Entente Cordiale

 These two words may have passed you by during this week, but those who were very much part of the national and local scene at the beginning of the twentieth century were fully aware of Entente Cordiale.

For centuries there had been deteriorating and then improving relationships between the governments of Britain and France; for much of the time those relationships were unsatisfactory.  So, for the new century extra efforts were made to patch up quarrels and carry out a range of "shaking hands".

Entente Cordiale did not result in formal signed and countersigned documents, but did ensure that better relationships were able to counter a growing German influence on the continent.  For both countries there were opportunities to show off national pride in traditional social, artistic and cultural demonstrations.  And St Albans played its part, so the acquisition of numbers of flags of both nations was essential for events taking place on or around 8th April 1904.

The opening ceremony at the cricket pavilion in Clarence Park in 1894.  Wet of course!
COURTESY ST ALBANS MUSEUMS

A view of the newly laid out recreation area of Clarence Park.  All three structures shown here
are still part of the park scene, although the current bandstand is a replaced structure.
COURTESY ST ALBANS MUSEUMS

One venue which St Albans could show off with some pride was Clarence Park, largely completed and formally opened ten years earlier in the company of royal and national dignitaries, and of course the cream of county and St Albans society – given that the opening in 1894 took place on a working day, the pride of the populace and their attendance was largely missing, given their need to attend work places.

Three years after the park's opening a commemorative celebration of the city's teachers in
schools was held in Clarence Park.
OWNERSHIP OF IMAGE UNKNOWN

A number of celebratory and inaugural events took place in the years which followed, and it was natural therefore that Clarence Park was also selected as the venue for Entente Cordiale.  The Town Hall and Market Square were suddenly considered inadequate, almost as if the centre of St Albans was judged to be a poor relation site.

A dance routine forming an element of the Entente Cordiale celebration at Clarence Park in 1904
COURTESY ST ALBANS MUSEUMS

We have the briefest of descriptions of the event; we know there were speeches, dancing, singing, flag waving and dramatic scenes similar to those of later pageants.  In addition to the "full turn-out" of officialdom, the event was attended by "large crowds".  The use of this term must be treated with some caution, as much will depend on the numbers expected.  While the agreement was signed on 8th April, a Friday, it is not certain whether the event in the park was held on the same day.  It would be good to hope the following day would have been for the celebrations; more citizens and those from the surrounding districts would have been able to attend.  On that last point, however, the city council were luke-warm to the thought of residents of the rural council enjoying the park facilities without a grant on their behalf being transferred to the town!  An example of local entente cordiale did, however, gradually break out in the ensuing years!

An echo of Entente Cordiale in 1912 between scouts of France and Great Britain.  This friendship
photo-opportunity did not take place in St Albans.
OWNERSHIP UNKNOWN

It appears there were replays in various forms in the years following 1904 before the national and local focus was re-calibrated in 1914, where, we suppose, the Entente received its most demanding test of success and endurance.