Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Very delightful day. “Jumble” Sale for Church repairs etc, … The amount taken at the Jumble Sale was about £20.

Cutting from the Banbury Guardian, 30 May 1895

SIBFORD.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY.—The fifty sixth anniversary of this society will be held on Monday next. The usual business meeting will be held at 9 a.m., when any new member can be admitted. The members, together with the Juvenile Branch, will attend divine service in the parish church, accompanied by the Sibford Band. After the customary dinner in the schoolroom at 1 p.m., the Band will play for dancing in the field opposite until 8.30 p.m. There will be a sale of goods on the ground, left from the recent successful jumble sale in aid of the Church Restoration Fund. The day’s proceedings will close with dances in Mr. Ainge’s large barn, after club hours.

SIBFORD BENEFIT FRIENDLY SOCIETY

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Balance Sheet for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1894

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The Society has 25 Honorary Members, 82 Ordinary, and 16 Juveniles.

The “Gospel” tent is here again. It was said that three Brass Bands from Chipping Norton, Tysoe and Shutford were to parade Sibford this afternoon. There were a good many strangers about, but I did not see or hear any Band.

I am giving Frank 4 to 6 hours a day in preparing him for Oxford Responsions in September, and Matriculation at Keble College.

I have been very much overworked and worried of late.

I had a headache about 12.15 and for about 15 minutes was unable to fix my thoughts upon what I was reading so as to keep up the thread of the story, but I quite recovered in half an hour.

John Lively called and I paid him a cheque on Town Estate, to £6. 6. 0. for the thatching of Sibford Heath. He told me that Summerton, formerly Baker and Grocer here, has over £100 owing to him in this village, though it is about four years since he left, mostly by labourers working at Mr. Richard Lamb’s, in constant work and with good wages. One or two owe as much as £8 and £10 for bread alone.

Frank’s 20th birthday.

Took Choir children to the Round House, Edghill, to tea, starting soon after 1. I drove Ruby and took Mrs Langley and Lizzie Lovell. Miss S Dix drove herself, Annie Inns and Daisy Thame. Mr Elley went with Mr Langley in Thomas Webb’s wagonette, the rest went in Reuben Sabin’s cart. There were altogether 27 at tea. I provided 24 buns for the children and half a gallon of milk and half a pound of sweets for scrambling. We got back about 8:30 with Ruby who came home splendidly, but Webb and Sabin stopped at Epwell, to get beer, I suppose, which I do not approve of when they have children in their care.