Diary June 1900 - April 1901

12 June Dr. Moore says Rose (Mrs. Swift) has an enlarged liver and a weak heart and ought to go away for a change - but not to go by train

17 June Evidently Dr. Washbourne still had patients in Churchdown - attended Walter Roberts

20 June Report of school inspectors - suggestions by them as to how children could clean their slates and that the infants be taken out into the front and "let them walk sedately round and watch the flowers grow"

[Start of new method of setting out "War News" (from S. Africa, China and Ashanti) daily]

2 July Report that Major Selwyn-Payne had bought the Lordship of the Manor of Churchdown (Mr. Jones outbidden, having offered £153)

The Rev. James thinking of moving up to Mr. Fluck's cottage in the Churchyard " (of all places in the parish)"

Read Dr. Prance's letter of resignation as medical officer to the Club. Proposed Dr. Moore to succeed - elected

Report of appalling disaster at New York - fire destroying docks and steamers, 5 Atlantic liners ablaze, estimated loss of 400 lives

3 July "Flight of an Airship of 35 mi[?les] in Germany, being an Aerial Ship" (Details of shape, size, capacity etc.)

5 July War news - China - "Abandoned" Europeans in Peking left to their fate

14 July "59 years old today - I thank God I am well in health". Eyesight good, no need of spectacles yet

16 July [Interesting report on war news (China) and statement of the Pope]

23 July Watched the "fountains at Neptune" (Cheltenham). Had to pay a penny for a chair while listening to the band

26 July Description of Anniversary Service at Brockworth Church

30 July News that the King of Italy has been assissinated

1 Aug. Death of the Duke of Coburg (owing to cancer at the root of the tongue)

6 Aug. Dates set out when Dr. Smithe took his degrees and was ordained. Gross value of the Living of Churchdown is £300 per annum and house

11 Aug. Description of Elmstone [Hardwick] church

23 Aug. Ninth grandchild born (son of Reginald)

9 Sept. Harvest Festival service. Bishop Mitcheson preached and attended to the Beating of the Bounds of the Parish

28 Sept. Barton Fair began - several children away [from school] in consequence

13 Oct. Informed that a new infant's room at the school was requested and that the suggestion of providing a school near the Hare & Hounds had been abandoned

20 Oct. Visit to Highnam Court - description - also of Highnam Church

21 Nov. "Dr. Moore extracted a double tooth [of son Harry] which gave him much trouble"

1 Dec. Dr. Smith, by now evidently very mentally confused, found at the foot of the staircase, having fallen down in the dark. Dr. Moore called - 'shoulder bone' found to be broken. As the patient also has bronchitis the prognosis was regarded as being poor. Dr. Cardew of Cheltenham called in consultation

9 Dec. Received a note from Dr. Moore saying Dr. Smithe had died at 6pm10 Dec. Funeral of Rose's brother at Cheltenham described. The parson ("most objectionable") seemed to insinuate that only "Believers" rose again

11 Dec. Inquest on Dr. Smithe's death held at 3 pm, very short

12 Dec. Visited the Vicarage and "while waiting talked to Herbert the Draper who was driving one of his hands over for orders for the mourning etc.. He also has the funeral"

13 Dec. Coffin massive - of polished oak with a brass cross running the whole length of the lid

14 Dec. Funeral took place at Cranham this morning. Mr. Swift did not attend - "I thought it would have seemed incongruous - to upset the understanding"

15 Dec. Mr. J. H. Jones spoke of proposal of having a new vicar - patronage certainly with Dean and Chapter of Bristol "who were sound men"

17 Dec. Met Mr. Metford, Minor Canon of Bristol Cathedral, a possible successor to Dr. Smithe

25 Dec. Informed that Mr. Metford declined the living (for financial reasons

1901

5 Jan. Copying out wills re. the Parish Charities. There is no will or instrument extant in the Parish connected with the Richard Holford Charity - "only the 4 almshouses and the 4 acres of land remaining as in evidence - but certainly of a solid character"

7 Jan. Met Mr. Cooke of Westbury-on-Trym and his wife - a possible successor to Dr. Smithe

10 Jan. In this night's Citizen appears a publication or notice that Mr. Cooke has accepted the living

19 Jan. Attended performance of the "Bohemian Girl" at the Opera House.

Full description. Performance much enjoyed

20 Jan. Prayers at church for Her Majesty who is dangerously ill

22 Jan Learns that the Queen has died at 6.30 pm

29 Jan Instructed Mr. Merrett to set out a plan for enlargement of the school

2 Feb. Memorial Service in church for the late Queen - description

25 Feb. The Misses Smithe leave the Vicarage (moving to 9 Lansdown Terrace, Cheltenham)

3 March Parish Meeting - election of Parish Council, during which there was an "amusing episode"

19 March Meeting of Governors of Wyndowe's and Blunt's Charities - discussion as to whether part of cost of school extension could be derived from charity funds or not

25 March Talk with lady related by marriage to the late Dr. Smithe re. his Will and her intention to dispute it in view of his mental state

26 March Distribution of census forms commenced

30 March Visit to the Misses Smithe - their problems re. delapidations etc., Dr. Smithe's will and the lack of a church within easy distance that was not "so low"

1 April Census papers collected - route described. Census return: Males 450, Females 539, Total 989 [i.e. Parish of Churchdown]

3 April Induction of Rev. John James Dunn Cooke as Vicar of Churchdown - description

7 April Easter Day. Church choir wore surplices for the first time

8 April Easter Vestry Meeting - full account of proceedings

14 April Rev. Cooke conducted his first service - read 39 Articles and declared his assent to them

16 April Annual Meeting, Churchdown Cricket Club, Dr. Moore - Chairman, Rev. Cooke - President

23 April "Regular rowdy-dow kicked up about 9 pm", a demonstration by parishioners of their moral outrage owing to a man having left his wife and children to reside "habitually" with Mrs. Wareing of Vermont