Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 95

1.-At a special meeting of the Board of Governors of the Jenny Lind Infirmary, held at the Guildhall, Norwich, Mr. Colman offered to present to the charity, as a memorial to his late wife, the necessary site upon which to erect a new infirmary. The offer was gratefully accepted, and the Committee of Management were empowered to take steps for collecting funds and for preparing plans. (_See_ January 23rd, 1897.)

5.-Mr. R. W. Ladell, solicitor, was elected by the Norwich Town Council to the office of City Coroner, rendered vacant by the death of Mr. E. S.

Bignold.

7.-Mr. and Mrs. Kendal and their London company appeared at Norwich Theatre in "A Sc.r.a.p of Paper." "A White Lie" was produced on the 8th, and "The Ironmaster" on the 9th.

12.-Mr. J. L. Toole with his London company appeared at the a.s.sembly Room, Agricultural Hall, Norwich, in the comic sporting play "Thoroughbred."

15.-Lord Tweedmouth, as president of the Norwich Gladstone Club, delivered his inaugural address to the members at the a.s.sembly Room, Agricultural Hall, Norwich.

21.-The annual training of the Loyal Suffolk Hussars (Yeomanry Cavalry), commanded by Lieut.-Col. A. G. Lucas, commenced at Yarmouth.

25.-Louis Tussaud's exhibition "All the World in Wax" was opened at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich. One of the attractions was the display for the first time in Norwich of the cinematograph or "living pictures."

JUNE.

1.-Dr. Jameson, of Transvaal raid fame, travelling as Dr. Johnson, accompanied by Dr. Rutherford Harris, visited Norwich, and stayed at the Maid's Head Hotel.

2.-The coming of age of Mr. John Calthorpe Blofeld, eldest son of Mr.

Blofeld, of Hoveton House, was celebrated by the tenantry on the Hoveton estate.

11.-Died at Wreningham Rectory, the Rev. Arthur Wilson Upcher, who for 48 years was rector of Ashwellthorpe and Wreningham. Born at Sheringham in 1815, he was an excellent oar, and rowed number seven in the Cambridge boat when the first University boat race was contested from Westminster to Putney in 1836. Mr. Upcher was also a remarkably good shot.

13.-The announcement was made that Messrs. Gurneys and Co. had issued a circular stating the completion of arrangements for an important amalgamation of the businesses of certain private banks as a company under the name of Barclay and Co., Limited. The registered capital was 6,000,000. On October 31st the members of the old firm of Messrs.

Gurneys and Co. were presented with a ma.s.sive silver shield mounted on solid oak, and an illuminated address in which the subscribers, the citizens of Norwich, expressed their high appreciation of the long and honourable career of the firm and the influence for good exercised individually by the members. The presentation was made by the Mayor (Mr.

John Moore).

19.-In the Queen's Bench Division, before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury, the action Austin _v._ the Central News, Limited, and several provincial newspapers, the "Norfolk News" included, came on for trial. Mr. Austin, M.P. for West Limerick, complained that the defendants had published a libel concerning him, in a paragraph stating that in a speech he had sympathised with dynamiters. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 1,000, of which the "Norfolk News"

Company were adjudged to pay 100.

30.-A rec.u.mbent effigy placed in the north transept of Norwich Cathedral to the memory of the late Bishop Pelham was unveiled by the Rev. Canon Patteson. It was the work of Mr. James Forsyth, sculptor, of Finchley Road, Hampstead.

JULY.

1.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation opened at East Dereham. The Hon. Ailwyn E. Fellowes, M.P., presided at the luncheon.

The exhibition closed on the 2nd.

-The octo-centenary thanksgiving services commenced at Norwich Cathedral.

The opening service was attended by the high official dignitaries of county and city, who entered the Cathedral in procession, marshalled by officers of the 7th Dragoon Guards. The Archbishop of Armagh preached to a vast congregation, and at the conclusion of the service the Dean and Mrs. Lefroy entertained a large and distinguished company to luncheon in a marquee erected in the Deanery grounds. The services were continued throughout the week.

1.-A party of American Congregationalists on a tour through Europe arrived at Norwich from Ely, attended the commemoration service at Norwich Cathedral, and were included among the guests at the Dean's luncheon. In the evening they were present at a gathering held in their honour at the Old Meeting House, "the oldest home of Congregationalism in the city." The Mayor (Mr. John Moore) presided, and the visitors were accorded an enthusiastic reception.

9.-Three sisters, Clara, Eleanor, and Ida Elizabeth Louisa Vipan, were drowned whilst wandering upon the treacherous sands at Holkham.

10.-The old colours of the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, brought from Aldershot by Colonel Shepherd and other officers, were laid up in the choir of Norwich Cathedral. The colours were borne under escort from the west door to the choir, the band of the 4th Battalion playing "The March of the Israelites." With the usual ceremony the colours were then handed over to the care and custody of the Dean and Chapter.

21.-Mr. Ben Greet's Company of Woodland Players gave at Bracondale Woods, Norwich, open air representations of "Twelfth Night" and of scenes from "Much Ado about Nothing," in aid of the building fund of the Jenny Lind Infirmary.

22.-The marriage took place at Buckingham Palace of Princess Maud and Prince Charles of Denmark. Their Royal Highnesses were enthusiastically received at Lynn and Sandringham on their way to Appleton Hall. At Norwich the marriage was celebrated by the ringing of bells and by the display of flags on the public buildings. The county of Norfolk presented to their Royal Highnesses as a wedding gift an oak chest containing a service of plate, and the citizens of Norwich gave a handsomely appointed victoria. Gifts were also sent by the boroughs of Yarmouth and Lynn, and by the tenantry on the Sandringham estate.

AUGUST.

2.-The Norfolk Volunteer Infantry Brigade went into camp at Colchester under the command of Brigadier-General W. E. G. L. Bulwer.

5.-The Lord Chief Justice, with whom was Mr. Justice Lawrence, sitting as a divisional court, delivered judgment in an application "in _re_ a solicitor, _ex parte_ the Incorporated Law Society." In this case the Statutory Committee of the society on July 10th, 1896, made a long and elaborate report, in which they stated that a certain number of allegations of professional misconduct had been proved to their satisfaction. The Lord Chief Justice dealt at considerable length with various points in the case, and concluded by saying: "The court would be failing in its duty if it did not in the most emphatic way mark its sense of the scandalous story disclosed in this report." The order of the court was "that Isaac Bugg Coaks, of Bank Plain, Norwich, be struck off the rolls, and that he do pay the costs of the inquiry before the Statutory Committee and the costs of this application."

26.-Mr. Fred Morgan, lessee of Norwich Theatre, was presented with a ma.s.sive silver Monteith punch bowl and a purse of gold by members of the theatrical profession and personal friends.

SEPTEMBER.

2.-Died at Adelaide Place, Windsor, in her 91st year, Miss Jane Rigby, "second daughter and last surviving child of Dr. Edward Rigby, of Norwich."

12.-A demonstration took place at Norwich in aid of the funds of the Royal National Lifeboat Inst.i.tution.

27.-Died at St. Andrew's Parsonage, Norwich, the Rev. Arthur Charles Copeman, M.B., vicar of St. Andrew's, Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral, and rural dean of Norwich, aged 72. He was the youngest son of Mr. Edward Breese Copeman, and was born at Coltishall. At the age of 15 he was placed under the care of his eldest brother, Dr. Edward Copeman. On entering King's College, London, as a medical student, he obtained his M.B. degree at the London University, won the gold medal in anatomy and physiology, and became an a.s.sociate of King's College. At the end of his student days he was offered, on the nomination of the Chancellor of the University, and accepted it, a commission on the Army Medical Staff. He soon resigned it, however, and commenced private practice at Epsom, when it became his ambition to enter the Church, and forthwith he applied himself to reading for Holy Orders. Ordained by the Bishop of Worcester, he was in 1851 admitted deacon and priest, and for the next five years held curacies at Warwick, Bury St. Edmund's, and Wisbech. In the last-named town he worked single-handed among the cholera-stricken inhabitants, and received from them in recognition of his services an address, a collection of theological works, and a cheque for 100. Mr. Copeman's work in Norwich began in January, 1857, when he was elected vicar of St. Andrew's. He was appointed rural dean in 1870, and honorary canon in 1877. In 1881, on the death of Mr. Field, he became chairman of the Norwich Board of Guardians. He had been a member of the School Board, and was identified with the managing bodies of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and other charitable inst.i.tutions.

29.-The Norwich Town Council, on a representation of the Inspector-General of Cavalry that the city would cease to be the headquarters of a cavalry regiment unless the drill-ground on Mousehold Heath were enlarged, authorised the hiring of 62 acres of land adjoining the drill-ground for a term not exceeding five years, at a rent to be agreed upon.

OCTOBER.

6.-The Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival commenced at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, with a performance of "Jeptha." On the morning of the 7th was produced the dramatic oratorio "The Rose of Sharon," and in the evening Suite No. 1 "Peer Gynt" (Grieg), "Blest Pair of Sirens" (C.

Hubert H. Parry), conducted by the composer; a new violin concerto in D Minor (Frederic Cliffe), composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer, and the dramatic cantata "Fridolin" (A.

Randegger), conducted by the composer. "Elijah" was performed on the morning of the 8th; and in the evening was produced the poetic cantata, "Hero and Leander" (Liugi Mancinelli), composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer. On the morning of the 9th was performed the sacred trilogy, "Redemption" (Gounod); and in the evening, overture, "Leonora," No. 9 (Beethoven); Irish ballad for chorus and orchestra, "Phaudrig Crohoore" (C. V. Stanford), first time of performance, and conducted by the composer; suite in D Minor (Edward German), conducted by the composer; and Act 3, "Lohengrin" (Wagner). The princ.i.p.al _artistes_ were Madame Albani, Miss Gertrude Izard, Madame Ella Russell, Miss Katherine Fisk, Miss Sarah Berry, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr.

Reginald Brophy, Mr. Ben Davies, Mr. Watkin Mills, Mr. J. H. Brockbank, Mr. Andrew Black, and M. Tivadar Nachez (violin). Mr. Alberto Randegger was conductor. The receipts amounted to 5,191 17s. 2d., and the payments to 4,738 4s. 7d. Of the balance 200 was allocated to the local charities.

7.-The Prince of Wales visited Norwich on the occasion of the Musical Festival. Princess Louise, who with the Marquis of Lorne, was staying at Sheringham as the guest of Lord and Lady Battersea, arrived at Thorpe Station at 11.45, and awaited the arrival of the Royal train from Wolferton. The Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York, arrived at twelve o'clock, and was received by Lord Suffield, who presented to their Royal Highnesses the Mayor and Mayoress and the Sheriff. Joined by Princess Louise the Royal party drove to St.

Andrew's Hall, where they were received by Mr. F. Oddin Taylor, honorary secretary to the Festival Committee, Mr. H. C. Bolingbroke, chairman of the Orchestral Committee, and Mr. C. R. Gilman, Deputy-Mayor and chairman of the Committee of Management. During an interval their Royal Highnesses were entertained to luncheon by the Mayor in the old Crypt of the Friars of the Sack; and at the conclusion of the performance they proceeded to the County Club. The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York and Princess Louise afterwards drove to the Cathedral, where they were received by the Dean, and had afternoon tea at the Deanery; and the Prince of Wales attended a Masonic gathering at the Agricultural Hall, where his Royal Highness unveiled a bust of Lord Suffield, presented to his lordship to mark the conclusion of his twenty years of office as Provincial Grand Master. His Royal Highness subsequently visited the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, and proceeded to the Deanery. The Royal visitors afterwards dined at the County Club, and attended the evening performance at St. Andrew's Hall. They left early, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York for Sandringham, and Princess Louise for Overstrand.

9.-Princess Louise, accompanied by the Marquis of Lorne, M.P., arrived at Norwich from Cromer, and proceeding to the High School for Girls distributed the prizes.

11.-A memorial service was held at Norwich Cathedral on the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury. "The late Archbishop's sister, Miss Benson, was for some years head-mistress of the Norwich High School for Girls when that inst.i.tution had its home in St. Giles' Street at the house now occupied by Sir Peter Eade."

16.-Died at Norwich, Mr. William Alexander Delaselle Eden, better known as William Herbert, the actor. Before adopting the stage as a profession he held a commission in the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment. His remains were interred at West Runton.

17.-A recommendation by the Norfolk Highways Committee that the management of main roads in the county should in future be imposed upon the District Councils const.i.tuted therein, was rejected by the Norfolk County Council by 44 votes against 20.

21.-The first celebration of the anniversary of Trafalgar was observed in Norwich, on the initiation of the Navy League, by the decoration of the Nelson statue in the Cathedral Close.