Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

3rd Sunday in Lent. Delightfully mild, calm, and sunny. My lips are still swollen with cold which rather disfigures me so that I scarcely know myself “in the glass”, but I got through my duties in church this morning with greater comfort as regards the voice, – and efficiency – than I have done for some months.

I churched this afternoon George Green’s wife and Arthur Haynes’s wife.

Very fine and bright. Visited school this morning and took Bank and Clothing Club money. Visited Job Harris, ill with pneumonia and Joshua Lines, recovering from lumbago. Also visited Sam Woolgrove and Mr Joseph Woolgrove.

Sophie and Maud Smith walked over from Brailes and took tea with us. Bell and I walked with them as far as the allotments on their way back.

I received a letter from Robert Braddell this morning asking my advice about the schooling of his son Robin.

Took chair at unusual general meeting of Sibford Horticultural Society at schoolroom at 7½ pm.

Mr Russell new Vicar of Hook Norton called this morning about 11.30, but I was not down, being rather unwell so that I did not see him, but I was down soon after.

Miss S Dix sent a note to Rosa asking whether we knew that Mrs Turner was very ill. She had been taken suddenly during the night. Mrs Fox her sister had been summoned from Oxford by telegram and Miss Dix had been to Banbury to bring her out to Sibford. So I went to Mrs Turner’s immediately, about 7.30 pm. I found that she had had a violent attack of bleeding at the nose. I saw Mrs T who looked well and comfortable and appeared in good spirits. I spoke cheeringly to her, read and prayed with her, and left, calling on Misses E and S Dix on my way back. Louie Thame was there. It was a very dark night, the wind was rather high and cold and a little rain was falling.

I wrote to Robert W Braddell, Singapore, in reply to his letter about his young son Robin’s education.

Received a letter from Mrs Kerr asking for information about Mr Heuville, Rector of Chipping Warden. I replied very carefully recommending that before responding to his appeal for pecuniary assistance he should be asked for a reference to his Rural Dean. I told Mrs Kerr that I did not feel justified in repeating what I had heard in his disfavour. For that, personally, I knew nothing about him.

A dull day with light rain all afternoon. Rosa wanted to see the dentist, so I drove her and Bell to Banbury. I changed some cheques at London & County Bank and paid various accounts. It was the first time of my going to Banbury since last Christmas.