Civic Sunday

Civic Sunday parade in 1968 headed by parade marshal Reg Chapman

The annual Civic Sunday that we know today was introduced in Bourne by Councillor Thomas Rickard after being elected chairman of Bourne Urban District Council for 1929-30. It was his idea to foster the idea of civic pride in the council and the town with such a service to be held each May at a church of the chairman's choice, in his case the Wesleyan [Methodist] Church in Abbey Road, preceded by a parade of the various organisations headed by the Bourne Town Band which assembled in the market place and then marched through the town to the church.

The diversity of choice for the church was evident in 1931 when the new council chairman was Councillor Frank Wherry who chose the Congregational [now the United Reformed] Church in Eastgate although the rest of the event remained much the same with representatives from the magistrates, police, fire brigade and many other organisations in attendance and a collection was taken in aid of the Butterfield Hospital.

Civic Sunday continued during the Second World War of 1939-45 although with less regularity because the uniformed personnel taking part in the parade were often required for emergency duties. In 1940, for instance, the event was postponed for a week because ARP wardens were taking part in a regional exercise.

The event was given a new impetus in the years that followed, particularly through the enthusiasm of Councillor Jack Burchnell (1909-73) who was chairman of Bourne Urban District Council in 1967. He had a tremendous feeling for tradition and was anxious to ensure that there were sufficient opportunities during the year when those involved in the decision-making process could be brought together with the people for both religious and social occasions as in the past, although his choice of venue was the Abbey Church where he was a worshipper and choirmaster.

The event was again held at the Abbey Church the following year when the Vicar of Bourne, Canon Hugh Laurence, outlined the aims of Civic Sunday during his address to a packed congregation. "Only when government and religion become two sides of the same coin can society become healthy and happy", he said. "Since people get the kinds of governments they deserve, it matters supremely what kind of people we are."

Civic Sunday that year began with a parade, pictured above, led by the band of the Boys' Brigade with the chairman of BUDC, Councillor Ted Kelby, and Councillor Harold Scarborough, chairman of South Kesteven Rural Council, at the head of the procession together with other councillors, magistrates and officials followed by representatives of various organisations in the town such as the Round Table, the Rotary Club, Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance Brigade, the Red Cross, girl guides and boy scouts, Bourne United Charities, the British Legion, WRVS, police and special constables and the Royal Naval Association.

The various representatives assembled in the market place and then, headed by the parade marshal, Reg Chapman, marched down South Street and Church Walk to the Abbey Church where the lessons were read by Councillor Kelby and Mr Frank Mason, clerk to BUDC. After the service, the parade reformed and marched to the Corn Exchange for an informal gathering over coffee and biscuits.

Civic Sunday continues to this day although the parade is no longer held but the enthusiasm of councillors is no less evident, usually assembling outside the church and then walking in procession down the aisle to their places in the front pews after the congregation has already assembled.