Helena’s Surprise Celebration
Aylsham 2019
“So why can’t I touch that lamp Grandma?”
“You can’t touch that lamp Helena as that lamp was my Great-Grandma’s from Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee,” Grandma Alice replied. Helen was desperate to know about everything in Grandma Alice’s house. Helena reached out for the lamp.
“Help me grandma!’’
Aylsham June 17th, 1887
“Where am I?” Helena gulped as she stared into the hectic scene in front of her. She recognised the Church; as she went past it when she walked to school every day, not clear to Helena’s eyes the church looked different than normal. Helena could see someone walking towards her; he handed her a ticket with a number on, 47, Helena didn’t know what was going on, there were large banners everywhere. Suddenly she heard a voice shout,
“Hi I’m Alice.” Helena turned around startled,
“I’m Helena, but I’m not sure where I am. Is this 2019?”
“No this is Aylsham, 1887, but hang on a second you’re from the future how is that able to happen?” Alice questioned Helena,
“Do you want to come to my house for something to eat?”
“Yes, please but is that okay with you’re parents Alice?”
“Yes I’m sure they won’t mind.”
Aylsham June 21, 1887
Helena was invited to stay the night. She woke up feeling ready for the day ahead as Alice told her that it was Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee,
“Alice, if it’s Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee doesn’t that mean Queen Victoria has been on the throne 50 years?”
“Yes Helena.” Alice replied,
“The Queen must be dedicated sovereign to have been reigning for 50 long years that means that she has been the Monarch & Empress of India since 1837. How long do you think she is going to reign for Alice?”
“I think round about 12 years maybe.” Alice responded. Helena knew how right Alice was and she smiled to herself.
Helena, feeling jubilant, headed down to the Market Place, (with her 47 ticket) but before she and Alice had to go and watch the procession, they had to go into the Church for a celebration service. It was about 3:30pm after the service so Helena and Alice could go and enjoy the feast set out in the Market Place. At the feast the food and drink included: 30 DOZ bottles of ginger beer and lemonade, beef, mutton, potatoes and plum pudding
“Yes it was, I couldn’t eat anything more!” Alice replied.
Helena lent back to stretch out her arms and her hat almost hit Thomas Ladled (one of the Lords who Alice had never seen before today).
Helena smiled and then started talking to Alice about how she got here;
“I was at my Grandma Alice’s house and I touched an old lamp and then suddenly I found myself here! The lamp was bought from here; by my Great-Great-Great-Grandma Alice, do you know her Alice, Alice Sterline?”
“But, but, I am Alice Sterline, didn’t you know, I thought I told you that. Why don’t we go and see if we can buy a lamp at Warden and Sons?” Alice suggested. So off they went to buy a lamp, could it be the one that Helena had always admired at Grandma Alice’s house?
The town was packed with people and the queue was stretching round to the drapers – which sold cloth- however Alice was determined to get that lamp, whatever the size of the queue was!
“I’m afraid we have only this one left ladies; it has a mind of its own!” the man selling the lamps told Alice & Helena,
“Do you think if I touched it the lamp would take me home?” Helena questioned Alice
“I don’t know but let’s try it when we get back to my house this evening: after the sports and entertainment.” Alice replied
After Alice and Helena got changed into yet another outfit of the day (their 3rd ) they were ready to go to the special Sporting Event which was held at Mr Fosers grounds. Their dresses were very floral with lace smocks over the top which looked so pretty in the evening sun.
“Wow Alice this is amazing, the whole community has come together to celebrate Queen Victoria’s reign, and how many events there are to choose from, I don’t know which one to choose?” Helena told Alice
“Wooh Wooh! I’m having so much fun I wish I could do this for my birthday!” Alice laughed
“Well I wouldn’t think about that just yet!” Helena replied
When Alice and Helena finally got to the entertainment they were both feeling exhausted, but they were still having fun. Their eyes grew with wonder at the size of the bonfire, it looked so pretty as the sparks flew into the night sky. When they eventually, headed home: their feet ached from dancing; their faces ached from happy smiles and their hands ached from clapping they knew they had been part of an amazing part of history, something they would never forget and something they would share with their grandchildren.
They stepped through Alice’s front door and collapsed onto a large rocking chair.
“What a day.” Alice sighed,
“I loved every moment.” Helena grinned from ear to ear.
“Pass me that lamp,” Alice asked Helena. Helena pulled herself off the rocking chair and collected the lamp. Her hand had only just touched the brim when her feet lifted of the ground, and suddenly she found herself at Grandma Alice’s house once again.
Aylsham 2019
Helena’s head was fizzing with ideas. What had just happened? Was it a dream? Had she really stepped back into history and experienced Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebrations in Aylsham? She couldn’t wait to find Grandma Alice, she had so many questions!
“So why can’t I touch that lamp Grandma?”
“You can’t touch that lamp Helena as that lamp was my Great-Grandma’s from Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee,” Grandma Alice replied. Helen was desperate to know about everything in Grandma Alice’s house. Helena reached out for the lamp.
“Help me grandma!’’
Aylsham June 17th, 1887
“Where am I?” Helena gulped as she stared into the hectic scene in front of her. She recognised the Church; as she went past it when she walked to school every day, not clear to Helena’s eyes the church looked different than normal. Helena could see someone walking towards her; he handed her a ticket with a number on, 47, Helena didn’t know what was going on, there were large banners everywhere. Suddenly she heard a voice shout,
“Hi I’m Alice.” Helena turned around startled,
“I’m Helena, but I’m not sure where I am. Is this 2019?”
“No this is Aylsham, 1887, but hang on a second you’re from the future how is that able to happen?” Alice questioned Helena,
“Do you want to come to my house for something to eat?”
“Yes, please but is that okay with you’re parents Alice?”
“Yes I’m sure they won’t mind.”
Aylsham June 21, 1887
Helena was invited to stay the night. She woke up feeling ready for the day ahead as Alice told her that it was Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee,
“Alice, if it’s Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee doesn’t that mean Queen Victoria has been on the throne 50 years?”
“Yes Helena.” Alice replied,
“The Queen must be dedicated sovereign to have been reigning for 50 long years that means that she has been the Monarch & Empress of India since 1837. How long do you think she is going to reign for Alice?”
“I think round about 12 years maybe.” Alice responded. Helena knew how right Alice was and she smiled to herself.
Helena, feeling jubilant, headed down to the Market Place, (with her 47 ticket) but before she and Alice had to go and watch the procession, they had to go into the Church for a celebration service. It was about 3:30pm after the service so Helena and Alice could go and enjoy the feast set out in the Market Place. At the feast the food and drink included: 30 DOZ bottles of ginger beer and lemonade, beef, mutton, potatoes and plum pudding
“Yes it was, I couldn’t eat anything more!” Alice replied.
Helena lent back to stretch out her arms and her hat almost hit Thomas Ladled (one of the Lords who Alice had never seen before today).
Helena smiled and then started talking to Alice about how she got here;
“I was at my Grandma Alice’s house and I touched an old lamp and then suddenly I found myself here! The lamp was bought from here; by my Great-Great-Great-Grandma Alice, do you know her Alice, Alice Sterline?”
“But, but, I am Alice Sterline, didn’t you know, I thought I told you that. Why don’t we go and see if we can buy a lamp at Warden and Sons?” Alice suggested. So off they went to buy a lamp, could it be the one that Helena had always admired at Grandma Alice’s house?
The town was packed with people and the queue was stretching round to the drapers – which sold cloth- however Alice was determined to get that lamp, whatever the size of the queue was!
“I’m afraid we have only this one left ladies; it has a mind of its own!” the man selling the lamps told Alice & Helena,
“Do you think if I touched it the lamp would take me home?” Helena questioned Alice
“I don’t know but let’s try it when we get back to my house this evening: after the sports and entertainment.” Alice replied
After Alice and Helena got changed into yet another outfit of the day (their 3rd ) they were ready to go to the special Sporting Event which was held at Mr Fosers grounds. Their dresses were very floral with lace smocks over the top which looked so pretty in the evening sun.
“Wow Alice this is amazing, the whole community has come together to celebrate Queen Victoria’s reign, and how many events there are to choose from, I don’t know which one to choose?” Helena told Alice
“Wooh Wooh! I’m having so much fun I wish I could do this for my birthday!” Alice laughed
“Well I wouldn’t think about that just yet!” Helena replied
When Alice and Helena finally got to the entertainment they were both feeling exhausted, but they were still having fun. Their eyes grew with wonder at the size of the bonfire, it looked so pretty as the sparks flew into the night sky. When they eventually, headed home: their feet ached from dancing; their faces ached from happy smiles and their hands ached from clapping they knew they had been part of an amazing part of history, something they would never forget and something they would share with their grandchildren.
They stepped through Alice’s front door and collapsed onto a large rocking chair.
“What a day.” Alice sighed,
“I loved every moment.” Helena grinned from ear to ear.
“Pass me that lamp,” Alice asked Helena. Helena pulled herself off the rocking chair and collected the lamp. Her hand had only just touched the brim when her feet lifted of the ground, and suddenly she found herself at Grandma Alice’s house once again.
Aylsham 2019
Helena’s head was fizzing with ideas. What had just happened? Was it a dream? Had she really stepped back into history and experienced Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebrations in Aylsham? She couldn’t wait to find Grandma Alice, she had so many questions!