays of British breeds of horses, ponies, cattle, goats, pigs and sheep, including entries from the leading studs and herds in the country.

Children will thoroughly enjoy the juvenile riding classes, as well as the sensational exhibitions given by the dare-devil guardsmen, while for those with quieter tastes there are attractive forestry, horticultural and produce sections, and bee keeping demonstrations.

In the demonstration and exhibition section there will be contributions by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Milk Marketing Board, the Monmouthshire Institute of Agriculture, Monmouthshire Rural Community Council and by Monmouthshire Federation of Women’s Institute.

Visitors who are mechanically minded will find something to their taste in the trade stands and in a huge display of machinery in motion, including labour-saving devices that will be of interest to the housewife as well as the agriculturalist.

There seems to be no end to the many attractions the show affords.

In the livestock section there are splendid shows of exhibition and utility poultry, fancy and racing pigeons, and fur and fancy rabbits.

This year’s Royal Welsh has rightly been described as the cheapest and most varied entertainment in the principality.

The admission charges were: First day, 5s (after 3pm 3s); second day 2s,6d and third day 2s (after 4pm, 1s).

Season tickets may be purchased for 8s.

Individual children were admitted at half-price and organised parties of children were admitted at a charge of 9d per child.

Cheap and augmented travel facilities were available from all parts by rail and road, and for car owners there were extensive parks in the town and showyard sides.

Meanwhile on July 19, 1937, Llanvair Discoed Church, reputed to have been 800-years-old, was crowded for the dedication by the Bishop of Monmouth of a stain-glassed window in memory of John Pollard Micklethwait, JP, and Mary, his wife, and Getrude, their daughter.

A new vestry was also dedicated.

Dedication prayers were read by the Bishop of Monmouth who said dedication services had links with earth and heaven.

The window, a magnificent production of art, added materially to the beauty of the church, while the vestry, on the north side, provided a long-felt want.

The centre light portrayed the saviour in his spiritual aspect as the ‘light of the world.’

He was shown crowned as King and triumphant through a crown of thorns.

The background was of the accepted symbolic path strewn with flowers and thorns. The right-hand light showed Jesus as the ‘Bread of Life’ and bearing the water from the Holy Table.

By defraying the cost of the window and vestry, the surviving members of the Micklethwait family added to their benefactions, and have given renewed evidence of their love to a church with which the family had been associated for a generation, it was said.

The confirmation of two candidates preceded the dedication service, which was attended by a large congregation. The service was conducted by the vicar, the Rev H. Sowden.

Both lessons were ready by Mr St. John Micklethwait. Christie Prichard was the organist. The donors of the window and vestry were: John Micklethwait, Gore Micklethwait, Mrs G.H. Budgett, Ms Maud Gore Micklethwait and Mrs H/G. Hartley.

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