Cake
The Warden preached on “God’s hatred of Sin” – extempore. A good sermon. Walked with Morgan. The simnel [cake] arrived by a porter from Oxford and we had it for tea, decorated with crocuses.

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

A walk to Cumnor
Cloudy, but rain kept off and I had a pleasant walk to Cumnor with W. Sewell, Hook, O’Brien, Russell. We went across country jumping hedges and forcing our way through pleasant copses where the first primroses were already in flower. Brock ran with us, and at Cumnor had to be carried into the stable in the groom’s arms to save him from the other dogs. Saw the Church and after having dined at their lunch left about 3½ o’clock.

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

Prefects
The Warden looked queer at breakfast and told us afterwards he wished to say a few words. I feared something was coming, and so it proved. When we went into the Common Room he said “Oh! I only wanted to tell you of a little matter ———” He then told us that he had long been convinced of the advisability of constituting a number of boys under the Prefects, with certain privileges, such as taking boys into Oxford when Prefects were not to be had. He was pretty sure we would not agree with him and therefore had not asked our opinion to spare us the pain of going against it! We were immensely astonished at this coup d’état, but could say nothing  except that we should probably have objected if we had been asked.

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

Exams
Grammar examination in morning. Russell unwell with bilious attack. Suggested he should be moved to the sick room. Wrote to Mrs. R. but finding the Warden had written did not send it fearing to alarm her. Went out with O’Brien [b. 1842], he was very reserved and I could make nothing out of him. Walford of Ed[mund’s]. Hall came over with a message from Barrow for me about Hills. Major Owen arrived.

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