Yes I know it continued after 1909 but it is generally accepted that the over zelous inspector of police made moves around then to stop SB, according to the Golden Bough. The writer, non other than the nephew of Sir Harry Smith was a Whittlesey man though not living in Whittlesey at the time. I suspect the real reason for SB going to sleep was the 14 - 18 war. I am sure the event, at the start of the 20th centry was nothing like the event we have now. I think the main reason for participating in SB then was to demand money with menaces and that was why it was as unacceptable event in the eyes of a certain strata of society in the town. The task before the strawbearers is to enhance the positive and minimise the negative.,