19 January 1904:
‘Windsor Church Lads’ Brigade. On Wednesday evening the Windsor Parish Company of the Church Lad’s Brigade assembled at the Town Hall, to give a display of gymnastics and drill and to receive medals, bars, and other prizes won by the members during the past year. The Rev. E. Adams, who has the well-being of the lads in his keeping, had made very careful arrangements, so that the many friends of the Brigade might view the drills and exercises to the best advantage. Mrs Ellison, wife of the Vicar, kindly distributed the prizes in the absence of Lady Trees Barry, who was unable to be present owing to the unfavourable state of the weather. The lads paraded at 8.30 and under the command of Colour-Sergeant Silver of the Company, and of their capable instructor Corporal Lewis, of the Coldstream Guards, went through a long series of drills and gymnastic exercises in a highly creditable manner. … The Band, under the able conductorship of Bandmaster Boulter, gave a good selection of music, and showed a great advance on former years. Before asking Mrs Ellison to distribute the awards, the Rev. E. Adams stated that Mr G. H. Peters had again defrayed the whole cost of the medals, making now four years that his generous backing up had so materially assisted the Windsor Company. … The following were the winners: 1st Class Bars – Col.-Sergt. Silver (making fourth won), Corpl. Benoit (second), Privates Brewer, Ledgley, Morse, Davis and Higgs. 1st Class Medals – Privates Charlish, Rickards and Colborne. 2nd Class Bars – Privates Wright and Barrett. 2nd Class Medal – Private J. Wilson. Pendant for 5 years’ service – Sergeant Edwards. Silver Medal – Corpl. Benoit. Drill, &c. – 1st, Squad 3 (Corpl. Benoit, Privates Wright, Elkins, Morris, Buckingham, Lane, and Fred Ray); 2nd, Squad 5 (Sergt. Edwards’s). Reward for cleaning carbines – Corpl. Benoit. … Col. Battye congratulated the lads on their drill and for the number of medals and bars that they had won. … On the proposal of Capt. Rotherham, the lads gave three hearty cheers “for the Vicar’s wife” for her kindness in presenting the medals.’
4 October 1963, Margreta Elkins, artist, Covent Garden Opera