Luton 1919 Peace Day riots remembered 100 years on

A "massive" free outdoor spectacular is taking place exactly 100 years after a town hall was destroyed by rioters.

On the evening of 19 July, 1919, thousands of people gathered outside Luton Town Hall, to take part in Peace Day - a bank holiday to celebrate the end of World War One.

The exclusion of members of the public from a lavish banquet, caused civil unrest, Luton Borough Council said.

In total 39 people were arrested, the council said.

Tara Finn, a historian at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the Luton riots where the "worst manifestation of the discontent" felt by some veterans to the victory marches and celebrations.

She said there were other disturbances in places including Coventry, Wolverhampton and Swindon, but the riots in Luton were "made worse" by local issues, such refusing to allow veterans to hold a drumhead mass in Wardown Park.

Steve Goodman said his grandfather John Henry Good took part in the riots and was sentenced to six weeks hard labour.

"They had come back from the war, they were promised a land fit for heroes and that's not what they found," he said.

"The council ran a celebration dinner for peace day and it was so expensive that none of the ex-soldiers could afford to go.

"A lot of them also didn't have jobs, a lot of the homes weren't in very good condition, there was food rationing.

"All of that I think led to the events of the day."

The centenary events, called People Power Passion, are planned throughout the day in St George's Square with a main show featuring dance, music, theatre, and projections starting at 21:00 BST.

A new play called Riot Act is being performed twice in the council chamber at the current town hall.

Labour councillor Rachel Hopkins, portfolio holder responsible for arts at the council, said: "This will be an event like no other held in the town before."