The War Years; 1922/3: Measles Epidemic Artwork

In the Shadow of the Abbey

Explores the unique history of Bisham Village, telling the story of those who lived in and around Bisham Abbey in Berkshire. Each episode recounts the history, a personal story or the impact of an event; based on interviews with people who lived here all their lives, local knowledge and documents from the last 300 years. The War Years episodes recount life in the village after the Great War from 1918-1924 based on the delightful Bisham Parish Reports. The Abbey History episodes tell the story of Bisham Abbey and the Vansittart Family who were the Lords of the Manor of Bisham for 200 years, they sold the whole village in 1965. The Village Stories, based on interviews with people who grew up in Bisham in the 1940s and 1950s, tell tales of ordinary families who lived in the shadow of the abbey. Researched and written by Sheila Featherstone-Clark.

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In the Shadow of the Abbey

The War Years; 1922/3: Measles Epidemic

February 21, 2021 • Sheila Featherstone-Clark and friends

General election landslide, Church heating crisis, death of old friends, sale of the cricket pavillion, monitoring the weather and the registers, early close for the school and successful inspections. (note the Bisham Parish Report from 1922 is missing)
My dear friends, this is my twenty-fourth Parish Letter and report and I may for a change, begin with an expression of thanks to all who help the Church and Parish with subscriptions and in other ways. Perhaps some will read the beginning of the letter and thus see that their help is appreciated, who may not find the letter sufficiently interesting to read to the end.
Mr Somerville was returned for our division of Berkshire by one of the largest majorities in England, and he did not indulge in piecrust promises. (he served until 1942)

Mr Young kindly undertook to have the Church heating system examined. This was done and the engineers reported that the whole system was bad and that it would cost £300 or £400. Later in the year Mr Edward Marson very generously offered to give the Church a new boiler. This offer was gratefully accepted from his executors.
Death of Colonel Frank Wethered. “He died in Tenerife in August, his energetic work for the Volunteers and Territorials will not soon be forgotten”. Such men can ill be spared. The Wethered family owned the brewery in Marlow and provided employment for many people. Also Mrs Young will be missed.
A confirmation service was held at Bisham on February 16th 1923, for the first time since 1914, Revd Farrer had expressed his hope for a confirmation service in his last letter. Bishop Shaw confirmed 23 candidates 13 boys and 10 girls, and 8 from Stubbings. The year ended with a balance in hand in the general account, £ 2-19-10 spent on gas mantles and £20-18-0 on concreting the lychgate. All would agree, the less we have to talk about money in church the better. “The sword of St Michael (on the War Tablet) was broken by some careless person one day early in September. It has been replaced, but no one yet has offered to pay the bill.”
The Summer of 1922 was most disappointing. Towards the end of May we enjoyed some really hot days and on the 22nd bathing began. Two or three boys swam across the river and over 20 were learning. The temperature and rainfall have been recorded by the school children during the year: their rainfall total was 24.58 inches, agreeing very closely with the Vicarage total.
It necessary to close the school a week earlier than usual in Summer 1922, as attendance had fallen as low as 44 due to the prevalence of measles. Measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria and whooping cough were the common childhood diseases and they were killers. The number on the school books in April 1923 was a healthy 129 and Nora Ellis, the youngest of 7 sisters in Plumtree Cottage, was the winner of the Bishop’s essay prize.
PS “Since this letter was written, news reached us that Sir Henry was very seriously ill. On Sunday the 6th May he read the Lessons as usual, so the sad news was quite unexpected. The sympathy and prayers of all in Bisham are with him at this time, and also with Lady Vansittart Neale in her anxiety”.

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 Bisham Vicarage from the churchyard.

Sound effects from www.Freesound.org. Bell ringing, Handbell for the school etc.