Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Attended Jubilee Celebration meeting at Sibford Ferris Friend’s School. R. Lamb in the Chair.

I could not help making a pun to enliven the proceedings a little. They were speaking about the guests bringing their own cups or mugs, plates, knives and forks. Someone suggested that the Chairman would not like to bring his. I replied that perhaps some of our working men friends at the other end of the room would think that everyone would bring at least his “mug” with him if he wished to eat or drink anything. It took at once. It was a sight to see the Chairman trying to stifle his laughter. As to Oddie, he was uproarious and clapped his thighs till he must have made them ache.

William Lamb and George Padbury called this evening to confer about Jubilee. They thought we could count on 200 adults and 150 children as being to be provided for, and that instead of a tea such as the Sibford Ferris people propose to give, we should have a hot dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with ale for such as desire it. The estimated cost is £20.

Club Day. Report appended. Mr. Mann, Joseph Pettipher and a few others got up a cricket match and finished up with a dance in the “Quaker Mission Room” in the evening. None of them were at Church this morning except Louisa Mann.

I walked out at about 11 pm. everything was quiet, but dancing was going on at the Mission Room. I saw and spoke with Mrs. Enock at her gate where she was standing awaiting the return of her daughter and two little pupils from the dance! Quakers in Sibford are rather “going ahead” I think.

Lists of numbers of adults and children compiled for the purpose of the Jubilee Festival:-