Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Dull and cold. Rain in afternoon. The O.U.D.C. of which Frank is a member gave a public performance of the “Merry Wives of Windsor” in the New Theatre at Oxford on Wednesday last. Frank takes the part of “Ford”, and is highly commended in the “Daily Chronicle.” There is also a good criticism in the “Times.”

Mr Langley wrote me a note saying that he and Mrs L. were going to Northampton till Sunday night (owing to his father’s illness) and had arranged with Mr Elley to take the Boys’ Sunday School and Miss Thame and Miss Dix to take the organ.

I visited J. Holland, Widow Young, Widow Aris, Widow Green, Widow Lamb, Thomas Aris, George Green, Harriet Sabin, William Payne,Frank Wilks, not in, Mrs Isaac Padbury not in, John Bloxham, and gave out coal tickets.

Visited Mrs Isaac Padbury. She kept a Town Estate cheque (for £1 paid to Harriet Sabin, one of her tenants, for …

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Rosa and I walked down to Sibford Ferris, leaving Bell in house with a bad cold. There was a large gathering of Sibford Ferris at a Harvest Home Tea got up and managed extremely well by Harriet Woolgrove, Ann Lines and Richard Walker’s wife. The farmers and tradesmen all subscribed, I presume and Mr Richard Lamb said that Henry Dixon had promised to pay whatever might be needed to square accounts. It was held in Mr Josiah Woolgrove’s cart-shed which was nicely lighted and decorated for the occasion. Harry and Mabel came in during the evening. Mr R. Lamb, Mr Joshua Lamb, John Lamb, Mr Oddie, W. Harris and their wives and children, Mr and Mrs Woolgrove, R. Austin etc, in short, almost every inhabitant of Sibford Ferris, except the doctor and his household was there. I sat between Messrs R. Lamb and Robert Oddie. The Brass Band played for dancers and there was some singing. I took the Chair on the proposition of Mr R. Oddie who made a brief but kind speech and was seconded by Mr R. Lamb. Mr Oddie alluded to the fact that our Queen had now reigned longer than any of her predecessors on the throne of England, and that the Czar of Russia today landed at Leith on a visit to her Majesty.

I asked Mr Oddie to take the chair at 10 pm and then bade all goodnight and left.