The Fourth of June is the occasion when Eton College celebrates the birthday of George III, a great supporter of the school, with a grand festival of speeches, cricket and the procession of boats.
Here the Collections present a gallery of the Fourth of June through the years, from the early 1800s through to the beginning of the 21st century. For more information and full images of each artwork, photograph or object, select an image and scroll through the gallery. We hope you enjoy these depictions of this spectacular day throughout Eton’s history!
The Fourth of June, David Benedictus
The first novel of the OE novelist David Benedictus created a scandal when it was published in 1962 for its portrayal of a grammar school boy’s experiences of bullying at Eton, described in Ian Fleming’s review of the book as one of the most brilliantly written books since the war. The small print run quickly sold out, despite the book being banned in the Eton bookshop. The sensational dust-jacket was designed by Richard Chopping, the illustrator of the James Bond novels, and is notable for omitting the book’s title from the front cover. College Library also holds the author’s annotated copy of his 1964 stage adaptation.
David Benedictus, The Fourth of June, London: Anthony Blond, 1962 [Lbb.2.21]
William Evans, Fourth of June, c.1835
Eton boys are seen rowing on the river Thames below Windsor Castle. All around are boats crowded with cheering onlookers and throngs of spectators on the riverbanks. This impressive watercolour shows the Procession of Boats (also at times called the Fourth of June Regatta) that continues to be the highlight of Eton’s Fourth of June celebrations today.
This work was painted in the 1830s by William Evans, the second and best-known member of the Evans family to serve as Drawing Master at Eton College. Four generations of his family would hold the post successively over a period of more than 100 years.
An aquatint print of this scene, engraved by Charles Lewis (1808-1880) and published in April 1837, has made this one of the most recognised works by William Evans. There is also a watercolour sketch for the composition in the Eton College Collections.
William Evans (1798-1877) Fourth of June: Procession of boats below Windsor Castle c.1835, pencil, watercolour and bodycolour [FDA-D.209-2010]
Quis, Fourth of June, 1841
After the Procession of Boats (central to Eton’s Fourth of June celebrations) boys who had crewed boats enjoyed a supper at the final destination: a field on the riverbank, close to the Surley Hall Inn.
It seems the supper was a raucous event. Each boat had a ‘sitter’, generally an Old Etonian, who travelled at the stern and later provided the crew with a hamper of champagne. The ‘sitter’ stands to the left of this scene, with his long coat and tall top hat; the hamper of champage by his side. All around the table, other boys scavage what they can.
This work is one of a series of etchings showing life for an Eton boy during the 1830s. Collectively titled Eton Sketch’d, they were published under the pseudonym ‘Quis’ in 1841, although a bound copy of the series in the Eton College Collections tantalisingly gives us the initials of the artist: ‘E.M.’.
E.M. / ‘Quis’ Fourth of June, published 1841, Etching [FDA-V.20-2016]
George Robert Winter, A Scene on the Brocas, c.1850
The highlight of Eton College’s ‘Fourth of June’ celebrations is the Procession of Boats. In the past, this involved several boats being rowed by Eton boys from the Brocas, an area of riverbank by Windsor Bridge, a few miles upstream to the vicinity of the Surley Hall Inn. In 1841, the Morning Advertiser described how the Brocas was “thronged with distinguished equestrians and pedstrians” prior to the event, as seen here. Crew members of the boats, wearing their boater hats, can also be seen assembling.
This lithograph is from a series of Eton scenes drawn by the Reverend George Robert Winter (1826-1895). As a boy at Eton, Winter was Second Captain of the Boats, so he undoubtedly took part in the Procession of Boats. He later rowed for Oxford and became Rural Dean of North Cranwich and an honorary Canon of Norwich.
George Robert Winter (1826-1895) A Scene on the Brocas – 4th of June, c.1850, coloured lithograph [FDA-E.1921-2015]
Musical Jug, c.1930s
Reminiscences of the Fourth of June in Etoniana in the 1930s, where they looked back at accounts from 100 years earlier, often demonstrating that not much has changed in the traditional programme!
Etoniana, 1 November 1935, letters of James Milnes Gaskell to his mother.
2 June 1824: To-day is a whole schoolday, and Friday a whole holiday, his late Majesty’s birthday, which is always celebrated by the boys at Surly Hall (tho’ out of bounds). The 5th Form give the lower boys tickets for beer and cider on that day. Norreys has given me a ticket for a bottle of the former, which is always given by Mr. Heath, on the production of the ticket. . .
5 June 1824: My dearest Mama, As yesterday was the day which all the Eton boys enjoy more than any in the year, and as entertainment followed entertainment during the whole of the evening, I think that I should but ill discharge my duty, if I were not betimes to give you an account of our proceedings. Ten long boats were in the morning prepared for the excursion to Surly Hall. They were beautifully painted and each ornamented with a noble silk flag, some blue, some scarlet, some yellow, others purple, and again others of variegated colours. Their names were somewhat pompous: The Albion, Invincible, Defiance, Defence, Monarch, etc., etc. There was a Captain in each of these long boats, who sat at the stern dressed in the most splendid style, three in the full dress of an Admiral, and the captains of the other boats were attired in fancy dresses…
Musical Jug with words to the Eton Boating Song and scenes of the Fourth of June procession, c.1930s [MEL.582-2010]
Silver plaque depicting the Fourth of June, c.1860s
One of a set of three silver plaques, you can read more about these plaques and how they came to be at Eton in the Michaelmas 2019 edition of the Eton Collections Journal.
Fourth of June fireworks display with the Procession of Boats in front of Windsor Castle, c.1860s, silver plaques, Hunt and Roskell (Silversmiths to Queen Victoria) [ECS-S.188:3-2019]
Menu for Fourth of June dinner at Amiens, 1916
When war broke out in 1914, Old Etonians rushed to sign up. Many went straight from school, so within a few weeks, they would go from matches on the Field to battles in the fields of France. Over 5000 old boys would serve, and the trenches became a place to meet old friends and reminisce about home and their beloved Eton.
The Chronicle of 10 June 1915 published a number of telegrams that had been sent to the Provost and Head Master from those fighting or preparing to fight, wishing the school a happy Fourth of June. An account was given of two Fourth of June celebrations held in France that year. Fifty-seven Old Etonians in the 4th Guards’ Brigade met in Noeux-les-Mines to hold a dinner in honour of the occasion, with toasts to the King and to Eton. The evening ended with the school song.
Menu for the Fourth of June dinner at Amiens, signed by some of those present. Arthur Kinnaird and George Boscawen would not survive the war. [ED 472]
You can read more about these menus in the Summer 2017 edition of the Eton Collections Journal.
Fourth of June programmes, 1904-1919
Programmes from the Fourth of June 1904, 1907 and 1919
Procession of Boats, view towards Fellows’ Eyot, 1951
In 1952, Old Etonian, George Orwell wrote:
“From the whole decade before 1914 there seems to breathe forth a smell of the more vulgar, un-grown-up kind of luxury…… an atmosphere, as it were, of eating everlasting strawberry ices on green lawns to the tune of the Eton Boating Song.”
This photograph shows the Procession looking towards Fellows’ Eyot [PA-DR.2:29-2014]
Procession of Boats, passing Brocas, 1906
This photograph shows the Procession passing the Brocas, looking towards Windsor Castle [PA-DR.2:14-2014]
Upper Boats and Britannia in Boveney Old Lock, 1885
Upper Boats and Britannia in Boveney Old Lock, going up to supper, 4th June 1885 [PA-DR.2:11-2014]
Floreat Etona!
Further materials and links:
- Eton Collections Journal, Summer 2017 http://etonweb.etoncollege.org.uk/friends/Journal9/mobile/index.html
- Eton Collections Journal, Michaelmas 2019 http://etonweb.etoncollege.org.uk/friends/Journal14/mobile/index.html
- The Eton Boating Song https://www.etoncollege.com/BoatingSong.aspx
- Eton College Chronicle, 4th June 1920
- Eton College Chronicle, 10th June 1920
- You can browse these and the rest of the collections online at http://collections.etoncollege.com/home
