Festive Scholars at Yelden - Empire Day in the School – Children’s concert
Yelden was quite “en fete” last Friday when Empire Day was celebrated. Through the very great kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Pakes and Miss Reynolds, all the children in Yelden and their mothers, with many other friends, were entertained to a substantial tea in the school, which was prettily decorated for the occasion. About 50 sat down to tea and much enjoyed the good things provided for them. After tea the Rector (the Rev. Howes Smith) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Pakes for their kindness, which was responded to with cheers from all present. Mrs. Howes Smith also thanked them and Miss Bazeley, the schoolmistress, thanked them on behalf of the children. Unfortunately, Miss Reynolds was unavoidably absent, but had not forgotten the children, and sent each a pretty little basket she had especially had made for them in Hampshire, where she is staying. These baskets, filled with sweets, were presented to the children at the end of the school concert by Mrs. Pakes.

A very successful little

Concert
was given by the children attending the school on Friday evening, to celebrate Empire Day. The children had been most carefully taught by their esteemed mistress, Miss Bazeley, assisted by her sister, Miss F S Bazeley. The songs, recitations, etc., were much enjoyed by an appreciative audience. The children all performed their respective parts exceedingly well. Between the first and second parts the Rector presented the prizes given by the County Council for good conduct and diligence to Gladys Robinson, Dorothy Campion, Mary Hawkey, Corrie Ekins, and Dorothy Taylor.

A letter was read from Mrs. Howes Smith, much regretting that through illness she was prevented from giving away the prizes. The following is the

Programme
For the concert:-

Patriotic hymn, scholars; recitation Dorothy Taylor; song, Gone is the winter, Girls; song, Nellie Cowley; pianoforte solo, Jessie Wicks; song, See our oars, Elder Girls; recitation, Mary Hawkey; song, The watchman, Scholars; song, Grace Campion; dolly song, Girls; song, The merry farmer boy, Boys; song, (in character), Gladys Robinson; Empire song, Scholars; pianoforte solo, Gladys Robinson; recitation, Five girls; song (in character), Dorothy Campion; recitation, Kathleen Boyce; song, The fairies, Girls; song, Jessie Wicks; recitation, Corrie Ekins; sketch and song, Good night, Mr. Moon, Girls.

Yelden Church of England School
Several of the girls who knitted “comforts” for the soldiers of the Beds Regiment have received from them very appreciative letters. During last week most of the scholars contributed to the Y.M.C.A., which is making a special efforts to provide a Children’s recreation Hut for the troops in France, and each contributor has received a commemoration stamp.

Yelden - The Rector and Mrs. Howes Smith, gave the school children a tea on Tuesday afternoon on the Rectory Lawn. After tea the children, under the care of Mrs. Adams, the school-mistress, were taken by the Rector for a drive in one of Mr. Asher Abbott’s brakes. On the return journey a stay of an hour or so was made at Rushden, where the children did a little shopping on their own account, which they much enjoyed. Returning through Higham Ferrers they arrived home about 8.30.