Hainault Forest

Opening Ceremony

Crowds arrived by carriage and on foot to assemble on Cabin Hill for the Official Opening of Hainault Forest at 3pm on Saturday 21st July 1906 and were entertained before and after the ceremony by the  London County Council Parks Band. The President of the Board of Agriculture The Rt. Hon. the Earl Carrington accompanied by the Countess Carrington were met at 2.40pm. near All Saints, Chigwell Row by the Chairman and Councillors of the LCC, Essex County Councillors, Councillors from Ilford and other Towns, The High Sheriff of Essex and Mr Edward North Buxton, together with the ladies, proceeding in carriages into the Forest for a tour of inspection and making their way to a platform bedecked with flags and bunting on Cabin Hill.

PROGRAMME OF MUSIC

LCC Parks Band "B" Section

(Conductor - W.Short, L.R.A.M.)

1. MARCH  … "The New Colonials" … … … Hall

2. OVERTURE … "Zampa"    …  …  …  …  Hérold

3. VALSE … "The Beautiful Blue Danube" … Strauss

4. SELECTION from "H.M.S. Pinafore" … …  Sullivan

5. SONG … … … "Nazareth" … … … …    Gounod

6. THREE DANCES from "Henry VIII" … …   E.German

7. OVERTURE  "The Merry Wives of Windsor"  Nicolai

8. POLKA DE CONCERT … … … … … …  Damaré

9. SELECTION from "Orphée aux Enfers …  Offenbach

10. DESCRIPTIVE PIECE "March of the Mountain Gnomes" … Eilenberg

11. BALLET MUSIC … … "Faust" … … …    Gounod

12. GALOP … … … "Flick and Flock" … …   Hertel

"GOD SAVE THE KING"

The Ilford Recorder gave a full account of the occasion in its edition of Friday July 27th 1906 including the history of the forest and the events leading to the purchase.

The Chairman of the LCC. Mr Ewan Spicer read an address of welcome to Earl Carrington. In his reply Earl Carrington referred to the forest history and said that it was necessary in this country to preserve all ancient landmarks. "Because a man was a Radical it was no reason why he should not be able to recognise what was beautiful and what should be preserved." He paid tribute to Edward North Buxton to whom it was largely due that this fine open space had been rescued. In conclusion he said, "In the name of the public of our mighty country, in their name, and in the name of their children and their children's children, I declare this magnificent forest of Hainault open, and belonging to the public for ever and ever." There were loud cheers from the thousands gathered round, and the band played The National Anthem.

Mr Stuart Sankey (Chairman of Parks and Open Spaces) moved a vote of thanks to local authorities and private donors and announced the building of a 6d. (2.5p) Golf Course and a lake at the foot of the hill for boating. (Hear! Hear!)