Main Performers | Mr Long, Lord Percy, Lord R Cecil, Mr Ronald McNeill, Lord Curzon of Kedleston (Grand Master), Miss Balfour - speakers, Madame Albani - vocal |
Set List | Patriotic Songs: 'Hearts of Oak', 'Bonnie Dundee', 'The March of the Men of Harlech', 'Engalnd, Be True' Procession of Banners, Procession of Grand Council and Speakers
'God Save the King' (The National Anthem) (Madame Albani) Unfurling of Union Jack, Presentation of champion banners (Miss Balfour), Address (Lord Curzon), Resolution - 'That this meeting of the Primrose League, in Grand Habitation assembled, wishes to express its emphatic condemnation of the reckless methods and disastrous legislation of his Majesty's Government, and calls upon all members of the League to do everything in their power to secure the return of a Unionist Administration in the interests of the United Kingdom and the British Empire.' (Lord R Cecil - seconded, Mr Ronald McNeill), Speech (Mr Ronald McNeill), Vote of Thanks (Mr Long - seconded, Lord Percy) |
Performance Notes | In 1913 the Primrose League's Annual meeting was held over two days, with the Grand Habitation held at Caxton Hall on 1 May 1913
'...The great hall, which was hung with beautiful banners of the habitations, was crowded in every part. Many men were present, but the great mass of the audience was composed of women, representing all classes of society.
..Patrotic songs were sung by a choir of 350 children provided by the various jubenile branches of the League in and around London. The boys and girls wore yellow sashes and primroses.
...A huge Union Jack - the largest flag , it is said, in the world - was unfurled from the roof and hung right across the platform. The flag was first displayed before Mr Bonar Law and other Unionist leaders at the march past of loyal Ulsterman in Belfast last year.' (The Times, 3 May 1913)
On the platform were Mr Walter Long (Chancellor), the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Robert Cecil MP, Lord Percy, Mr Ronald McNeill MP, Mr Gerald Arbuthnot (Vice-Chancellor), Lord Midleton, Lord Churchill, the Dowager Lady Headfort, the Dowager Lady Ancaster, Lord Harris, Lord Desborough, Mr Steel-Maitland MP, Mr J Boraston (chief Unionist agent), Mr Gerlad and Lady Louise Loder, Lady Llangattock, Lady Edmund Talbot, Lady Knightley of Fawsley, Mrs Birschoffshiem, Lady Blythswood, Lady Jersey, Lord Powis, Colonel Whitaker, Colonel Sir Wyndham Murray, Sir R Penrose-FitzGerald, Lord and Lady Kinnoull, Sir R Hemron-Hodge, Lord and Lady Deerhurst, Sir Ernest Flower, Colonel Bowles, Mr A Maconachie, Mr Christopher Lowther, Sir Roper Parkington, Lady Waldegrave, Lady Ancaster, the Dowager Lady Tweeddale, Lady Julia Wombwell and a number of members of Parliament. |