History of the 1908 Dover Pageant, Dover, Kent, England, UK

The following is a list of the principal performers, together with the names in many groups. The list is not complete by any means but the difficulty of finding space for all the Pageant helpers must be our excuse. ( 'Dover Times' Book of Pageant Pictures )

Trumpeters who start the Pageant - Messrs. Furness, Culwicke, Rigby, Ross.

EPISODE I.

King Arthur - Canon Bartram M.A.

Sir Eliot - Mr. E. W. Barclay.

Sir Kay - Mr. W. H. East.

Sir Ferrant of Spain - Mr. Castellain.

Sir Levaine - Mr. Cuthbert Baynham.

Sir Gawayne -The Rev. M. L. Man.

The Lady Ettard - Miss Darwall.

The Roman Ambassador -

The Rev. W. C.Compton.

Sir Gaheris - Mr. J. E. Tidman.

Sir Pettipase of Winchelsea -

Mr. E. B. Wheeler.

Sir Clarrus of Cleremont -

Mr. A. F. Worthington.

Other Knights of the Table Round

Messrs. V. B. Yearsley, E. J. Bradley,

V. S. Clark Hallward. MacWatters,

L. Mills R. Hacker, Davidson,

R. T. Lynch, Craddock -Watson.

Outline of the episode

Lictors

Messrs. E. Smith and J. Dunbar.

Centurion

Mr. G. Alderman.

Standard Bearer

Mr. W. C. Hawkins.

Trumpeters

Messrs. Smith, Hardwicke, Clayton, Phipps, White, Friend, Bellenger, Reeves.

Roman Guards

Messrs. Coleman, O'Brien, Forster, Trainer, Davis, E. Ray, W.

Farbridge, W. Gillson, Kirwin. Clayton, M. King, R. Welsh, Foxe, Mowatt, Johnson, Spaskett, Creighton. Moore, Robinson, Graham, Simpson, Saunders.

Priests

Rev. W. A. Wordsworth, Rev. N. H. McGachen.

With slow and solemn step two processions appear - one from the near left of the spectators, the other from the far right. They pace slowly to the front and disclose themselves as the Narrative Chorus. One half wear long robes of purple, the other half robes of green, and all have white satin tabards bearing fanciful embroidered designs, each different. These represent elder knights of King Arthur's round table, and their duty in the Pageant is to sing the connective choruses between each episode. These choruses have been written by Mr. James Rhoades, and are done in clever, vigorous verse. In the opening number, there is a solo for the chief of the Narrative Chorus, impersonated by Mr. E. W. Barclay, whose rich voice and vigorous delivery are much admired. When the singers have finished we have a fine dramatic touch in the entry of King Arthur and some of his knights. The note of pathos is deftly struck here, and the spectator cannot fall to be impressed by the figure of Arthur, dressed in a suit, of fine armour with winged helmet. It is a kingly figure that is presented to us, and the splendid elocution of the performer, added to the air of distinction and almost indefinablefeeling of sorrow that is suggested, add to the glamour of the impersonation. The entrance of the dying Gawayne, borne on a litter, interrupts the colloquy of the knights. The death of Sir Gawayne follows, and the dirge, sung by a large choir of mourners, makes the scene very impressive.