TO the immediate post-war generations of young men, the name Sabrina probably conjures up visions of a blonde, frontally endowed young lady who kept popping up on the black and white television screens of the day, never seeming to do much apart from stand there.
Well, in Worcester in 1946 we had our own Sabrina who was a very important person indeed.
Because she took the leading role in a celebration that promised to live long in the memory of everyone there.
Sadly their numbers are diminishing now, but thanks to the diligence of Barbara North, who was among the supporting cast and kept newspaper cuttings, we can revisit the event.
The local version was “Sabrina, Goddess of the Severn” and the star of The City of Worcester’s Victory Day on Saturday, June 8, 1946. After six years of privation, hardship and heartache during the Second World War, Worcester let its hair down with a day-long programme of events, the highlight of which was an Illuminated Boat Procession and River Carnival on the Severn. Centre stage was our very own Sabrina accompanied by six attendants.
The official programme for Worcester’s Victory Day celebrations
By the time they took to the water on a barge also named Sabrina to head the procession, the city must have already been giddy. The day had begun at 11am with an hour-long peal of bells by the Cathedral Ringers, which was followed by a “Grand Charity Sports Meeting” on the County Cricket Club Ground.
This featured flat races, cycle races and relay races for men women and children. While it was going on, at the other end of town the Municipal Band (presumably Worcester’s own) was giving a two-hour concert in Gheluvelt Park and as soon as this ended, Harold Montandon’s Dominoes Dance Band swung into action on the King’s School sports ground in New Road ready to jitterbug the night away.
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There was a brief clash of musical styles as the band of the Worcestershire Regiment played for community singing at the Hylton Road end of Cripplegate Park for 40 minutes, before a programme of aquatic events, including a comic boat race and greasy pole jousting, took place on the river.
After a procession from the Guildhall through the city streets, Sabrina and her attendants joined the illuminated boats to set off from Diglis Cutting at 10pm and make their way up river. More than 20,000 spectators crammed on to and around the New Road bridge to watch.
The 1946 procession was by no means the only one to be held on the Severn. Here is one with Britannia leading the way
Barbara explained: “Sabrina and her attendants were chosen at a competition held on the stage of the Gaumont cinema. We had to send our photographs in and then the top dozen or so girls appeared before the judges at the Gaumont.
“Mary Radford, who was 18 and lived in Checketts Lane, was chosen as Sabrina.
“I was 16 at the time and was picked as one of her six attendants.
“On the day we wore long flowing white gowns with flowers in our hair. It was a wonderful experience. I will never forget the crowds as we made our way up and down the river.”
The Dog and Duck ferry opposite Pitchcroft in Edwardian times. It was here the illuminated procession performed the complicated manoeuvre of turning round
The river procession was indeed something else. As well as Sabrina’s specially illuminated “state barge”, the line-up included a throng of illuminated power boats, rowing boats and pleasure steamers.
A band from RAF Pershore was on one barge, while another hosted a mobile fireworks display. The spectacle moved from Diglis, under Worcester Bridge to the Dog and Duck Ferry, where it turned around and made a return trip.
The front page of the Worcester Evening News and Times on Monday, June 10 showing the huge crowds on Worcester Bridge
The front page coverage in the Worcester Evening News and Times (price one penny) on the following Monday was peppered with wonderful journalistic phrases of the era. Such as: “Sabrina and her attendants made a charming picture as one would imagine prevailed during the period of Early Britain” and “Many were the exclamations of approval the delightful picture the young women made”.
Couldn’t have put it any better.
Two of the barges, Belle and Duchess Doreen, which took part in the Worcester river procession in 1946, seen at North Quay 20 years later
A riverboat at North Quay in the early Sixties
If you have any pictures of the day lurking in a cardboard box in the attic or in the cupboard under the stairs, we’d love to see them and hear about any memories they inspire.
Please contact our community content editor at barry.kinghorn@newsquest.co.uk.
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