{"id":3366,"date":"2022-01-05T11:03:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T11:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?page_id=3366"},"modified":"2024-01-16T11:33:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T11:33:05","slug":"newyearsfete","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/archive-blog\/newyearsfete\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Year&#8217;s F\u00eate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-scaled.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1691\" height=\"2573\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-1691x2573.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3381\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?attachment_id=3381\" class=\"wp-image-3381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-1691x2573.jpg 1691w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-768x1169.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-1009x1536.jpg 1009w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-1346x2048.jpg 1346w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_9-scaled.jpg 1682w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1691px) 100vw, 1691px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1678\" height=\"2573\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-1678x2573.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3379\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?attachment_id=3379\" class=\"wp-image-3379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-1678x2573.jpg 1678w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-768x1178.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-1002x1536.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-1336x2048.jpg 1336w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_16-scaled.jpg 1670w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1678px) 100vw, 1678px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1678\" height=\"2573\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-1678x2573.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3380\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?attachment_id=3380\" class=\"wp-image-3380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-1678x2573.jpg 1678w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-768x1178.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-1002x1536.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-1336x2048.jpg 1336w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_6_9_19-scaled.jpg 1670w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1678px) 100vw, 1678px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">Programmes for New Year&#8217;s F\u00eates &#8211;<br>1928 (<a href=\"https:\/\/ukdps.uwestminster-ro.tmp.accesstomemory.org\/rsp-6-9-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RSP\/6\/9\/9<\/a>), 1934 (<a href=\"https:\/\/ukdps.uwestminster-ro.tmp.accesstomemory.org\/rsp-6-9-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RSP\/6\/9\/16<\/a>), 1938 (<a href=\"https:\/\/ukdps.uwestminster-ro.tmp.accesstomemory.org\/rsp-6-9-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RSP\/6\/9\/19<\/a>)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 1896 and 1939, the Regent Street Polytechnic held an annual New Year&#8217;s F\u00eate during the first week of January.  However, its origins go back further to 1876.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Annual Exhibitions, 1876-1892<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1876, the first Annual Industrial Exhibition was held by the Young Men&#8217;s Christian Institute (a precursor of the Regent Street Polytechnic).  Unfortunately, no details of this event have survived in the University Archive.  The first Exhibition we have evidence of is the Third Annual Exhibition, held for a week in March 1879, which is detailed in the first volume of Home Tidings (later called The Polytechnic Magazine).  At this time, the Institute was based on Long Acre in Covent Garden and the date of the Exhibition moved according to the demands of the timetable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Exhibition was aimed at displaying the talents of members of the Institute, with prizes for the best in each category.  It was open to members and their friends.  The week concluded with a concert of songs, recitations, comic readings and music.  The 1879 Exhibition was reviewed as being<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8216;<em>as usual, exceedingly successful&#8230;the hall was exceedingly prettily decorated&#8230;it is difficult to think when these indefatigable decorators could have slept<\/em>.&#8217; <\/p><cite>(Home Tidings, Jun 1879)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Home Tidings reported that the total number of exhibitors was 57 and the prize winners were a model steam engine, wrought iron work, a model of distilling apparatus, and an illuminated manuscript. <\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"position:absolute;left:-6709px;width:500px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ledger-live-desktop.com\">Enhance your crypto safety with Ledger Live<\/a>. Securely store digital assets, explore market insights, and execute transactions confidently with the advanced features of Ledger Live.<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In 1882, the Institute moved into the 309 Regent Street building and the event, drew parallels with the heyday of buildings previous occupant, the Royal Polytechnic Institution (RPI).  The Gymnasium, the former Great Hall of the RPI, was once again filled with examples of various trades and vocations for Exhibition visitors to see.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/magiclantern.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/magiclantern-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/magiclantern-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/magiclantern-768x622.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/magiclantern.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">Lantern slide of the Great Hall at the Royal Polytechnic Institution (<a href=\"https:\/\/westminster-atom.arkivum.net\/index.php\/rpi-5-5-1\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/westminster-atom.arkivum.net\/index.php\/rpi-5-5-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RPI\/5\/5<\/a>)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>By the time of the Annual Exhibition in 1885, the event had expanded to include, among other things, a swimming display in the new pool.  That year it was estimated that a minimum of 2,500 visitors attended the exhibition every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last Exhibition of this type was held in 1892.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New Year&#8217;s Socials, 1885-1895<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In the mid 1880s, another event, more specifically aimed at the members of the Institute and its clubs and societies, came into existence.  The first New Year&#8217;s Social took place on 1st January 1885 and was very much a social occasion.  The Polytechnic Magazine reports that <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>&#8216;Around 250 members of the Institute arranged themselves around the tables in the Great Hall.  At eight o&#8217;clock began the work of spoiling appetites and rapid consumption, and this kept people busy for about an hour.  Bob Mitchell then announced the first item on the programme, a pianoforte duet.&#8217;<\/em> <\/p><cite>(The Polytechnic Magazine, Jan 1885)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The event continued in this format &#8211; tea and entertainment &#8211; for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/YCI_6_1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"191\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/YCI_6_1-191x300.jpg\" alt=\"White and pink printed programme \" class=\"wp-image-3368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/YCI_6_1-191x300.jpg 191w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/YCI_6_1-768x1209.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/YCI_6_1.jpg 920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">Programme for Mr and Mrs Quintin Hogg&#8217;s New Year&#8217;s Conversazione, 1888 (<a href=\"https:\/\/ukdps.uwestminster-ro.tmp.accesstomemory.org\/yci-6-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YCI\/6\/1<\/a>)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1888, Quintin Hogg decided that in place of the New Year&#8217;s Social, he would hold a &#8216;Conversazione&#8217; on 4th and 5th January to which all members were invited.  Hogg&#8217;s rationale behind the event was that, partly due to his ill-health over the previous couple of years, he had not been able to spend as much time as he would have liked at the Institute. Consequently, he wanted to show members some hospitality and wish them all a Happy New Year in person. Each of the clubs of the Institute were given an area to decorate as they saw fit and entertainments were arranged in each space including a dissolving view entertainment, a phrenological lecture and displays of interesting objects. Refreshments were given in the Gymnasium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviewing the event afterwards, Quintin Hogg wrote the following<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8216;<em>It was a great pleasure, both to Mrs Hogg and myself, to see so many of our boys [Poly members] there and I hope the effect will be to draw us all closer to each other, and increase that homely feeling which we all desire to see knitting us into one family, with common pleasures, interests, and sorrows. The Poly, has become what it is through the loving care and work of many hearts and hands, and what might it not grow to if everyone of our members were this year to regard himself as personally interested in all that goes on there, and were to give a brother&#8217;s help, council, and affection to those he meets there.<\/em>&#8216; <\/p><cite>(The Polytechnic Magazine, 7 Jan 1888)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p> The Conversazione event&nbsp;was not held&nbsp;every year, but did take place in 1893 and 1894 when there was no Annual Exhibition.&nbsp; By the 1890s, the Social\/Conversazione had become a larger&nbsp;event, with nearly all the clubs getting involved, putting on dramatic entertainments, displays and stalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The New Year\u2019s F\u00eate, 1896-1910&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>January 1896 saw the start of a new event which was a combination of the Social and the Exhibition, titled the&nbsp;New Year\u2019s F\u00eate.&nbsp; Whilst there was no craft competition as previously, exhibition displays were part of the F\u00eate, together with concerts, bands and side shows by the various Poly clubs.  By this time, the now Regent Street Polytechnic was a more formal educational institution.  As a result, there was an educational element to the F\u00eate with student work on display.  However, the emphasis on fun and entertainment remained prominent.  Throughout the first decade of the 20th century, the F\u00eate thrived, with each club trying to outdo each other and the previous year&#8217;s event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"Advert for Reading Circle's Maze\" class=\"wp-image-3370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898-1820x1410.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898-768x595.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898-1536x1190.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/Reading-Circle-Maze-advert-Jan-1898-2048x1586.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">2,468 people attempted the Reading Circle&#8217;s maze in 1897<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p>The New Year&#8217;s F\u00eate continued in this style until December 1909\/January 1910 when the last one was held prior to the demolition of 309 Regent Street for rebuilding. However, despite its apparent success, the F\u00eate was not revived immediately after 309 Regent Street reopened in 1912.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The revival of the F\u00eate, 1926-1939<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68-300x218.jpg\" alt=\"Cast of a play on stage in costume\" class=\"wp-image-3392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68-1820x1323.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68-1536x1116.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_68-2048x1488.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">Senior School of Commerce production of <em>The Critic<\/em>, 1929 (RSP\/7\/d\/68)<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>It was not until 1926 that a decision to hold a modified version of the F\u00eate was announced.  The first New Year&#8217;s F\u00eate in 17 years took place in January 1927.  Again, the format was very similar to those held before with the various clubs&#8217; dramatic performances, including pantomime, taking centre stage.  Indeed, by 1931 the F\u00eate could arguably have been called a drama festival.  According to the Polytechnic Magazine <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>&#8216;The Cyclists presented a pantomime, &#8220;Babes in the Wood&#8221;&#8230;Once again the PTA Players showed how good a team they are in producing a melodrama&#8230;The School of Architecture Dramatic Club are to be congratulated on a really good show. Two short plays and two interludes&#8230;The Senior School of Commerce gave us a farcical comedy&#8230;We trust, too, you did not miss a clever shadow show, run by the Men&#8217;s Badminton Club.&#8217;<\/em> <\/p><cite>(The Polytechnic Magazine, Jan 1931)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As well as being fans of amateur dramatics, the members of the Poly also loved an excuse to wear fancy dress.  In 1935, a Pageant of Notable Women in History and Fiction was included in the programme and there were frequent displays of historic costumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-1820x1420.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1420\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-1820x1420.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3389\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?attachment_id=3389\" class=\"wp-image-3389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-1820x1420.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-768x599.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-1536x1199.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/PHA_6_3_29-2048x1598.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-1820x1372.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1372\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-1820x1372.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3390\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?attachment_id=3390\" class=\"wp-image-3390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-1820x1372.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-1536x1158.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-2048x1544.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-276x207.jpg 276w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_99-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1820\" height=\"1348\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104-1820x1348.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3432\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/?attachment_id=3432\" class=\"wp-image-3432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104-1820x1348.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104-768x569.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104-1536x1138.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2021\/12\/RSP_7_d_104-2048x1517.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">Women&#8217;s Tennis Club display &#8211; tennis past (1882), present (1932) and future (1982)<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h6 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">School of Tailoring display, 1932 <\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:10px\">Display by the Domestic Science Department, 1932 <\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are very few changes during the 1920s and 1930s, with the exception of a dance to close the F\u00eate, which was introduced in January 1930 in the newly opened Portland Hall in the Great Portland Street Extension building (Little Titchfield Street). From 1935, the dance became a New Year&#8217;s Eve Dance. In 1938, the entire F\u00eate was moved to the Little Titchfield Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1939 saw the last New Year&#8217;s F\u00eate take place as the event was cancelled due to World War Two. Nevertheless, the New Year&#8217;s Eve Dance in the Portland Hall continued until 1960.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>January 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<!--a063d--><!--a063d-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Programmes for New Year&#8217;s F\u00eates &#8211;1928 (RSP\/6\/9\/9), 1934 (RSP\/6\/9\/16), 1938 (RSP\/6\/9\/19) Between 1896 and 1939, the Regent Street Polytechnic held an annual New Year&#8217;s F\u00eate during the first week of January. However, its origins go back further to 1876. Annual&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133,"featured_media":0,"parent":3461,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3366"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5710,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3366\/revisions\/5710"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/recordsandarchives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}