The Congregational Sunday School
treat of 1912

One of the best photographed occasions in Bourne from years past was the Sunday School annual parade and treat held by the Congregational Church [now the United Reformed Church] during the summer of 1912.

A photographer was on hand, most likely Ashby Swift who was in business at that time and was also a member of the church and its organist, and he took a series of pictures which have survived to give us a glimpse of the event in which children, parents and sightseers turned out in the best clothes on a fine day. The composition of the pictures and the processes used, however, indicate that he did not take all of them and so others may be the work of amateurs because photography was then a popular hobby for those who could afford it.

The procession went down Abbey Road on their way to Park Field in the Austerby for their annual "treat" of games and a picnic but they stopped long enough in the market place to have their photograph taken for the church records.

Many of the photographs of the parade were taken in Abbey Road. The Light Dragoon public house can be seen in the background and the shops next door were occupied by George Edward Hemsell, a baker and confectioner from the Austerby, although the business was run by his daughters, the Misses Annie and Nellie Hemsell, and Frank Hodson, ironmonger.

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