Sermon time

Fine but warm and thawing in the middle of the day. Warden preached on the natural badness of boys, a shrewd sermon, but not one, I think, that should be preached to boys themselves. He was always lays bare the springs.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

Common Room meeting
Agreed to advertise for a French Master. The Meeting so far, I suppose, satisfactory, but in other respects, far from it. The Warden announcing his intention to take the Lower 4th himself entirely. This will be a very bad thing I am sure. If the Lower 4th have no systematic work, it will eat out the core of the school. Well, we can’t help it. It is a pity too for Barber’s sake. He will thrown away on the 1st. No arrangement could be made for the Unplaced

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

Shaky finances
As to the position of the College. At first Sewell alone responsible, though others were ready to back him. When Singleton left, Sewell managed to pay off all current expenses and the College was making more than its yearly expenditure. Heathcote was started clear on the understanding that he should be responsible himself for the current expenses of his term of office, Sewell remaining responsible for the old debt (about £11,500) and Heathcote paying over to him the surplus after expenses were cleared.[Heathcote left and Sewell] enters into office. The debt had been about £16,000 altogether. He pays off the current expenses though not really himself liable for them. The first two or three terms receipts below expenditure, afterwards matters mend. It now makes about £10,000 and spend £8,000. Of this £1,000 each year goes to Mr. Bowyer for the lease, the other £1,000 towards the discharge of the original debt. So if we continue to flourish and the Warden’s life is spared, all will be very well.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

Oxford results

Fine but cold. Rode in to Oxford to see Class List. Poor Melhuish only a third! Most unfortunate for him and us. How I do wish we could gain some honours.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

Naughty prefects
The Warden gave permission to Spyers [Senior Prefect] and Thynne [Prefect] to dine in Oxford with Risley [former Senior Prefect]. We were all very much annoyed and surprised, especially after what had been said the other day against allowing boys to go to Undergraduates’ rooms. West and I sat up in Common Room till 11 o’clock for them and then found they had arrived at 10¼ in the phaeton and climbed into the Dormitory through the window without reporting themselves.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

The first football
Stayed in bed this morning, feeling far from well. Violent headache. This was the first Game at Football and I had promised to play. I presented the School with a new Football. Mr Martin [Abingdon surgeon] came to see me and allowed me to go out for an hour, so I went to see the game. The boys gave three cheers in honour of the present, so I had to retreat. Afterwards at Roll I told Spyers [Senior Prefect] it ought not to have been done.West walked over to Oxford and saw Charlie who is said to be looking all the better for his tour.Two or three of the boys have been attacked in the same way as myself with a sore throat. The Warden is a little apprehensive of Scarlet Fever.
William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

Chapel
In evening College Meeting. Much talk backwards and forwards, the opposition holding to their old opinion. I thought the plan would have been rejected, but the Warden was very anxious it should be carried. At length, as the majority were for, the minority, West, Gibbings, Macrorie and Monk, very goodnaturedly agreed in a proposal of mine (carried unanimously) that we should leave it in the Warden’s hands, he knowing what our feelings were in detail. So it was adopted. On Surplice days we are to use the full service, and Wednesdays and Fridays the Litany only, on other days the shorter form of King Edward VI’s First Book.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

News from the Sepoy Rebellion in India

The news from India still of doubtful character. A letter to the Warden from Mr. Talbot. Havelock had fallen back on Cawnpore, but was again advancing towards Lucknow.

I find in the list of those murdered in this horrible mutiny, my old friend Block. 10 years ago we were freshmen together at Trinity. Then came his appointment to the Civil Service, 2 years since I found he had returned on leave and married. I hope his wife has been spared. What a state of things this is! Deus miseareatur animae. [God have mercy on his soul] Poor Gibbings feels his brother’s death deeply. Tomorrow he is going to preach and have a collection for sufferers in India. I have promised to help him in the afternoon.

How Radley was affected by the Sepoy Rebellion can be read in A letter home, 1857 in 100 Radley objects.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s