Norfolk Annals
Chapter 200 : Albans.14.-Died, at Clermont Terrace, Queen's Road, Norwich, Sarah, widow of John

Albans.

14.-Died, at Clermont Terrace, Queen's Road, Norwich, Sarah, widow of John Barnard, formerly of Beccles, in her 101st year.

18.-Mr. S. h.o.a.re, M.P., delivered a farewell address to his const.i.tuents, at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, previous to his departure for India.

19.-A heavy fall of snow, accompanied by sharp frost, occurred on this date. Skating became general throughout the county.

26.-Ginnett's Circus opened for the winter season at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich.

27.-Died, at Lynn, Mr. John Osborne Smetham, aged 78. He was six times Mayor of the borough, and had been an alderman thirty-four years, and held various public offices in the town.

30.-An influential meeting, convened by the Mayor, was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, to inaugurate a fund for the relief of the unemployed and necessitous poor of the city. About 900 was subscribed in the room, and active measures were taken for the relief of public distress.

1891.

JANUARY.

1.-A sudden break-up occurred of the severe frost, which had lasted twenty-one consecutive days, but at sunset it froze again with increased severity. This was stated to have been the longest frost recorded in Norfolk since 1813. On the 20th another thaw took place, followed by heavy rain; but during the night the frost rea.s.serted itself, and became very severe on the 21st and 22nd. Then the temperature gradually increased, bright suns.h.i.+ne followed, and the wind having veered to the south rain fell. On the 24th the river steamer Alpha cut her way through the ice on the Yare, and opened up between Norwich and Yarmouth the traffic which for five weeks had been suspended.

2.-Died, at Weasenham, Mr. Henry Overman, aged 65. He established a wide reputation as a breeder of shorthorns, Southdown, and Oxford Down sheep, hackneys and cart horses. Mr. Overman was an extreme Radical, "but his political extravagancies were amply condoned by his warmth and kindliness of heart."

6.-The last of the "Science Lectures for the People" was delivered at St.

Andrew's Hall, Norwich, by Dr. Andrew Wilson on "Sea Serpents and other curious Animals, real and fict.i.tious." (_See_ January 19th, 1892.)

9.-The Cambridge crew, owing to the river Cam being icebound, had rowing practice upon the Estuary Cut, at Lynn.

10.-An "ice carnival" took place on Diss Mere. The performers and spectators numbered five thousand.

12.-The second lecture of the course arranged by the Norwich Free Library Committee was given at Blackfriars' Hall by Mr. G. C. Davies on "Life and Scenery Abroad." The Rev. W. F. Creeny, F.S.A., lectured on February 3rd on "Sweden and Gothland"; Mr. Bosworth Harcourt on March 3rd on "An Hour with Douglas Jerrold"; and Mr. H. F. Euren on April 14th on "Our Fens and Marshes." (_See_ February 24th, 1892.)

17.-Mr. R. E. Crosse was appointed house surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on the resignation of Mr. H. C. Nance.

19.-Died, at Unthank's Road, Norwich, Mr. Benjamin Viny Winch, aged 60.

Mr. Winch had been upwards of twenty years postmaster of Norwich. He entered the service at the General Post Office, St. Martin's le Grand, in February, 1852, and continued there until August 31st, 1870, when he was appointed to Norwich on the retirement of Mr. Samuel Base, the former postmaster. The postal arrangements in the city were greatly developed during Mr. Winch's tenure of office. The business was removed from Post Office Street (now Exchange Street) to the Crown Bank premises, where the work in the various departments commenced on August 16th, 1875. Mr.

Winch was an enthusiastic yachtsman, had filled the office of Commodore of the Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, and was one of the princ.i.p.al founders of the Yare Sailing Club.

20.-Immense quant.i.ties of sprats were captured at Lynn. Such enormous shoals had never before, it was stated, been found in the Wash.

-The Norwich Town Council considered a report upon the proposed purchase of the Waterworks, and appointed a special committee to determine the value of the undertaking, with the view of making an offer to the company. On May 26th the Council proposed to offer a sum not exceeding 10 per cent., the actual market value of the shares and capital of the company. The offer was declined, and on December 15th it was decided that no further steps be taken in the matter. (_See_ February 22nd, 1898.)

21.-"General" Booth visited Norwich in furtherance of a new "social scheme" advocated in his recently-published book, "In Darkest England."

He attended a conference at Noverre's Rooms in the afternoon, and addressed a large meeting which took place at St. Andrew's Hall in the evening.

FEBRUARY.

7.-Mr. B. N. Thoms, a.s.sistant surveyor at the General Post Office, was appointed to fill the postmasters.h.i.+p of Norwich, vacant by the death of Mr. Winch. Mr. Thoms was a son of Mr. William J. Thoms, the originator and editor of "Notes and Queries," and a librarian of the House of Lords.

In the month of April Mr. Thoms removed to Nottingham, and was succeeded by Mr. Sturgeon, of Birkenhead, who, in the Egyptian campaign of 188285, commanded the Army Post Office Corps. For his valuable services he was decorated by the Queen in person, and granted the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, with permission to wear the uniform of his corps, the 24th Middles.e.x (Post Office) Rifle Volunteers.

21.-Died, at his town residence, 8, Portman Square, the Right Hon. George Thomas Keppel, sixth Earl of Albemarle. He was born June 13th, 1799, and was second son of William Charles, fourth earl, by his marriage with Elizabeth Southwell, fourth daughter of Edward Lord De Clifford. In 1815 he received an ensign's commission in the 14th Regiment of Foot, and within a month joined the Army in Flanders. He was present at the battle of Waterloo, and at the engagement which immediately preceded it. "The very youngest officer on the field of Waterloo, he was, with one exception, the very last of the survivors of all the Waterloo officers."

22.-Died, at 7, Hertford Street, Mayfair, Mr. Charles Wild, eldest son of Mr. Edward Wild, Mayor of Norwich, aged 29. Educated at King Edward VI.

Grammar School, he pursued his medical studies at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital; afterwards proceeded to Cambridge University, and finally entered the London School of Medicine. Mr. Wild gained the Brodie scholars.h.i.+p at St. George's Hospital, and was awarded the Thompson gold medal.

MARCH.

7.-Died, aged 60, Mr. Edmund Beck, agent for the Sandringham estate. Mr.

Beck was a member of an old family of Norfolk farmers, and was born at Mileham. For a considerable time he was in partners.h.i.+p with his father as an auctioneer and estate agent, and was one of the best known agricultural authorities in the kingdom.

31.-Mr. Samuel h.o.a.re, M.P., arrived at Cromer on his return from his tour in India. He sailed for the East on January 4th, accompanied by his daughters, the Misses Annie and Muriel h.o.a.re, and formally opened the Bengal and Nagpur Railway, of which he was chairman.

APRIL.

2.-The Norwich Diocesan Conference commenced at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, under the presidency of the Bishop of the Diocese, and was concluded on the 3rd.

2.-The Countess of Leicester performed the opening ceremony at a grand Venetian _Fete_ and Bazaar held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in aid of the Norfolk County Cricket Club. The proceedings were continued on the 3rd.

5.-Died, at Gaywood Hall, King's Lynn, Mr. Richard Bagge, aged 80. He was twin brother of Sir William Bagge, M.P., and was educated at Charterhouse, and by private tutor. In 1831 Mr. Bagge was elected a member of the old Corporation of Lynn, and served the office of Mayor of that borough in 1836 and 1857. He was a justice of the peace, and a Deputy Lieutenant for the county, and was High Sheriff in 1880. As a sportsman Mr. Bagge was well known in the coursing and cricket fields, and in politics was a staunch Conservative.

7.-Died, at Melbourne, during a tour in Australia for the benefit of his health, the Rev. R. Hobson, pastor of the Old Meeting Congregational chapel, Norwich. Mr. Hobson, who was in his 52nd year, was appointed to the chapel in 1878; he took part in many social and philanthropic movements in the city, and was most highly esteemed by Churchmen and Nonconformists. He was the founder of the St. George's Home for Working Girls.

-Mr. Samuel h.o.a.re, M.P., and Mrs. h.o.a.re celebrated their silver wedding at Cliff House, Cromer, and received many congratulations and presents from their friends in the town and district. On April 20th Mr. and Mrs.

h.o.a.re were presented, at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, with a valuable silver tea and coffee service and an illuminated address by the members of the Conservative a.s.sociations and clubs in the city.

11.-At the annual meeting of the Governors of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital the Board of Management reported that Miss Adams, the Lady Superintendent, had been received into the Roman Catholic Church. In view of the matter forming the subject for discussion there was a large attendance, but the Lord Bishop, who presided, ruled the question to be "special," and that it was necessary for formal notice to be given before a resolution could be moved.

-The fastest run made by a special train on the Great Eastern Railway was accomplished on this date, when the Prince of Wales travelled from St.

Pancras to Lynn, a distance of 98 miles, in one hour fifty-five minutes.

18.-The memorial stone of a new church for East and West Beckham was laid by Mrs. h.o.a.re, wife of Mr. Samuel h.o.a.re, M.P. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on October 13th.

20.-Viscount Cross, Secretary of State for India, visited Norwich and formally opened the Patteson Conservative Club. In the evening his lords.h.i.+p addressed a large meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall under the auspices of the National Union of Conservative a.s.sociations.

25.-Dr. F. C. Burton, of Adenbrook's Hospital, Cambridge, was appointed to the vacancy in the medical staff of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital occasioned by the retirement of Dr. Shepherd Taylor.

27.-The South-West Norfolk Conservative a.s.sociation met at Swaffham under the presidency of Lord Walsingham, and adopted Mr. Thomas Leigh Hare Conservative candidate for the const.i.tuency in place of Mr. Tyssen Amherst, M.P., who had expressed his intention to retire at the next General Election.

MAY.