BACK in the early part of 1948, the folk of Southampton – who for many years at the start of the decade had to live with the fearsome threat of possible Nazi occupation during wartime – were told to brace themselves for yet another invasion on their town.

The disturbance was expected to be so raucous that even the town’s mayor felt it necessary to alert his citizens with a warning.

“The town of Southampton will be invaded by a noisy, good-tempered mob, which has hitherto been kept within the bounds of large buildings on the banks of the River ltchen," said the mayor, Councillor Frank Dibben.

With scant regard for their own safety the town’s folk ignored the somewhat tongue-in-cheek cautionary advice and flocked onto the main streets and thoroughfares of the town to enjoy the frivolities offered up by the Southampton University College Student’s Rag Week.

Humorous costumes – some bordering on the ridiculous – and a light-hearted carnival atmosphere was the order of the day as Sotonians dug deep into their pockets to give whatever they could spare to the students, who were collecting for various local worthy causes and charities.

As well as making collections, the students were also making final preparations for a procession of 17 floats which wound its way from outside the old Ordnance Survey, along St Mary’s Road, St Mary’s Street, Bernard Street into High Street and through Above Bar to the Civic Centre.

It was the first rag for 18 years and a sign that in 1948 Southampton was trying to shrug off the austere post-war period and looking forward to happier times.

Throughout the week students collected cash for the Soldiers, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association and Southampton International Youth Rally.

“It was something much more than a hurly burly, rag tag and bobtail celebration,” said the Daily Echo.

“The procession was marshalled in the Inner Avenue. Most of the faculties, political societies and sports sections had tableaux in the cavalcade. Some were mounted on lorries, some on horse-drawn carts, and others depended on manual haulage. Political hits and skits were features of the rag.

“The chemistry department lived up to its reputation in supplying stinks, smoke and periodical explosions, and the whole parade moved off in a whirl of cyclist out-riders in quite amazing variations of the New Look, the Old Look and the Quite Incredible Look.

Daily Echo:

“The normal life of the down-town area was completely disorganised as the procession made its colourful, excited, but never objectionable, way to the Civic Centre.

"Buskers performed in the streets, side-shows set up on pavements and a ‘comic’ football match was played in the parks be-hind the Classic Cinema.”

Daily Echo:

The Daily Echo report also claimed that the busiest people involved in the Rag Week activities were the collectors who were busily jumping from bus queue to bus queue rattling their collection tins before boarding the town’s network of trams to coax the coppers off the passengers onboard.

The students also staged an old time music hall at the Royal Pier and the Rag Week, which raised more than £1,000 for the two charities, was rounded off by a ball.

“Music was provided by one of London's famous broadcasting groups, Oscar Rabin and his band, with Harry Davis,” reported the Daily Echo.

“Featured artistes were Bob Dale, Anna-belle Lee, Don Smith and Eddie Palmer.”