"To raise money for the Parish Church of St. Margaret of which he is the Vicar's warden, Mr. Cecil Robinson J.P. on Tuesday threw open his beautiful gardens at Stonehaven to the general public. In spite of threatened thunderstorms, many people took advantage of the opportunity to admire his beautifully laid out flower beds, lily pond and fountain, waterfall, woodland dell, and also the rose garden, all of which reflected great credit on the two gardeners, Messrs S Speed and H Green.
A programme of music was supplied by Robinson's Works Band (below), under the conductorship of Mr. A. Marlow , and for the more energetically inclined there were various competitions, the most amusing one in which the competitors stood in a row with fishing rods and attempted to catch bottles which had a hook in their corks. This was supervised by Mr H. Hunt and Mr C. Grassam. Other helpers included the following:
Gatekeepers: Messrs J. W. Bates and J. Cook. Minerals: Mrs J. Wright and Mrs W. Taylor. Darts: Mr C.H. Graves and Mr H. Stratford. Treasure Hunt: Miss V. Ashby. Chain of Pennies: Mrs W. Paulson. Bagatelle: Mr P. Smith. Bean Bags: Mrs W. Abbott and Mrs Gyton. Bicycle: Mr W. Abbott, Mrs W. H. Fovargue and Mrs W. Stanhope. Ping Pong Jars: Mrs S. Speed and Mrs C. Grassam. The Little Chocolate Girl: Terry lrene Mayman, dressed in a ground-length white silk frock and poke bonnet, both trimmed with pink satin ribbons, did a good trade, assisted by Audrey Robinson, who was cashier. The really strenuous competitions of skittles and bowling took place a short distance away at the "Chestnuts", where there was keen rivalry for the two pigs offered as prizes. The skittles were under the supervision of Messrs Houghton and B. Darley, and Messrs W. H. Fovargue and Hunt looked after the bowling.
Much needed heating apparatus is now being installed in the church at an estimated cost of £300. Of which £204 has already been raised, so that £100 Was still required prior to Mr C. Robinson's generous gesture. All the prizes and the expenses were defrayed by Mr. Cecil Robinson and the Misses Robinson of Stonehaven; therefore, the church heating fund will benefit by £55 2s 6d."