A series of images kindly contributed by April Plant and appearing to show the fund-raising “Civic Week” in June 1929.
Ian Menzies adds, “Details of Peterborough Civic Week taken from a Grantham newspaper 29th June 1929 ……
PETERBOROUGH CIVIC WEEK
Peterborough Civic Week celebrations began on Wednesday morning, when the Mayor and Corporation, headed by Salvation Army Bands, attended special service in Peterborough Cathedral. The Dean of Peterborough and the Cathedral Chapter, formally welcomed ,the authorities, and a prayer of intercession was offered by the Rev.W. J. Mammersley, superintendent minister of the Primitive Methodist Church. At a meeting which followed, in the Old Town Hall, the Mayor (Councillor Arthur Craig said that since its incorporation in 1874 the population of the city had doubled, and the recent extension of the borough boundaries from 1,878 to 10,022 acres was, with one exception, the largest extension ever granted in England. The Mayor and Corporation then proceeded to beat the bounds of the newly-incorporated parishes. They afterwards entertained 200 guests at luncheon, and later in the afternoon they visited their two waterworks some miles from the city, where a cricket match was played between a team captained by the Mayor and officials. The festivities were continued on Thursday and yesterday.
It explains what they are all doing in the middle of the country. The Royal visit was part of the overall celebrations.”