1939: On this, the first Christmas period of the Second World War, people appear to have decided to make the most of what might be the last one they'd celebrate for some time to come. The Posh had lost 2-1 away to Boston in their Christmas Day Midland League match. For this return Boxing Day match, poor weather was blamed for only 1,765 supporters turning out to watch Peterborough get their revenge with a 3-1 victory. That poor weather, though, didn't dampen the joy of Lance Corporal R.W. Caswell, of the staff of Barclays Bank Church Street branch, and Miss Mary Keene, who got married at All Saints church on this Boxing Day. This was just one of some forty weddings in the city and close vicinity over the Christmas period. At least ten of the bridegrooms were in service uniform for their ceremony. Over the whole Christmas period, the Embassy Theatre reported that it had been packed at both performances, while the Empire claimed a 'full house' three times. Between 18 December and Christmas Day, 615,000 postal packages had been handled by Peterborough post office - up 15,000 on 1938. Their were also 50,000 more letters handled. Peterborough was making the most of this 'last hurrah' before wartime stress took hold. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-1945, David Gray, 2011)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.