Diary Jan 1914 - Oct 1914

1914

4 Jan. Intercessory prayers at church that the present unrest - threatened civil war in Ireland - and other troubles threatening our country might be averted

8 Jan. Reports fire at St. Paul's Training College, Cheltenham, £5,000 damage, supposedly caused by a suffragette (but this was not confirmed in the Citizen

19 Jan. Reference to the end of the long Dublin Strike, during which at one time 80,000 men, women and children were living on charity

27 Jan. The Old House at Home sold by auction yesterday for £300 to George Garness

29 Jan. £3.7s.6d. presented to the retiring sexton, H. Morris, at the Church Workers' Supper at the Chosen Hotel

4 Feb. Gas pipes are now being laid in Station Road

9 Feb. Made a systematic reckoning of his financial situation and found he had "a very narrow margin" - income £12.7s.0d., outgoings £116.19s.6½d. Balance x £4.7s.5½d. "or thereabouts". Showed cost of living of son Harry and himself £1.3s.1d. per week = £60.0s.4d. per annum

12 Feb. Gas pipes now being laid 'up our "Dirt Piece"' [which is now known as The Piece]

13 Feb. Informed that solicylate of soda tablets eased rheumatic pains. When he asked for some at Boots, Westgate Street, he was informed that "another sort named "Aspirin" were even better"

21 Feb. Informed of the cost of having gas installed in a house - declared to be prohibitive as far as he was concerned. Furthermore the price for the gas consumed was "1s/10d. per 1,000 in Gloucester, 3s/6d. at Churchdown and 2s/0d. in Cheltenham"

22 Feb. States that Arle Court was partly burnt - the servants' quarters - £3,000 damage

9 March At the Vicar's request handed to him the Sheffield Plate flagon given to him on the death of Rev. Dr. Smithe, also the altar cross which was used in the school chapel - the latter possibly to be placed in the Mission Room

1 April Reference to The Times newspaper 'now reduced to 1d. in price'. Felt very "middling" in the afternoon and had 3 swoons while sitting in the chair

11 April Words of a hymn 'edited by Reverend T. Baden Powell [copyright]' set out in full:

"Come, let us sing the song of songs, The Saints in heaven began the strain ........."

27 April Details of local rates (Poor Rate, including Rural District Council rate, and Special (Sewage) Expenses Rate) set out with estimated proceeds, for 1914-1915

4 May Reference to inscription on monument in Staverton Church to Reverend H. Wyndowe (died 1772 - or ?1712), who held the livings of Churchdown and Staverton

18 May Not feeling very well "with my frightful indigestion". Has to stop frequently when walking owing to "a tightness in the chest"

27 May "The Vicar afterwards wanted me to accompany him in his motor bicycle car on June 5 to the Chapter House"

9 June Diocesan Choral Union Festival held in Cathedral. Details of choirs and numbers of voices taking part

28 July "We read in this evening's "Citizen" that Austria has declared war against Serbia"

2 Aug. Learns that war was declared between France and Germany at 1pm. "Things look very ominous indeed"

5 Aug. "Four of my old scholars (Territorials) had to leave by the 3.20 train...... to join at Portsmouth". He 'supposes' that Britain is now at war with Germany

6 Aug. Visit to Ledbury; admired the Parish Church

11 Aug. The war is beginning to have a local impact with the departure of some village residents to join the Forces

16 Aug. In his sermon Rev. Hodson "maintained the justice of our being at war with Germany"

18 Aug. The prices of groceries are already rising - some examples

21 Aug. Day of Intercession with Almighty God on behalf of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces now engaged in War

List of those (as known) connected with Churchdown and now serving in the Forces (numbering 41)

25 Aug. Mrs. Gilks showed him shirts she had been making for wounded soldiers (on behalf of the Primrose League)

27 Aug. Account of a depressing visit to the Mental Hospital at Barnstead of Mr and Mrs. Walker, to see their daughter, an inmate

30 Aug. Grave war news from Belgium causes much depression

31 Aug. States that Russian troops have been landed in Scotland and conveyed to Southhampton to assist our troops in Belgium. "All this sounds reassuring"

4 Sept. New lower denture required, the cost £2.2s.0d.

7 Sept. Over 60 Churchdown men have now joined Forces

8 Sept. The opinion is expressed to him that it is the clergyman's duty to pay for the repairs of the church out of his clerical income "To this statement I gave a demur"

21 Sept. The gas has been installed at his house, including a gas stove. Letter from grandson Ernest, Worcester Regiment, at Tidworth, set out

2 Oct. Has recently been suffering much from "a load of wind in the chest" which has greatly restricted his activities

10 Oct. References to war news generally very brief - today reports that Antwerp has fallen and is evacuated by the Belgian Army

11 Oct. Informed that "the sight of London by night was not at all pleasant, the lamps being obscured or not lit on account of the Zeppelin aeroplanes which might be mischevious"

17 Oct Took 50 minutes yesterday in going to the churchyard, owing to having to stand still frequently due to pain in the chest

22 Oct. Recalls having seen old Arle Court when young. The house was demolished in 1880