Auld Earlston

Saturday 23 December 2017

Tuesday 5 December 2017

Earlston Enjoys Dances, Parties, Socials and Shows

December is the month for parties, dances, social and shows, so here are some photographs from the past

of people enjoying themselves in Earlston.

Santa Claus makes a visit to the Sunday School Party, 1938.

WRI Children's Party, 1958.

Tennis Club Dance, 1959

- one of the few photographs we have

showing people actually dancing!

A break from the dance floor! Are the men in uniform Polish soldiers, based in the village towards the end of the Second World War?

The Polish wartime dance band playing in the Corn Exchange.

Mill Dance, 1949

The Dramatic Club in the 1950's.

The Young Wives' Group, 1980's.

Earlston Orchestra in concert, 1898

- one of the oldest photographs in our collection.

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Tuesday 21 November 2017

Wheel Women of Earlston

One journalist in the 1890's
called female cyclists "wheelwomen".

Christina (Tinnie) Notman of Kidgate.

The photograph was taken on the A68 with Roosevelt Place seen in the background.

The introduction of the "safety bicycle" in the 1890's led to a hey day for leisure cycling, For women, cycling came to represent a freedom they had not experienced before and the activity quickly became associated with the wider movement of women's emancipation.

But there were public outcries at the prospect of these changes in the social norm, with much of the criticism focusing on women's dress - notably the new style of bloomers and knickerbockers. These offered more freedom for movement than women's usual restrictive dresses, and cycling fashions became the subject of ridicule in cartoons.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Newspapers of the day abounded with letters, articles and reports on the vision of women riding around the countryside.

In 1894 the Society of Cyclists calling for "Rational Dress for Wheelwomen"

An angry letter condemned "a young woman who spends most of her time in riding on a man's bicycle, has a good deal to learn in respect of simplicity and neatness of attire", and one clergyman refused to give communion to women who turned up for church in bloomers or knickerbockers.

However some doctors said firmly that, " as those best qualified to judge, they were almost unanimous in declaring that the average standard of health among women, who cycle had shown an appreciable elevation."

So this was the image portrayed in advertisements and posters that conveyed a sense of fun and freedom, with illustrations of happy cyclist enjoying the fresh air and exercise.

As one protagonist said

"A most exciting and delightful mode of travel".

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Women in Earlston were not going to be left behind in enjoying this new activity and cycling quickly grew in popularity.

Leaving the Egg Packing Station, 1950's

Sandra Wylie, c.1953

But if pundits frowned upon the first women cyclists, what would they have made of the move onto motor cycles?

Minnie Silver, 1920's.

An unidentified rider - does anyone know who this is?

Anne Brotherston at Charterhall

Anne Brotherston on her brother's bike in East End Woods.

Beatrice Notman (Bea) of Kidgate

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Image courtesy of Pixabay

With thanks to everyone who has donated these photographs
of Earlston's women cyclists.

We would love to hear from you, if you have any photographs
that can be added to the Auld Earlston collection.
The photographs can be scanned, copied and returned to you.

Please contact: Te/: 01896 848240. E-Mail: auldearlston@aol.com

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Sources of Information: