Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Very Wintry. Library Entertainment and tea. Bell took a table. Rosa and Frank assisted in the entertainment. Of course I could not go up, Only a small attendance, owing to the severity of the weather.

Cutting from the Banbury Advertiser, 17 January 1895

SIBFORD.

LENDING LIBRARY.—The annual meeting of the above old-established institution was held in the schoolroom on Friday, commencing at 5 o’clock with a tea, which was provided by Miss Dix and other ladies of the committee, but owing to unfavourable weather the numbers were not so large as formerly, only between forty and fifty sitting down to tea. A 7 o’clock an entertainment took place, which was presided over by Mr. F. Stevens (in the absence of the Vicar, through illness), when the following were re-elected on the committee :—President, the Vicar ; librarian, Mr. D. Cluff ; Miss Stevens, Miss Dix, Miss S. Dix, Miss E. Lamb, Miss Wells, Mrs. Abbotts, Mrs. Elley, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Woolgrove, Mr. Inns, Mr. J. Lamb, Dr. Routh, and Mr. L T. Poulton. The report, showing a balance in favour of the Society of £5 8s. 8d. was read and passed, after which the following programme was gone through :—

Pianoforte duet—“Tancredi”—Misses Thame.
Song—“Three merrie Mays”—Mr. Frank Stevens.
Plantation song and chorus—”De ole banjo”—Mr. Langley.
Violin Solo—Mr. West.
Glee—”Fair shines the moon to-night.”
Song—”The song that reached my heart”—Miss L. Thame.
Reading—”Mr. Montpellier’s recitation”—Mr. Frank Stevens.
Glee—”O, who will o’er the downs.”
Pianoforte solo—”La harpe Eolienne”—Miss Lovell.
Song—”Another day”—Miss May Jewell.
Song—”I love the merry sunshine”—Miss L Thame.
Song (with chorus in distance)—”Oh honey, my honey”—Mr. Frank Stevens.
Reading—”Handy Andy”—Mr. Langley.
Violin solo—Mr. West.
Glee—”Let the hills resound.”
Song (in character)—“The Four ‘oss sharry-bang”—Mr. Frank Stevens.
Glee”—Carnovale.”
Plantation song and chorus—”Good night.”

Snow last night and this morning, from 10 – 12 inches deep. I went up to church for both morning and afternoon services and got through the duty better than I feared. The congregations were very small. Hewings died at 9.30 this morning. He had been paralysed for a week with a second stroke. I called with Frank to see the widow on my return from church this morning. Thaw commenced.

In bed till tea-time. Thaw. Some rain.

In bed till dinner time. Lively has cut and laid the long hedge in the garden. John Inns who had received permission to use the schoolroom for a “Reading Room” dinner on Friday night next, called to ask whether I would object to their having beer at dinner. I said I did not object, if there was entire good order.