Diary May 1899 - June 1900

11 May Reference to agitation now going on against ritual in the church. Debate in the House of Commons practically leaves the matter in the hands of the bishops. "Cost of Reparation in the parish church would be about £25"

29 May Admitted the 999th child at the school since its opening in 1874

1 July Hears of negotiations re. purchasing an organ for the church from St. Peter's Church, Bournemouth. Price £75 for ready money or £85 spread over 2 or 3 years. Money had been offered on loan at 4%. Then choir must be surpliced and chancel adapted to enable choir to sit in it

2 July After the Service the committee met and decided to purchase the organ

12 July Learned from Education Department that he would be eligible for a pension under the old scheme if he wanted it

14 July Steps taken to initiate a collection for the church organ, the total cost of which, including carriage, rebuilding, provision of platform etc., was estimated to amount to about £110

27 July A spinster (named) confined with a daughter - bad for the family - scandal etc.

1 Aug. Dr. Smithe (vicar) now very confused - wandered on railway line at Lansdown Station and got lost wandering to Boddington

4 Aug. Committee re. new organ met. Announced that £75.11.7. had already been subscribed or promised; steps to be taken to raise more money. Decided to have organ built on a stage

14 Aug. While travelling from Gloucester Dock to Sharpness by boat (the Lapwing) read an account of the Dreyfus trial so far

19 Aug. Annie and Leah saw a man and a woman descend by parachute

22 Aug. Description of method of catching wild duck in nets

31 Aug. Description of fete to raise money for Organ Fund

10 Sept. New organ used for first time at Morning Service - played by Mr. Brunsdon, organist of St. Mary de Crypt

11 Sept. Reported in morning that Dreyfus was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment

16 Sept. Tonight's Citizen speaks of war as being imminent with the Transvaal

29 Sept. Affairs in the Transvaal look worse and worse - Boers expecting to commence hostilities

11 Oct. "Boers begin War" [Summary of progress in margin of diary from this day onwards]

18 Oct. Col. Baden Powell is hard pressed at Mafeking

19 Oct. Complaint from Bishop of Gloucester that there were no returns (Churchdown) of baptisms for 1895 - 6 - 7. Miss Smithe thought they might be entered in Dr. Smithe's diary. Mr. Swift promised to make out the return from the said diaries

Lengthy quotation from Daily Mail re. Boer War

21 Oct. Extract from Daily Mail re. Boer War quoted

[Similar extracts on many subsequent days]

3 Nov. Daily Mail extract quoted refers to the French being "frantic with delight because the British lost 2 regiments and a mountain battery in Natal....."

17 Nov. Extract records wrecking by Boers of an armored train. 20 men got back, fate of remainder including Mr. Winston Churchill unknown

21 Nov. To concert at the new Concert Hall "Chosen Hotel", proceeds in aid of funds for the Deserving poor of the Parish. "I was not impressed, only amused at the behaviour of the audience and performers"

10 Dec. "Went to church at 11 - It being too fine to stop indoors"

16 Dec. Cricket Club Dinner. Mr. J. H. Jones proposed Health of the Queen with some despondency, as she must be much troubled at the reverses which had overtaken our forces in S. Africa, after years of prosperity and comparative peace and success

1900

5 Jan. Visited the Miss Macewans who were at needlework at a narrow table - with the maid sitting on the other side of it

7 Jan. By command of the Queen collections in churches throughout the country for the Lord Mayor of London's Fund for the Sick and Wounded in the War. Amount received here £6.16.0.

6 Feb. Went to Mr. Goodgame, Southgate St., to be measured for a pair of boots (to be made)

9 Feb. Parish Council decided 2 alms houses to be thatched at estimated expense £11 +

17 Feb. Boots ordered on February 6 delivered. Found they did very well and paid one guinea for them

18 Feb. There is a measles epidemic - 13 families now affected, 100 children absent [from school]. School to be closed for 4 weeks on advice of Medical Officer of Health

1 March News of the relief of Ladysmith

2 March Account of 'The Siege of Ladysmith in brief'

6 March Diarist asked if he would be willing to be Vicar's Churchwarden if nominated - replied yes. [Owing to the vicar's poor health the Curate, Reverend E. Banks-James, appointed by the Bishop to take charge of the parish, his stipend being increased from £130 to £150 p.a.]

23 March Left message asking Dr. Prance to visit Mrs. Swift but he never came, so Dr. Moore (a new comer) sent for

5 April Report on attempted assassination of the Prince of Wales on 4/4/00 at Brussels Railway Station

13 April Attended committee meeting re. site for proposed new church. Four proposed sites considered. Mr. Swift related how Mr. Harris' pond near his sheds was the old fish pond of the ancient squires and of the legend connected with it

16 April Annual Easter Vestry Meeting. Rev. James stated that the Vicar had appointed Mr. Webber as Vicar's Warden. This was disputed on the grounds that if he was incompetent to fulfil his duties the Vicar was not fit to appoint a warden. Referred to the Bishop

The organ was declared paid for - £118.18.10

In the afternoon the diarist walked to Brockworth and passed Brockworth Mill - 'a romantic spot - the bank descending by a sluice on the left and into a capital basin for bathing - and even swimming'

3 May Some items of Cheltenham history - also of history of Ladies' College

18 May The provision of a new school in the region of the Hare & Hounds is under consideration

The relief of Mafeking is announced (whistling of railway engines and detonators going off)

21 May Mr. J. H. Jones addressed the school children on the heroism of the defenders of Mafeking. School grants a day's holiday

31 May War news - fall of Pretoria. School flag hoisted again