Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Visited Widow Cakebread.

The Club officers and others had luncheon in classroom on remains of yesterday’s feast. W. Kaye, J. Manning, W. Keene, Michael Woolgrove, Joseph Alcock and others were present. I repeated what I said yesterday about the drinking and disorder. All the men I have spoken to who as a rule behaved extremely well are very much disgusted at the disgrace brought upon the club.

Spent nearly all the morning at the Heath farm, inspecting repairs that have been done and giving orders for others.

Mrs Charles Hands died about 3 pm, having been bedridden many years.

Visited Elizabeth Gibbs, Geydon, at the Farm at the Cross. Lewis Poulton, not at home., Mrs Innes, Mrs Austin, Widow Cakebread, Mrs Thomas Coleman, Mrs Barton and the school. Paid Mrs Coleman 4/- for attending to the late Mrs Hands.

Lent cricket bats etc for boys to play in the evenings to get them out of the streets and keep them from mischief. Called on Mr Hiorns; he was not at home, but Mrs Hiorns gave permission for them to play on their dairy ground.

Robert Braddell went to Oxford to matriculate. Thomas Braddell came out on a visit.

Called on Mr Hiorns this evening. He said the boys might play on his field if they would behave well – bad language, smoking, etc he would not allow. He said they might play till 8.30.

Boys at cricket. Two boys called on me and complained that the elder ones would not let them play. I went up and enquired and found that these two ?Bond? and 2nd Spicer had turned themselves out of the game.

Visited Boys’ School morning and afternoon.

Visited

• Hands, who was getting his dinner in the room in which the uncoffined corpse of his wife lay.
• Widow Cakebread.
• Mrs Shelswell, with whom and her patient Miss Smith, I took tea.
• Dr Routh, with whom I took supper.
• Michael Woolgrove with whom I had a long conversation.