First discovered by Frank and Lorna Bristow under a water tank (!) when they ran the Pharmacy. The poster is now kept in the trust of Ann Diamond who has brought it to the Society’s attention and is reproduced here with her kind permission.

But can you shed any light on the people listed as “Ladies and Gentlemen” taking part?

Ann pointed out the interesting pricing - if you booked early, you paid more (two shillings).  No doubt because you were gauranteed a front pew. If you turned up on the day you paid six pence!  How modern marketing has changed!

The reference to Lynsted Schools, in the plural, could mean the school had separate boys and girls rooms? “Board Schools” are the early forms of state schools.

David Bage (10 November 2004) responded: “With reference to the poster and its reference to Schools,  I append below an extract from a 1908 directory which was reproduced in 1980 of which a number of people have a copy.  It was obviously the custom then to refer to what was on the site as “schools” probably because there was an infants school and what we would now call a junior school plus those staying on until they were fourteen not having passed 'the scholarship' to get them into secondary education (the only such education was what we now call grammar schools).” In effect, three schools!

1908 Directory: "Council Schools: These commodious Schools were erected in 1877, for 200 children, and were considerably enlarged in 1897, and the present buildings will accommodate over 300 children. There are about 230 children on the books. Headmaster, Thomas L. Acker­mann. Assistant Teachers, Miss Hambrook, Miss M. E. Hunt (infant mis­tress), Miss Miles, and Miss White".

Peter Stuart (5th January 2005), a visitor to this website who is researching his family names, says:

“Some suggestions as to who some of the individuals mentioned could have been

• Lady Elizabeth Lethbridge of Lynsted Lodge wife of a retired MP (From 1891 Census)
• Miss ERSKINE (no trace of any family of this name in either the 1881 or 1891 census living in the area)
• Miss C ERSKINE (no trace of any family of this name in either the 1881 or 1891 census living in the area)
• Ada BECK (no trace of any family of this name in either the 1881 or 1891 census living in the area)
• MRS RIDLEY maybe Mrs Eleanor RIDLEY who was resident in Teynham in 1891 but had a son George RIDLEY Born Lynsted 1888
• Rev James HORAN Vicar of Bapchild (1891 Census)
• REV George EVEREST Curate of Teynham (1891 Census)
• REV COATES (no trace of any family of this name in either the 1881 or 1891 census living in the area)
• Mrs HOWE (no trace of any family of this name in either the 1881 or 1891 census living in the area)
• Mr LEES who sold the tickets was probably William LEES a retired Chemist who lived at Cellar Hill Lane in 1891 and lived next door to my 1st cousin 2nd time removed Elizabeth FRIDAY (nee MAXTED)”