French Gymnasts Visit to Canterbury

~ THE FRENCH GYMNASTS VISIT ~

Tuesday, July 2, 1907

CANTERBURY

Calais Congress of the Association Regionale of the Union of Gymnastics Society

(newspaper article) Next Tuesday the Congress of Gymnastic Socities of France will visit Canterbury, accompanied by the band of the 8th Regiment of Infantry. The bands of the 7th Dragoon Guards and the 1st Battalion of the Buffs will also be present. The following is the programme: Civil and military reception at the Westgate, 10 am. Procession and visit to the Cathedral at 11, by the invitation of the Very Rev. the Dean of Canterbury; luncheon at the Corn Exchange. 12:30; performance by 500 professors of French gymnasts on the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground, 3:30; dinner at the Corn Exchange, 6:30; performance by the French military band, in the Dane John Gardens, 8 o'clock.

They arrived at 10:30 am at Canterbury West Station. They were received at Westgate where a special platform had been built for the festivities. They then went onto the Cathedral for a special service. To the Corn Exchange for a luncheon and then to the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground for a display of their gymnastics.

A big thanks to R.W. for offering these to me first!

The soldiers are marching from Pin Hill along towards Rhodaus Town and across from the moat, you can see Canterbury East Station on the left, and Godden's Depository in the background on the right

Mailed October 24, 1907 to Bmbr P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

Dr Bro Pete

Many thanks for your kind letter pleased to hear you are well as this leaves me & us at home the same, I was too busy to write last week. There is nothing fresh to tell you, that chap Divers wished to be remembered to you. ..... went out with you This is the 1st Buff Band in the french procession now I think that is all I haven't any ..... soelcoe? wtih very best love from your effect. Bro George

received in Neemuch Nov 10 07

Mailed November 1, 1907 to Bmbr P. F. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

(written October 30, 1907)

Dr Pete

Many thanks for your kind letter with films which I received quite safely the films are not up to much as you say they were under exposed some little ones coming I presume, this is the last one of the PC of the Frenchmen, that what the two men are carrying was given to the Mayor did I tell you there was a Battery of R.H.A. Station ...now I think it is B. Battery now I think that is all hoping this finds you well as it leaves me and .. .. at home & .... as ... .... for ....with all .. you affect Bro George

Mailed August 29, 1907 to Bmbr P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

Dr Bro Pete

Many thanks for your kind & welcome letter which I received quite safe, pleased to hear you are well as this leaves me & rest at home, this note will be very short, am very much pressed for time. I expect you will see some you know in this, so Au reviour for present, yours &c George

Mailed October 2, 1907 to Bmbr Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

Dear Bro Pete

Many thanks for your kind & welcome letter which I received quite safe. Pleased to hear you are quite well as it leaves me & rest at home. I expect you will see someone you know on this one, the Fullagers are there that used to keep the Toy shop up St. George's Street. This is the French Band & you will recognise the place. Hoping this finds you well as it leaves me & rest at home you effect. Bro. George

Mailed August 14, 1907 to Bmbr. P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

Dr. Pete

Many thanks for your kind letter which I received quite safe pleased to hear you are well and to tell you this bears me the same. This is a PC of the French Gymnasts working ...... This is the beginning of the Procession, Town Councillors you will recognise the place where it is taken, next week will be one of the French themselves, am sending Bruce one of the same hoping you are well from your affect Bro George.

received in Neemuch Sept 15 07

A view of the West Gate and Holy Cross Church, The special stage was set up in front of the tower for this event. At the time they were working on the roof of Holy Cross Church, hence the scaffolding, so some lucky spectators got a great view of the events

Mailed August 22, 1907 to Bmbr. P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

Dr Pete

Many thanks for your kind letter pleased to hear you are well and to tell you we are all the same at home, this is the French Band that visited Canterbury a few weeks ago, reception by the Mayor at Westgate. I expect you recognise some of the faces. I am sending a paper this week with an account of the terrible accident it explains it all hoping this finds you still well, with best love from your Affect Bro George

A group shot with a variety of folk, likely taken at the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground where the Gymnasts put their talents on display

Mailed October 10, 1907 to Bmbr P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India

Dear Bro Pete

Many thanks for your letter which I received quite safe pleased to hear you are well, just tell Bruce I would like to hear now & then he hasn't written to me for some time now The Fair is on now & there is a little opposition this year, there is another .arty? down Wincheap Grove out in the Meadow behind where dd Daniels use to live & there is a bit going on now everything to cut each other out, this is another PC of the French Garrison recognise our face there hoping this finds you well as it leaves me & rest at home the ....your .... sends her love affect Bro. George

Visit of French Gymnasts

George's brother Pete was in the Royal Field Artillery, 78th Battery

....in 1914 there were more gymnastics, archery and cycling societies than football clubs in the Pas-de-Calais region. "entente cordiale" (The French Exception)

*I'm not quite sure at this time, if this is of the same event.....

Mailed from Canterbury September 14, 1910 to

Mrs. K Simmonds

34 Palace Street

Canterbury

(no other writing)


~ THE FRENCH GYMNASTS VISIT ~ Tuesday, July 2, 1907 CANTERBURY Calais Congress of the Association Regionale of the Union of Gymnastics Society (newspaper article) Next Tuesday the Congress of Gymnastic Socities of France will visit Canterbury, accompanied by the band of the 8th Regiment of Infantry. The bands of the 7th Dragoon Guards and the 1st Battalion of the Buffs will also be present. The following is the programme: Civil and military reception at the Westgate, 10 am. Procession and visit to the Cathedral at 11, by the invitation of the Very Rev. the Dean of Canterbury; luncheon at the Corn Exchange. 12:30; performance by 500 professors of French gymnasts on the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground, 3:30; dinner at the Corn Exchange, 6:30; performance by the French military band, in the Dane John Gardens, 8 o'clock. They arrived at 10:30 am at Canterbury West Station. They were received at Westgate where a special platform had been built for the festivities. They then went onto the Cathedral for a special service. To the Corn Exchange for a luncheon and then to the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground for a display of their gymnastics. A big thanks to R.W. for offering these to me first! The soldiers are marching from Pin Hill along towards Rhodaus Town and across from the moat, you can see Canterbury East Station on the left, and Godden's Depository in the background on the right Mailed October 24, 1907 to Bmbr P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India Dr Bro Pete Many thanks for your kind letter pleased to hear you are well as this leaves me & us at home the same, I was too busy to write last week. There is nothing fresh to tell you, that chap Divers wished to be remembered to you. ..... went out with you This is the 1st Buff Band in the french procession now I think that is all I haven't any ..... soelcoe? wtih very best love from your effect. Bro George received in Neemuch Nov 10 07 Mailed November 1, 1907 to Bmbr P. F. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India (written October 30, 1907) Dr Pete Many thanks for your kind letter with films which I received quite safely the films are not up to much as you say they were under exposed some little ones coming I presume, this is the last one of the PC of the Frenchmen, that what the two men are carrying was given to the Mayor did I tell you there was a Battery of R.H.A. Station ...now I think it is B. Battery now I think that is all hoping this finds you well as it leaves me and .. .. at home & .... as ... .... for ....with all .. you affect Bro George Mailed August 29, 1907 to Bmbr P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India Dr Bro Pete Many thanks for your kind & welcome letter which I received quite safe, pleased to hear you are well as this leaves me & rest at home, this note will be very short, am very much pressed for time. I expect you will see some you know in this, so Au reviour for present, yours &c George Mailed October 2, 1907 to Bmbr Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India Dear Bro Pete Many thanks for your kind & welcome letter which I received quite safe. Pleased to hear you are quite well as it leaves me & rest at home. I expect you will see someone you know on this one, the Fullagers are there that used to keep the Toy shop up St. George's Street. This is the French Band & you will recognise the place. Hoping this finds you well as it leaves me & rest at home you effect. Bro. George Mailed August 14, 1907 to Bmbr. P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India Dr. Pete Many thanks for your kind letter which I received quite safe pleased to hear you are well and to tell you this bears me the same. This is a PC of the French Gymnasts working ...... This is the beginning of the Procession, Town Councillors you will recognise the place where it is taken, next week will be one of the French themselves, am sending Bruce one of the same hoping you are well from your affect Bro George. received in Neemuch Sept 15 07 A view of the West Gate and Holy Cross Church, The special stage was set up in front of the tower for this event. At the time they were working on the roof of Holy Cross Church, hence the scaffolding, so some lucky spectators got a great view of the events Mailed August 22, 1907 to Bmbr. P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India Dr Pete Many thanks for your kind letter pleased to hear you are well and to tell you we are all the same at home, this is the French Band that visited Canterbury a few weeks ago, reception by the Mayor at Westgate. I expect you recognise some of the faces. I am sending a paper this week with an account of the terrible accident it explains it all hoping this finds you still well, with best love from your Affect Bro George A group shot with a variety of folk, likely taken at the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground where the Gymnasts put their talents on display Mailed October 10, 1907 to Bmbr P. Yeoman No. 35,431 78th Battery R.F.A. Neemuch, India Dear Bro Pete Many thanks for your letter which I received quite safe pleased to hear you are well, just tell Bruce I would like to hear now & then he hasn't written to me for some time now The Fair is on now & there is a little opposition this year, there is another .arty? down Wincheap Grove out in the Meadow behind where dd Daniels use to live & there is a bit going on now everything to cut each other out, this is another PC of the French Garrison recognise our face there hoping this finds you well as it leaves me & rest at home the ....your .... sends her love affect Bro. George Visit of French Gymnasts George's brother Pete was in the Royal Field Artillery, 78th Battery ....in 1914 there were more gymnastics, archery and cycling societies than football clubs in the Pas-de-Calais region. "entente cordiale" (The French Exception) *I'm not quite sure at this time, if this is of the same event..... Mailed from Canterbury September 14, 1910 to Mrs. K Simmonds 34 Palace Street Canterbury (no other writing)
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