War Years; May 1924: Death of Sir Henry

In the Shadow of the Abbey

New regime at the school, Mrs Young’s Guinea prize, wireless lessons, new houses built, the tin shed appears, Women’s Institute fete plan, Miss Phyllis steps up and Farewell to Sir Henry
Writing my 25th Annual Letter reminds me that a quarter of a century has passed since I came here as Vicar. I sometimes look back at those letters, and they call to mind many events of interest in our Parish history as well as the events in the wider world during those 25 years. One event overshadows all others in our Parish story, namely the death of Sir Henry Vansittart Neale. I am printing an in memoriam notice of him.
With the death of Sir Henry, I asked Mr Young to take his place as Vicar’s Churchwarden and he kindly consented to take the office. On Easter Day the number of communicants remained at 104. The Offertories fell from £114 to £88. This is accounted for as I stated at the Church Meeting mainly by the loss of Sir Henry's weekly contribution and also by the Abbey, Temple House and Stoney Ware and other big houses being empty or inhabited by Gallios.
The school was working very happily and earned the commendation of a legion of inspectors. However changes were being made in schools based on the Education Act of 1921 . We were therefore, with much regret, obliged to part with Mrs Butler and Miss Sylvia Arnold, who had both been working in our school for a number of years and had done good work in the teaching of Infants and younger children. “A very interesting development has taken place in the form of lessons given by wireless. Each Friday afternoon since Easter a lesson has been given and notes have been taken by the children on music, Shakespeare, Nature Study etc. The Bishops Prize was awarded to Phyllis House, Alice Webb being a good second. The school Football Competition was won by the ‘Crusaders’, Ernest Scrace being Captain and the Cricket Club victors were the ‘Spartans’ captained by Frank Towers. Mrs Young very kindly gave a prize of a guinea for the ‘best boy and best girl’, the boys to choose the boy and the girls to choose the girl; 10s and 6d for each. The children entered into the election very keenly The School Treat was held in the Warren on July 29th and games and races and trips in a launch on a lovely afternoon were much enjoyed.”
A tin shed was erected in the Parish Ground between the Churchyard and Stoney Ware. “It is not beautiful and it is to be hoped it will not be useful. The less said about it the better.”
Miss Phyllis Vansitart Neale became District Commissioner of the Maidenhead Division of Girl Guides and Captain of the Marlow Company of Girl Guides.
The main news was the death of Sir Henry. He died at the vicarage at Ware and was brought back to Bisham. “It is impossible to say adequately what his loss means to us all. The Maidenhead Advertiser wrote: the parish of Bisham had a sincere and generous friend, he was a kind master and a considerate landlord, a well-loved squire”
This was the last Bisham Newletter written by William Farrer, he moved to The Cottage at Hurley, where he lived until he died in November 1934 aged 83.
Episode researched, written and narrated by Sheila Featherstone-Clark based on The Bisham Parish Report of May 1923. Revd W Farrer is voiced by Nigel Greenwich.

Photo is of Sir Henry with family and friends, in the Abbey grounds in 1922.
Sound effects from www.Freesound.org. Bell ringing, Handbell for the school etc.