The Old Time Dance Banner

Several years ago 1979 to be precise as I was walking along Upper Olland Street, Mr John Sturge called me into his Antique Shop in Upper Olland Street. (see photograph– it is the small white shop with the iron gate fixed to the wall) He asked me if I could help him to identify two items he aquired when he was clearing a house in Halesworth owned by a Mr Shipley ( a former member of the dance club).

The first item was a 1937 calendar with the name of D. Tyrrell Grocer Upper Olland Street Bungay but it gave no postal number. Mt Sturge asked me if I knew where the shop was. Once again I looked through the 1932 Parish Magazine and I found the name D Tyrrell Grocer at No. 22 Upper Olland Street.

The second item he brought out was a round circular cardboard cylinder containing a black banner with a lady and gentleman dancing in old time clothes painted in oils on it.

Mr Sturge asked me if I could help him to date it and asked me if I could tell him anything about it. My answer to him was I did not think it was as old as he thought it was. A few minutes later he brought out a metal stand that proved me right. The stand was made to support the banner.

The question then was - who made it and why? As a dealer he was in the business of buying and selling so I bought both the items for the museum. I also promised him that I if I found out anything about the banner I would let him know.

Knowing that my cousin Rose and her husband Cecil Baldry used to teach Ballroom dancing I thought I would take it to them. When Cecil opened the door Cecil just said ‘Hello Frank, What have you got there, I recognise that.’ He then told me that he had actually made the banner and it had been hand painted in oils by Mrs Knights of Beccles.

It had been made for the Festival of Britain when all dance clubs would meet and display their banners at the Royal Albert Hall. However this event did not take place but the banner was used locally to advertise the various dances throughout the towns and villages.

Frank Honeywood
Town Recorder