On this day in 1914, despite the forthcoming outbreak of war, Tunbridge Wells Week continues as it always has done.
Despite the tremors that were engulfing Europe, idyllic county cricket still continued in Tunbridge Wells.
In times when one's nation is in peril one tends to look for the positives in life and the write ups of this festival certainly does that. The weather is "ideal", the town "Gay" and the ground "beautiful."
The new Pavilion, rebuilt since the terrorist attack of the previous year (see
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=20694&p=704954&hilit=Suffragette#p704954) gets its debut during the festival. It is an ornate and picturesque building of red brick and tiles with white woodwork.
The attendance was very large throughout the week. The boldness of the clothing and the company also acted in stark contrast to the austerity that lay ahead. The ladies' frocks and sunshades were of many different colours and music was playing from the bandstand almost constantly - even throughout the cricket.
During the evening plays, operas and dances are acted out.
The very next day the Russian ambassador to Austria-Hungary wrote to St. Petersburg saying War looked an inevitability. Cricket would not return to Tunbridge Wells for five years.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."