Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Received Cyclostyle Apparatus from London, £1.11.6. Spent morning in printing Church notices.

Miss Dix called and asked me to sign paper for removal of Louisa Thame from St Anne’s School when called on to do so by the authorities, which I did.

Visited Mr Mann. Mrs Mann is a trifle better, but I did not see her. Dr Routh was there – I gave him 10/- towards cost of a ticket for the Eastbourne Sanatorium for Benjamin Aris junior, who has been suffering from a lung complaint.

Library Committee this evening at 7. Resolved to present a testimonial to Mr Elley to amount of £2.10 or thereabouts in recognition of his services as Hon. Librarian for 7 years. Also to order a second Book case.

Attended Band practice this evening and presented the Treasurer with a C tunefork – for use of Band. The powers of the little instrument astonished some of the men very much. They never had seen such a thing as that in all their lives afore. It was a curious thing !

Fine, but cold.

Visited school Obtained £2.10 from Mr Elley as treasurer to Library and handed it over to Miss Dix to pay for present to be given to Mr Elley at the Annual meeting.

Divine Service, with sermon at end as usual at 7 pm.

Distributed Town Estate clothing tickets in Schoolroom after the service in Church.

Drove Kitty Rogers to Banbury on her way back to Westbrook. Brought out rev W. Wingate who arrived from Birmingham by same train as Kitty left by.

Lewis Poulton called this evening and paid me his landlord Major Goddard’s subscription to the Charities of the place, £2.

Mr Wingate, Frank and myself walked to Tysoe and inspected the Church then lunched at the inn and returned for 5 o’clock dinner. It was very cold, and there was some, but not much, rain. Attended Band Committee at 9.30.

Harry came from Burdick Kentisbury, Barnstaple (having halted the night at Bristol) for the Christmas holidays. I sent Webb in to Banbury to meet him.

Mr Wingate preached for me and said the lessons both morning and afternoon. He went to see Mrs Shelswell after Church.

Wingate and I called on the Misses Dix this morning.

Alec Willy came to tea with Harry.

Mr Wingate left. I drove him to Banbury en route to Leamington, where he intends making enquiries for people he knew when he had a tutorship in a School there before he took his degree.

Called on Dr Routh this evening. He told me of the condition of things at Epwell Curatage – saying that Mrs Willy had “sunk lower” than any woman of education he had ever known.

Jesse Bishop called this evening and paid his rent. Robert Austin called on Saturday and paid his. Elijah Hancox sent me a note apologising for not being quite ready with his.