Appleby History > Memories > Rogation Day
Rogation Day 1946
Following discussion on our forum about the date of some pictures of Rogation Day obtained by Richard Dunmore from the collection of Harold Oakley, Anne Silins has written this piece to clarify things. Harold's pictures, which appear in Richard's article In Focus 24: High Days and Holidays, had 'c1936' on them, but several of our contributors have pointed out that they must have been taken after the war.
I Anne (Bates) SILINS - would have been eight or nine years of age when I took part in the Rogation Day in Appleby Magna. As you can see in the photograph I was a Brownie. Miss. Knight was our leader both for the Brownies and later when I was in the Girl Guides. I went to North Wales (Barmouth) with Miss. Knight for one summer camping trip. Miss. Knight came from Ibstock and she would pick me up from the end of the drive of Lower Rectory Farm where I lived, and afterwards she delivered me home, driving down the driveway right to the farm house. She was quite an amazing women who gave me a lot of inspiration and instruction.
Rogation Day 1946 - click for larger version
You will see Sally (Stevenson) Hicks in the photograph. Sally lives in a newish bungalow in Church Street when I visited her some years ago. I believe their plot of land was where the old Baptist Chapel once stood. I attended Infants School in this building for my first school year. I see Emily Pointon also in the photograph - I do not remember her married name. Also Mrs. Spencer who was a great friend of my Grandma Bates and she lived in one of the houses between the old Bates Shop and the Church in Church Street. I visited her often and sometimes was invited to stay over night. My Uncle John Bates (who lives in Broomley Road, Coalville now) was a great friend of her son John Spencer. As a child I followed these 'two Johns' around the village like a little puppy dog and I am sure I became a pest with my continual questions to them.
Anne Silins - June 2012