Wakefield Pageant souvenir booklet, Wakefield Express, 1933

Wakefield Pageant souvenir booklet, Wakefield Express, 1933

Collected in 1968

Front cover of a booklet, one side with a Town Crier and crests of Wakefield and West Riding, and the other side reading The Wakefield Express Newspaper Series Pageant Souvenir

The Wakefield Express newspaper printed this special booklet to celebrate the Wakefield Pageant.

It describes the Pageant show. The production included a prologue, followed by 11 historical episodes. Some of the historical eras performed included:

The Ancient Romans
The Norman Conquest
The Battle of Wakefield
The Industrial Revolution
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee
The First World War

In the centrefold of the booklet, a panoramic photo captures the Pageant’s grand finale. It shows the spectacular scenic backdrop that was 300 feet long and 40 feet high. It was designed by the county architect and featured key city landmarks. It includes the Great West Doors of Wakefield Cathedral, Wakefield Grammar School, and Chantry Chapel.

A centrefold of the booklet with a faded image showing the grand finale of the Pageant, featuring hundreds of performers and large sets designed to look like key Wakefield buildings

The booklet also describes some of the other events that took place during the Pageant week.

There was an art exhibition at the Town Hall and an exhibition of local industries at the Drill Hall. An open air church service took place in the Pageant arena.

There was even the Old Crocks Rally. Vintage vehicles raced each other to Leeds and back.