Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

I went out for a walk this evening from 9.30 to 10.30 and found the Band playing at Sibford Ferris to welcome John Lamb and his bride (Miss Shout that was, Mrs. Oddie’s sister) home. The night was cloudy and sultry.

I went for a walk before going to bed and met Mr. Oddie who told me that the owners of the tent at Shutford were not yet prepared to sell it, as they could not agree, but would lend it to us for one Flower Show on payment of 5/-. The members of the Committee there lamented that there was so little public spirit and harmony there. If the Dissenters started anything the Church people would not join them and if the Church people started it the Dissenters would have nothing to do with it. Sibford was the place for public spirit. All classes seemed to live in harmony there and whatever was attempted was carried successfully through. Jobson, one of the men, said he would very much like to live at Sibford, and the others endorsed the sentiment.

Wrote to W.M.D. c/o T.J. Fletcher, 53 Lord St. Liverpool, about pupil age 24 to prepare for Cambridge previous. Terms £50 per term in advance including Board, Lodging and Tuition. Extras Laundress and Books. All provided. If needed Term’s notice or terms fees. Advert was in “Guardian”.

William Haines, the peripatetic barber of the parish, came in whilst I was talking to Joe Messenger and his wife. Haines said that a Shenington man who came here to the Primrose League Meeting asked him “as he allers does when he sees ma’, whether I’d got any squitch i’ my ‘lotment, as your gentleman at Sibbard, when he preached the Club sermon at Shenington 15 years ago, said as us ought’n’t to have”.

“What gentleman did he mean, Barber?”

“He meant you, sir.”           

“Well, I should think he must be mistaken if he thinks (as Barber seemed to imply) that I remarked on the Shenington men cultivating their allotments badly, because I don’t know anything about them. I know some Sibford men are fond of squitch and we now have 2 acres of Charity land at the heath which we cannot let because it is in such a foul condition and we have had almost the same state of things at Sibford Gower. And yet some of the worst farmers among the labourers are crying out for more land.”

“Let ‘em do what they have got is what I says,” replied the Barber.

Received telegram from Harry “Passed the Final Exam today with honours.”

Bell and I were as pleased as Frank to find his name in the list given in the Banbury Advertiser of those pupils of the Banbury School of Art who were successful at the exams last May. He is in the 1st class for “Drawing from the Cast”. This is encouraging.