JAMES BUTLER MOODY DIARY - 1887

30 Wednesday In eve had a game of cards at the “Rose & Crown” & won 2/6. 1 Thursday In aft. I went over to Colchester with Blyth for a football practice, had a very jolly game, got home about six. In eve I wrote home to Arthur & Aunt Jane. 2 Friday In evening Purkis & I had Mr Nunn, Bartlett, Burton & Blyth in to spend the evening. We played cards from 8 till 2 o’clock. I lost 6/- at Loo. 3 Saturday I wrote to Will Allen in morning. Purkis & I went over to Wivenhoe in aft. In eve I went out with very pretty girl. Very jolly. 4 Sunday Went for a long walk in morning. 5 Monday Had a jolly letter from Milne. Went & saw Miss Shave & arranged to go there for 12/- a week for 3 rooms & attendance. In aft. Mr Daniell senior asked me over to his house to dinner. He drove me over & we went to some waxworks at the Drill Hall with his sons & daughters. Drove back with Mr & Mrs Daniell & Blyth. 6 Tuesday Paid Mrs Tye £1 for week’s lodging. Mrs Daniells sent us an awfully jolly rabbit pie. Had a letter from Aunt Jane. Finished reading “Myths” by Ovid. Did not think much of it. 7 Wednesday In evening Purkis & I went up to the Heath to dinner & had a lolly game of cards afterwards. I won 2/6. 8 Thursday I drove to Clacton-on-Sea with Mr Robert Daniell. It rained a little but I very much enjoyed it. 15 miles from here. We had dinner at the Osbourne Hotel, at the governor’s expense & went for a stroll along the esplanade. Got back to Heath House at 7. Stopped there to dinner & played billiards with Blyth after. 9 Friday I got up to mash, but there was no water in the boiler & could not mash till 9 o’clock. In evening we went in to Bartlett’s to have a game of cards, played cards till one o’clock. I won 2/-. 10 Saturday Went into Colchester, went to the market to the governor’s stall. Went to an art exhibition with Pearl Allen & Miss Scott & stopped to Pearl’s to tea (sic) then went to the “Cups” & met Blyth & his brother & came home by the 7 o’clock & went for a walk “avec une petite”. 11 Sunday Went to church in morning. For walk in aft & eve. 12 Monday Not brewing today. Boiled some chestnuts. In the eve. went for stroll avec (then follows a tiny drawing of a woman’s head). Walked up to the Heath in aft., introduced to Mr Lufkin. Rev H E Lufkin was Rector of East Donyland 1863-1898 13 Tuesday Got up to mash with Purkis this week. In aft. I went in to Colchester to get our grocery (sic) etc. for Thursday. Bought about 16/- worth. 14 Wednesday Ordered ¼ ton coal 5/6 & 4 1/2 gals of beer to be sent to Miss Shave’s. Went up to Heath House & played billiards with Oc. Blyth & Mr Daniell. Ordered ½ sack (1 ½ bush) of potatoes from Havens, 3/-. Pa sent Mr Daniell £105 premium for my 1st year pupilship. £100 of which was paid by the legacy which Mr J Bristow left me. 15 Thursday Moved lodgings from Mrs Tye’s to Miss Shave. Paid Mrs Tye 30/- for the 1 ½ weeks & gave her 5/- extra. Miss Shave got our bread and anything we did not think of. Bought a ledger 6d to keep our accounts in & put down a £1 for the common purse each. 16 Friday Much more comfortable than Mrs Tye’s: the bedrooms are very good & the sitting room. Had a letter from Uncle William. Wrote to Fred Paice. 17 Saturday Had a letter from Arthur to say that Pa had signed the agreement & sent 100 guineas – premium for the 1st year, on Wednesday - & sent me a cheque for £2. Went into Colchester with Purkis & went to an awful lot of hotels & pubs, got back to tea at 7.15. Stayed in the rest of evening. 18 Sunday Went to the Brewery in morn. In aft went up to Mr Daniell’s to tea & spent evening. 19 Monday Helped Purkis analyse some malt. In aft. went over to Wyvenhoe (sic) with Purkis. I bought some scent 2s/9d “pour une petite”. In eve went in to Mr Bartlett’s & had a jolly game of whist with Nunn & Purkis. I & Purkis won 1s/6d each. Finished reading “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” by Byron; enjoyed it immensely. 20 Tuesday Got up to mash with Blyth at 7 o’clock. The governor told me yesterday not to pay for any beer I have at the Brewery. Hard frost last night; stayed in this evening. 22 Thursday Settled up our accounts for the 1st week. Paid Miss Shave 12/- for the three rooms. It came to £1.1. each altogether. Drove to Heath House with Blyth & had aft. tea there. Blyth came in to tea with us after we had finished brewing at six. 23 Friday Came home today. Started at 9 o’clock from Wivenhoe, got to Liverpool St at 10.30. Went to Waterloo & left my bag. Walked up to Uncle William’s, had dinner there & walked back to Waterloo. Got home at 4.30. Papa about the same, all the others very well. This entry confirms my suspicion that James Moody was an invalid and rarely went out. JBM’s uncles in Basingstoke and London seem to have acted as surrogate fathers to him. JBM’s records his father’s death (at the age of 62) in the following year’s diary. 24 Saturday Jamie & Grandma staying at home. Grandma gave me a beautiful dressing case, fitted with razors, brushes etc. 25 Sunday Went to Church in morn & eve. Had a jolly day. 26 Monday In the morning Arthur & I walked to Mr Clift’s in Sherbourne. Minnie drove in in the aft. & went with us to Loe’s in the evening, we had a jolly dance to the Mechanics’ band & got home at 12 o’clock. Minnie sent me a pair of silk socks & her photograph for a Christmas present. 27 Tuesday In the morning we went skating on the fishpond. I went in half way up my legs as usual, & sat in (sic), in the aft, while my things were drying. In eve. we went to Allen’s to tea & supper and had a jolly dance. Got home at 12. 28 Wednesday In morn went down to see Mr Val Adams at the brewery & had a chat with him. Bought his dress suit & had it altered at Mr Evans’s. Minnie went home in evening. 29 Thursday In aft Blanche & I went down to the Basin with Ada Allen skating. The ice was splendid & Ada Allen came back to tea with us. I went down to Uncle Richard’s to supper. Purkis settled up for our 2nd week & there was 10s/- each balance out of the £1 each. 30 Friday Arthur gave me £16.6s to take with me. Railway fare £1. Board & lodging for last week ending 29th £1. And £1.6 for 13 weeks p. money & £13 for 13 weeks or 1st quarter’s board & lodging. I am to pay my washing out of this if possible. I also received £1.3.4 Int due on £100 up to Dec 14th. Invested in this business.  31 Saturday Came back to Rowhedge. Started from B’stoke at 10 o’clock, went from Waterloo to Liverpool St by ‘bus. Bought an alarum clock at the Great Eastern Bazaar, Liverpool St. for 6/6. I bought a wooden box beside my bag with some mince pies etc. Got down here at 2.30. Went to the Brewery, had dinner & did not go out again, as I was rather tired. Went to bed at 11 o’clock At the end of the diary on Memoranda sheets JBM has written: Addresses G Dunn 1 Woods Villa, Swanley Junction Kent (above entry crossed out) M. Canon Angelsmith Queen’s Parade Brandon Hill Bristol G. Dunn c/o Mr Colgate 1, Kent Villa Swanley Junction Kent Rev R. A. Hamilton Holmesdale Villa Sunningdale Ascot. R. Povey 17 Montpelier St. Knightsbridge London Where I got my celluloid collar & cuffs W.J. Bull 12 New Inn Strand London S Gammon (corn merchant) 22 London St Reading H. Herbert Horton 14 Burlington St Bath W.C. Beaumont Milne Esq Grammar School Masham Yorks Rev. E, Nelson Williams Hunstanton Norfolk n

1 Tuesday A wet day. Went for a walk in the aft. Miss Pauline Sergel came to tea. 2 Wednesday Charles & I went for a long walk to Barnes in morning. In aft we went to the Hippodrome at Olympia. It was very good, better than last year. I came back to Bloomsbury St after supper. 3 Thursday Uncle William & I went down to Wyvenhoe (sic) at 10 o’clock from Liverpool St. & got there about ½ past eleven. It rained in the morning but cleared off (sic) afterwards, Mr Daniell showed us over the Brewery & then drove us to his house to lunch. Then we were driven to Colchester where we stayed about 2 hours & got back here at 9 o’clock. I arranged about my lodgings at £1 per week. 4 Friday In the morning I went up to the City with Aunt Polly to choose a dressing case at Southgate’s (Watling St.) for Arthur & me to give Blanche. In the aft. Aunt & I went through Trafalgar Sq. To the Temple to see a Chrysanthemum show. In the eve Uncle W. & I went to “The Old Guard” at the Avenue Theatre. It was very good, I enjoyed it immensely. Comic opera starring Miss Henrietta Polak, actress and singer. 5 Saturday In morn. I went down to Trafalgar Sq. & saw a great row with the “unemployed”. Bought a tobacco pouch in the shape of a skull, 1/6. In the aft I came home to Basingstoke. Uncle William walked to Waterloo with me. New pair of boots from Wyeth’s £1.1.6, clump soles. 7 Monday Ordered 3 Oxford shirts from Mr Hewett’s, 6/6 each. In the evening Arthur, Blanche, Minnie Rush & I went to a concert at the Drill Hall given by Major May. Mr Winterbottom’s military band performed, it was very good. 8 Tuesday Busy getting ready for next Monday. Received my £4.1.2 interest due Nov. 1st . 9 Wednesday Began clearing up my 3 cornered room. Mended my cigarette case. 10 Thursday Blanche’s 21st Birthday. She had a lot of presents, brooches, bracelets etc. Arthur & I gave her a dressing case, 36/6 cost price. Pa & Ma gave her a 2 guinea muff. In the evening we had the Allens, Loes & Powells in to tea. Champagne for supper & a small dance in the drawing room after. 11 Friday Bought a cap 2/-, 2 ties 2/6, & 1 pair of gloves 3/6 at Hewett’s yesterday. Went down & said good bye to Mr Longley & gave him some cigars. Grandma gave me 5/-. In the evening I went over to Powell’s to supper. 12 Saturday Met Morton Lear & went up to School to say goodbye to Chadwick. Went up to station to meet Uncle William who came down to spend Sunday with us. Arthur gave me £5.17 to come away with for 1 month. £1 per week for board & lodging, 1/- (not clear) for washing, 5/- (not clear) for jacket, 2/- (not clear) for P. money. 13 Sunday Said goodbye to the Allens, Loes, Cannons & Caldecotts. Went to Youngman’s to supper. 14 Monday Went down & said goodbye to Uncle & Aunt Jane. Started from Basingstoke by the 9.52. All the house was in tears. I felt rather uncomfortable. However it went off, as I went up to Waterloo with John Portsmouth. Had a cab from Waterloo to Liverpool St, 2/-. Arrived at Wivenhoe at 2.35. Purkis came up to the station to meet me. Had tea, went up to the brewery, unpacked my things & slept well. 15 Tuesday Started my pupilship at Mr Daniell’s Brewery, East Donyland, for a month on trial. Wrote home to Ma to say I had arrived all right. Went to the Brewery at ½ past 9 o’clock. It was snowing hard. Had boiled rabbit & pork for dinner. In the aft. walked over to the stores at Wivenhoe with Purkis, the brewer. Stayed in & read in the evening. 16 Wednesday Got up to mash at ½ past six. It was freezing hard. Had a good many glasses of beer during the day. In evening I stayed in & read. The steamer which takes beer up to Chelsea ran into the bank & could not get off. Mashing: combining a mix of milled grain with supplementary grains and water and heating. 17 Thursday Got up to mash at ½ past six. After breakfast went out for a walk with Purkis & Mr Bartlett shooting. The steamer got off the bank & was loaded with 120 barrels of beer for Chelsea. In evening went down to the “Crown” with Purkis, Mr Bartlett & Nunn. 18 Friday Got up at 7 o’clock, rather late. Added up some accounts for Mr Daniell. Brewed 50 barrels of P.A., beginning to see how the machine works. Blyth takes the brewing this week after 9 am. In eve wrote to Mr Angelsmith to tell him what I was doing. 19 Saturday Got up to mash at 6.45. In the aft. at 3 o’clock Blyth & I walked over to Colchester. Had a look over the town. I bought a bell for the table 1/- & a tin of Cocoatina (price unclear). We drove back to Heath House with Mr & Mrs Daniell & Miss F Blyth & I stopped there to dinner, had a jolly evening & got home about ten & went to bed. Purkis & some fellows played cards till 4 o’clock. 20 Sunday Went for a walk in morn & aft. In evening went to Wivenhoe church with Purkis & Bartlett. Wrote to Blanche. 21 Monday Not brewing today. Got down at the Brewery at ½ past 7 to weigh the gyles etc. Did chemistry all day with Blyth, analysed some malt & went through the maltings. In eve went up to Heath House with Blyth & had a little dinner as I had had sprats for tea. Got home at ½ past 9. 22 Tuesday Got up to mash at 6.45. Blyth is mashing this week. Paid Mrs Tye £1 for the week. After breakfast I distilled a lot of water for chemistry & did some more malt analysis. Began reading Loftus’ work on brewing. Went to see about some fresh lodgings. Wrote to Uncle William in the evening. 23 Wednesday I got up at ½ past six every morn. this week. I wrote to Mr Milne & Mrs Hamilton. 24 Thursday Mr Daniell asked me to take the part of “Mr Walk ‘em fast” in some waxworks in the schoolroom Rowhedge on Friday which I decided to do. We had a rehearsal of the waxworks at 5 o’clock. At 8 o’clock Purkis & I went to Mr Bartlett’s to a small card party. Burton & Nunn were there. We played Loo, 1/- a doz till 10.30. Very jolly eve. 25 Friday In aft. I helped get the room ready & in the eve there was a concert & waxworks. I took the part of “Mr Walking Fast”, Mr Daniell was “Artemus Ward” the showman, Miss F Blyth was “Mrs Pear’s Soap”, Oct. Blyth was “Knave of Hearts”, Miss Coar was “Jubilee” & many others. It went off splendidly. The room was crammed & we had to turn away a lot from the doors. Octavius Blyth 26 Saturday In the aft. I went over to Colchester with Blyth & took my football things; but did not play as they had the team made up. I went in to Allen’s & saw Pearl Allen, she walked down to St Botolph’s station with me. We had a concert again in the ever. I acted in the waxworks. The room was full again. Had a letter from Arthur. 27 Sunday Went to Rowhedge Church in morn, for walk in aft. 28 Monday Not brewing today, got down to the brewing at ½ past seven. We took £10.0.1. at the concerts on Friday & Saturday, which was very good for the small room. In aft. picked out a lot of barrels of beer to go up to London by the steamer. Paid Mrs Tye £1 for board & lodging for the week.  29 Tuesday I make cocoa now every morn when I get up to mash, which is 4 times a week now.

2 Tuesday Arthur sent me cheque for £15.12.6 for quarter. £13 Board & Lodge. £1.6.0 P. Money. £-.16.6 boots. 10/- for week he stayed with me. 3 Wednesday Went to Bartlett’s in eve. Brewing 5 times this week. I am Brewing. Nowell repaid me the 30/- I lent him. I paid Mrs Pitt 11/-. 4 Thursday Went in to Colchester to Football Practice. Saw Ada Allen. 7 Sunday Had an invitation from Miss Godden to Elmstead Harvest Thanksgiving & to tea. Blyth & I went. Very nice. Walked back with Blyth. 8 Monday Went in to Colchester Theatre to see the “Mikado”, D’Oyly Carte’s Company. Very Good. Drove back with Guv’nor. 13 Saturday I went in to Colchester & went on the market with Mr Robert. Bought several lots barley. I drove Guv’nor’s mare home & slept at Heath House as he was out. Bought football boots 12/6. 14 Sunday Went for long walk in morning. Did not go out (sic) Blyth had bad cold. 17 Wednesday Took the brewing & mashed all this week. Brewed 5 times. Blyth was away all the week with bad cold. So I had enough to do. 20 Saturday My Father died this morning in bed. I am glad to say without any suffering. 21 Sunday I went to Dan Green’s. 22 Monday Went home. 23 Tuesday Had new black suit. 26 Friday The Funeral. I went with Arthur & Frank By his will Pa left £200 to ...(name not clear, Janie?), £100 to Alice & his entire business & property to Mother, to be divided among us children at her death or marriage. Mr Bayley & Uncle William Trustees. Aged 62 years. 28 Sunday Went to St. Michael’s in morning. Went to the school in afternoon & had a talk with Mr Chadwick.  30 Tuesday Came back to Donyland & hard work. Brewed 5 times this week.

3 Saturday Took down one side of the pigeons’ house & cut down the almond tree & a lot of branches off the oak tree. Heard of Edith’s engagement to Dr Pearce of Salcombe. Arthur gave me the £2 interest on my £100 in the business & paid it into the Savings Bank for me. Cousin Edith Paice, a daughter of Uncle William, married Dr Arthur Pearce MRCSE. 4 Sunday Had a letter from Isleworth Brewery to say the premium was.....(not clear: £300?) 5 Monday The alterations were begun today to make a shed for the new furniture van & to make house for storing furniture. 6 Tuesday Tricycle was finished mending by Watson. 7 Wednesday Mr Adams had a letter Mr Daniel at Colchester Brewery to say his premium was £150, board & lodging extra. Finished the first 100 rows in my tennis net. 8 Thursday Went to Allen’s to supper. 9 Friday Sold 4 pairs of my pigeons. 1 pair Jacobins 2/- to a builder. 1 pair Fantails 2/- to a builder. 1 pair Jacobins 2/6 to Will. Cannon. 1 pair Jacobins 2/6 to Mr Pike. Picked 28 lbs of plums for jam, 14 lbs red plum, 14 lbs black. 10 Saturday Cut down the May tree. Took some plums & grapes down to Aunt Jane. We had a tremendous lot of grapes in the greenhouse this year. 12 Monday Sold 3 pairs of carrier pigeons to Doubleday for 3/6. Wrote to Mr Daniell at Colchester to meet him in London on Wednesday. 13 Tuesday Sold 3 pairs of Jacobins & old pair of Fantails to a builder for 5/-. This was the last of my pigeons. In aft & eve took down the wire aviary & tied it up & took it to the top of the garden. 14 Wednesday Went up to London with Aunt Mary. We went to Uncle William’s & I met Mr Daniell there at 12 0’clock & arranged to go there in November as a pupil for a month first to see how I liked it. Uncle George & Uncle William were there & were both satisfied with the arrangements, he is a nice gentleman. I went up to Camomile Street to order a block for printing of the new furniture van. Went to Hammersmith to sleep. Thomas Daniell & Sons, West Bergholt Brewery (founded about 1815) merged with Daniell Brothers & Co of Colchester in 1887 to form Daniell & Son’s Brewery Ltd. Acquired by Truman Hanbury and Buxton in 1958. Brewing ceased 1959. 15 Thursday In the morning walked to Putney with Charles. In aft. went to St James’s Palace with Edith, Julia & Winnie to see the Queen’s Jubilee presents. They were very handsome. Great talk about Edith’s engagement. 16 Friday Went for a long walk with Charles in the morning. In the evening Fred went up to Waterloo with me & came back home at about 9 o’clock. My bantam hen hatched 7 young ones out of 7 eggs. 17 Saturday In morning went up to the station to meet Uncle W & Aunt Polly. They were going for their holiday to Jersey. I gave bantams to Frank & he is to keep them now. 18 Sunday Went for a walk with the Allens. 19 Monday Sold the 3 young bantams to Charles the gardener for 1/-. Blanche went to Miss Hart’s school as morning governess. 20 Tuesday Sold the 3 old bantams & 7 young ones to Mr Jacob for 5/-. Took down the pigeons’ house & packed up the wire & put it at the top of the garden. 21 Wednesday Laid the foundation stone in the new building. JBM 1887. I cut it out before. I laid the brick & filled it in with white mortar & stood the bricklayers a gallon of beer. Arthur laid one & Frank too. 22 Thursday Went out for a ride on the tricycle to Herriard & got some nuts. Harry Powell let us put our tricycle in his shed until our alterations were finished. 23 Friday Drove Mr Longley to a sale at Hurst – 20 miles. Started at 8.30. He bought several things & I had a good dinner at the house free of charge. Got back at 7 o’clock. Blanche had a telegram from Uncle William to go to Southsea till Tuesday: she went. 24 Saturday I drove Ma & the children out nutting to Herriard, we did not get many nuts. I put a back on a plush frame of Mrs Allen’s & took it down. 25 Sunday Went to Uncle Richard’s to supper; he was bad. 26 Monday Helped make some tomato sauce from our own tomatoes & bottled it. Wrote to Loftus & Co for a list of works on Brewing. Cousin Ada went back home with Nora. 27 Tuesday Blanche came home from Southsea. In aft I went up to a football practice at the School. In the morning I went out to Sherfield & got some blackberries & a fine caterpillar. 28 Wednesday In the aft I went blackberrying out to Bramley & got 2 baskets full on the tricycle. Mr & Mrs Clift came in in the evening. 29 Tuesday I mended Grandma’s travelling box, for which she gave me a shilling. I went out & got some wild berries & ferns for Blanche to decorate the church. Went up to School to a football practice.  30 Friday I made a lot of blackberry jam. In the aft I drove out Blanche & Nellie Loe to get some berries etc for harvest Thanksgiving. Finished reading Voltaire’s “Candide” – did not much care for it, very overdrawn.

1 Monday In the morning I drove Pa & the others to the Duke of Wellington’s monument. In the afternoon we all went to Hackwood to see a cricket match & Fred Bird & Ada & Willie Paice. Came home to tea at 7 o’clock & played tennis after. 2 Tuesday Went up to Station with Uncle to see him off. Picked a lot of apples. Went to the baths. In aft. painted the posts on the lawn for wire netting. Played tennis in evening. Answered some advertisements. 3 Wednesday Went to the Baths. Wrote to Arthur at Bath. There was a fire at Sherborne in the evening, we drove out to see it & took Minnie & Miss Clift home. Saw George Dunn & had a talk. Advertised my pigeons in the Exchange & Mart. 4 Thursday Wrote to The Brewery at Herne Bay to decline it. Had a lot of prospectus (sic) from an adv. for engineering I had answered. Bottled some ginger beer. Drove Ma, Blanche, Aunts Polly & Jane to the Vyne House. There was a missionary meeting first. Mr Lloyd spoke & then Mr Chute showed us over the house. 5 Friday Cleaned up a picture frame for the photograph of school teams. Turned out the paper room. Ball came in to say good-bye to me as he is going tomorrow. Mort Lear told me he had passed his exam & was going away to work with Chadwick on Monday. At Westward Ho! 6 Saturday Turned out the place under the machine room. In aft went up to the station to meet Uncle William who came down for Sunday. Harry Loe brought me 5/- for helping at the Jubilee. We went out for a drive in eve. Arthur came home from Bath, the treadle of tricycle broke when he had got half way so he came by train. Mr Whiteley’s (department store) at Westbourne Grove (London) burnt down. ½ million pounds damage. 7 Sunday Played tennis with Uncle William. 8 Monday Uncle Richard had a letter from a gentleman to say the brewery at Herne Bay was very respectable etc. Went up to the station with Uncle Richard. Bought pair of pliers 2/3 at Wagstaff’s. Put some birdlime on sticks to catch flies. Went up to station see Aunt Polly off. Miss Fencott came in to tennis. 9 Tuesday Played tennis in evening. 10 Wednesday Made some ginger beer from a recipe of Grandpa’s. Minnie & Mrs Clift came to tea. 11 Thursday Bottled the ginger beer, 13 bottles. Drove Pa, Blanche & the children out for a drive to get wild flowers for the Show. Mr Lear was married to Miss Poulter at 8.30 in the morning. 12 Friday Hatched 4 young bantams. Finished reading “Monte Cristo” by Alex. Dumas. It is the best of Dumas that I have read, but very unrealistic at points. 13 Saturday Ma & Frank, Ethel & Mabel went to Bournemouth to stay & Aunt Mary with them. Grandma came to Aunt Jane’s to stay. 14 Sunday Went down to Will Allen’s to tea & sup. 15 Monday Jessie Palmer came to stay with us. Tricycled over to Sherbourne with some cherries from Aunt Mary to Mrs Clift. Drove out in the morning to get some wild flowers for Blanche for the Show. 16 Tuesday Flower Show at Eastlands. We got 1st prize for apples, 1st for pears & 2 nd for peas. Blanche showed some wild flowers, did not get a prize. I tricycle over to Mr Clift’s in the morn. with £5 I cashed for him at the Bank. 17 Wednesday Went down to the Baths & had a swim with the Caldicotts. Mended my sailing boat & took it up to the station for Mr Cannon to take to Bournemouth for Frank. Nellie Loe and Miss Fencott came in to tennis. Nellie stayed to supper. Mr Clift got in all his harvest today. We have not had rain for 9 weeks till today. 18 Thursday Answered some advertisements in the Brewer’s Journal. In eve. Will Allen & I castrated the black kitten which he gave me. Wrote to Ma. 19 Friday Went to the Baths. Painted the posts for wire netting on the lawn. Ordered ½ bushel of food for pigeons off Gammon, Reading. 20 Saturday Painted the posts on lawn. Pigeons’ food came from Reading – 2/6. In eve we played tennis. Miss Fencott came in & Dick Knight came from Isleworth. Grandma came up & Jessie Palmer sang after supper. 21 Sunday Went for a long walk with Dick Knight in morn. Went to Wote St to tea & supper. 22 Monday Painting posts on lawn. In aft. drove Pa, Grandma, Aunt Jane, Blanche & Jessie out for a long drive. In eve. went down to Miss Fencott’s & put up some flycatchers for her father. Miss Fencott taught me to net. I learnt in about ten minutes. 23 Tuesday Wrote to Mr Knight to ask him to go to the Isleworth Brewery & see if there was a vacancy. Made a mesh and began making a tennis net; did 37 stitches for the depth & did 6 rows today. Went down to Allen’s to tennis in evening with Arthur. 24 Wednesday Made two mahogany meshes for my netting an inch wide before breakfast. Painting on the lawn all morning. In aft, Jessie Palmer & I went out for a row in Allen’s boat with Ada & Alice Hine, very jolly. Played tennis in evening. 25 Thursday Had a letter from Mr Knight to say the premium at Isleworth Brewery was 150 guins. per annum. In the morning drove Grandma over to Sherbourne. In aft. Jessie Palmer, Jessie Knight, Blanche & I drove out to Silchester for a picnic, saw all over the old Roman camp, made our tea out there & called for Grandma coming back at 9 o’clock. 26 Friday Went down to see Mr Val. Adams about the Colchester Brewery. Went to the Baths. Made a bracket for trays, stained it & varnished it & put it up in Aunt Jane’s kitchen. Stopped there to supper. Valentine Adams worked at the Victoria Brewery, Basingstoke  27 Saturday Finished painting the posts on lawn. Ma & the children came home from Bournemouth in the evening, they enjoyed it very much. I went up to station to meet them. 28 Sunday Went to church in morning. 29 Monday Arthur & I went up to Uncle William’s by an excursion to Waterloo, 4/- there and back. Had dinner at Uncle’s, went to the American Exhibition in afternoon, back to tea at 6 & had a chat with Uncle about the Breweries. Started at 9 & got back at ½ past 10 o’clock in eve, not at all crowded

1 Saturday A coded sentence, followed by: Came home from Loe’s dance at 1 o’clock this morning. We heard the church bells ring. Went for a jolly skate up the canal with the Loes, met Lynch & had a talk with him, he was staying here for a few days. 2 Sunday. Went for a jolly skate up the canal. 3 Monday Went skating up the canal. 4 Tuesday Had a small dance in the evening, the Allens, Loes & their cousins & Minnie came. We took down the gas in the front room down stairs; left off about ½ past 12. Went off very well. 5 Wednesday Met Leslie Angelsmith down in the town, he had come with his wife & child & company to act at the Drill Hall next week. Had a long talk with him. 6 Thursday Went skating. 7 Friday Went skating in the morning. Went on putting up the wirework in the pigeons’ place which was broken down by the snow on Bank Holiday. There was 17 ins of snow on level ground up our garden. 8 Saturday Finished putting up the pigeons’ house and let them all out. Leslie Angelsmith came in to tea & stayed for an hour or two. 10 Monday Arthur & Papa went to Stanlake Park to take an inventory & stayed there till Friday. Arthur came home for Wednesday night. (A short coded entry follows). 11 Tuesday Charles Paice came down from Hammersmith in the afternoon. Went to the Down Grange in the morning with Will Allen. John P wrote in to say they were going to thresh but they did not. 12 Wednesday Went to the Basin at Hackwood skating in the morning. Took Venus with me. Out to Portsmouth’s in the afternoon, went out shooting. I shot several small birds. Mort Lear fell in the duck pond up to his neck Went to Leslie Norman Angelsmith’s performance ”The New Magdalene” at the Drill Hall. He sent us tickets for this night. 13 Thursday Minnie, Blanche, Charles & I went to the Drill Hall in the evening to “Naval Engagements”, Leslie’s wife acted. It was awfully good. 14 Friday Went to the Broadwater skating in the morning. As I was coming away Leslie Angelsmith came down. I lent him my skates, which he brought back in the afternoon. His daughter’s name is “Ivy”. Went to the canal skating again. Went to “Naval Engagements” again at the Drill Hall. 15 Saturday In the morning went to Portsmouth’s to see a rick threshed, took Venus & killed a heap of rats. I had dinner at Portsmouth’s & went home soon after & took Blanche & Minnie skating up the canal. We had a splendid skate. An awfully cold day. 16 Sunday Went for a fine skate up the canal in the afternoon. 17 Monday Went to Winchfield by train & walked to Dogmersfield Park. Had a splendid skate. The ice was like glass & over a foot thick. Walked on to Odiham, had tea at the “George”, walked to Hook station & back by train. 18 Tuesday It thawed dreadfully & the ice was not fit to skate on; we went to the canal to see & then went over Basing ruins. 19 Wednesday Charles & I drove over to Mr Clift’s at Sherborne for a dress for Minnie & stayed there to dinner & drove Mr Clift in. In the afternoon cleaned out pigeons’ house & found the fantails had laid & killed two young carriers. Took my watch to be cleaned for the 1st time to Mr Porter’s. Sherborne: JBM is inconsistent with his spelling. It is usually appears as Sherbourne 20 Thursday Went to Reading with Charles Paice. Saw the new statue of a lion in the Forbury Gardens, the museum & went over Huntley & Palmer’s biscuit factory; ordered a bushel of pigeons’ food at Gammon’s & paid for it 5/-. We went on up to Hammersmith. The Maiwand Lion war memorial erected in 1886. 21 Friday Went to Olympia, the new Agricultural Hall at S Kensington (the largest hall in England, opened the day after Christmas Day) & saw the “Hippodrome”. It was very good. Edith, Julia & Charles went with me. Edith and Julia: Charles’ sisters 22 Saturday Went to the “Forty Thieves” at Drury Lane in the afternoon, enjoyed it immensely. The 1st time I had been to Drury Lane. 23 Sunday Went to Chiswick Church in the morning. 24 Monday Charles & I walked across Barnes Common & through Richmond Park to Richmond & came back by train. Went to the Zoological Gardens in the afternoon & into Uncle William’s to tea & back by ‘bus. Finished reading the “The King’s Own” by Marryat. Very good tale. 25 Tuesday Went to Whiteleys in the morning & saw Jamie. In the afternoon went to Richmond Park to see “George’s v University College” rugby match for the cup. Univ Coll won by 2 goals to 0. Met Percy Johnson there. 26 Wednesday Bought this book for 10d. Went to the Japanese village in the afternoon & saw the performance there. It was very good. Went from there to Bloomsbury to tea & back from Charing +. Edith Paice’s 25th birthday. This book: Pettitt’s Scribbling Octavo Diary for 1887. Interleaved Blotting 27 Thursday Went for a long walk out by the Willesden canal with Charles. In the evening went to a concert at the Vestry Hall at Turnham Green with Edith, Julia & Charlie & Mr Duggin. 28 Friday Came up to Uncle William’s at Bloomsbury in the afternoon to stay. Went with Uncle & Aunt to “Harbour Lights” at the Adelphi Theatre in the evening. Enjoyed it immensely. 29 Saturday Went to the British Museum & saw the Egyptian Mummies. In the aft. went to Barnes by train with Uncle & walked thro’ Richmond Park to Richmond; went to Mr Esse’s to tea & supper.  30 Sunday Went to Mr Bird’s at Wimbledon to spend the day. 31 Monday Went over the library in the British Museum with Charles Paice. Wonderful. Walked up to the city & went into St Paul’s Cathedral, heard part of the service in the afternoon. In the eve. went to “Faust” & saw Irving act. It was splendid. Was weighed at the Distillery: 10 stone. FEBRUARY

1 Wednesday Tricycled back to Basingstoke. It was a very hot day. I started at 11 o’clock & got to Mr Hamilton’s at one & had dinner. He tricycled 6 miles along the road with me & was very pleased to see me. It was a splendid ride, the scenery beautiful & the roads good. Got home at 7 o’clock, had a cold bath, a pint of beer & some meat & went down to Allen’s & had a game of tennis. 2 Thursday Katie Knight went home. In the morning wrote to Edith to thank her for my visit & to ask Paul Bull about a gentleman he knew in Florida who wanted a companion. In aft. went down to Hackwood Park to see a cricket match, rode back with Mr Gabell & Warren. In the eve sent some pansies & stocks etc up to Aunt Mary 3 Friday Arthur gave me a monogram stamp for a birthday present. Mended some baskets. Went in to see Dunn who was having a week’s holiday. Against this entry JBM has inked and used this stamp: an elaborate intertwined JBM. 4 Saturday Killed a carrier pigeon & took it down to Marion Allen. Uncle & Aunt Jane went to Deal. Went down to our baths, the first time this year. The water was good. Umpired on Folly for the School against St. Michael’s. School lost. Arthur’s birthday 5 Sunday Went over Mr Lodwidge’s garden. 6 Monday Watering in the garden all day. In eve. up to Station to get Exchange & Mart. Minnie & Mrs Clift came in to tea & asked me to go over to tennis when I liked. 7 Tuesday Watered the garden with liquid manure. Went on Tricycle. 8 Wednesday Sent an advertisement to the Exchange & Mart to sell a pair of Jacobins 5/- & pair of fantails 5/-. Painted the stable door inside. Had a letter from Herbie Horton, Bath. 9 Thursday Wrote to Gammon’s for bushel of pigeons’ food 5/-. Wrote to Paul Bull to send me particulars of Mr Godden. Wrote to Blanche. 10 Friday Painted Coach-house door outside first coat. In evening went over to Sherbourne & had a game of tennis with Minnie. Had a letter from Gammon to say he could let me have a sack 4 bush. For 19/- but I did not. Uncle William’s birthday. 11 Saturday Wrote to Aunt Jane for Mamma. Mended corn bin. Had a letter from Paul Bull giving me particulars about Mr Godden, Pinellas Pt., Hillsbourough County, Florida. His estate is just what I should like, by the sea. Ma objects. 12 Sunday Aunt Jane’s birthday. Wrote to Paul Bull, Mr Angelsmith & Herbert Horton to tell them I was going to Florida. 13 Monday Got up early & began cutting down the pear tree in the middle of the lawn, so that we could play tennis. Dug up the roots myself. Getting my hand in for Florida. Went down to Allen’s to tennis. Drove Ma & Misses Hasker out for drive. 14 Tuesday Cut up the pear tree & took it down to the cellar. Had a letter from Paul Bull giving me more particulars & telling me the way to go. Wrote to Mr Williams to ask him to sell me his portable bed which was being stored at our shop. 15 Wednesday Bottled a dozen of ginger beer that we made. Mr Parsons came for my fantail pigeons in answer to my advertisment in Exchange & Mart. He gave me three bantams & 2/- for a young pair of fantails. Went down to Allen’s to tennis. Had a letter from Mr Williams saying he could not let me have the bed. 16 Thursday Went down & cleaned out Allen’s boat in the afternoon. Had a letter from Herbert Horton advising me not to go to Florida. Bantams came this evening. Went down to Loe’s to tennis. Wrote to Mr Williams to say I had sent off his box. 17 Friday Drove Miss Pike’s school over to Sherbourne at 12 o’clock for the Jubilee there. Had dinner at Mrs Clift’s. I stopped there till 10 o’clock; very jolly 18 Saturday Made some flags to decorate our house & covered some pots with red, white & blue for the table. My bantams began laying. 20 Monday Got up at 6 o’clock & went to the Corn Exchange to see the meat came in all right & send it out to different people to cook, 200 joints. In the aft there was a children’s procession & 3000 had tea up the streets & afterwards a fête on the common. Had a game of tennis with Morton Lear. Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated over 20 and 21 June. 21 Tuesday Jubilee Jubilee Jubilee!!! come at last. Got up at 6 o’clock to see the meat came in all right & to put it on the tables all right & cut up bread & meat for the poor. After the procession 2400 people had dinner in the streets. I carved a joint at Mr Cannon’s table. Afterwards a fête & bonfire etc on the common. All the town was illiuminated at night. It was a splendid day. Went off beautifully. Anybody had dinner who lived in the town. Queen Victoria travelled in an open landau in a procession in London. Spectators were accommodated on terraced benches along 10 mile of scaffolding erected for the purpose. 22 Wednesday Went to the Corn Exchange today to see things cleared away all right. Blanche saw the procession in London beautifully with Uncle & Aunt, they paid £5 for the 3 seats. Marked out our lawn & put up the tennis net. 23 Thursday Put up some wire netting in front of the greenhouse & in the evening played the first game of tennis that has ever been played on our lawn. Mrs Adams, Blanche & Harry Powell & Will. Allen came in & played. I went down to Aunt Jane’s house to sleep as they were at Deal. 24 Friday Went down & marked out Adams’ lawn in the afternoon & had a jolly game of tennis in the evening. Slept at Aunt Jane’s. 25 Saturday Made some lead weights for the tennis net. Had a letter from Fred Paice to know if he could come up here on Tuesday from Salcombe. Wrote to Uncle William to tell him I wanted to go to Florida. Drove Ma & the children out for drive. Sunday 26 Sunday Grandma’s birthday. Had a jubilee sermon – 2 hours. Willie Allen came in & we played tennis all afternoon & evening. 27 Monday In the morning I tricycled over to Sherbourne with a note from Nellie Loe to ask Minnie to come in in the aft. Arthur & I went to Loe’s to a tennis party. The Caldecotts & Allens were there. Went to Aunt Jane’s to sleep. Soon after I was in bed Uncle & Aunt came home. I did not get to bed again till 1 o’clock. 28 Tuesday Blanche came home & Julia with her. I painted the coach house door inside. 29 Wednesday In the evening went to a tennis party at Adam’s, had some very good games. 30 Thursday In the evening Ma, Julia & I went up to Mr Soper’s to see Mr Stephens who gave me a lecture on Florida & said it was the biggest fraud on earth & told me I should never make a farthing out there & should have to work dreadfully hard. This has settled my going to Florida 

1 Sunday £4 interest on the £206 in New Zealand Inscribed. 2 Monday Went out for walk yesterday and tore a new pair of breeches awfully. Mended & painted small frame for seeds. In the afternoon I went up to School to fetch my books; had a talk with Chadwick & gave him my keys. (Coded entry follows). 3 Tuesday Made some paint & painted the coach-house window white. In the afternoon went to a military funeral in the cemetery – Sergeant Hitchcock’s. Then I tricycled over to Sherbourne – had tea there & a jolly game of tennis with Minnie after. Ethel was staying there. 4 Wednesday I was puttying & painting the stable windows all day. Had my hair cut. In the evening went down to Uncle Richard’s, he helped me indite a letter to the directors of the Bank. Stayed there to supper with Arthur. Katie Knight was staying at Aunt Jane’s. 5 Thursday Painted small frame in the morning. In the aft. drove Uncle & Aunt Jane & Ma for a long drive. In the eve. tricycled to Odiham with Will & Bert Allen & Arthur. I went on a “tandem” with Will, stopped at the “George”. 6 Friday Very wet. Added up & corrected mistakes in the Dustpan Accounts for Arthur. In the aft. drove Mabel up to Mrs Stephen’s to tea. Finished reading “The Spy” by Fennimore Cooper. Very good novel, but nothing in it beyond the simple story. The Little Dustpan was a small shop run by the family at 11 Church Street, Basingstoke 7 Saturday In the morning painting. In aft. drove Ethel, Frank & Mabel out primrosing. (Coded entry follows). 8 Sunday In the eve. went for a walk with Katie Knight after church. 9 Monday In the morning finished taking notes from “A strange story” & took it up to the School library & had game of cricket. In the aft. painting. In the eve. Katie Knight, Aunt Jane & Blanche & H. Powell came to spend the eve. Had some singing etc. 10 Tuesday Took the tricycle to Watson to have a new tire on the little wheel. Cleared the furniture out of the Drawing room to be cleaned. Took the guitar to Powell’s to have some new strings. Tricycled over to Sherbourne, took Minnie some sunflower seeds, stayed there to tea & had a jolly game of tennis after. Wrote to G. Dunn. 11 Wednesday My birthday. 17 yrs old. Went to see Mr Bayley to see if he would support my application for the Bank. Yes. Ordered a luggage carrier for the tricycle from Watson. In the aft. umpired for the dayboys v. the boarders on the Folly. Drawn. Bought a tennis shirt at Hewell’s – 8/9d. Went into Dunn’s & stayed there to supper. 12 Thursday In the morning painted window. Went down to the wharf to get a post for carpet pole & swing. In the eve. made my application to the chairman of directors of L & C Bank referring him to Mr Bayley, Chadwick, Millard & Dale. Wrote to Blanche. 13 Friday In the morn. painted window. In the aft. went for a long tricycle ride, rode up Farleigh Hill & though Preston Candover. In the eve went down to Allen’s to ask for Marian. Fantail, Jacobin, Carrier hatched this week, rather bad. 14 Saturday Wrote to Knightsbridge for india rubber collar. Met the Vicar, who said he would be pleased to give one reference. Took the tricycle to Watson to have new rubbers on pedals & luggage carrier. Drove Ma & the children to Sherbourne. India rubber: celluloid 15 Sunday Had a letter from Bank Directors to say I must wait till my writing was better before I applied. Went down to Uncle Richard’s to spend day. Katie Knight was there. 16 Monday Killed 2 carrier & 1 Jacobin pigeons. Pa paid me 2/- for the 3. Went to Mr Dale, he said there were so many applying tthat they were very particular. Painted window. Went down to Allen’s to tennis in the evening. Wrote to Aunt Mary at Twickenham. 17 Tuesday Started writing copies to alter my hand. In the aft. tricycled out to Sherbourne to a tennis party to meet Mr Anderson, Miss A. Clift & Miss Monkston who is going to NewZealand next month. Had a splendid game & stayed to tea. Ada Allen & Katie Knight came here to tea & Willie & Bert to supper. Jolly evening. Had letter from Twickenham. 18 Wednesday Wrote another letter to the Bank Directors to say I thought I could improve. Finished painting windows & made paint for doors. Uncle George came down about some affair of Jamie who has left Whiteleys. He went back in evening. Aunt Jane came in to supper. Jamie: possibly Frederick James, son of Uncle George. 19 Thursday Had a letter from Blanche in which Aunt Mary says I could tricycle up to Twickenham tomorrow. Painted stable door. Bought a Daily Telegraph & answered 3 advertisements for situations. Only had an answer to one, which was no good. My india rubber collar came. I wore all the time at London. About this time there is a definite change in handwriting, clearly a conscious effort to improve things after the bank “episode” 20 Friday Tricycled up to Twickenham & took my clothes with me. Started at 10.10 A.M. & arrived at Mr Hamilton’s, Suningdale (sic), at a quarter to one, had lunch with him & went for a walk in Virginia Water. I started again at 4. Hamilton rode with me as far as Egham. Arrived at Twickenham at 6 o’clock, not at all tired. Mr Hamilton: Rev R A Hamilton? See addresses at end of diary 21 Saturday Took the tricycle to a shed near the station. In aft. went to Richmond with Uncle William, Aunt P. & Mrs Esse, to see the new recreation ground opened by the Duchess of Teck, & afterwards to a garden party given by Sir. W. Ellis. It was awfully grand, plenty of champagne, claret cup, ices etc. Uncle & I were taken in photograph close to Duchess of Teck & her daughter, who is very pretty. Awfully jolly. The Duchess of Teck’s 19 year old daughter, Mary, would become Queen Mary, when her husband, Prince George, whom she married in 1893, succeeded to the throne as George V in 1910. 22 Sunday Walked through Bushey Park in morn. & to the Knight’s at Isleworth in the evening with Uncle W. 23 Monday Wrote some copies. Went up to Hammersmith at eleven, had dinner there, went out for a row up past Richmond, with Edith, Julia, Blanche & Charles. They have a jolly new boat & keep it at Kew. Took Blanche back to Twickenham in the evening. Walked up to Knightsbridge with Fred to pay for my collar 1/- & bought pair of cuffs 2/ 24 Tuesday Wrote some copies. Walked to Richmond with Blanche & I went on to Hammersmith to dinner. In aft. went with Charles to the American Exhibition. Saw Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West” & had a ride on the toboggan & Switchback Railway. Met a lot of B’stoke people there. Enjoyed it immensely. I went back to Bloomsbury to sleep. 25 Wednesday “Merrie Hampton” won the Derby. In morn I went up to Oxford St & bought 4 ties 2 ½ each at Hope Brothers. Charles came up to dinner & we went to the Academy in the aft. It was the first time I had been & I enjoyed it immensely. Ernest Johnson had a picture there. I met the Misses Temple there & spoke to them. In the eve. Charles & I went for a long walk to see the people come back from the Derby. The artist Ernest Borough Johnson (1866 – 1949) lived part of his life in Basingstoke. In 1887 he exhibited a painting “Her Daily Bread” at the Royal Academy. 26 Thursday In the morning I went to Bow Street Police Court to hear the cases. Sir James Ingham was the judge. In the aft. I went with Aunt Polly up to Rotten Row to see the grandees. In the eve. I went again with Uncle William to see the American Exhibition. 27 Friday In the morning Charles came up & I walked up to Gower St. with him & arranged to meet him at King’s Cross St. after he had been to his doctor. We went down to H’smith to dinner & out for a walk in the aft. I went back to Twickenham to sleep. Grandma gave me 10s/6d while up there. 28 Saturday Went out for short ride on the tricycle & then went up to Richmond with Blanche. I went on to H’smith in aft Uncle George, Charles, Fred & I rowed the boat down to Twickenham. Had tea at Aunt Mary’s & brought Blanche back to H’smith. We both slept there. Bought “Monte Cristo” 1/- at Richmond. 29 Sunday Went for long walk in morning. 30 Monday We all went for a splendid picnic with the Bulls up to Walton on Thames. I rowed or towed nearly all the way. Had dinner & tea out on the river. Started from Twickenham at 11 o’clock a.m. & got back to H’smith at ½ past eleven p.m. Had a most splendid day. There were three boats full of us. 31 Tuesday  In the morning Fred & I went up to Paddington Swimming Baths. Had a jolly swim & came back by ‘bus. In aft Fred photographed us in a group twice. Then we all went up to Rotten Row by ‘bus, walked through Hyde Park & back by ‘bus. I went down to Twickenham to sleep, having very much enjoyed my stay in H’smith.

1 Friday Grandma sent me 7/- by Arthur for pocket money. In the evening went to the Farningham Boys Concert at the Drill Hall. It was very good. Sat with the Bayleys. Grandma: probably JBM’s maternal grandmother, Nancy Paice 2 Saturday In the afternoon drove Blanche & the children to Ashmoor & got a few primroses. Went to the Drill Hall from 4 till 6.30 for a rehearsal. 3 Sunday Went for walk and caught grass snake. 4 Monday Feel stronger through dumb bell exercises. Had photograph of the football X1 & Chadwick taken up at Sch. by Gidney. Had a half in the afternoon for our last football practice, had a good game. Bernard H Gidney, photographer with a studio in London Street 5 Tuesday Had a rehearsal in the afternoon. 2 Jacobin & 2 Fantail pigeons hatched this week. 6 Wednesday Had a rehearsal 7 Thursday Uncle William & Aunt Polly came for Easter in the evening. Went out for a tricycle ride with Willie Allen in the evening. 8 Friday Went for a long walk with Uncle through the Park in the morning. Dug up the skeleton of a hedgehog in the afternoon. Tricycled with Willie Allen over to Sherbourne to meet the others who had driven there to tea. 9 Saturday Had a rehearsal of farce in the morning & the play in the afternoon. Went very well. Jamie came in evening. Finished reading “A Strange Story” by Lytton; a delightful book. 10 April Went to Basing church in evening 11 Monday Went up into the cemetery in the morning. Had a rehearsal at the Drill Hall with Goldman in the afternoon. 2 carrier pigeons hatched. 12 Tuesday Had a rehearsal in the afternoon. Papa gave me a plain gold (18 carat) ring, which Mr Butler left him. I wore it in the play with another one he gave me a year or so ago. The Mr Butler who left JBM a legacy (25 March)? 13 Wednesday Played the part of Lavender in the farce Who’s who” & Rocket in the drama “Take that girl away” at the Drill Hall.- 8 o’clock to 10.30. Went off very well indeed, all the front seats were crammed. Took £15.15.6 & cleared about £4 for the football & cricket club. 14 Thursday Went to the Drill Hall in the morning to pack up my things. In the afternoon had another photo of the football X1 & the group of actors in their costumes taken. Had a heap of congratulations on my success. 15 Friday School broke up for 3 weeks, this is my last term. Had a jolly game of cricket with Lear & Caldecott in afternoon. In the evening went with 3 Bayleys, Caldecott & Goldman in afternoon to “A Night Off” at the Drill Hall. It was very good. 16 Saturday In the morning had a game of fives up at School with the Bayleys. In the afternoon had a pick up game of football between the town & church cottage – the last game this season. 18 Monday Went for a splendid tricycle ride with Will. Bayley to Reading. Ordered a bushel of pigeons’ food at Gammon’s, had dinner at the Abbey Cafe, went over the Museum & into the Forbury Gardens. Started back at 4.30, had a cold bath when I got home. Splendid. 19 Tuesday In the morning cleared away a heap of rubbish at the back of the vans. In the afternoon went up to School & had a jolly game of cricket with Caldecotts, Lear & Portsmouth. 20 Wednesday Got up at ½ past six & went for a row up the canal with Bert Allen, a splendid morning. Took the tricycle to pieces & gave it a thorough cleaning all day. Edith & Winnie Paice & M. Rush came here to stay & Edith Knight & Miss Ogden went to Aunt Jane’s. Had a tricycle ride up London Rd in the evening. Frank went to stay at Mr Clift’s at Sherbourne 21 Thursday Blanche & Edith made several jellies for the ball supper. Went to my 2nd ball, at the Drill Hall (the return one to Major May) the tickets were 12/6 each. Enjoyed it immensely, danced all the dances but 2. It was a splendid supper, I took Miss L. Ogde 22 Friday Came home at 5 this morning & went to bed a little after 6. Willie Paice slept in my bedroom. We got up about ½ past ten, had breakfast & went for a walk. In the afternoon I drove the girls for a long drive through Sherfield & Basing. In the evening went to an entertainment at the Drill Hall. Singing very bad. 23 Saturday Frank’s birthday. He was staying at Sherbourne. In the afternoon I drove Minnie back home in our wagonette with Ma & Blanche & Edith. Met Mr E N Williams on Wednesday & he came in on Thursday & had a talk. 24 Sunday Church, Church, Church. Went for a walk in the afternoon with Blanche & Edith. 25 Monday Started putting newspaper cuttings into a book from the Standard. A very wet morning. In the afternoon it was fine & we all went over to Mr Clift’s at Sherbourne & had a very jolly game of Tennis, had tea there & got back about ½ past seven. The others went to a concert in Church Cottage. 26 Tuesday In the morning I tricycled over to Sherbourne to get some cream for Edith & came back & made a roller for sticking in newspaper cuttings. Went on the tricycle to Oakley Hall which was said to be on fire; when we got there it was only a chimney on fire. The fire brigade & a heap of people went. 27 Wednesday Made a shelf for a tray up in the workshop. In the aft. went out tricycling, but a heavy shower came on when by Basing. I got under a railway arch for nearly an hour & then started in the rain & got very wet but I had my mackintosh. In the evening I went down to Uncle Richard’s to supper & played drafts with him all the eve 28 Thursday In the aft. drove Ma & the children out primrosing along Thornton’s lane & dug up a lot of roots. In the eve. went up to the station to see Bayley & Warren. Blanche sang in the chorus of H. Powell’s concert, the others went. I stayed at home with Pa. It was a great success. 29 Friday In the morning took the little wheel off the tricycle all to pieces & cleaned the bearings. In the aft. went for a tricycle ride up the London Rd. & drove Blanche & Winnie up to the station, B. Went to Hammersmith to stay. In the eve. went on a double tricycle to Hook with Will Allen. 30 Saturday Photographs came from Gidney of Football team & Plays. Went in to see Mr. Dale, he said I was to wait till I was 17 & then write to the Directors of the Bank. Went for along ride up the London Rd. (Coded entry follows). Planted some maize & sunflower seeds in a bed. A squad of Huzzars came into town.