NOW & THEN

SKIPPING: A Scarborough police community support officer (PCSO) Kathleen Ryan joins in the shrove Tuesday skipping fun with some children on the foreshore in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Children Pictured L-R Scarlett Anderson (7), Ellie Jones (8) & Aimee Millard (10) all from Newby & Scalby School. Also pictured is a scene from 1981.

HISTORY: As long ago as 1853 people have gathered on the seafront in Scarborough
to celebrate 'Ball Day' annually on Shrove Tuesday. It was one of the few public holidays when
apprentices and servants could be sure of having at least half a day to enjoy themselves.

Until the turn of the century it was known as Ball Day.
It was recorded in 1903 that 'a few bairns were skipping near the lifeboat'
but by 1927 in a national publicity campaign it was acclaimed as
'Scarborough's Skipping Festival'.

At the end of the last century the South Foreshore on Shrove Tuesday
was like a fairground. Stalls were arranged on the sea front which offered gingerbread, liquorice, coconuts, and similar delicacies, to all who wanted to buy.