UC/AA6/4/1-47 1887 – 1948
Junior House rectors’ diaries, mostly brief descriptions of daily duties:
47 volumes
UC/AA6/4/1 6 January 1887 - 1 January 1888
General note: many notes on appointments made, daily timetables, orders of service and miscellaneous events from 1886. Those remaining in college through the vacation following Grand Week 1886 were obliged to occupy the Junior College dormitory
for an estimated three weeks, as the East Dormitory was being cleaned. The annual meeting of bishops, on October 4th, passed resolutions requiring juniors to use the college refectory and abolishing the separate post of master for Third Class, which
at the time held only four boys.
The following is a selected summary of the main events described in the Junior Rector's diary:
Jan. 6th. Those in minor orders given leave by President to continue having tea in their own parlour, but required to take other meals in college, and, after their own dinner, to sit one at each end of boys’ tables during their dinner,
“to help them, and hinder rude behaviour”.
Jan. 7th. Juniors began going to the college refectory for meals.
Jan. 17th. Staff adjustments to improve teaching of English parsing to Third Class, as their exam performance at Christmas had been poor.
Jan. 25th. Warned by President not to allow boys to go to Quebec, which was suffering a measles outbreak.
Jan. 28th. Mr. Stanley to take Second Class for Ciphering on Wednesday afternoons, relieving the Master of Second Class for one full afternoon a week.
Jan. 30th. Ciphering examination given to First Class, who had failed the subject at Christmas.
Feb. 9th. Single case of measles diagnosed (Edward Robinson, a Grammarian).
Feb. 15th. Morning rehearsal in Hall for the play Aladdin.
Feb. 18th. Play performed for Junior College only, plus professors, in the Hall. Night prayers and supper for actors scheduled before those for the others.
Feb. 19th. Edward Robinson back from Infirmary after measles.
Feb, 21st/22nd. Play Aladdin repeated in Hall.
Feb. 25th – 26th. Four new cases of measles, from High Figures and Syntax, sent to Infirmary.
Feb. 27th. Several further measles cases, still all in main college. Brothers of Junior College boys forbidden to visit them.
Mar. 2nd. Dentist’s visit. Alphonsus Morgan’s father to be informed of his refusal to have a stump removed.
Mar. 8th. Special plan of study for two boys from High Figures to prepare them for the Preliminary Examination for Medicine in 1888.
Mar. 12th. All boys with measles left the Infirmary.
Mar. 13th. New case of measles, the first in the Junior College.
Mar. 14th. Prize Essay subject set for Philosophers –
“The immateriality of Man’s soul shown from the operations of the intellect and will”. Meditations on the Passion from Chaloner begun at night prayers.
Mar. 15th. Studies off for skating in morning, but ice broke after about 20 minutes – “several people in”.
Mar. 17th. St. Patrick’s Day. Meditation on St. Patrick read, against the will of the Junior Rector who considered the meditation should have been one of those on the Passion.
Mar. 18th – 20th. Several new cases of measles, including Rev. R. Thornton who was put in the Professors’ Reading Room.
Mar. 20th. 12th Centenary of St. Cuthbert celebrated at High Mass. Short life of St. Cuthbert read after Gospel, “with an addition about St. Cuthbert’s ring; after which all went up to the altar to kiss the ring”.
Mar. 27th. Catechism Examination Paper. To be used if required to separate prize candidates equal after the
Viva Voce.
Mar. 28th – Apr. 2nd. Daily notes on exams.
Mar. 29th. Juniors recovered from measles taken out for a country walk.
Apr. 3rd. More new measles cases. Beginning of retreat, led by Rev. Henry Gillow.
Apr. 7th. Maundy Thursday, morning timetable given.
Apr. 10th. At President’s request, Third Class did not stand out at Reading Up – this had been the occasion of “frequent laughing” according to 1886 note. “The Commercials (College &
Juniors) stood out together”.
Apr. 15th. Singers’ Playday. Leave out in country stopped for the afternoon because of recent misbehaviour and noise, except for those just released from the Infirmary.
Apr. 16th. Last case of measles left the Infirmary.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus and Fabius. Relics exposed during Mass at the altar, and in the evening after First Prayers.
May 17th. St. Aloysius’ Chapel given a statue of St. Tarcisius by Rev. W. Dallow, who promised to provide a further statue if desired. Statue to be placed on a bracket against the pillar of the Lady Chapel arch, nearest the statue of St.
Aloysius.
May 28th. Juniors, except eight singers, stayed away from Matins and Lauds, with President’s consent after Junior Rector represented to him their difficulty in following the Office.
June 8th. Vigil of Corpus Christi: juniors again absent from Matins and Lauds.
June 11th. Photograph taken of the whole college in one group. Studies off until 4pm.
June 20th. Playday from 9am for Queen’s Jubilee.
June 21st. Studies off all day for Queen’s Jubilee.
God Save The Queen sung in the front at 9.30, “with pieces from the band, which afterwards marched playing to the cricket field”.
June 22nd. Further playday for Queen’s Jubilee.
June 24th. St. Aloysius’ Playday for juniors, 8am to 7pm.
July 2nd. Special examination paper given simultaneously to all schools: first a dictation, then “Write a letter to your Uncle John Forester (living in London at 34 Wimpole Street,) telling him how the Queen’s Jubilee
was kept here”.
July 9th. Ciphering paper for special examination given to all schools.
July 11th. Latin paper for special exam.
July 22nd. Playday for junior schools, stopped in morning for twelve boys who had failed various exams and were given work in the library. Spoken examinations in Latin conducted by Dr. Coulston and the Junior Rector.
July 25th. (Monday): Funeral in Durham of Provost Consitt. “Wonderful Procession through the town to the Cemetery… Immense crowd most respectful in behaviour”. Grand Week given up because of the illness of Joseph
McGlone, but many visitors still arrived as notification had been late. Death of Joseph McGlone at 11.45 PM. July 26th. Prizes distributed by President, but with no closing speech. Dirge for J. McGlone.
July 27th. Requiem and funeral of J. McGlone. St. Cuthbert’s Society meeting and dinner.
July 28th. Going home day. Six cabs had been ordered for the boys, two cabs and two breaks arrived instead.
July 29th. Treats bought from Pearsons for the boys still at college, served in Junior Refectory: two penny buns each, with strawberries and gooseberries.
(July 31st. Last entry until Sept. 16th).
Sept. 16th. Junior Rector back at Ushaw.
Sept. 17th. Return of students. 13 new boys in Junior House.
Sept. 18th. All boys to study place at noon to write letters – “This has been done for some years”. 53 boys back, 10 still to return. Adjustment of college duties, with Mr. Thornton taking responsibility
“for all extras in the Refectory”, while Junior Rector resumed charge of the Library and Sacristy.
Sept. 19th. Natural Philosophy teaching cancelled for the year, as the school had only seven students four of whom would be studying for B.A.: so both classes of Philosophers would study Moral Philosophy.
Sept. 24th. Start of Divines’ retreat.
Sept. 27th. Junior Rector put to Dr. Lennon the case for Minors to be excused sitting with the boys at dinner and to be allowed to have supper in their parlour. Both requests refused, but thought would be given as to possible concessions for
those who helped at dinner.
Oct. 1st. As in previous years, there was to be Benediction each night in October.
Oct. 2nd. Retreat closed. High Mass and General Ordination by Bishop of Middlesbrough.
Oct. 7th. Five boys in Second Class selected for extra Latin tuition with a view to their entry to I Class at Christmas, dropping Ciphering for the quarter as their standard was already adequate for I Class.
Oct. 13th. Addition of study of the Catechism by all classes at 8.45 on Saturdays.
Oct. 16th. The distinct Commercial Class was broken up, and the boys in it distributed to their several classes.
Oct. 27th. Revised appointments: Mr. Jos. Preston as Prefect in the College, Mr. Thornton in the Junior House. Mr. Thornton retained the Procuratorship for most matters, but care of medicines was given to the Junior Rector for now.
Nov. 1st : All Saints’ Day. Benediction with Rosary and Litany at 8.30 in St. Aloysius’.
Nov. 2nd. Evening Benediction in St. Aloysius’ to close the October Devotions.
Nov. 6th. Relics exposed during Mass to enable boys to visit them afterwards, marking All Saints’ Day in a way that had not been thought of in time for the day itself.
Nov. 20th. Junior Rector began giving a course of instructions on Religious Duties during Spiritual Reading time. First instruction, on the Necessity of Prayer, and of praying well.
Nov. 27th. Second instruction, on Holy Communion.
Nov. 29th. Novena commenced preparatory to consecration of Mgr. O’Callaghan as Bishop.
Dec. 9th. News in press that illness had prevented the Bishop’s consecration.
Dec. 11th. Third instruction, on preparation for Holy Communion.
Dec. 12th. Skating Playday given, morning only.
Dec. 15th. Viva voce Catechism Exam for I and II Class.
Dec. 18th. Fourth instruction, on Thanksgiving after Communion.
Dec. 19th. Examinations for Low Figures (Classics), I Class (French) and Philosophers (Church History paper). Student sent to infirmary and later (Dec. 23rd or 24th) to Esh after diagnosis of scarletina.
Dec. 20th. Exams continuing. Boys forbidden to bring in holly etc. as decoration, but they could have such small pieces as were left over from decorating the Chapel.
Dec. 21st. Further exams. Following precedent, those who had finished all their exams were to be allowed to use their study time working quietly at making decorations for the chapel.
Dec. 22nd. Exams continuing. Confession at 7 for the boys who were going home the next day.
Dec. 23rd. Philosophers’ exam in morning, 2 of 18 absent. President announced leave to say three consecutive Masses on Christmas night.
Dec. 24th. Timetable given for day, with various times appointed for confessions. Boys mistakenly sent to Library rather than to school at 10.30, by Minors engaged in Christmas decoration – “must not occur
again”.
Dec. 25th. The three Masses said at midnight. High Mass at 10.30. Reading Up for Third and Second Class.
Dec. 26th. Revised order of study for Christmas vacation.
Jan. 1st 1888: Jubilee Day of Pope Leo XIII. High Mass followed by Procession of the Blessed Sacrament. (Last entry in the diary)
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Jan. 5th. First entry. Juniors’ Confessions as for Christmas Eve.
Jan. 9th. Playday for the Pope’s Jubilee. Also studies-off on the 10th.
Jan. 11th. President’s Feast. Also Christmas procession, celebrations and prizes, with tree put up in the Refectory.
Jan. 12th. President consented to Juniors’ play. Morning studies-off for Pope’s Jubilee.
Jan. 19th. Case of scarletina diagnosed and sent to Esh
Jan. 25th. Figures removed from Nativity crib.
Feb. 2nd. Purification. Boys rose at 6.15, Mass at high altar began 6.15 – 6.20.
Feb. 9th. Morning rehearsal for play,
Whittington and his Cat.
Feb. 10th. Play performed in the Hall. Juniors only, President not attending.
Feb. 13th-14th Further performances of the play.
Feb. 15th. Ash Wednesday. Instruction on the Ceremony of the Ashes, penance, and the nearness of death given during Spiritual Reading.
Feb. 16th. Juniors given studies-off for the play, and allowed to skate. Brother of scarletina patient also found to have the disease, probably through visiting, and also sent to Esh.
Feb. 19th-21st. Observation of the Forty Hours, with exposition in St. Aloysius’ on the 20th.
Feb. 24th. Third scarletina case sent to Esh.
Mar. 2nd. President decided that there should be just one set of first and second prizes for Philosophers’ essays, not a set each for High and Low, as there were currently only three Low Philosophers.
Mar. 3rd. Philosophers given their prize essay subject,
“Immortality of the Soul”.
Mar. 5th. Morning studies-off for Philosophers to reward them for cleaning the pond.
Mar. 11th. Morning instruction on Mortal Sin – its audacity and folly. Band playing in ambulacrum after dinner.
Mar. 17th. Eve of Passion Sunday. Decided that the Stations of the Cross need not be covered.
Mar. 18th. Morning instruction, History of the Passion. Catechism paper to all schools.
Mar. 19th- 24th Exams on several days.
Mar. 23rd. Removed purple antependium, leaving uncovered the small figures on the front of the altar: thought more in harmony with rubrics.
Mar. 25th. Beginning of retreats. Junior retreat led by Dr. Preston, College retreat by Mr. Earnshaw.
Mar. 27th. Overnight stay by Fr. Francis de Zulueta, on his way from Berwick to Skipton.
Mar. 29th. Maundy Thursday, Morning schedule given. Bishop sang High Mass at 9, and visited the College before supper and the Junior College boys after.
Mar. 30th, Good Friday. Relic of the True Cross brought from Oratory for the Junior College Stations and exposed on the altar.
Apr. 1st. Easter Day. Relics exposed during and after Community Mass.
Apr. 4th. Divines’ Feast. Junior boys taken out by Philosophers as last year.
Apr. 6th. Singers’ Feast as last year.
Apr. 8th. Special exam announced as last year, with a whole playday to be given to schools performing well, but not to any student who failed any of the ordinary exams.
Apr. 9th. Playday for the new bishop, 8am to 7pm.
Apr. 11th. Six of Low Figures whose catechism papers were bad, told that they must say catechism to Junior Rector before playday.
Apr. 13th. Junior Rector began teaching Cosmology in school.
Apr. 19th (approx.). – first two scarletina patients (Jan. 19th, Feb. 16th) sent home from Esh.
Apr. 26th. Obtained consent from Dr. Lennon to say the Mass of Sts. Bassus and Fabius in St. Aloysius’ on their feast day.
Apr. 28th. Playday given on account of prolonged bad weather.
May 1st. Beginning of Triduum honouring the English Martyrs, marking their first festival since their beatification.
May 4th. First festival of the English Martyrs. Playday rung out at 8. Resolved that on a trial basis, in response to the hardship felt by Minors having to supervise boys’ tables in the Refectory, Minors would now have this duty only on alternate
weeks, with one sitting at each table rather than one at each end as before. The President was not asked, as there was no change of principle and Minors were still managing the tables.
May 9th. Bishop of Leeds responded to a query, saying that the word “ecclesia” found in some decrees regarding the celebration of festivals should not in his opinion be strictly interpreted, and so would not hinder
the keeping of the festival of Sts. Bassus and Fabius in St. Aloysius’.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus and Fabius kept in St. Aloysius’ Chapel: gold vestments used, and their relics exposed during and after Mass.
May 13th. Morning instruction, On praying for Conversion of England.
May 15th. Mass and Office of St. Pius V in St. Aloysius’.
May 21st. Juniors given leave to watch Philosophers’ and Big Lads’ party game (Cat), which ended equal.
May 24th. Low Figures and I Class party game. Finished 18 all, though dissenting unofficial markers had given I Class an extra cross and hence the win.
June 20th. Vigil of St. Aloysius. Refused leave to Minors to stay out of supper to work on decorations.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Boys rose at 6, Mass and Communion at 6.25, High Mass at 7.30, sung by Junior Rector as President was feeling unwell.
June 22nd. St. Aloysius’ playday. Weather was unpromising, so Mr. Thornton allowed the boys to vote on whether to defer the playday. A large majority voted to take it regardless. “Day continued raw & misty, but
without rain”.
June 30th. St. Lucina’s Day. Relics exposed during and after Mass, but no change in Mass or Office. English paper for Special Exam: a dictation, then a letter describing the first bathe of the summer.
July 3rd. Theses sent to Andrews for printing, 140 copies ordered in all.
July 7th. Playday given after prolonged bad weather.
July 8th. Feast of the Relics. Preached briefly on Devotion to Holy Relics.
July 13th. Special Exam Latin paper for all schools.
July 19th. Catechism exam, viva voce. Considering making passing the Catechism exam a condition for next year’s special playday.
July 20th – 24th Exams continuing daily.
July 25th. Consecration of Bishop Wilkinson. Function 11 to 1.30, lunch for guests in Refectory around 2. Benediction given by Bishop Wilkinson at 9.15.
July 26th. Studies off for the new bishop, who gave a speech in Refectory during dinner.
July 27th. Playday from 8 to 7 for new bishop.
July 28th. Special playday for all three schools, 9 to 7. Morning stopped for those who had failed in any exam paper (attained marks below a third, or half in English), unless reinstated by master for extraordinary diligence. Some details of
those losing the morning and of three reinstatements.
July 29th. Morning instruction on spending vacation right.
July 30th. Distribution of special prizes, and all told that they must be back at the college by 8.30 on September 22nd. Philosophy defensions in the afternoon.
July 31st. Theology defensions in the morning. Dinner provided for visitors, and the play
Whittington and his cat performed.
Aug. 1st. Breakfast for visitors followed by the play
Richelieu. Prizes given, and a meeting of St. Cuthbert’s Society in the afternoon.
Aug. 2nd. Breaking up.
Aug. 3rd. “Biggin Day” for Juniors still in college, “with usual treat” at afternoon tea – two penny buns each with jam, strawberries and cherries.
Sept. 21st. President agreed that Minors would be completely relieved from the duty of sitting at boys’ tables during dinner. Philosophers to be responsible instead, and to withdraw as soon as the first course was served.
Sept. 22nd (Saturday) – General return day. Three new Juniors, in addition to five who started during Grand Week or the vacation. List of the teaching responsibilities of six in minor orders.
Sept. 23rd. Letter-writing for all in Study Place at noon.
Sept. 24th. Feast of Our Lady of Ransom, celebrated with the ciborium.
Sept. 25th. Juniors’ request for a playday for new Junior Prefect, Mr. Blackoe, at first refused by President, then promised for a suitable future day after the President was assured that previous new Junior Prefects had been honoured thus.
Sept. 27th. Requiem for Dr. Wilkinson.
Sept. 29th. Junior Rector took back responsibility for giving leave for extras in Refectory, as it was feared that the new Junior Prefect might be too accommodating.
Sept. 30th. Requiem Masses everywhere, marking the close of the Pope’s Jubilee.
Oct. 1st. Juniors’ playday, 8 till 7, for Mr. Blackoe. Beginning of October Benediction: bell rung at 8.25 so that intentions for prayers might be explained.
Oct. 2nd. Beginning of College Retreat under Fr. Bridgett.
Oct. 3rd. Text books for teaching. Low Figures to use Gill’s Geography, I and II Class Royal School Series geography rather than Christian Brothers’, II Class to use Cornwell’s English Grammar.
Oct. 4th. Juniors’ Retreat began, led by Fr. Bennett CSSR.
Oct. 8th. Confirmations, and close of Junior Retreat. Playday given. Arrival of bishops for their meeting.
Oct. 10th. Benediction by Bishop Wilkinson in St. Aloysius’, with additional candles paid for by Junior Rector.
Oct. 11th. Mgr. Gillow announced resignation from procuratorship of the farms, all of which were now to be let. Mr. Tatlock to undertake full office of Vice President, Mr. Lonsdale to be Procurator and subject to his supervision. Mr. John Chapman
leaving the Cathedral to become Professor of Moral Theology.
Oct. 12th. St. Wilfrid’s playday, rung out an hour early in honour of the bishops.
Oct. 13th. Details of new plan for learning Catechism, formed by Junior Rector and discussed with Vice President.
Oct. 16th. High Mass for Health of College. Times drawn up for practising music: each boy required to practice on four half-hours per week, and each to have the best piano once a week.
Oct. 18th. Public ordinations: two priests, four deacons, two Minors, four tonsured.
Oct. 22nd. Serious misbehaviour reported at the Visit after dinner. Sub-prefect henceforth to be charged with reading at the Visit, walking with the front boys and going at once into the Chapel.
Oct. 22nd – 25th Second BA exam.
Oct. 27th. To Chester-le-Street, to sing High Mass at opening of school chapel.
Oct. 30th. Exchange of duties between Mr. Stanley and Mr. Kay, with the former now to teach I Class and the latter Ciphering. Criticism of Mr. Kay for failing to exercise authority as a schoolmaster – “Has boys in
numbers in his rooms playing games puzzles etc. Reads a great deal too much in school. Has them round him a great deal in ambulacrum. Seems to coax rather than train to real obedience”.
Oct. 31st. Arrival of Mr. Chapman to be Professor of Morals.
Nov. 1st. All Saints’ Day. Relics exposed during and after Mass. Around 15 boys, mostly Low Figures, taken to see relics in the Oratory after Vespers.
Nov. 2nd. All Souls’ Day. Evening Benediction and Rosary concluding October Devotions.
Nov. 9th. Bishop Wilkinson at Ushaw. Permission sought and obtained from him to keep the Feast of Sts. Bassus and Fabius in St. Aloysius’, and to transfer the Feast of St. Pius V to the first free day. He did not think that the Church meant to be
strict in such matters.
Nov. 11th. Showed Bishop Wilkinson the relics in St. Aloysius’. Called his attention to a picture showing St. Innocent: he saw no objection to the representation.
Nov. 17th – 19th. To Thistleflat House, Crook, to spend Sunday with the bishop, “who is alone, & out of sorts”.
Nov. 21st. Student “threatened with consumption” taken to Belgium by his mother, to return in spring if well enough.
Nov. 28th. Philosophers’ Feast: taken to Durham by Mr. Corbishley, with lunch at Fr. Jones’.
Dec. 1st. Denis Velasco, in II Class, forbidden his own school’s playroom and ordered to join I Class for play and country outings. “Must be put with some more able to cope with him physically”, to curb his
persistent bullying of smaller boys.
Dec. 2nd. Instruction in Spiritual reading time:
“Sins of the tongue – Lies”.
Dec. 7th. Playday. Walter Calder taken to dentist “and came back with nothing done; having resisted all the dentist’s attempts”.
Dec. 8th. Grand Benediction, with extra candles paid out of subscription money and at Junior Rector’s expense. Walter Calder flogged for his “outrageous & passionate misbehaviour to Dentist”.
Dec. 12th. Dentist at Ushaw. Walter Calder “still unmanageable” through fear, and tooth extraction deemed impossible given his resistance and the resulting risk of a broken jaw.
Dec. 13th. Catechism exams for I, II and III Class. “Great improvement in knowledge of it”.
Dec. 16th. Low Figures’ catechism exam. “Very well known”.
Dec. 18th – 22nd. Exams for most students. President agreed to there being no Christmas exam for Philosophers, who were set an essay to occupy their time.
Dec. 24th. Most Minors freed to work on Christmas decorations. Junior college order: bread at 4.15pm, night prayers, blessing, hymn and to bed in silence at 5, rising at 9pm for supper before Matins at 10 and midnight Mass.
Dec. 25th. High Mass at 10.20, then Reading-up. Low Figures found to have put up a painted proscenium, without permission but apparently with assistance from their master, directly against a gas chandelier. The proscenium was allowed to stay and
the gas taken down, but boys were told that there should be no repetition another year.
Dec. 26th. Schedule given for vacation days when there is study.
Dec. 28th. First Christmas entertainment: operettas,
Diamond cut Diamond and “Paddy Blake”.
Dec. 29th. Studies off: confessions heard. Last entry for the year.
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Jan. 1st.
Paddy Blake (operetta?) performed again.
Jan. 3rd. Bought Christmas tree prizes in Sunderland – preserves, purses, knives etc.
Jan. 4th. Christmas celebration in Low Figures playroom. No tree: prizes in front of Father Christmas’ throne. Address given, songs, a “wonderful production of serpents”.
Jan. 6th. Philosophers’ play presented in evening.
Jan. 9th. President’s Feast. Christy Minstrels performance before dinner, chiefly by Low Figures.
Jan. 14th – 15th. Three cases of scarletina, one from each of High Figures, Poetry and Syntax.
Jan. 16th. Resolved to have Sisters of Mercy from Newcastle nurse the fever patients.
Jan. 17th. Novena begun for the sick. Sisters of Mercy could not come to Ushaw, but sent a trained nurse.
Jan. 19th. Scarletina patient William Guinan (High Figures) died. Funeral on the 21st.
Feb. 3rd. Instruction during Spiritual Reading, on the example set by Our Lady’s submission to Law of Purification, the right mode of looking at little rules and their importance.
Feb. 24th. First scarletina case among Juniors, “very mild”.
Feb. 27th. Juniors’ play Count Ernest presented in Hall.
Mar. 4th. Cock Vacation. Morning skating, play
Count Ernest in Hall in bishop’s presence. Play repeated on the 5th.
Mar. 12th – 13th. Three further scarletina cases, and many more suspected.
Mar. 16th. Outbreak of scarletina continuing, with new cases diagnosed most days. Some boys beginning to be summoned home to avoid their contracting it. Junior Rector regularly informing parents of their sons’ health by letter and telegraph.
Mar. 19th. Death of Mr. Preston, while at Lancaster. His body returned to Ushaw on the 21st , funeral on the 22nd.
Mar.25th. Essay
“Creation only possible origin of world” set for High Philosophers only.
Apr. 14th. Retreats beginning. Juniors led by Rev. Fortin, Seniors by Mgr. Weld.
Apr. 19th. Good Friday. Relic of True Cross exposed during Stations, details given of ceremony.
Apr. 21st. Bishop Wilkinson shown the papers relating to relics of Sts. Bassus and Fabius. He approved of the observance of their feast in St. Aloysius’, saying that it ought to be kept there even if not observed in the senior college.
Apr. 24th. Divines’ Feast. Exhibition of Low Figures’ fretwork, with other schools also allowed to see it.
Apr.29th. New Prefect’s playday. Scarletina outbreak appeared stopped, with no new cases for more than a fortnight.
May 4th. Feast of English Martyrs, with playday as requested by bishop.
May 7th. President told of bishop’s recommendation for the feast of Sts. Bassus and Fabius to be kept by the whole college, but in St. Aloysius’ at least.
May 9th. Exam playday for I Class, aside from two boys who had failed in Latin, French and Ciphering.
May 10th – 11th. Eve and Feast of Sts. Bassus and Fabius, celebrated with exposition of relics.
Jun. 4th. Beginning of bathing, but forbidden by doctor for those who had suffered fever. (Loose sheet here inserted giving summary of the fifteen juniors who had contracted scarletina, with dates of their entering and leaving the infirmary.
Average duration of stay around two months: final patient released on June 14th).
Jun. 8th. Preached at Esh on the Coming of the Holy Spirit.
June 18th. Low Figures outing to Biggin – each school to visit once in the quarter. Going to the river allowed, but no wading unless with special permission.
June 19th. Eve of Corpus Christi. “Great annoyance” caused by all the flowers growing at the front being taken by Minors to decorate St. Aloysius’, leaving none for the College.
June 21st. St. Aloysius. Detailed schedule: Mass sung by Bishop Wilkinson, relics exposed. Play allowed later in the morning and in late afternoon.
June 27th. Dr. Lennon returned from recuperative stay after his illness.
June 28th. English Special paper for all schools: dictation, then a letter describing their day at Biggin.
June 30th. Feast of Sacred Heart and of St. Lucina observed.
July 2nd. Biggin day for Junior Sacristans.
July 4th. Divines to Biggin, and the three Philosophers who sat at boys’ tables in the refectory took out Juniors.
July 13th. Special Latin paper for all classes. Incensation of relics at night, on eve of Feast of the Relics.
July 16th. To Bainbridge’s of Newcastle to be measured and to order new clothes: trousers, waistcoat, cassock and top coat.
July 17th. Two hour paper with five questions given to all Philosophers. Those “showing ignorance of the work” would be excluded from the essay prize.
July 18th- 26th. Exams continuing for all classes.
July 26th. Closing philosophy exams. Special exam playday for many, with morning withheld from those who had performed badly in exams.
July 28th. Instruction for the vacation given in Spiritual Reading time.
July 29th. Special Exam prizes distributed, with Reading-up. All boys to return from vacation by 8.30pm on Saturday Sept. 21st. Studies off given, with concert following night prayers.
July 30th. Theology Defensions in morning, with studies off after.
Count Ernest performed after night prayers.
July 31st. Exhibition day. High Mass sung by Bishop Wilkinson, Hamlet performed after breakfast, then prizegiving. St. Cuthbert’s Society meeting.
Aug. 1st. Beginning of vacation for most.
Aug. 2nd. Treats for remaining Juniors in Junior Refectory: buns, cheese cakes, preserves, honey, gooseberries and potted salmon.
Aug. 5th. Clergy retreat began in St. Aloysius’, led by Fr. Humphrey.
Sept. 19th. List of class responsibilities for Minors for the new college year.
Sept. 20th. Junior Rector returned from vacation.
Sept. 21st. Return day.
Sept. 22nd. All to study place at 12 to write letters.
Sept. 26th. Examined 16 new boys to determine their classes.
Oct. 1st. High Mass for health of college: studies off all morning. Beginning of college retreat, led by Fr. Krebs CSSR.
Oct. 2nd. Start of Juniors’ retreat, given by Fr. Somers CSSR.
Oct. 4th. Encyclical from Pope requiring prayer to St. Joseph to be added to the Rosary in October: read in College and St. Aloysius’.
Oct. 6th. Close of retreats. Ordinations 9 AM until 12.45: “almost too long for the little boys. Perhaps another time to keep them out until the Minor Orders are finished?”.
Oct. 7th. Arrival of bishops for meeting.
Oct. 15th. Changes to prayers at the Visit after dinner.
Oct. 24th. Biggin Day for Divines.
Nov. 3rd. Relic of B. Cuthbert Magne exposed on the Lady Altar in St. Aloysius, as requested by the boys.
Dec. 4th. Arranged with President that the viva voce element of Philosophers’ Christmas examination would be deferred to the second week in Lent, to divide their work better. Written paper still to be taken at Christmas.
Dec. 18th – 23rd: Exams for all schools. Low Figures so bad in ciphering and French that their playdays were suspended until they were examined again.
Dec. 25th. Christmas Day order unchanged from last year. Final entry for 1889.
Jan. 1890. Christmas vacation plays held in the Junior Refectory because the Hall was not in a fit condition.
Jan. 8th. President’s Feast. Christmas tree prizes bought at Sunderland. Prologue and songs in Refectory.
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Jan. 10th. First study day after vacation.
Jan. 17th. Mr. Chapman began Ethics with all Philosophers. Leave obtained from Dr. Lennon for play
Blue Beard in Cock Vacation.
Jan. 29th. Two boys flogged for a fight, and made to ask the school’s pardon for the bad example. Others blamed for not hindering, and in some cases encouraging, the fighting.
Feb. 3rd. Purification: Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’. Playday for football.
Feb. 4th. Low Figures examined again in French after bad results at Christmas. Five failed again and would continue to lose playday.
Feb. 5th. Low Figures examined again in ciphering, much better than at Christmas.
Feb. 6th. Entertainment by Mr. Spurr after supper.
Feb. 14th. Play
Blue Beard for Juniors only – Minors and Professors present.
Feb. 17th – 18th. Further performances of
Blue Beard.
Feb. 17th. Declaration by Bishop that laws of fasting and abstinence were suspended in the diocese because of the prevalence of influenza.
Feb. 18th. Bishop’s enthronement at Newcastle.
Feb. 20th. Studies off for Playday suspended as weather cold and uncertain.
Feb. 22nd. First Latin Defension of the year.
Feb. 24th. First signs of ‘flu outbreak, six cases by nightfall.
Feb. 26th. Influenza outbreak in both houses, but cases among juniors generally mild. Infirmary full, two College classrooms filled with sufferers. Dinner soup and rice – no beer – and bed at 5 for patients, after supper at 4 and night
prayers.
Feb. 27th. Influenza spreading, but cases among juniors continuing to be very light. Small dormitory above Refectory used as an infirmary for those needing to spend the day in bed.
March 1st. ‘Flu spreading, with more severe cases still in College. Dinners taken up to sick boys by Minors and Divines.
March 2nd. More ‘flu. Studies off until further notice.
March 4th. Junior Rector to bed with ‘flu soon after breakfast. William Howell declared “an alarming case” and sent to Infirmary.
March 7th. Last Sacrament given to W. Howell.
March 11th. Death of W. Howell. Funeral on the 13th: boys did not go to cemetery as standing in the open air was thought dangerous.
March 17th. Study recommenced as influenza was abating.
March 18th. Studies off for play.
March 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Day. Pontifical High Mass, and St. Cuthbert’s ring kissed afterwards by all students, in hope of bringing influenza to an end.
March 21st. St. Cuthbert’s playday.
March 27th. Easter exams cancelled, in view of the interruption to work by influenza.
March 30th. Retreats, led by Rev. H. Berry (Juniors), Fr. Peach O.P. (College).
Apr. 3rd: Thursday before Easter. Meditation given by Dr. Preston, as Fr. Berry had been obliged to leave.
Apr. 4th. No Passion Sermon: Tenebrae at 4. Relic of the True Cross and Thorns exposed as last year during Stations.
Apr. 10th. Prefect Mr. Blackoe called away as his mother was dangerously ill.
Apr. 13th. Prefectship taken by Dr. Preston.
Apr. 15th. Twice weekly lectures by Mr. Ward started in Junior Refectory. Audience comprised of Divines and High Philosophers: “Mr. Ward himself thought there might be some danger to the Low Philosophers”.
Apr. 16th. Set lecture for High Philosophers, to be handed in by May 6th. Subject
“Man no mere developement of a lower form”.
Apr. 23rd. St. George’s – benediction with torches etc.
May 4th. Feast of the English Martyrs: exposition, and Dr. Preston preached.
May 9th. Greek Playday. Offered Resignation (? – not mentioned further).
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus and Fabius. Entry includes detailed order of the evening function, led by the Bishop.
May 27th. Relics of St. Philip Neri exposed after Mass and after First Prayers.
June 1st. Trinity Sunday. Preached on the Sacred Heart.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Mass sung at throne by Bishop, some further details.
June 26th – 27th. Benedictions in St. Aloysius’ with President’s approval, as there was none in College chapel where the altar was displaced while new sanctuary steps were installed.
June 29th: Sts. Peter and Paul. High Mass in St. Aloysius’, but not in College because of the steps.
Jun. 30th. Relics of St. Lucina exposed during Mass. Thesis sent to Andrews for printing. Special English paper given to all schools.
July 4th. Proofs received from Andrews and copies ordered.
July 9th. Theses delivered from Andrews.
July 12th. Special Latin paper for the three schools.
July 13th. Feast of Relics, with details of ceremony.
July 16th – 23rd: Exams for all classes.
July 25th. President consented to a few “turnbacks” (retention in present classes for boys with particular academic difficulties). Special playday for Juniors, aside from those who had failed badly, who were set to
work on the subjects they had failed in.
July 28th. Distribution of special prizes in Study Place. All told to return from vacation by 8.30 on Sept. 20th.
July 29th. Divines’ defensions. Evening play
Blue Beard.
July 30th. New High Altar opened: High Mass at 9.30.
July 31st. Going home day. Breaks did not arrive, through some mistake, so all had to walk to Aldin Grange to catch trains. Fifteen Juniors currently staying up.
Aug. 1st. Treat as was customary for Juniors still in college on first day of vacation. Blind Man’s Buff, Rector read Spectre Barber etc. to them, special tea in Refectory with sweets.
Sept. 18th. Rector returned.
Sept. 19th. Chapel and most ambulacra repainted.
Sept. 20th. Return of Juniors.
Sept. 21st. Some time off studies given. All, including new boys, made to write letters in Library.
Sept. 22nd. Playday for new Bishop of Leeds.
Sept. 26th. Playday 8 to 7. Bishop acting as President.
Sept. 27th. New boys divided between three Confessors. No boys assigned to Rector, but with Bishop’s approval he would continue to hear any who wished to go to him.
Sept. 30th. Beginning of College Retreat: Fr. Stevens CSSR.
Oct. 1st. Junior Retreat began, led by Fr. Ryder CSSR, who explained the intended pattern of October Devotions (some details in Diary) in his opening discourse.
Oct. 5th. End of retreat.
Oct. 6th. Playday for ordinations. Bishops of Salford, Liverpool, Shrewsbury and Leeds arrived at Ushaw for meeting, Bishop of Middlesbrough to arrive next day.
Oct. 8th. Bishop yielded to unanimous request of the meeting that he should assume the Presidency of Ushaw for at least one year. Mr. Corbishley to serve as Vice President. Some notes of bishops’ verdicts on their students.
Oct. 9th – 10th. Some staff duties for the year ahead.
Oct. 13th. St. Wilfrid’s Playday, this year from 8 to 7 “in an attempt to revive the old squashing at the ringing out” .
Oct. 13th – 14th. Further apportioning of staff responsibilities.
Oct. 16th. Boys entering chapel asked to offer up prayers and Mass for cure of William Gray’s deafness, which was obliging him to leave Ushaw. Further prayer request for the same cause made by Dr. Preston on the 19th.
Oct. 20th. Breakfast bell in college now to be rung five minutes earlier, at 7.35. Dormitory bell at 6.25 suggested to Minors as a signal to start meditation. William Gray taken to doctor, who found a very remarkable improvement in his hearing
“for which he could not account”.
Oct. 24th. Bishop of Liverpool told about improvement in William Gray’s hearing, and left it to Rector and Bishop Wilkinson to decide how long to keep him at Ushaw while hoping for a sufficient cure.
Oct. 25th- 27th. Meditations and instructions given to the seven about to be ordained.
Oct. 28th. Public ordination.
Oct. 31st. Drilling cancelled for General Confessions, though the Drill Serjeant had come to Ushaw.
Nov. 17th. W. Gray left, as there was little hope for cure of his deafness.
Nov. 26th: Philosophers’ Feast. Taken to Finchale by Junior Rector.
Nov. 27th. Entertainment provided by Mr. Spurr after supper: “a great deal too much about love etc.”. Beginning of instructions for Confirmation: Dr. Preston on the Sacrament, Junior Rector on more general
subjects, Bishop intending to take the boys twice himself.
Nov. 29th. First feast of B. Cuthbert Maine.
Dec. 1st. Case of typhoid declared (R. Dunderdale).
Dec. 3rd. Community Mass to be offered up for those buried in Ushaw’s cemetery on the first Wednesday of every month. Announced to the boys after sanction had been obtained from Bishop.
Dec. 4th. Fr. Morris gave a first lecture on the English Martyrs, their history and the methods of beatification and canonisation, with juniors excluded at his wish.
Dec. 5th. Beginning of retreat for those to be confirmed.
Dec. 7th. Confirmation following Community Mass. List enclosed of the 21 who were confirmed in St. Aloysius’ Chapel.
Dec. 16th. Second case of typhoid.
Dec. 17th. Third case of typhoid, and one of measles. Exams began with Classics for Low Figures.
Dec. 18th. Studies off for skating: fresh air recommended by doctor as helping prevent typhoid. Catechism exam deferred. Michael Welch drowned in pond while skating near Bathing Place.
Dec. 19th. Exams resumed, with studies off periods for skating.
Dec. 20th. Requiem Mass and Funeral of M. Welch. Boys kept from the cemetery as too cold. Inquest held in the Sacristy.
Dec. 21st – 22nd. Exams and skating continuing.
Dec 23rd. Going home day. Return fixed by Bishop as Jan. 8th.
Dec. 24th. Customary Christmas schedule for Juniors: to bed in silence after night prayers and blessing at 5 PM, rising at 9 for supper followed by Matins and three Masses, with Bishop singing Midnight Mass.
Dec. 25th. Rising at 8.30, short morning prayers at crib before breakfast at 10. Dec. 26th. Order of mornings for the vacation.
Dec. 30th. Christmas tree items bought in Sunderland, and boxes of preserved fruit and figs for Minors.
Dec. 31st. Benediction and Te Deum for close of year, with a reading in Hall at 8. Last entry in the diary.
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Jan. 1st. Minors given their preserved fruit and figs for tea.
Jan. 2nd – 3rd. Bishop provided with character papers, and with marks obtained by church students from every diocese.
Jan 7th. President’s Feast: Bishop and several Profs. present, celebration included songs, an address to Father Christmas, prizes for the boys and a tombola (three prizes, the chief one a box of fruit).
Jan. 8th. Day fixed by the bishop for general return of students.
Jan. 9th – 10th. Both skating playdays, with several more to follow during January. Two cases of scarletina, one of them thought by Dr. Sinclair to have brought both scarletina and measles to Ushaw when arriving from Bullingham Convent on Dec.
15th.
Jan. 16th. Studies off in morning for Philosophers, to clean the pond after heavy snow.
Jan. 20th. The two scarletina patients conveyed to Esh Hall in the Bishop’s carriage, brought “most kindly” from Crook at the Bishop’s orders as no other conveyance was available. Relief that there had been no
further cases.
Jan. 23rd. Start of writing lessons by Mr. John Roche, to be given on a trial basis to all three schools together from 6.30 to 7 on every weekday evening.
Jan. 26th. Private playday given to Philosophers, thought to be for their having cleaned the pond during their skating time.
Jan.27th. Play
Julius Caesar, from 7.45 to circa 10pm. Repeated on the 28th.
Jan. 30th. Temporary arrangement made for Mr. Poock to take I Class in Elocution for an extra 45 minutes every Saturday, as their standard was very low.
Feb. 6th. Play
Robin Hood performed in Hall for Juniors only. Repeated on 9th and 10th for different Ushaw audiences. and on the afternoon of the 10th for a number of the Bishop’s relatives “who were much
delighted”.
Feb. 15th. Details of four petitions sent by the Bishop’s directions to Dr. Giles in Rome.
Feb. 16th. Order of commemorative service in St.Aloysius’.
Feb. 18th. Juniors’ Playday for the Play, including a paper chase.
Feb. 19th. Return of scarletina patients from Esh.
Feb. 20th. Pope’s election day. Benedictions in both chapels to pray for restoration of the temporal power, by wish of the Bishop.
Feb. 21st. Case of measles diagnosed.
Feb. 22nd. Second Sunday in Lent. Instruction on Death given by the Junior Rector.
Feb. 25th (Wednesday). First number of the
Ushaw Magazine distributed in the house. Stations of the Cross now to be on the Wednesdays in Lent rather than the Fridays, when in accordance with the Bishop’s wish there would be Benedictions in both chapels.
March 2nd. High Philosophers given their essay subject,
“The Scholastic doctrine as to the constituent principles of bodies”.
March 3rd. Coronation of the Pope. Benedictions in both chapels, litany said in English with prayer for the Pope.
March 4th. Spoken and written exams for Philosophers.
March 5th. Ralph Chapman baptised at Esh by his brother, with Junior Rector as godfather.
March 8th. Instruction by Junior Rector on fidelity to small rules and duties.
March 12th. Viva voce Catechism exam for I and II Class, deferred from Christmas because of skating. Catechism not known well enough.
March 13th – 19th. Exams continuing, involving all.
March 20th. St. Cuthbert’s: High Mass at 8.30 sung by Bishop. Bishop announced establishment of the Association of Prayer for Conversion of England: members to say one Hail Mary daily.
March 22nd. Palm Sunday. Masters explained Holy Week’s ceremonies at Spiritual Reading. Retreats began: College led by Fr. Wilberforce OP, Seminary by Fr. Albert Buckler OP: “honorarium for latter paid by Dr. Coulston to
get off giving the Retreat himself” .
March 26th. Maundy Thursday, with order for the morning.
March 27th. Good Friday, with ceremonial detail: Relic of True Cross exposed. Cat struck out.
March 30th. Easter Monday. Community Mass said by Bishop in St. Aloysius’, then five boys confirmed.
April 5th. Pontifical Mass sung by the Bishop on his birthday. Studies off for an hour from noon.
April 6th. Bishop gone away, for about three weeks.
April 22nd. I Class exam playday: several who failed exams admonished, only one denied the playday.
April 23rd. St. George’s: studies off all day, Biggin day for I Class.
May 1st. New case of scarletina, sent directly to Esh. Bishop returned from Bath.
May 6th. Playday given for visit by Bishop of Aberdeen.
May 10th – 11th. Details as to ceremonies for Sts. Bassus and Fabius, in both College and Seminary by order of the bishop. Inserted small printed sheet of orders for the week, in Latin.
May 15th. Feast of St. Pius V kept in whole college.
May 18th. Professors to Lartington for three days.
May 20th. Playday for Bishop of Birmingham.
May 21st – 22nd. Leave given for fires in classrooms and in Minors’ rooms
May 26th. St. Augustine of England. Boys asked to offer up Mass for the conversion of England.
May 31st. Short instruction on Perseverance and Devotion to the Sacred Heart substituted for meditation at night prayers.
June 15th. Details of adjustments to writing lesson times and responsibilities, made at request of staff.
June 18th. Start of bathing.
June 21st – 23rd. Details of celebrations of the Tercentenary of St. Aloysius, with Papal permission for a Triduum of Masses to begin on or after the feast day (which was the 21st).
June 25th. Junior Rector heard that the two Cantors had been asked to tea with Minors on the 22nd, “on the plea of having taken part in the High Mass” and in accordance with a claimed tradition. He made it known
that he had not heard of this, and considered it to lack any sanction from the authorities.
June 27th. Additional St. Aloysius’ playday for Juniors. Benediction for Feast of B. John Fisher by Bishop’s order.
June 29th. Sts. Peter and Paul: High Mass sung by Bishop. Juniors taken by their masters to watch Philosophers vs. Big Lads cricket match.
June 30th. Feast of St. Lucina. Notes on some teaching appointments for next year.
July 1st. Special English paper for all schools.
July 2nd. Bishop said that Cuthbert Pippet, after exam failures, had better not return to Ushaw after the vacation.
July 4th. Junior Rector authorised by Bishop to give home leave at his own discretion, only writing to him if in doubt about a particular church student. Previously the Bishop had always been consulted.
July 11th. Proof of thesis sent back to Andrews, with an order for 140 copies.
July 13th. Last school with Philosophers before exams: notes of subjects that were not reached this year.
July 15th – 23rd: Exams for all classes but the 17th kept clear as a playday (Judges’ Day and Grantham).
July 24th. Special playday, stopped in morning for I Class and for several of II Class and Low Figures on account of poor results. Bishop’s approval obtained for turning back a number of students from all three classes.
July 25th. Bishop’s consecration day. Pontifical Mass then playday.
July 26th. Grand Week begins.
July 27th. Philosophers’ Defensions in morning. Operetta (unnamed) at 8pm.
July 28th. Single Theology Defension. Seminary play Robin Hood at 8. Special prizes distributed in Study Place, and boys told to return by 8.30 on September 19th.
July 29th. Grand Week continuing. Julius Caesar performed at 10, followed by boys’ dinner and prizes: visitors’ dinner at 3.30, Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’ at 8.30.
July 30th. Vacation morning. As many boys sent home as could be, with hardly any Divines staying.
July 31st. Usual treat in Seminary Refectory – penny buns, jam and fruit - for the Juniors still in college, only 14 this year.
Aug. 9th. Wet day: Juniors allowed to play in ambulacrum after Benediction, and given jam with their bread at 5.
Sept. 17th. Junior Rector returned from vacation. Details of Minors’ responsibilities for the year.
Sept. 19th. Return day: 46 old boys returned, 5 more still to come, and 20 new boys in house with at least 4 more expected.
Sept. 20th. All to spiritual reading, and all wrote letters in Study Place at noon.
Sept. 21st. Playday given for Archbishop Stonor’s visit during vacation. Bishop acquiesced in the need this year for a 3rd Class.
Sept. 22nd – 24th. All but two of the new boys examined.
Sept. 25th. The five 3rd Class boys to be with 2nd Class for now. Old yew tree cut down.
Sept. 28th. 72 boys now in house.
Sept. 29th. Start of College Retreat, led by Fr. O’Laverty CSSR. Definite sanction from Bishop for a separate master for 3rd Class.
Sept. 30th. Retreat in St. Aloysius’ began, led by Fr. Boylan CSSR. Ignatius Saxton appointed as Third Class master.
Oct. 2nd. Feast of Angel Guardians. Angel Guardian statue on table in sanctuary, with candles lighted there during Mass.
Oct. 3rd. Both Retreat Fathers left for Nottingham at 10pm.
Oct. 4th. Close of retreats, and ordinations.
Oct. 5th. Ordination playday, and arrival of bishops for their meeting.
Oct. 6th – 8th. Masses said daily by Bishops of Leeds and Middlesbrough.
Oct. 7th. Playday given for the Bishop’s acceptance of the permanent position of Ushaw’s President.
Oct. 8th. Most visiting Bishops departed after breakfast. Bishop spoke after dinner on matters including the study of plain chant by Divines and their practice in catechising.
Oct. 13th. Bishop consulted on the condition of dormitory windows, and on heating arrangements for Refectory and top rooms.
Oct. 21st. Case of whooping cough declared after more than a week in infirmary.
Oct. 23rd-25th. Two more suspected cases of whooping cough sent to infirmary.
Oct. 28th. Notes on new heating system: dormitory hot water pipes fully charged for the first time and found very effective. Chapel heating slight but thought sufficient. Oct. 30th. Second playday for Bishop’s Presidency.
Nov. 13th. Walked back from Sacriston after preaching there previous night and in morning,
Nov. 23rd. Confirmation instruction begun. 15 boys to be confirmed.
Nov. 25th. Philosophers’ Feast: taken to Durham by Mr. Corbishley to see excavations under the Galilee. Serious misbehaviour by some at the Feast.
Nov. 29th. Bishop to Philosophers at noon: “abolished the objectionable fine”, and required surrender of all fine books which were burnt by the Prefect in his presence. Future fine books to be destroyed at end of
each year.
Nov. 30th. Two Minors to infirmary with whooping cough. Bishop went to London for meeting of bishops concerning education.
Dec. 4th. Start of retreat for those to be confirmed.
Dec. 6th. Confirmation of 15 boys. List of their names loosely inserted.
Dec. 15th-21st: Exams for all classes. Further occasional cases of whooping cough.
Dec.20th. Notes on dormitory temperatures at 9am: 42 degrees near west door, 38 in upper dorm. over refectory.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day for those with leave. Return date fixed as January 7th.
Dec. 24th. Usual Christmas Eve: boys to bed in silence after night prayers at 5PM, rising at 9 for supper, Matins and three Masses.
Dec. 25th. High Mass at 10.30, reading-up, skating in the afternoon. Studies off for remainder of year.
Dec.28th. Play
Make your Wills performed by Little Lads, after a selection of songs: repeated on the 29th without songs.
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Jan. 1st – 2nd. Exhibition (no details) in museum, for College only on the 1st and Juniors on 2nd,
Jan. 4th. To Sunderland to buy Christmas tree presents, mostly from “Italian Warehouse”.
Jan. 6th – 7th. Illustrious Stranger performed at 8pm.
Jan. 11th. First of a series of lectures on biology given by Dr. Klein to Philosophers and Divines.
Jan. 13th. President’s Feast. Christmas tree 4.30-5.15: three songs, a violin piece, and draw for prizes. Bishop, professors and visitors were all included, and each chose his prize when his name was drawn.
Jan. 14th. Neville Damian, sent to infirmary on 8th, diagnosed as suffering galloping consumption.
Jan. 17th. Panegyric of Cardinal Manning delivered by Dr. Klein after High Mass. Bishop declared to have influenza.
Jan. 20th. Case of measles noted.
Jan. 21st – Feb. 24th. These pages missing from diary, apparently torn out. Loosely inserted sheet lists 25 cases of measles with dates of diagnosis and discharge,
Jan. 20th – March 21st. Feb. 29th. Eight discharged from infirmary, three more on March 2nd, as measles outbreak ends.
Cock Vacation: operetta Gamester of Metz performed at 7.30, repeated March 1st.
March 14th. Philosophers examined, two or three at a time, on Ontology, Cosmology and parts of Ethics, by a panel of four. Also in Natural Philosophy on the 16th.
March 20th. St. Cuthbert: Pontifical High Mass, and operetta repeated in evening.
March 22nd. Divines vs. House at football. Juniors taken to watch, but very cold, and three developed bad sore throats.
Apr. 1st. Playday given for the new Archbishop.
Apr. 3rd – 9th. Exams for all classes. Greek and French grammar exam for Low Figures postponed from 5th to 7th to gain time to write an answering letter to the Tablet.
Apr. 11th. Will. Mooney diagnosed with scarletina and removed to Esh.
Apr. 14th. Order given for Maundy Thursday. Five first communicants named.
Apr. 18th. Will. Mooney recovering: sent books to read, which could be burnt afterwards. Returned to Ushaw on May 28th.
Apr. 27th. Meeting to discuss funds for new swimming bath. Need to secure £450 before work began: Bishop guaranteed £100, Junior Rector £50, other professors the remainder, all in the event of the full amount not being raised through
donations.
Apr. 30th. Transferred celebration of St. George’s Day.
May 3rd – 20th. Series of lectures by Mr. Devas on Political Economy.
May 9th. Bishop to London for bishops’ meeting.
May 10th. Rescripts received from Rome in answer to Bishop’s four petitions of February 1891. All petitions granted: 1) Proper antiphon for St. Cuthbert, 2) Office for diocese of BB Thomas Plumtree, Luke Kirby, Rich. Kirkman and Rich. Thirkill,
3) Feast for College of Douai Martyrs on second Sunday after Easter, 4) Proper Lessons for Sts. Bassus and Fabius and St. Lucina.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Order of Ceremony given.
May 23rd. Playday for Mr. Devas, “who asked so urgently for it that there was no refusing. He left this morning after witnessing the ringing out”.
May 24th. To Durham with Dr. Preston to see Wessington’s Manuscript. Returned June 7th to see it again.
May 30th. Concert given by William Catterall, boy violinist, with Fr. Dallow at piano.
June 14th. Rehearsal for play Puss in Boots. Resolved to try to avoid in future having plays in the third quarter, as interference with study was severe.
June 19th, 22nd, 23rd. Play Puss in Boots performed.
June 21st, St. Aloysius’ Feast: Pontifical High Mass. Lamp set before new picture of St. Aloysius in ambulacrum.
June 24th, 25th: Playdays for St. Aloysius.
July 2nd. English Special Paper: all schools required to write a letter describing a Biggin Day this year.
July 7th. Sacristan’s Biggin Day.
July 8th, 9th, 11th: Special papers in French, Latin and Ciphering.
July 12th. Books obtained for use as Special Prizes: Wood’s Birds for Low Figures, Tissandier’s Scientific Recreations for 1st Class, Life of St. Aloysius for 2nd Class, Mrs. Hope’s Conversion of the Teutonic Race for 3rd Class.
July 14th-17th. 19th-22nd: Exams for all classes.
July 18th. Playday for visit of Judges Day and Grantham.
July 22nd. Special playday for Juniors’ exam. Not stopped for Low Figures despite only five achieving passes in Ciphering – “lost heads at paper… Better not discourage them”.
July 27th. Pontifical Mass, and distribution of prizes at noon.
July 28th. Going home day. Conveyances very crowded, “some boys obliged to lie on top of omnibus”. 15 boys remaining.
July 29th. Customary treat provided in Seminary Refectory – penny buns, jam, sweets and strawberries – for the boys staying at Ushaw.
Sept. 15th. List of Minors’ class responsibilities for 1892-3.
Sept. 17th: Return day. Total of 59 old boys and 22 new, with a number of them yet to arrive.
Sept. 27th. College retreat began, led by Rev. Croke Robinson.
Sept. 28th. Start of Junior retreat, given by Fr. Morris of the Oratory.
Oct. 1st. With October Benedictions a permanent part of St. Aloysius’ year, the candles required were now to be at the college’s expense rather than charged to the Junior Rector. Change approved by the Bishop.
Oct. 2nd. Close of retreat.
Oct. 3rd. Ordination playday: bishops arrived for their meeting. J. Dixon, “bumptious” 17 year old, advanced to College with Bishop’s approval, to avoid his having undue influence on the Juniors and to free a room.
Oct. 5th. Feast of Angel Guardians. Playday for new Bishop of Salford, who gave a sermon before Benediction.
Nov. 4th. First case of chicken pox: six more diagnosed on Sunday 6th.
Nov.14th. Started Cosmology with BA candidates and two others.
Nov. 21st. Start of daily instruction for those to be confirmed on Dec. 4th: Junior Rector alternating with Dr. Preston, except when the Bishop took them.
Nov. 23rd. Philosophers’ Feast. They walked to Whitworth to have lunch with Mr. Edward Wilkinson: Bishop attended, driving there with Mr. Corbishley.
Nov. 30th. Ordination of Mr. Beech in St. Aloysius’.
Dec. 2nd. Confirmation Retreat began in the evening.
Dec. 4th. 15 boys confirmed in St. Aloysius’; “6 more deferred as too young or too childish”. List of names of those confirmed and of the deferrals loosely inserted.
Dec. 5th. First skating playday of the winter. Further skating each day of the week, and on most days through December.
Dec. 9th. Conjuring exhibition given at 7.30.
Dec. 15th – 23rd: Exams for all classes.
Dec. 19th – 23rd. E. O’Kelly, J. Coggans and B. Daly flogged, at least two of them for bad exam performance.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day for those with leave.
Dec. 24th. Lastl year of the triennial permission for three Masses at night. As in previous years, Juniors to bed after night prayers at 5 PM, rising at 9 PM for supper and Matins.
Dec. 25th. Christmas boxes in the Refectory. Reading-up postponed to the Sunday after Epiphany as so many boys were absent.
Dec. 26th. Arranged with Bishop to rule that there should always be at least four Minors at Ushaw: those wishing to go away must relieve one another.
Dec. 27th. Divines and Minors all at Whitworth as guests of Edward Wilkinson. Divines returned later than expected at 6.30, leaving boys unsupervised at dinner.
Dec. 28th. Bishop’s Translation day. Benediction in St. Aloysius’ by Bishop’s request. Play performed at 8, repeated on 29th.
Dec. 30th. Reading (Mr. Chapman) and songs at 8 PM.
Dec. 31st. Benediction in both chapels for close of year. Final entry in the Diary.
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Jan. 1st. Christy Minstrels performance by Big Lads.
Jan. 7th. Return day for those gone home.
Jan. 8th. Deferred Reading-up. Third Class not required to stand out: Bishop thought it better to delay this until Easter, and meanwhile for schools to be spoken to about laughing at them.
Jan. 9th. First study day after Christmas.
Jan. 10th. Further Christy Minstrels performance.
Jan. 11th. President’s Feast. Christmas tree deferred to next day, as no available piano was sufficiently in tune.
Jan. 13th. Last Christmas decorations taken down, but crib still in place.
Jan. 15th. Spoke about “Sodality of serving boys” , and admitted to it all of Low Figures and I Class.
Jan. 20th. Playday for Cardinal Vaughan.
Jan. 26th.
Richard III performed at 8pm.
Feb. 3rd. First of a series of weekly Benedictions on Fridays until Easter.
Feb. 4th. J. Brunlees diagnosed as having pneumonia, after several days in bed. Declared “humanly speaking out of danger” on the 8th.
Feb. 5th. Beginning of novena in honour of B. Thomas Plumtree.
Feb. 13th, 14th. Concerts presented at 8 by Mr. Harding.
Feb. 14th. First celebration of Feast of B. Thomas Plumtree.
Feb. 20th. Quarant Ore. Exposition in St. Aloysius’.
Feb. 24th. Playday for Pope at request of Ushaw Pilgrims. Centre relic case at St. Innocent’s Altar opened with Bishop’s permission, to examine the skulls. Papers had been found inside the skull of St. Lucina: none were found here, but Dr.
Preston “detected evident contusions on each side of skull of St. Bassus – crack on one side extending to eye... a most satisfactory confirmation of the Acts”.
March 3rd – 4th. Philosophers’ examinations.
March 6th. Playday for Pope’s Jubilee.
March 7th. Dr. Preston gave Philosophers their essay subject:
“The Imagination; its nature, & its function with reference to the Intellect”.
March 9th. Concert in Hall, with Mr. Tate (brother of a Divine) singing.
March 12th. Death early in morning of William Darnell, no cause stated: boys went to see the body. Funeral on 16th.
March 16th: Death in early morning of George Quinn, suddenly taken ill. Funeral on 18th.
March 17th – 21st. Exams for all classes.
March 21st. Death of Camille Everart. Post-mortem next day pronounced cause of death as pericarditis. Requiem and funeral on 24th.
March 25th J. Scully broke right fibula jumping over hedge. Still in infirmary Apr. 27th.
March 26th. Palm Sunday. Retreats to start next day. “Much play and no silence to be allowed”.
March 27th. Retreats: Fr. Albert Buckler OP in St. Cuthbert’s, Fr. B. Wilberforce OP in St. Aloysius’.
March 30th, 31st. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday: orders given.
Apr. 1st. Easter Sunday. Reading-up postponed as so many boys were absent, with a number having been taken home.
Apr. 8th. Sanitary inspection carried out. Several boys returned.
Apr. 13th. Fr. Frank’s Spiritual Reflexions sent for typing. (Loosely inserted sheet: Proposed Order of Day for Juniors, dated November 1886).
Apr. 16th. First celebration of Feast of Douai Martyrs. Sermon by Dr. Preston at High Mass. Reading-up, with 3rd Class not standing out.
Apr. 28th. Thomas Carroll “very critical” in infirmary with lung condition, “terribly alarmed” and calmed with difficulty.
May 4th. Feast of English Martyrs. Thomas Carroll died. Funeral May 6th, Bishop officiating.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina celebrated. Printed Hymn for Martyrs loosely inserted, with handwritten amendment to two lines.
May 22nd. Bishop and most Profs. to Lartington.
May 23rd. E. Howard appointed Sacristan.
May 24th. Playday given for Mr. Leadbitter, Sheriff of Northumberland.
June 1st. Began Month of Sacred Heart, at Night Prayers in St. Aloysius’.
June 5th. First Prayers readings: History of Relics, to be followed by Life of St. Lucina, then lives of Sts. Bassus and Fabius.
June 9th. Retreat began for three boys, in preparation for their First Communion on Sunday 11th.
June 17th. New bath blessed by the Bishop in evening, and brought into use the following day.
June 19th. Playday given for new bath. Lives of Sts. Bassus and Fabius completed at First Prayers.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, with details of the day.
June 27th. Bishop to London for the Dedication of England to Our Lady and St. Peter on Thursday 29th (Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul). “Leave home” to be given, by order of the Bishop, to all lay students who
apply. Junior Rector given discretion regarding applications from church students, but his preference was to submit them to the Bishop.
July 1st. English Special Paper given to all schools: an hour in which to write a letter,
“The new Bath, and your first bathe in it”.
July 2nd. Order of service for dedication of England to Our Lady and St. Peter. Procession hindered from going outside by thunderstorm.
July 5th. Play
Aladdin performed to Juniors. Severe delays caused by trouble with scenery, so did not finish until 10.40.
July 6th. Marriage of Duke of York. Flags raised on college,
God Save the Queen sung in the front at 12.30, studies off all day. B. Daly ran away to escape flogging: brought back from Durham station, kept in Infirmary, and sent to Lancaster on the 8th by order of the Bishop of
Liverpool.
July 9th. Feast of the Relics, with order for the day.
July 10th. Play
Aladdin in Hall, again continuing until 10.40. Noted that plays must never again be put off until so late in the year: this year’s circumstances, including Mr. Gillow’s going to Rome and the several deaths, had been
very harmful to study.
July 13th – 20th: Exams for all classes.
July 21st. Exam playday won by all schools, denied only to a few individuals for specific failures.
July 22nd. Playday for Mgr. Giles.
July 24th. Junior play
Aladdin performed again, and again long (8 to 10.45).
July 25th. Science Demonstrations. Special Prizes given after dinner, Richard III performed at 8.
July 26th. Responsibilities allocated: dormitory, sacristan, subprefect, stationery.
July 27th. Going home: departure at 7am after breakfast and Mass. 15 Juniors staying on.
July 28th. Customary treat of penny buns, fruit etc. for the Juniors staying at Ushaw.
Sept. 14th. Class responsibilities of Minors for the year 1893-4. New Matron, Mrs. Johnson, given an explanation of her duties.
Sept. 16th. Return day. Juniors now numbering 84: 19 new, 58 returning, 7 not yet arrived back.
Sept. 18th. Playday for Mgr. M. del Val.
Sept. 20th – 23rd. Playdays or studies-off, as floors were up in several class rooms for installation of the new heating system.
Sept. 25th. First day of school.
Sept. 26th. Retreats began: College led by Fr. Luke Rivington, Juniors by Fr. George Richardson.
Sept. 30th. Confirmations, with order for the day. Eight confirmed, seven more deferred (“too childish etc.”). Close of Junior Retreat.
Oct. 1st. Close of College Retreat.
Oct. 2nd. Feast of Guardian Angels. Duties exchanged between Subprefect G. Knuckey and Dormitory Master D. O’Shea, as the latter had found he could not get to sleep in the dormitory.
Oct. 4th – 6th. Four boys declared to have scarletina, and sent to Esh.
Oct. 10th. Bishops arrived for their annual meeting, excepting the Bishop of Liverpool who was ill, and was represented by Mgr. Carroll as secretary.
Oct. 12th.Mr. Ryan, Divine, declared to have scarletina: the first boy diagnosed in the present outbreak had practised piano in his room. The piano was removed to Esh and another sent for. Oct. 16th. Visited Sunderland for Convent Jubilee.
Dentist at Ushaw.
Oct. 17th onwards: Concerns over health of Alex. Swarbreck. Doctor strongly of opinion school “no fit place for boy with heart affected as Alick’s is”.
Oct. 30th. Playday “for health”.
Nov. 1st – 2nd. All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebrated.
Nov. 4th. Three further cases of scarletina.
Nov. 5th. Separation arranged between College and Sem. boys, as no Juniors had yet been diagnosed with scarletina in the current outbreak. Sheet loosely inserted giving details of the arrangement while it lasted.
Nov. 7th. Start of a series of lectures by Fr. Billington.
Nov. 9th. Two new scarletina cases, including the first among Juniors. Loosely inserted list of dates for the scarletina cases in 1893: 21 in all, from first declaration on Oct. 4th to last on Dec. 14th, including one unnamed maid servant.
Nov. 10th. Influenza diagnosed, the first case of a minor outbreak.
Nov. 11th. Studies-off in morning for fumigation of the college. Junior dormitory fumigated in the afternoon.
Nov. 13th. Return to usual order in both houses, as separation of Juniors was inconvenient and had failed to contain the scarletina outbreak.
Nov. 24th. Music master told that, contrary to his recent practice, weekly lessons for boys taking them must last a full hour.
Nov. 29th. Philosophers’ Feast. Taken to Brancepeth by Mr. Corbishley.
Dec. 3rd. Case of typhoid diagnosed.
Dec. 14th. Visited Middlesbrough for opening of High Altar. New gymnasium finished at Ushaw: half an hour’s turn given to each school.
Dec. 15th – 20th. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 21st. Going home day for those with leave.
Dec. 24th. Usual order for Christmas Eve. Permission for three Masses at midnight renewed for three more years.
Dec. 25th. Boys were to rise at 9, as Minors had objected to the noise they made at 8.30 in previous years. Standing out omitted for Juniors’ Reading-up, as 28 of the 85 were absent (22 gone home, 1 in Infirmary and 5 at Esh from scarletina).
Dec. 26th. Collection from Christmas boxes made for Newcastle Orphanage.
Dec. 29th. St. Thomas of Canterbury: Pontifical High Mass.
Jan. 4th. Play,
Ticket of Leave Man. Repeated once, on the 9th.
Jan. 5th. Set day for return.
Jan. 6th. Vespers by candlelight, as a gas pipe had frozen.
Jan. 10th. President’s Feast. No going out, as ice was thawing.
Jan. 15th. Chapel decorations taken down: final entry in 1893 Diary.
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UC/AA6/4/8 26 January - 31 December 1894
Jan. 16th. 1894 Diary begins.
Jan. 26th. Feast of Agony in Garden.
Feb. 5th. Play Cloches de Comville.
Feb. 7th. “[F]earful gale” , and weathercock blown off steeple.
Feb. 12th. Detailed order for Quarant Ore.
Feb. 14th. B.B. Thomas Plumtree and Comp. :Pontifical High Mass. Mayor of Newcastle in Sanctuary, playday given.
Feb. 19th. Philosophy exam, viva voce.
Feb. 26th. Essay subject given,
“Origin and Characteristics of Civil Authority”.
Mar. 8th. Catechism exam given to I, II and III Class: six questions asked of each. Low Figures on 11th.
Mar. 12th – 16th: Exams for all classes.
Mar. 18th: Palm Sunday. Beginning of retreats: College led by Fr. Gurdon, Juniors by Rev. J. Earnshaw.
Mar. 22nd. Maundy Thursday, with order of morning.
Mar. 23rd. Good Friday. Relic of True Cross brought from Oratory to be exposed and kissed.
Mar. 27th. Biggin Day for Divines. Studies off for all, with schools taken out by Philosophers.
Apr. 2nd. Playday given for award of Lord Bray’s prize, to E. Murphy. Bishop gone to London for meeting.
Apr. 5th. Studies off from 9 to 7 for Bishop’s birthday.
Apr. 8th. Feast of Douai Martyrs observed.
Apr. 15th. Order for Patronage of St. Joseph.
Apr. 17th. Beginning of a course in gymnastics given by Mr. Leblique. Six lessons, alternately in study time and playtime, to be given before the vacation, for a fee of £5 paid by the Bishop.
May 1st. Mr. Kay’s first Mass, with details. 1894’s first case of scarletina, “extremely mild”.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina, with much ceremonial detail.
June 1st. Boys reminded before Mass of the Month of Sacred Heart beginning.
June 3rd. Order for Feast of Sacred Heart.
June 7th. Transferred feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. G. Cummings appointed Sacristan for next year, a second boy from I Class in view of the frequent difficulty of selecting one from II Class. Third sacristan, who will be from II Class, to
be appointed later.
June 11th. Death of Charlie Wright: funeral on the 13th. Departure of Mr. Poock.
June 15th. Playday for Bishop of Southwark.
June 18th. Community Mass said by Bishop of Southwark (Black mass for C. Wright). D. O’Shea given a fortnight’s home leave on account of insomnia and a “mild nervous state”, wanting to give up teaching.
June 20th. Eve of St. Aloysius. “Great many flowers” brought from home by some of the boys.
June 21st. Order of Feast of St. Aloysius.
June 30th. New rules for changing in and out of flannels: times when dormitory would be open for a quarter of an hour for the purpose, with dormitory master in attendance.
July 1st. Rededication of England to St. Peter. Rules for flannels announced, and boys told to write asking for 5/- more than their railway fare before vacation.
July 5th. Proof of thesis returned by post to Andrews, 140 copies to be printed.
July 7th. English Special Paper given to all schools.
July 8th. Feast of the Relics, with order.
July 11th. Book prizes sent for: Low Figures – Wood’s Illustrated Natural History of Birds, 1st Class Tissandier’s Scientific Recreations, 2nd. Class Cepari & Goldie’s Illustrated Life of St. Aloysius, 3rd. Class Mrs. Hope’s Conversion of
Teutonic Race.
July 14th. Latin Special Paper for all schools.
July 16th – 17th. Special Papers in Ciphering and French.
July 20th – 26th: Exams in all classes. Extra questions set when needed to separate prize candidates.
July 27th. Philosophers’ exam. Special exam playday, stopped for 25 boys set to work in a classroom on grounds of poor results.
July 30th: Philosophy Defensions. Operetta performed at night.
July 31st. Exhibition of Gymnastics in the afternoon, under Mr. Leblique’s direction: “visitors very much pleased” . Reading-up and distribution of special prizes.
Aug. 1st. Allocation of rooms for next year.
Aug. 2nd. Going home day.
Aug. 3rd. Usual treat for the Juniors still at Ushaw: tea in the Library. Too much of everything had been obtained, so the feast was repeated the next day.
Sept. 20th. New year’s class and teaching responsibilities for Minors.
Sept. 22nd. Return Day. 28 new Juniors, with 4 more to come: 49 returned, with 6 more not yet back.
Sept. 24th. Playday for new Bishop of Liverpool.
Sept. 26th. 2nd and 3rd Class boys split into two equal divisions. The six 3rd Class, three in each division, would work with the 2nd Class, learn Latin etc., and be assessed at the end of the year as to whether they could continue.
Sept. 28th. 23 boys to be confirmed: 4 others deferred, “too childish etc.”.
Oct. 2nd. Feast of Angel Guardians. Beginning of retreats for both houses. College led by Fr. Vassal, Rector of Limerick: Juniors by Fr. Stebbing, Rector of Perth.
Oct. 6th. Close of Juniors’ retreat, and Confirmation of 20 boys.
Oct. 7th. Rosary Sunday. 10 Deacons and 8 Subdeacons ordained. Suggested to boys to offer Mass for Church, for England, for selves beginning the new year, and for the ordinandi.
Oct. 9th. Rearrangement of Minors’ responsibilities.
Oct. 10th. Mr. Bulger promised a room to sleep in when required once the new wing was complete. Bishops arrived for their meeting – Bishop of Leeds on 11th.
Oct. 11th. A first drawing lesson given, to four pupils. (Loosely inserted sheet of teaching responsibilities for the third quarter of 1894).
Oct. 13th. Playday given to mark the beginning of Crook Centenary celebrations. General Confessions in morning to gain special Plenary Indulgence granted by the Pope. Arrival of Cardinal and of the Duke of Norfolk.
Oct. 14th. Crook Centenary day, Bishops of Leeds, Salford and Middlesbrough celebrating: Cardinal preached at High Mass. Concert given in afternoon, further concert and speeches in evening.
Oct. 15th. Further Masses of the three Bishops, and first Mass of Mr. B. Kelly, at St. Aloysius’ Lady Altar. Duke of Norfolk and Cardinal visited gymnasium. President’s Feast dinner for students in the afternoon. Benediction, and consecration of
college to Our Lady. Evening concert and recitation.
Oct. 17th. Playday for the Cardinal.
Oct. 28th. Began series of instructions on Religious Duties. Juniors given studies off for Rector’s Silver Jubilee.
Nov. 3rd. Four boys to be prepared to advance to I Class at Christmas, with their ciphering study time to be given to Latin.
Nov. 14th. Aristote and Playday for the centenary of Carmel House, by request of the nuns. Grand dinner given to the boys at the nuns’ expense.
Nov. 28th. Philosophers’ Feast: taken to Finchale by Dr. Hinsley.
Dec. 2nd. First Sunday of Advent. All admitted into Bishop’s Association for Conversion of England, and Low Figures and I Class into the Altar Servers’ Sodality.
Dec. 6th. Henry Gillett appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 12th. Note on the appointment of monitors, to be responsible for conduct in the Gymnasium when no Minors available to supervise.
Dec. 13th. Catechism exam. “Not as well known as ought to be”.
Dec. 15th – 21st. Exams in all subjects. II Class Latin and Arithmetic very bad.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day for most: all to be back on January 5th. “Awful gale”, weathercock blown down again.
Dec. 24th. Usual Christmas Eve: to bed immediately after night prayers at 5 PM, rising at 9 for supper before Matins at 10.
Dec. 26th. Showing of magic lantern views of Westminster Abbey.
Dec. 27th. Concert and play
No.1 Round the Corner, repeated on 30th.
Dec. 28th. Magic lantern views of the Holy Land.
Dec. 29th. St. Thomas of Canterbury: Pontifical High Mass.
Dec. 31st. Benediction in both chapels. Last entry in the 1894 Diary.
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UC/AA6/4/9 3 January - 31 December 1895
Jan. 3rd. First entry. Christmas tree prizes ordered.
Jan. 5th. General return day.
Jan. 7th. Full skating playday. Three to infirmary with influenza.
Jan. 10th. Christmas tree celebration with chorus song and solos. Jan. 15th. Chapel Christmas decorations, but not the crib, taken down.
Jan. 21st. Play
Knights of the Round Table at 7.30.
Jan. 25th. Crib removed: it had been left longer than usual so that Mr. Thompson could sketch it.
Jan. 29th.
Aristote, as Study Place was too cold after heating system boiler had burst.
Jan. 30th. Playday for Mayor of Lancaster.
Feb. 24th. First entry since Feb. 2nd. Rector said mass in his own room, for first time while recovering from rheumatic fever.
March 4th. Exposition in St. Aloysius’, with candles at Rector’s cost. First visit to chapel after illness.
March 7th. Litany for St. Thomas Aquinas.
March 13th. Novena of Benedictions begun in both chapels, against influenza (not prevalent yet this year). Philosophers given private playday for cleaning the pond.
March 17th. Third Sunday of Lent. Gave instruction on image of the Holy Infant, which was placed on St. Innocent’s altar.
March 25th – April 6th. Rector at Keighley and Middlesbrough for health.
April 7th. Palm Sunday. Retreats began: College given by Fr. Adam Hamilton OSB (Buckfast), Juniors Fr. Vassall CSSR.
April 8th – 10th. Details daily of hymns and services during retreats.
Aprl 11th, 12th. Orders of service for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
April 17th. Influenza cases mounting daily. 6 Divines, 5 Little Lads, 1 Philosopher and 5 Juniors now in infirmary.
April 20th. Junior Rector also suffering influenza.
April 29th. Death of G. Lanested (?). Funeral May 1st.
May 4th. BB English Martyrs: Pontifical High Mass, full playday.
May 5th. Instruction by Rector on Devotion to Our Lady. Procession and benediction at night in St. Aloysius’.
May 10th – 11th. Orders for celebrations of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina.
May 20th. Thomas Manley returned to 3rd Class.
May 24th. Commencement of Special Devotions to Holy Ghost, for nine days before Pentecost, by order of Holy Father, to obtain “Unity of all Christians in faith and works of piety”.
May 26th. Vigil of tercentenary of St. Philip Neri.
May 27th. Tercentenary of St. Philip Neri, observed with exposure of relics. Low Figures given studies off for tercentenary of their Patron.
June 2nd. Whit Sunday, with order of service. Opening of Month of Sacred Heart.
June 9th. High Mass, with reading of Pope’s Letter to the English People.
June 21st. Order for Feast of St. Aloysius.
June 23rd. Order for Feast of the Sacred Heart. Most boys enrolled in the Apostleship of Prayer. (Loosely inserted account of the cost of chapel candles for July, totalling £1. 12s. 8d.)
June 30th. Last day of June: Devotions to Sacred Heart at night prayers as on the feast day.
July 4th, Biggin day for sacristans.
July 6th. English Special Paper for all schools.
July 7th. Procession around the college front, followed by Benediction and Consecration of England to St. Peter.
July 8th. Details of Minors’ class responsibilities for the year ahead.
July 13th. Latin Special Paper in all schools. Mr. Leblique allowed to take an extra hour of gym practice in preparation for Grand Week.
July 14th. Feast of the Relics, with order of service.
July 15th – 25th. Exams for all classes.
July 24th. Evening operetta
The Pied Piper.
July 25th. Bishop’s Consecration day: Pontifical High Mass.
July 26th. Special exam playday, though very wet. Stopped in the morning for 26 boys, plus some more who had made a mess in the Study Place. Philosophers’ exam given by Dr Preston, Dr. Hinsley and Junior Rector.
July 29th. Philosophers’ Defensions, brought forward from next day “simply because of Dr. Hinsley’s fear that they were not good enough for visitors. Great pity. Did very well.”.
July 30th. Special prizes in Study Place at 10. Extra prize of Miss Hope’s Teutonic Race given to C. Tindall as only three marks behind winner. Boys told to be back by 8.30 on Sept. 21st, and not to bring “contraband” jam.
Aug. 1st. Going home day.
Aug. 2nd. Customary treat for the Juniors and Little Lads still at Ushaw, 16 in all. Loosely inserted summary of expenditure on buns, jam, fruit etc., total 12s. 6d. Aug. 9th. Relics exposed before Mass for clergy.
Sept. 19th. Rector returned from vacation.
Sept. 21st. General return day. 57 old boys returned, 4 still due, 14 new boys, total 75.
Sept. 23rd. Playday for Archbishop of San Francisco.
Sept. 24th. Clement Gibson appointed sacristan. John Manly held back in 2nd Class as weak in ciphering.
Oct. 1st. Beginning of retreats: Fr. Vassall in College, Fr. Lassiter in St. Aloysius’.
Oct. 5th. Close of Junior Retreat. Nine boys confirmed.
Oct. 6th. Rosary Sunday. Benediction, with repetition of Dedication of England to Our Lady.
Oct. 7th. Arrival of bishops for meeting: only Bishop of Shrewsbury absent.
Oct. 8th. Community Mass said by Bishop of Liverpool: Bishop of Middlesbrough at Lady Altar.
Oct. 11th. St.Wilfrid’s playday.
Oct. 13th. Ordination of two priests.
Nov. 27th. Philosophers’ Feast. Taken to Finchale by Dr. Hinsley.
Nov. 29th. B. Cuthbert Maine. Pontifical High Mass.
Nov. 30th. Cyril Swarbreck, in infirmary, diagnosed with scarletina. Sent to Esh next day.
Dec. 2nd. Second scarletina case sent to Esh, and whole House fumigated.
Dec. 8th. Feast of Immaculate Conception, with brief order. Dec. 11th. Two further boys sent to Esh with suspected scarletina. Both proved negative.
Dec. 12th. Commencement of Triduum of Benedictions for silver jubilee of St. Joseph’s Patronage of Universal Church.
Dec. 16th – 23rd: Exams for all classes. Six named boys threatened with punishment unless improvement was speedy after Christmas, and exam playday would be denied to those failing in both Latin and Arithmetic.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day.
Dec. 31st. Benediction in both chapels for last day of the year. Final entry of 1895 Diary.
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UC/AA6/4/10 2 January - 29 December 1896
Jan. 2nd. Bishop and Mr. Corbishley to London for meeting at Cardinal’s. Attempted removal from Ushaw of Edward Mahoney, by Mrs. Mahoney and an unnamed man accompanying her, in defiance of his father’s instructions.
Jan. 7th. Scarletina – one patient sent to Esh, another suspected. (A few already at Esh from late last year). Christmas tree celebration in the Gymnasium: no visitors invited this year as little had been prepared by way of entertainment.
Jan. 8th. President’s Feast.
Jan. 9th. Return day for students.
Jan. 18th. Feast of Holy Name, with note on its observance.
Jan. 20th. Three Minors without other offices given responsibility of taking the boys to and from the Refectory daily for meals: Mr. Cattermole for breakfast, Mr. Henshaw dinner, Mr. Jones supper.
Jan. 27th. Benediction – St. John Chrysostome.
Jan. 29th. Playday for President of Blairs.
Feb. 7th. Feast of Agony in Garden, with brief note.
Feb. 14th. B. Thomas Plumtree. Pontifical High Mass, studies off. Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’.
Feb. 20th. New scarletina case, Cecil Moody of 1st Class, too ill to be taken to Esh. Trained nurse summoned following day when thought to be in danger.
Feb. 23rd. First Sunday in Lent.
Feb. 24th. Exposition in St. Aloysius’. Order given for the day.
March 5th. Bishop’s sanction given for preparing boys for Oxford Local Exams: Preliminary for 1st Class, Junior for Low Figures. Schools told.
March 7th. Assent obtained for dropping Greek grammar for Low Figures this year, as time was short after the late start to Oxford Exam preparation.
March 9th. Latin and English by heart also to be dropped for now with Low Figures and 1st Class.
March 11th. Mr. Woods now to be responsible for all Arithmetic teaching, freeing Mr. Henshaw for extra French with 1st Class.
March 19th. St. Joseph’s, Grand Benediction. Catechism exam for I and II Class: II Class disappointing.
March 22nd. Passion Sunday. Instruction on the Passion by Junior Rector. Stations of the Cross at night.
March 23rd – 29th: Exams for all classes.
March 27th. II Class Latin exam, abandoned before all boys had been examined as results were so poor. Resolved to examine again three weeks after Easter.
March 29th. Palm Sunday, and beginning of retreats: College retreat led by Fr. Chapman.
Apr. 1st. Three boys confirmed, in St. Charles’.
Apr. 2nd. Maundy Thursday, with order for the day.
Apr. 3rd. Good Friday, with order. Relic of Cross brought in procession from Oratory after sermon.
Apr. 5th. Easter Sunday. Bishop’s 71st birthday.
Apr. 12th. Low Sunday. Announcement of special prizes and playdays to reward exam successes.
Apr. 15th. II Class Latin exam repeated. Performance better, rewarded with a playday for the afternoon.
Apr. 19th. Feast of Douai Martyrs, with relics exposed during Mass.
Apr. 23rd. St. George’s Day. High Mass, then studies off all day, Grand Benediction.
Apr. 26th. Patronage of St. Joseph. Devotions to St. Joseph at night prayers.
May 3rd. Instruction by Dr. Preston on Our Lady. Procession at night and short Benediction. Image broken while descending steps near chapel.
May 4th. Feast of English Martyrs. Pontifical High Mass, then playday. Boys allowed to watch party game between High Figures and Grammar.
May 5th. Test papers in all subjects preparatory to Oxford Lower given this week to Low Figures and I Class.
May 9th. Bishop received approved Mass and Office of B. Thomas Percy from Rome.
May 10th. Eve of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina, with order. Bishop has made permanent the leave for Benediction in St. Aloysius’ on this feast.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Order of services, continued for the evening on loosely inserted sheet.
May 16th. Oxford Local exam entry forms sent: 16 Junior, 32 Preliminary, with intention to withdraw some boys later if thought necessary. 4 Low Figures and 4 1st Class boys not put up for the exams as thought hopeless.
May 17th. Cheque for £32. 16s. sent in payment of Oxford Locals entry fees.
May 24th. Whit Sunday. Philip and Hugh Sowerby confirmed in St. Charles’ Chapel. Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’ at night.
May 28th. Return of Cecil Moody after severe scarletina in February.
May 30th. To Edinburgh with the Bishop for the opening of St. Cuthbert’s on the 31st. Returned June 2nd.
June 7th. Devotions to Sacred Heart in evening.
June 14th. Feast of the Sacred Heart. Loosely inserted sheets including order of service, dated 1894, and the text of a Prayer to be said before a Picture of the Sacred Heart.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, with order.
June 27th. B. John Fisher: Pontifical High Mass.
June 28th. Began Novena for “Our special studies and exams” .
July 1st. Petition for the extension of St. Bede’s feast, as a Doctor to the whole church, sent to Mgr. del Val.
July 11th. Class responsibilities of Minors for the coming year.
July 12th. Feast of the Relics, with order. After High Mass, explanation for their omission given to the seven boys left off list of candidates for the Oxford Locals. “Kinder not to send them up this first time merely to
be plucked. All took it extremely well””.
July 13th. Start of the Oxford Local exams. Visiting examiner Mr. Cooper, to sleep at Ushaw on 13th and 14th.
July 15th. Public rehearsal of play
Jim the Penman.
July 16th – 23rd. Ushaw exams for all classes: last of the Oxford Locals on 17th.
July 24th. Special playday, reduced to half an hour’s play for those who performed badly in exams. Several boys turned back: 3 Low Figures, 1 I Class 1st Div., 3 I Class 2nd Div., 3 II Class.
July 27th. Awarding of Special Prizes in Study Place, at end of Ushaw year. Oxford Locals candidates to be informed of their results by postcard.
July 30th. Going home day. Few staying this year: 4 Juniors, 3 Little Lads, 2 Big lads and Phil., 3 Divines and 2 Minors. Remaining boys given a treat of buns, fruit, chocolate etc. the same afternoon: costed list loosely inserted, total 12s.
10d. (Loosely inserted here a duplicated timetable for Confirmation Retreat, Dec. 2nd – 4th 1892).
Sept. 19th. Return day. 56 boys returned, 8 still absent, 18 new boys, total 82.
Sept. 21st. Playday for “Condemnation of Protestant Orders”.
Sept. 23rd. Aristote owing to gas shortage.
Sept. 29th. Retreats began, led by Bishop of Newport (College), Fr. Davenport CSSR (St. Aloysius’).
Sept. 30th. Continuing retreats and confirmation classes.
Oct. 3rd. End of Juniors’ retreat. Ten boys confirmed, with list of their names.
Oct. 4th. Rosary Sunday.
Oct. 5th. New arrival John Tiernan sent home to Ireland, as Ushaw had no class suitable for a 15 year old boy with hardly any knowledge of Latin. Bishops arrived for meeting, excepting the Bishop of Shrewsbury who was too ill.
Oct. 6th – 8th. Daily Masses by Bishop of Liverpool in St. Aloysius’ and Bishop of Middlesbrough at Lady Altar.
Oct. 8th. Approval given by Bishops for withdrawing from London Examinations in favour of the Oxford Local and Higher Certificate exams. History lessons for I Class to cover if possible the whole of English History in one year.
Oct. 14th, 18th. Certificates for the Oxford exams arrived and were given out by the Bishop.
Oct. 19th. Bishop’s circular petition on St. Bede sent out to all English and Scottish Bishops and to named Abbots, Provincials and Priors. Also some adjustments to staff duties, with Tuesdays and Thursdays kept free for some Philosophers to go
to Durham for special training in Classics etc.
Oct. 20th. Mr. Knuckey spending three days weekly in Newcastle until the end of the year, receiving training in pedagoguery etc.
Nov. 2nd. Requested “Detailed Report” of Oxford Locals results, sending own cheque for £8.
Nov. 4th. “Detailed Report” received, and used to determine allocation of prizes. Lists of general order of merit and of 1st and 2nd in each subject given to High Figures. “Detailed
Report” of Preliminaries read up at catechism on the 8th. Nov. 12th. Beginning of Triduum of Benedictions in honour of B.Thomas Percy, leading up to first Feast on the 14th. Brief orders for each day.
Nov. 24th. Adhesions of the Bishops, Abbots, Heads of Orders etc. to the Bishop’s petition regarding the Venerable Bede sent to Mgr. Merry del Val.
Nov. 25th. William Meagher appointed sacristan.
Dec. 7th. Hugh Sowerby found “very feverish”, pronounced to be suffering blood poisoning from a festered chilblain. Given Viaticum and Extreme Unction.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Procession in St. Aloysius’.
Dec. 16th – 23rd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 16th. Oxford Locals prizes promised to the first in each division of Low Figures in Scripture and in Shakespeare.
Dec. 21st. Prizes to be promised later to every boy achieving Distinction or Honour in Oxford exams.
Dec. 22nd. Going away day. Stations taken down by Raab, to be varnished and cleaned. Four statues removed to be painted, and the five other pictures in Chapel to be restored.
Dec. 24th. Brief skating after breakfast, stopped by rain and thaw. Two Masses at midnight, with a third at 8.30 on Christmas morning. Reading-up at noon on Christmas Day.
Dec. 29th. Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury, with Pontifical Mass. Final entry in the Diary for 1896.
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Jan. 3rd. First entry for the year. Octave of St. John. Jan. 5th. Repeat performance of Courier of Lyons.
Jan. 8th. Christmas Tree and Minstrels in gymnasium in afternoon. Images and crucifixes, sweets and games: “extremely good” minstrel performance by Minors and Mr. Harrison. Merchant of Venice read by Mr. Murphy
after supper.
Jan. 9th. Return day.
Jan. 11th. Playday for Mgr. Corbishley.
Jan. 13th. President’s Feast.
Jan.17th. Feast of Holy Name: Feast of Holy Infant of Prague, with order.
Jan. 27th. Restored Stations and statues returned by Oscar Raab. All put back in their places in St. Aloysius’ by the 30th, and £20 payment made for the work.
Feb. 9th. The two Sheridan brothers returned late to Ushaw, as their mother had been ill.
Feb. 12th. Circulars re. the Bishop’s petition for the extension of St. Bede’s Feast sent to 56 Cardinals and a number of Archbishops.
Feb. 14th. Circulars sent to the Irish bishops. Also to 52 Archbishops and Bishops on the 15th, and 46 further circulars sent on the 18th. Feb.
15th. Feast of B. Thomas Plumtree.
March 3rd. Ash Wednesday: Stations of Cross at night.
March 7th. First Sunday in Lent: instruction by Rector on Quarant Ore.
March 8th. Exposition in St. Aloysius’ with order for the day.
March 12th. St. Gregory’s.
March 13th. Transferred Feast of Lance and Nails.
March 16th. Making of Cat balls in Seminary.
March 17th. Benediction for Triduum of St. Cuthbert. Three cases of chicken pox, the beginning of a small outbreak with several further cases in March and April.
March 20th. Feast of St. Cuthbert. Bishop not well enough to pontificate.
March 22nd. Began teaching Philosophers on Anglican Orders. Physiography to be a voluntary subject, for study chiefly during playtimes by those willing.
March 26th. Accepted Hardmans’ tender for renewal of St. Aloysius’ window, by Sept. 15th if possible, and filling the tracery of the two small windows in the Lady Chapel with stained glass. Full cost £150.
April 3rd. G. Knuckey ordained priest, and appointed by Bishop to be Prefect in College until midsummer 1898, after which he would teach Juniors and train Minors. Playday given for the new Prefect.
April 4th – 10th Exams for all classes.
April 11th. Retreats began. Senior led by Fr. Camm OSB, Junior by Rev. W. Dallow. Visit to Relics in afternoon.
April 15th – 16th. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday orders.
April 19th. Home leave at Easter refused to all by Bishop.
April 22nd. Bernard Jefferys began teaching Ciphering to 2nd Class.
April 24th. Boys reminded at end of Mass that studies off were no reason for omitting to go to Confession. Elocution lessons began for 2nd Class, to be given daily by C. Heyes: those with worst pronunciation to attend most often.
April 30th. Playday on transferred Feast of St. George.
May 2nd. Order for Feast of Douai Martyrs. Special midsummer exam prizes promised for Low Figures and I Class.
May 7th. Details sent to Oxford of this year’s exam entrants, 37 Juniors and 24 Preliminaries. 16 Juniors taking Physiography as an extra subject, and 4 Drawing.
May 11th. Order for Feast of Sts Bassus, Fabius and Lucina.
May 18th. T. Taylor appointed Sacristan.
May 22nd. Bishop returned from visiting Bath and London.
May 24th. Playday given for 13th Centenary of mission of St. Augustine of Canterbury.
May 27th. Rector gave instruction on the Ascension and the Canonization of St. Antony Zaccaria and St. Peter Fourier. Night Procession in honour of Our Lady.
May 28th. Beginning of novena to the Holy Ghost as ordered by Holy Father.
June 6th. Devotions to Sacred Heart. Order or service both written in diary and on loosely inserted sheet.
June 15th. Central reliquary of St. Innocent’s altar opened, that particles from the heads of Sts. Bassus and Fabius might be taken out for placement in St. Cuthbert’s altar stone.
June 19th. Consecration of St. Cuthbert’s.
June 20th. Bishop sang Mass on Queen’s Jubilee.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, and Jubilee Playday for the College.
June 22nd. Bonfire lit at night on the cricket field in celebration of the Jubilee, with all boys present.
June 27th. Feast of the Sacred Heart. Novena announced for “blessing on our studies and exams”.
July 2nd. Hardman’s sketch for St. Aloysius’ window received, and returned with suggestions.
July 11th. Feast of the Relics, with order.
July 12th. Oxford Locals began, again with Mr. Cooper as visiting examiner.
July 17th – 22nd. Ushaw exams for all classes.
July 24th. Three or four boys to be turned back after exam results.
July 26th. Bernard Jefferys appointed Sacristan.
July 27th. Awarding of Special Prizes in Study Place.
July 29th. Going home day. Customary treat on the 30th for the boys remaining at Ushaw. Sept. 18th. Return day, with 12 new Juniors.
Sept. 23rd. Study adjustments: Low Figures to give up Geography allowing more time for French. Euclid and Algebra to be studied in Ciphering, deferring higher Arithmetic to College.
Sept. 24th. Mr. Corcoran, divine, appointed Master of 3rd Class for the year, to return to his studies the following year if not needed for 3rd Class.
Sept. 28th. Retreats began, led by Fr. Proctor OP in St. Cuthbert’s, Fr. Moss OP in St. Aloysius’.
Oct. 2nd. Close of Junior Retreat: Feast of Angel Guardians. Four boys confirmed, four others still unconfirmed as too young.
Oct. 3rd. Ordinations, and Dedication of England to Our Lady.
Oct. 4th. Fourth of six Playdays promised for the Queen’s Jubilee. Bishops arrived for their annual meeting.
Oct. 8th. Mr. Kinleside appointed Gymnasium master.
Oct. 19th. Certificates for the Oxford Locals arrived and were distributed.
Oct. 28th. Three students to learn Book-keeping under Mr. Henshaw, in place of Latin and/or Mathematics.
Nov. 2nd. Mr. D. McGrath appointed Study Place master for this year only.
Nov. 14th. Feast of B. Thomas Percy. His manuscript Prayer Book quoted and shown at High Mass.
Nov. 28th. Ordination of Rev. G. Wheatley.
Dec. 8th. Feast of Immaculate Conception. Procession in St. Aloysius’ at night, with Bishop officiating.
Dec. 12th. Low Figures promised a prize at midsummer for best performance in Scripture papers.
Dec. 17th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 23rd. Going away day. Studies off for Archbishop of St. Andrews and Bishop of Aberdeen.
Dec. 24th. Bread given out at 4.30 PM, night prayers at 5 then to bed, rising at 9. Two Masses at midnight, with a third on Christmas Day morning.
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Jan. 6th. Play in Gymnasium, with actors from all Junior classes.
Jan. 7th. Afternoon Christmas Tree celebration. “Done very quickly without Bishop or visitors - very few lines of address from Fr. Christmas – attended by John Bull, Scotland & Ireland & a negro. ”Macbeth performed in the evening.
Jan. 8th. Return day, with four students expected a few days late. 1897 diary entries end on Jan. 9th.
Jan. 12th. President’s Feast.
Jan. 16th. Feast of Holy Name, with order.
Feb. 14th. Feast of B. Thomas Plumtree: Grand Benediction.
Feb. 28th. Quarant Ore exposition in St. Aloysius’. March 1st. New prizes for Low Figures to replace the former special prizes. One for first in a Latin Distinction paper, one for first in an ordinary Latin paper set at the same time to those not
aiming at Distinction, one for highest results in New Testament papers.
March 2nd. Delayed arrival from Hardman’s of the new window for St. Aloysius’.
March 7th. Installation of tracery of St. Aloysius’ window began. New prizes promised for 1st Class, replacing the “Special”: 1st and 2nd in a Latin paper taken around the end of May.
March 11th. St. Aloysius’ new window completely put in, with only some pointing etc. still to be done.
March 14th. Dedication of St. Cuthbert’s, with High Mass and Benediction.
March 17th. Cat ball making in College, with studies off given throughout College at 6. Juniors told not to expect studies off for their own ball making.
March 20th. Feast of St. Cuthbert, with Pontifical High Mass. The Association of Our Lady of Compassion, for the conversion of England, established in the College with the enrolment of the whole house.
March 21st. First day for Cat in Junior House: College delayed until balls are ready.
March 26th – April 1st. Exams in all classes.
April 3rd. Palm Sunday, and beginning of retreats. Junior led by Rev. John Seed, Senior by Fr. Wilson OSB, of Ampleforth. Order for junior retreat over coming days.
April 6th. Confirmation of J. Dunne, T. Meagher, W. Harcus and G. Holliday. Five more boys named as those still unconfirmed. April 13th. Divines’ Feast in the Refectory.
May 1st. Procession and Benediction, with order of service.
May 5th. New desks being installed in Study Place. Gymnasium serving as temporary study place.
May 7th. Order for weekly Visit to Blessed Sacrament, on Saturday nights until the vacation. Marginal note states that the given order was not put in practice until June.
May 11th. Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Duplicated sheet included covering devotions during April and May, including this day.
May 12th. First use of the new Study Place desks.
May 13th. Completed entry forms for Oxford Locals sent with cheque. 22 Junior candidates (all of Low Figures), 18 Preliminaries, further details.
May 16th. Hugh Sowerby appointed Sacristan, D. McGrath and B. Jefferys appointed cricket instructors for the summer.
May 20th. Began Novena to the Holy Ghost. Chaplet of the Holy Ghost nightly at Benediction.
May 31st. Midsummer compositions for Low Figures and I Class to be brought forward this year, to avoid interference with preparation for the Oxford Locals.
June 1st. Order of devotions to Sacred Heart.
June 5th. Rev. A. Morissey ordained at High Mass.
June 15th. I Class given their Latin Composition, results to be used also for I Class Special Prizes.
June 17th. Details of Low Figures’ Latin special Paper.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Pontifical High Mass and Benediction, then studies off, with the 22nd. a full playday for St. Aloysius.
July 1st. Boys ordered to get their books from the chapel before putting on cassocks, and to take off their cassocks before returning the books. This to end their entering the chapel wearing unbuttoned cassocks.
July 2nd. Began Novena for blessing on studies and exams.
July 10th. Feast of the Relics observed.
July 13th. II Class Special English paper given: dictation, and a letter about college life.
July 14th. Catechism exams for all schools. July 15th. Low Figures and I Class addressed on their failure to show deference, and ordered from now to keep the college rule requiring them to remove their caps to any superior or Master entering a
playroom.
July 17th. Ordination of four priests. Studies off for presence of judges at Ushaw. July 18th. Beginning of Oxford Locals, held in Study Place with Mr. Cooper as examiner.
July 26th. Special Prizes given out in Study Place, including a III Class prize for G. Holliday, “first in nearly everything, but only in the school since Easter”. John Lyons told to remain in Junior House, as not
ready academically for High Figures.
July 28th. Going home day. Minors’ appointments for next college year, almost all to be unchanged.
July 29th. Usual treat provided for those staying at Ushaw in the vacation, this year only four Juniors, three Divines, one Poet.
Sept. 17th. Return day. 31 new Juniors arrived, 5 more expected, 39 students returned.
Sept. 18th. Study place at noon to write letters. Boys told that outings to the country must be in parties of at least four, and that visits to any house other than Pearson’s were forbidden.
Sept. 19th. W. Craigen appointed Sacristan replacing John Cuddon.
Sept. 20th. Revisions to curriculum. Low Figures and I Class to begin Greek Grammar immediately, with a view to Low Figures being able to take Greek in the Oxford Junior. Latin classes: Distinction candidates to be prepared by Mr. Knuckey in
Virgil and Caesar, others to study Sallust and Cicero. Bishop highly approving of the new plans.
Sept. 23rd. First school day for Juniors. Jos. Earnshaw ran away in the morning.
Sept. 26th. Philosophers given playday for their new Professor, Dr. Kane.
Sept. 27th. Beginning of retreats, led by Fr. Wilberforce OP in St. Cuthbert’s, Fr. B. Tickell OP in St. Aloysius’.
Sept. 30th. Some omissions made from the order for October Benedictions, as the service had seemed too long for the boys.
Oct. 1st. Close of junior retreat. Confirmation of six boys, leaving eight still unconfirmed.
Oct. 2nd. General ordination: 15 Deacons, 13 Subdeacons, about 12 Minor Orders and about 12 Tonsured. Low Mass, as many of the choir were being ordained.
Oct. 3rd – 5th. Bishops at Ushaw for their Annual Meeting.
Oct. 11th. T. Wright to take over the teaching of elocution from C. Hayes, taking boys in batches during each day’s first hour of study as before.
Oct. 16th. Junior and Preliminary Oxford certificates given out to High and Low Figures.
Oct. 24th – 28th. John Miller, in heavy pain after a fall, diagnosed as suffering inflammation of the hip joint. Nov. 3rd. Studies off for Lord Ralph and Lady Anne Kerr.
Nov. 9th. Order of Benediction for the Souls in Purgatory, repeated on each Wednesday in November. Newman’s Hymn for Souls in Purgatory sung in English, as pronounced lawful at Benediction by Bishop Hedley.
Nov. 14th. Feast of B. Thomas Percy observed. R. Nedham declared suffering from jaundice.
Nov. 29th. B. Cuthbert Mayne – Grand Benediction.
Dec. 3rd. John Miller (see Oct. 24th-28th) left the Infirmary.
Dec. 8th. Order for Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Dec. 15th – 21st. Exams for all classes, earlier this year in view of the Bishop’s coming Jubilee.
Dec. 17th. Seven subdeacons ordained at the Community Mass in St.Cuthbert’s.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day for lay students.
Dec. 23rd. Jubilee of the Bishop’s ordination as priest. Pontifical High Mass, no study, evening Benediction.
Dec. 25th. Play
Babes in the Wood by II Class in the Gymnasium. Repeated on the 27th with Bishop attending.
Dec. 29th. St. Thomas of Canterbury, and further celebration of the Bishop’s sacerdotal Jubilee. Play at 8PM.
(Loosely inserted sheet detailing Mr. Knuckey’s 1898 Christmas Tree expenses – items, mostly games, bought in Newcastle).
Jan. 3rd. Christmas Tree celebration in the afternoon – 60 boys, about 10 Minors, no Profs. invited.
Jan. 7th. Return day. (Last entry in 1898 diary).
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Jan. 7th. Return day. I Class presented play in Gymnasium, prepared by Mr. B. Jefferys. Visitors not invited.
Jan. 10th. Low Figures play in afternoon, operetta repeated at night.
Jan. 11th. President’s Feast: College festivity for the Bishop’s Jubilee. Bishop and Profs. dined in Refectory, Dr. McKay the only visitor.
Jan. 15th. Feast of the Holy Name and of the Holy Infant of Prague, with order for night prayers.
Jan. 17th. Five boys sent to bed suffering tonsillitis. Apostolic Union meeting at Gateshead. Junior Rector to address the next meeting, on April 18th, presenting a paper Indulgence of a Privileged Altar.
Jan. 27th. Greek Playday, and first skating day of the year.
Feb. 2nd. Studies off given to all from 6 for the making of college cat balls. Juniors told not to expect the same when their cat balls are made.
Feb. 15th. Ash Wednesday. Sermon on death and penance given by Dr. Preston.
Feb. 20th. Exposition in St. Aloysius’, with order. Prayers asked for the Pope on his election day.
Feb. 28th. Saw Richard Pope at Manchester, who was shortly to sail for India. Financial arrangements, including legal power of attorney for his son-in-law Basil Spence in the case of his demise.
March 14th. Consecration of S. Cuthbert’s. Cat in the afternoon.
March 17th-24th. Exams for all classes. March 20th. St. Joseph’s Feast observed, taking precedence over St. Cuthbert’s playday.
March 24th. Five Divines and Philosophers with influenza, also the first case of an outbreak among Juniors. (Sheet loosely inserted at April 6th names 23 cases diagnosed from March 24th – April 10th).
March 26th. Palm Sunday. Retreats began, given by Fr. Conway OP (Senior) and Rev. J. Earnshaw (Junior).
March 27th. Order of Visit to Relics.
March 30th. Maundy Thursday, with order. Blessing of the Oils omitted as the Bishop was ill.
March 31st. Good Friday, with order. April 4th. Mr. T. Roberts given Prefectship as Mr. Knuckey had influenza.
April 5th. Bishop’s birthday, and Divines’ Feast. Minors at their own suggestion looked after their schools in the morning, and there were no outings to the country.
April 10th. John Smith gone home to have “very bad” teeth seen to. Bishop had refused leave until after Easter week.
April 12th. Last of three playdays given for the Bishop’s Jubilee.
April 16th. Feast of Douai Martyrs. Richard Bilsborrow appointed to teach I Class after the vacation.
April 22nd. Four more desks put into Study Place, making a total of 82: one for every boy and one more near the Prefect’s desk.
April 24th. William Gillow returned after being absent for health since before Christmas. Moved down to 3rd Class as had not studied while away. 3rd Class now numbered 14 boys.
April 25th. John Smith returned after having eight teeth extracted.
April 26th. Vincent Leach appointed Sacristan.
April 28th. Results of their Christmas paper on St. Bede read up to Philosophers. Their midsummer paper to be
“From the Synod of Whitby to the end of the History”, with Plummer’s Venerable Bede (2 vols.) promised as prize.
April 29th. Gold vestments – the “Oak leaf” chasuble and Grosse’s gold High Mass set – sent to Southam to be examined, also the Moore Vestments in the same box to be looked at by the nuns. Mr. Brown to write about
the Moore vestments.
April 30th. Instruction on Devotion to Our Lady in preparation for May, followed by Procession of Benediction in St. Aloysius’.
May 2nd. Rule to be enforced that any boys choosing not to go with their school to Biggin must go to study from 6 PM. Five boys staying at Ushaw this afternoon to watch Grammar – High Figures party game excused study, but not to expect the same
in future.
May 6th. Order for Saturday evening Visit, directly after supper.
May 11th. Order for Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. May 22nd. Order for Confirmation of four boys in St. Aloysius’. Also named are the 14 boys still unconfirmed.
May 29th. Night procession in St. Aloysius’ in honour of Our Blessed Lady.
June 1st. Order for devotions before the picture of the Sacred Heart.
June 6th. Agreement reached with Sister Mary Pia of Southam Convent for making up of the Gold Vestments, with payment of £95-£100 to be made in two instalments.
June 9th. Transferred Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians: new Litany of Sacred Heart said for first time. Beginning of triduum for the Consecration of all Mankind to the Sacred Heart.
June 12th. Prizes promised by the Rector for various papers to be taken by all classes.
June 19th. Details of Latin composition and papers set to Low Figures.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, with order. June 22nd. Loosely inserted sheet of Juniors’ cricket expenses for 1899.
June 26th. Beginning of Novena for a “blessing on our studies and Examinations”.
July 1st. Minors’ teaching responsibilities for the coming year. Low Figures Mr. G. Jefferys, I Class Richard Bilsborrow, II Class Mr. G. McGrath, III Class Mr. W. Hodson, Mathematics and Arithmetic Mr. B. Jefferys, French Mr. F. McKenna, Study
Place Mr. T. Roberts.
July 2nd. Visitation of Our Blessed Lady. Outdoor procession hindered by weather.
July 7th. Low Figures Testament Prize not awarded, as the best mark achieved by any of the entrants was 333 out of 900 across three papers. Sheet loosely inserted giving the results of the eight boys in each paper. Prize promised instead for the
best performance in the October Oxford Local lists, provided a good enough standard is reached.
July 10th. Some details of special papers in English, Latin, French and Arithmetic to be set to II and III Class.
July 16th. Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Philosophers’ Church History paper, with a prize to be given.
July 17th. Start of Oxford Locals, taken in Gymnasium. Mr. Cooper was examiner. 19 Junior entrants, 22 Prelim.
July 24th. Five named boys turned back after exams: one kept in I Class, one in II, three in III.
July 25th. Anniversary of Consecration of St. Innocent’s Altar.
July 26th. Allocation of Minors’ rooms for next year. (Loosely inserted sheet giving full details of the book prizes to be awarded to all classes).
July 27th. Going home day. Only three Juniors staying at Ushaw.
July 28th. Customary afternoon treat for the few boys remaining at Ushaw through the vacation. Itemised receipt for strawberries, cakes etc. from E. Jones of Hill Top near Esh loosely inserted.
Sept. 16th. Return day. 60 old boys back, with 2 still to come, and 25 new students: total of 85 Juniors in residence.
Sept. 18th. Playday for Archbishop Stonor. New desks began to be moved into Study Place, to be 100 in all. John Cremers moved up into High Figures, “too big for Juniors”.
Sept. 22nd. First whole day of school: boys reminded of dormitory and Study Place rules. Mr. Knuckey again to take the best pupils in Low Figures for classes in Virgil, teaching Virgil and Caesar on alternate days.
Sept. 25th. Detailed arrangements for teaching by Minors.
Sept. 26th. Retreats commenced, given by Fr. C. Ryder, Redemp. (Senior House) and Fr. Howell, Redemp. (Junior). Stephen McEllicut left Ushaw: he had arrived on the 23rd, recommended by Rev. Luke Burke, but had no Latin and was too big and too old
for II Class.
Sept. 30th. Close of retreat. No confirmations, as all the unconfirmed boys were thought better delayed a while.
Oct. 1st. Rosary Sunday, with order.
Oct. 2nd. Some teaching arrangements, including those for Mr. Knuckey’s Virgil Class for some of Low Figures. The six bishops arrived for their meeting.
Oct. 6th. Mr. Hodson appointed Sacristan in place of Mr. B. Jefferys who was anxious to retire.
Nov. 8th. Order for Benediction for Souls in Purgatory, for every Wednesday through November.
Nov. 13th. Consecration of the Lady Altar in St. Cuthbert’s.
Nov. 15th. In response to a request by the Rector, Fr. Proctor promised to prepare a document to the effect that the Superior for the time being of the Junior House should always be its Director for the Juniors.
Nov. 26th. Rector sang High Mass, with Dr. Preston, three other Profs. and the Bishop away at Darlington for the opening of a new altar.
Nov. 30th. Harold Sharp, I Class, appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Order of Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’, Bishop officiating.
Dec. 12th. New conditions for Writing and Dictation Prizes (Low Figures, I and II Classes). Dictation marks (100) to be awarded out of 60 for penmanship, 30 for spelling and punctuation, 10 for neatness.
Dec. 13th. New allocation of prizes for Low Figures. Class to be read up in Greek instead of in Writing as before.
Dec. 14th. Community Mass said for the soldiers fallen in the South African war. Requiem for them at the Cathedral in Newcastle, by order of the Bishop.
Dec. 14th-21st. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 21st . Going home day for the 22 boys not staying at Ushaw.
Dec. 24th. Juniors to bed at 5.20 PM, rising at 9.
Dec. 25th. Reading up: Low Figures in Greek, I Class in Algebra, Euclid and writing.
Dec. 29th. St. Thomas of Canterbury: Pontifical High Mass. Play performed at 8.
Dec. 31st. Juniors to bed at 8 PM, rising at 11.30 for Midnight High Mass and Communions for close of the century. Leave given by Pope for the same next year also.
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Jan. 1st. Hymns for Low Mass in St. Aloysius’.
Jan. 3rd. To Newcastle to buy Christmas Tree prizes, games and treats.
Jan. 9th. Christmas Tree celebration at 4PM. “Old Father Xmas” with characters in attendance.
Jan. 11th. Last day of Christmas vacation. Six boys still to return.
Jan. 14th. Day of Special Prayer on account of war. Loosely inserted printed sheet giving the order for the day, annotated with reference to St. Aloysius’.
Jan. 18th. Stuart West diagnosed with measles (“Brought them with him”). Removed to Sanatorium on the 21st: first patient to occupy it.
Jan. 29th. Three more cases of measles as outbreak begins.
Feb. 8th. Daily Aristote until sickness subsides. Three Minors confined to bed in their rooms with influenza, and two in Infirmary.
Feb. 14th. B. Thomas Plumtree. Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’, none in St. Cuthbert’s as Cantor and many singers were ill.
Feb. 22nd. Studies off given for making Senior House cat balls.
March 1st. Loosely inserted sheet naming measles cases in the 1900 outbreak: 18 named boys, plus some false diagnoses, the last case sent to Infirmary Feb. 18th.
March 5th. Quarant Ore: exposition in St. Aloysius’, with order.
March 10th. Scarletina – first two cases of new outbreak.
March 14th. Feast of Consecration of St. Cuthbert’s. No High Mass owing to absence of 1st Cantor and illness among singers.
March 25th. Feast of the Annunciation kept for first time on a Sunday.
March 26th. Requiem for those fallen in the {?Boer] war sung by Bishop.
March 28th. Petition on status of St. Bede’s Feast, May 27th, and for Oct. 29th to be a secondary feast of his Translation, sent to Rome by Bishop.
March 29th. Catechism exams. Badly known by 3rd Class, who would be examined again the following Thursday.
April 2nd – 6th. Exams for all classes.
April 8th. Beginning of retreats. Senior led by Fr. McNabb OP, Junior by Fr. H. Pope OP, reader Mr. G. Jefferys. Orders on following days.
April 12th. End of retreat.
April 13th: Good Friday. Relic of True Cross brought processionally to St. Aloysius’. Stations and Veneration with order.
April 14th. Easter Saturday. Wilf. Ruxton – brother being received into the Church - allowed home to Durham for three nights, all other applications for leave refused.
April 18th. Bishop and Mr. Broadhead gone to Bath. Peter Narey allowed to go home for sister’s funeral.
April 25th. T. McManemy appointed Sacristan.
May 2nd. Left with Mgr. Corbishley to go to Edinburgh for the funeral of Archbishop Macdonald. Back next evening.
May 4th. Mr. B. Jefferys Sacristan again, in place of Mr. Hodgson in view of latter’s duties as Cantor.
May 6th. Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’, with order.
May 8th. Entry forms for Oxford Locals sent off.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Devotions at St. Innocent’s before mass.
May 19th. Playday for Relief of Mafeking. Evening Benediction, then fireworks, and patriotic songs after supper.
May 31st. Beginning of retreat for confirmandi.
June 1st. Confirmandi taken to Eshe for some instruction and a treat: allowed to talk to each other in the afternoon.
June 2nd. Confirmation of 17 boys, with order, and their names listed on loosely inserted sheet. Godfather, Mr. Collingwood of Esh. Ten boys still to be confirmed.
June 5th. Benediction for Pretoria taken, with fireworks and torchlight procession. Playday for Pretoria on the 6th
June 15th – 17th. Details of special papers to be set the various classes in Latin, French, English and mathematical subjects, with the prizes to be awarded.
July 8th. Feast of the Relics with order.
July 10th. Minors’ responsibilities 1900-01. Mr. T. Roberts Study Place, Mr. Bilsborrow I Class, Mr. John Lynch II Class, Mr. Wil. Hodgson III Class, Thom. Singleton Arithmetic and Mathematics, Mr. McKenna (sub-prefect) French, Rev. G. Knuckey
Low Figures, Mr. B. Jefferys to take Low Figures to bathe and to country.
July 16th. Oxford Locals began. 29 Prelim. Entrants (I Class), 24 Junior (Low Figures). Mr. Cooper examiner, with Mr. Knuckey substituting as required. Gymnasium used for the exams. Special Latin and English papers given to II Class.
July 18th. Philosophers given a first Church History Paper, “entirely on Birkhauser… a mere test to see whether the Manual has been read”.
July 22nd. Ordination at High Mass of Rev. J. Brennan, Rev. W. Dunne, Rev. D. McGrath, all to be Professors.
July 23rd. Exams and special papers.
July 25th. Dr. Preston consecrated as Bishop of Phocoea: said Community Mass next day. Studies off both days.
July 30th. Michael Roskell (I Class) turned back, with a decision on two more boys to follow the vacation.
Aug. 1st. Room changes for next year.
Aug. 2nd. Start of vacation.
Aug. 3rd. Usual treat for the boys still at Ushaw: only 5 this year, and 2 Divines. All the provisions obtained from housekeeper, Procurator made no charge.
Sept. 22nd. Return day. 62 boys returned, 2 more not back yet, 21 new boys arrived.
Sept. 24th. Mr. Hodgson put in charge of singing, at least until towards Easter.
Sept. 25th. Lancelot Trotter, new Hexham student, ran away home to Stanley: “had done nothing but cry” since arriving at Ushaw.
Sept. 28th. First study day. Began General Ethics with High Philosophers, Low Figures started Caesar lib. V, I Class Eutropius.
Oct. 2nd. Studies off: Feast of Angel Guardians. Retreats began. Senior House led by Fr. Nicholson CSSR, Juniors Fr. Rossall CSSR, Mr. McKenna appointed reader. Orders provided, including Visit to Relics.
Oct. 6th. Close of Junior Retreat.
Oct. 8th. II Class to be divided in two, as it numbered 27 after only one of Third Class was found unready for Second. Mr. Lynch made master of II Class 1st Division, with 14 boys, Mr. Hodson of the 2nd Division of 13 boys. Revised teaching
responsibilities for the classes, including Catechism.
Oct. 28th. Private lists (more detailed results) of Oxford Locals arrived, after payment of a shilling per boy. To consider whether in future to ask for the results of more boys, including some of those who fail badly.
Oct. 29th. Feast of St. Bede, celebrated as a Doctor. Pontifical High Mass, playday given, evening Benediction by Bishop Preston in St. Aloysius’.
Nov. 7th. Order for Benediction for Souls in Purgatory, repeated each Wednesday in November.
Nov. 22nd. Feast of St. Cecilia. Benediction in St. Cuthbert’s. conjuring performance at 8PM.
Nov. 23rd. Singers’ playday for the 19 choir members. Six best junior singers taken to Durham, the others to Brancepeth.
Nov. 29th. James Adamson appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with order.
Dec. 17th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 21st. Going home day.
Dec. 25th Operetta
Diamond Cut Diamond performed in Gymnasium – “so good that Bp. & Profs. want in the Hall”.
Dec. 26th. G. Finch allowed to go home (detained until today for “laziness & bad Exams”). Revised staff arrangements for vacation, with all but two Minors gone home.
Dec. 31st. Juniors to bed at 8PM, rising at 11.30 for High Mass . Final entry in the 1900 Diary.
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Jan. 1st. Low Mass in St. Cuthbert’s, juniors present.
Jan. 2nd. To Newcastle for Christmas Tree prizes: games and treats bought, objects of piety etc. ordered as shop was found closed.
Jan. 3rd, 4th. Junior operetta as before performed in Hall.
Jan. 7th. Christmas Tree celebration at 4PM. Father Xmas with one attendant, only Minors and juniors present.
Jan. 8th. Chapel Christmas decorations taken down gradually in the course of the week. Crib remains until Feast of the Holy Name on the 20th.
Jan. 10th. Return day. Nine boys delayed or otherwise still absent.
Jan. 20th. Order for Feast of the Holy Name.
Feb. 2nd. No study: Queen’s Funeral. High Mass at 7.30.
Feb. 11th. Choir Master Mr. Bonney given permission, only if really necessary, to continue taking select junior singers for choir practice on five nights a week until Easter, to prepare Holy Week music. Other masters had complained of the
difficulty of getting boys to do their work with more than four nights a week of choir practice. Saturday and Sunday always to be kept free.
Feb. 15th. Feast of the Passion. Cantata King Olaf at 8.
Feb. 21st. Studies off for Seniors to make Cat balls. Bishop preferred that Juniors should now be given time off when their own balls were to be made.
Feb. 24th. Instruction given on the Jubilee, published today in the diocese. Four visits to the Chapel to made on each of 15 days: most Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, ending on April 2nd.
March 8th. Feast of the Holy Winding Sheet.
March 11th. Loosely inserted sheet giving full order of the public visits to St. Aloysius’ for the Jubilee, to pray for the Intentions of the Holy Father.
March 12th. Studies off for Juniors to make their Cat balls.
March 19th. Feast of St. Joseph. Bell rung late for Grand Benediction as Rector was hearing confessions. Sheets loosely inserted of Salutations to St. Joseph in handwritten and duplicated form, but these were omitted on account of the delay:
three Glories said instead.
March 23rd. Benediction for St. Patrick’s transferred feast. Some students had got up a subscription, and requested the benediction from the Bishop.
March 25th – 29th. Exams for all classes. Rector in bed with cold on 29th, requiring some French exams to be deferred until after Easter.
March 31st. Retreats: Mgr. Croke Robinson in St. Cuthbert’s, Bishop Preston in St. Aloysius’. Reader Mr. McKenna.
Apr. 1st. Revised order of the morning to suit Mgr. Robinson. 14th day for Jubilee. Order of Visit to Relics.
Apr. 4th. Maundy Thursday, with order. Ten named boys taking their first Communion.
Apr. 5th. Good Friday, with order: Relic of True Cross exposed. Cat struck out before dinner.
Apr. 13th. Rector suggested to boys after Mass the desirability of their going to communion the next day (Sunday). Left them free to go or not, but spoke of the wrongfulness of letting attendance at sacraments depend on study days and
playdays.
Apr. 22nd. Church History Prize for Philosophers announced. All to write a paper on Birkhauser, pp. 224-416, then those with satisfactory results to write a second paper on the Venerable Bede for which the prize would be awarded.
Apr. 30th. Josiah Rigby appointed Sacristan.
May 9th. Cheque sent to Oxford for entries to Locals, 27 Junior and 26 Prelim.. Confirmation instruction started for 16 boys.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Devotions at St. Innocent’s altar before Mass.
May 19th. R. Bleasdale appointed Sacristan in place of Jos. Rigby.
May 20th. Arrival of headmasters for meeting. May 23rd. Start of Retreat for Confirmation. Loosely inserted duplicated sheet giving full order.
May 25th. Fifteen named boys confirmed. Three more still unconfirmed.
June 13th. Details of compositions to be given each class and of special prizes to be awarded, the latter also on loosely inserted sheet.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, with order. Boys allowed, at Minors’ request, to stay in cricket field until supper and have night prayers after supper: “for this once… not to be a precedent”.
June 30th. Began Novena for blessing on Exams and Studies.
July 8th. Philosophers given their Church History test paper on Birkhausen:
“Rise of Mahomedanism to Council of Constance”.
July 12th – 19th. Exams for all classes.
July 13th : Paper on Venerable Bede given to the five qualifying Philosophers.
July 14th Feast of Relics. Ordination of Mr. Reid and Mr. Walsh.
July 16th. Start of Oxford Locals. Examiners Mr. Cooper Junior House, Mr. Gee Seniors.
July 22nd. Next year’s class and teaching responsibilities for Minors.
July 23rd. Special prizes awarded after dinner. Seven boys in total to be turned back on exam results, in five cases only if they had failed the Oxford Local.
July 25th. Going home day. J. Sanders appointed Sacristan. Only three boys staying through vacation.
Sept. 13th. Arrived back from North Berwick with the Bishop.
Sept. 14th. Return day. Juniors to number 80 when all are back: 58 old boys, 22 new. Sept. 20th. First school day. Sept. 23rd. Teaching responsibilities for the new year. Mr. Myler and Mr. Singleton to teach Arithmetic and Geometry to II Class,
Mr. McGrath and Mr. Hodson to take Catechism, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Hodson Elocution, etc.
Sept. 24th. Retreats began: Seniors led by Fr. Laverty CSSR, Juniors by Fr. Jackson CSSR.
Sept. 28th. Order for close of Junior Retreat.
Sept. 30th. All six bishops at Ushaw for their meeting.
Oct. 6th. Order for Rosary Sunday.
Oct. 23rd. Approximate start of heating by hot water pipes.
Nov. 1st – 2nd. Grand Benedictions on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
Nov. 6th. First of Benedictions for Souls in Purgatory, each Wednesday through November. Order given.
Nov. 7th. Mr. R. Roche began taking II Class for Arithmetic, three afternoons per week, with leave from bishop for his early start to teaching.
Nov. 13th. Only half the Refectory fit for use, the rest of it too wet as the roof was off.
Nov. 19th. Louis Mooney appointed Sacristan.
Nov. 22nd. St. Cecilia’s Day: singers’ playday. Most taken for a walk by Mr. B. Jefferys, a few to Durham by Mr. Bonney.
Dec. 1st. Rector announced rules for Christmas boxes: to be sent to Witton Gilbert a week before time, no tinned meat or fish, no uncooked meat.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Usual order of procession etc..
Dec. 15th. Instruction by Mr. Knuckey, “On serving God everywhere, holidays as well as elsewhere”.
Dec. 16th – 23rd. Exams in all subjects.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day. Cabs ordered for 6.45 AM, earlier than usual as snow and frozen ground would require driving slowly.
Dec. 24th. Juniors to bed after night prayers at 5PM, rising at 9, Rector said one mass at midnight.
Dec. 26th. Revised teaching arrangements over Christmas, as several Minors had gone home.
Dec. 28th.
Robin Hood performed by Juniors in Gymnasium.
Dec. 31st. Benediction in St. Aloysius’, Te Deum in College for the end of the year. Last entry in 1901 Diary.
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Jan. 3rd. Juniors’ play
Robin Hood in Hall. Further performance on the 6th.
Jan. 7th. Christmas Tree celebration. 30/- spent on sweets etc., 19/9d. on holy water fonts etc.
Jan. 8th. President’s Feast.
Jan. 9th. Return day, with details of boys delayed or unaccounted for.
Jan. 15th. Began Novena of Benedictions for the Bishop’s recovery.
Jan. 16th. J. Aylmer and W. Healey, both to leave in March, allowed to substitute English for Greek Grammar.
Jan. 18th. Low Figures and II Class to drop Algebra and drop or reduce Euclid until Easter, to allow concentration on Arithmetic for the Oxford Locals.
Jan. 19th. Feast of Holy Name and of the Holy Infant of Prague, with order.
Feb. 2nd. Feast of the Purification. Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’ with special leave of the Bishop.
Feb. 12th: Ash Wednesday. Instruction by Mr. Knuckey on the need of penance. Stations of Cross at night.
Feb. 17th. Quarant Ore. Exposition in St. Aloysius’ with order.
March 3rd. Hymns at mass and Benediction for the Pope’s Coronation day.
March 4th. Rector insisted on Mr. Bonney reducing singing practice, so that all boys would have at least two week nights free.
March 6th. Juniors given studies off to make their Cat balls.
March 7th. Prizes of £5 and £3 from St. Cuthbert’s Society to awarded for Philosophers’ special Church History paper.
March 13th-19th and 22nd. Exams for all classes.
March 23rd. Retreats began. Senior led by Fr. Hyacinth Koos OP, Junior by Fr. Vincent McNabb OP. Orders on subsequent days.
April 29th. Bishop’s instruction of Confirmandi began.
May 2nd. Start of confirmation retreat. Order in diary and on loosely inserted sheet. May 4th. Six boys confirmed: L. McEvoy, W. Kennedy, H. Blackoe, W. Rigby, Jos. Jones and Thom. Bretherton.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina observed.
May 14th. Oxford Locals entrants paid for. 26 Junior candidates, 30 for Prelims., with further details.
May 25th. Procession of Our Lady. Rector was celebrant, as Bishop unable to attend.
May 26th. Bishop left for Bath.
June 1st. St. Philip Neri, with order. Devotions at night before picture of the Sacred Heart, repeated on next three Sundays and on the last night of the month.
June 4th. Playday for Peace, with High Mass and Grand Benediction.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. High Mass sung by the Bishop.
June 27th. Playday, with Coronation Bonfire at night.
June 30th. Began Novena for blessing on studies and exams.
July 6th. Boys told to write for money for their journeys home, and to request an extra 5/- for travel to Durham, food etc.
July 12th. Philosophers sat their special Church History prize paper: St. Peter at Rome, Arianism to the return of Pope Liberius from exile.
July 13th. Feast of the Relics. Two loosely inserted sheets, one giving the order, the other a brief account of the feast for reading out.
“[W]hat I would have you ask of [these holy martyrs] most earnestly is that of all of us now kneeling here, not one single one may be lost…”
July 14th. Start of Oxford Locals and other exams.
July 17th. Boys to be turned back: three from I Class and four from II Class.
July 22nd. Special prizes awarded. Junior athletic sports in the afternoon.
July 24th. Going home day. Gilbert Maingot the only Junior staying at Ushaw.
July 25th. Minors’ room allocations for the coming year.
Sept. 13th. Return day. 48 returned, 33 new boys, 4 still to come.
Sept. 15th. Playday for exam success.
Sept. 17th. Playday for new Prefect, Mr. Roberts.
Sept. 23rd. Retreats began. Senior House led by Fr. Lasseter CSSR, Juniors by Fr. Gaisford CSSR, Mr. F. McKenna reader.
Sept. 27th. Close of Junior Retreat, with order. Tonsure given in the afternoon, to shorten the next day’s General Ordination.
Oct. 1st. Benediction with October Devotions. Boys spoken to about the Devotions and on the next day’s feast.
Oct. 2nd. Feast of Angel Guardians. Mr. Walter Hathersall appointed “Gaoler”.
Nov. 1st. Grand Benediction. Robert Cowens received into the Church by his confessor Mr. Knuckey.
Nov. 2nd. Rector spoke about the Servers’ Confraternity of St. John Berckmans, admitted all of Low Figures and I Class, and told II Class Torchbearers to come if they wished to be admitted.
Nov. 25th. St. Catherine’s Feast. Some Philosophers, drawn by lot, examined in Scripture – Logic, Geology and Ethics.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Brief instruction by Rector, procession at 8.40, Bishop pontificated, playday given.
Dec. 18th – 22nd. Exams in all subjects. I Class Latin Explaining badly known and would have to be revisited.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day. Boys rose at 6.10 AM, 28 gone home.
Dec. 24th. Usual rising at 9 PM after night prayers at 5.15. Rector said a single Mass at midnight.
Dec. 26th. Three Minors went away for vacation.
Dec. 29th. Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury: Pontifical High Mass. Juniors performed
Forty Thieves in the Gymnasium.
Dec. 30th. Operetta in the Hall. Dec. 31st. No entertainment, many confessions in the evening. Last entry in 1902 Diary.
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Jan. 2nd.
Forty Thieves performed by Juniors in Hall.
Jan. 7th. President’s Feast. Benedictions in both chapels.
Jan. 8th. Return day. 15 boys back, 15 more to come.
Jan. 18th. Feast of Holy Name and of Holy Infant of Prague, with order.
Feb. 16th – 18th. Daily lectures on the English Martyrs by Fr. Camm, with lantern slides.
Feb. 20th. Boys asked to pray for Pope Leo XIII at Mass, on the completion of his Anno Petri.
Feb. 25th. Ash Wednesday. Preached on penance at Community Mass. Ashes given out by Bishop at two minutes to twelve. Stations of the Cross at night, as on all Wednesdays in Lent.
Mar. 1st. Gave instruction on the Pope’s Jubilee and St. Peter.
Mar. 2nd. Exposition in St. Aloysius’, with order. Playday for Pope’s birthday and Jubilee.
Mar. 3rd. Pope’s Coronation day and Jubilee. High Mass and Benediction, and no study.
Mar. 8th. Mr. Knuckey gave instruction on the Gospel of the blind man.
Mar. 12th. St. Gregory the Great: Grand Benediction.
March 26th. Catechism exams.
March 30th – April 4th: Exams for all classes. I Class Latin “better than Xmas – some very slow”.
April 5th. Beginning of retreats. Seniors led by Fr. H. Pope OP, Juniors by Rev. J. Earnshaw. Opening discourse given by Rector as Fr. Earnshaw arrived late.
April 10th: Good Friday. Stations as before. Exposition of Rector’s own Relic of True Cross. April 25th. Philosophers’ Church History test paper to be on Birkhauser pp. 224-416, Mahomedanism to the Council of Constance inclusive. As before,
satisfactory performance would be a condition of entering for the essay prize.
April 28th. Special prizes promised. Latin (1st and 2nd) and Testament for Low Figures and I Class, two prizes (Special Letter and general) for II Class, one for III Class.
April 29th. I Class not to be entered for Prelims. this year, as many of them would be excluded by their age. Ordinary exams would determine their readiness to advance to Low Figures.
May 1st. Edward Waterworth diagnosed with measles: first case mentioned in a small outbreak, around 15 Juniors affected.
May 2nd. Leo Meagher appointed Sacristan.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina, with Visits to St. Innocent’s.
June 1st. Devotions before the Picture of the Sacred Heart, with brief instruction. Repeated without instruction on each Sunday in June.
June 4th. Final measles case among Juniors, B. Wake, discharged from Infirmary. Last of the Seniors discharged on the 6th.
June 22nd. Feasts of St. Aloysius and of the Sacred Heart, with order. Mr. Knuckey gave instruction on the double feast.
June 28th. Edward Waterworth confirmed: had been in the Infirmary when others were confirmed last autumn.
June 30th. Devotions to Sacred Heart repeated for the last day of June. Low Figures Testament paper, on St. Luke and Acts.
July 1st. Started Novena for blessing on studies.
July 4th. Philosophers sat their Church History test paper (see Apr. 25th).
July 11th. Playday for Oxford Locals. Philosophers’ Prize Paper for Venerable Bede’s History, with eight eligible to enter.
July 13th – 16th. Oxford Locals, and other exams for all classes.
July 16th. Three III Class boys turned back. Three boys allowed to go on provided they improve before Christmas, and three more “allowed… to go forwards as apparently hopeless.”
July 18th. Appointments of Minors for next year. Edward Tuohy to take III Class, or 2nd division of II Class if there is no III Class. John Lyons to Study Place, Mr. Foy wanted for Elocution in College, Mr. McKenna has to give up as entering 3rd
year as Divine, all others to continue.
July 19th. Public ordination of five priests at Low Mass.
July 21st. Special Prizes given out.
July 23rd. Going home day. Boys rose at 5.40 for breakfast at 6.
Sept. 12th. Return day. 23 New Boys and 53 Old returned, two old and 11 new yet to arrive.
Sept. 18th. School began.
Sept. 22nd. Retreats began. Fr. Maturin leading Senior retreat, Fr. Graham CSSR Junior. Reader Mr. J. Myler.
Sept. 26th. Close of Junior Retreat, with order.
Sept. 28th. Mr. H. Gillet appointed to teach Arithmetic to 2nd Division of II Class.
Oct. 6th. Elocution masters: Mr. Myler to take Low Figures and II Class 1st Div., Mr. Tuohy I Class and II Class 2nd Div., during first hour of schooldays as before.
Nov. 4th. Benediction for Holy Souls, repeated each Wednesday in November.
Nov. 23rd. Choir playday, by permission of the organist Mr. Lynch.
Nov. 29th. First Sunday in Advent: Rector gave instruction on the Incarnation.
Dec. 6th. Instruction by Mr. Knuckey on the Immaculate Conception. First skating of the season.
Dec. 9th. Nightly Benediction during the Octave, in view of the beginning of the Jubilee year of the Definition.
Dec. 13th. Rector gave instruction on Holy Communion. Exposition for the Immaculate Conception Jubilee.
Dec. 15th – 23rd. Exams for all classes. II Class 2nd Div. very bad in Latin, and to be examined again a few weeks after the Christmas vacation.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day. 26 boys gone. Dec. 24th. Grand Benediction. Bed at 5.30 PM, rose at 9 for breakfast then Matins at 10.
Dec. 26th. Only one Minor, Mr. Singleton, left at Ushaw during the vacation, so Mr. Young, Mr. Foy, Mr. H. Gillett and Mr. McKenna (daytime only) brought over to take care of dormitories.
Dec. 31st. To College after taking Junior confessions. Last entry for 1903.
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Jan. 4th.
Blue Beard performed in the Gymnasium in the afternoon, with Bishop and Fr. J. Morris present. Almost all Profs. dined at Sacriston.
Jan. 7th. Performance of Blue Beard in Hall prevented by influenza among Juniors.
Jan. 8th. Christmas Tree 4.30 PM.
Jan. 9th. Return day. 18 boys back, 9 still due, some (from later diary entries) on account of illness at home.
Jan. 11th. Started Church History with Philosophers.
Jan. 17th. Feast of the Holy Name, with order.
Jan. 26th – 27th. Performances in Hall of Blue Beard, now that actors had recovered from influenza.
Feb. 15th. B. Thomas Plumtree. Benediction in spite of transfer by Bishop’s wish, at 7 on account of entertainment later.
March 6th. Third Sunday in Lent. Instruction by Rector on
“Be at agreement with thy adversary, whilst thou art on the way with him”.
March 13th. High Mass of St. Gregory, by special permission of the Pope on account of St. Gregory’s Centenary.
March 17th-19th, 22nd-26th. Exams for all classes.
March 27th. Retreats began. Senior Mgr. Croke Robinson, Junior Fr. B. Camm OSB. Reader Mr. Myler started with Instruct. for Youth and Saints of the Desert.
March 31st: Maundy Thursday. No High Mass: oils blessed by Bishop at Low Mass at 8.30.
April 9th. William Christopher went home with St. Vitus’ dance.
April 11th. Philosophers told that on May 7th they would be examined on the “First Period”, the first 253 pages of Birkhauser.
April 20th. Special Prizes to be awarded as before (Latin and Testament) for Low Figures and I Class, and a 1st and 2nd. prize for highest combined totals in each division of II Class. May 10th. Order for devotions to Sts. Bassus, Fabius and
Lucina, brought forward a day in view of the Vigil of the Ascension.
May 18th. Opening of Retreat for Confirmation, after boys to be confirmed had been instructed daily by the Bishop for more than a week. Confirmandi allowed to talk only to others who were to be confirmed.
May 19th. Confirmation after Mass, said by Rector as the Bishop was not strong enough. Eleven boys confirmed: J. Morley, B. Waterworth, B. Ellison, E. Maingot, J. Duffy, Edm. Pugin, J. Croucher, Jos. Wilkinson, L. Davin, Jos. Wilson, J. Moralee.
Seven more still unconfirmed.
May 29th. Procession for last Sunday in May. Bishop too tired to take part after ordaining in morning.
June 1st: Feast of St. Philip Neri. Bishop had refused Benediction in St. Cuthbert’s, but allowed it in St. Aloysius’ as St. Philip was Patron of Low Figures.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, with brief order.
July 9th. Philosophers’ test paper: Church History, Birkhauser pp. 488-702.
July 10th. Feast of the Relics, with order. Began Novena for blessing on studies.
July 14th-21st. Exams for all classes.
July 16th. Philosophers’ History Prize paper.
July 18th – 21st. Juniors’ Oxford Locals.
July 21st. Boys turned back: II Class 1st Div. B. Ellison, H. Newsham, Jos. Wilson, B. Waterworth, E. Hernandez, J. Hernandez. II Class 2nd Div.: Aug. Kelly, J. Chadwick, J. Wilkinson, Rod. Maingot, E. Pugin, Jos. Marshall, C. Marshall. A. Ward
to advance to I Class on trial, J. Kane and C. de Verteuil into Low Figures on trial.
July 25th. Minors’ class and teaching responsibilities for next year. Low Figures Rev. G. Knuckey, I Class Mr. R. Roche, II Class Mr. E. Tuohy and Alphon. Harker. Arithmetic and Math Jos. Butler, French Hugh Morissey.
July 28th. Going home day. Six Juniors and four in College staying at Ushaw through the vacation.
Sept. 17th. Return day.
Sept. 21st. Benediction in thanksgiving for a good harvest.
Sept. 23rd. First school day of the new year.
Sept. 27th. Retreats began: Seniors led by Fr. Chase, Juniors Fr. Howell CSSR, Reader w. Hodson.
Sept. 28th – 30th. Daily Visits to St. Cuthbert’s (the “principal church”, as required) in observance of the Jubilee of the Immaculate Conception.
Sept. 30th. Fast day for the Jubilee. Observed by all Juniors, “except 3rd Class, & four other little fellows thought too weak”.
Oct. 26th. B. Wake gone home “on account of nervous fancies, etc.”.
Nov. 2nd. Grand Benediction for All Souls’ Day. Studies off for an hour at noon.
Dec. 5th – 7th. Daily Benedictions preparing for the Immaculate Conception.
Dec. 8th. Immaculate Conception. Procession at night in St. Aloysius’, Bishop pontificating.
Dec. 15th. Catechism exams for I, II and III Classes.
Dec. 17th – 23rd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day: 17 Juniors gone.
Dec. 24th. To bed at 5.30 PM, rising at 9 for supper and Matins at 10.
Dec. 31st. End of year Benediction.
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Jan. 7th. Return day. All but four boys back.
Jan. 15th. Feast of Holy Name, with order.
March 2nd.
Puss in Boots: afternoon performance for Juniors only, in Hall so that scenery etc. need only be assembled once. Further performances on 6th and 7th.
March 12th. First Sunday in Lent. Instruction by Rector on Quarant Ore.
March 19th. Instruction on self denial by Mr. Knuckey.
March 26th. Instruction by Rector,
“Our Lord contradicted”.
April 2nd. Instruction by Mr. Knuckey,
“Venite ad me omnes”.
April 9th. Rector’s instruction on the Passion.
April 9th – 15th Exams for all classes.
April 14th. Eight of II Class to be examined again in Latin grammar: “Didn’t know the verbs at all”.
April 16th. Beginning of retreats, Senior led by Fr. Hugh Pope, Junior by Canon Collingwood.
April 20th. First Communions of John Mills, John Chadwick, Pat. Hickey, Rod. Maingot and Edw. Charnock. Six boys still to make theirs.
April 21st: Good Friday. Stations and Veneration of True Cross.
April 27th. Extinction of Ancient Hierarchy sent to Sands (printers), with cheque for £68.
April 30th. Instruction by Mr. Knuckey on Our Lady. Procession and Benediction.
May 4th. Loosely inserted note giving the categories for Juniors’ prizes, also rule re. sitting on grass: “Waistcoats not to be taken off without leave from Prefect each time”.
May 11th. Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina, with two Visits to St. Innocent’s.
May 12th. Philosophers given an exam on Birkhausen’s 1st Period. Preface to the Extinction sent to Sands. May 14th. Further £10 sent to Sands in view of the increased size and type of the book.
May 28th. Procession and Benediction for last Sunday in May.
June 4th. Devotions to Sacred Heart, repeated each Sunday in June.
June 7th. Confirmation Retreat. Detailed order on loosely inserted sheet. Boys to be confirmed allowed to talk to one another, but not to anyone else, and to play.
June 8th. Confirmation of James O’Connor, Vin. Hawksworth, John Chadwick, Roy Mooney, Rodney Maingot, Will. Williams, John Mills, Arth. Gracey, Edw. Charnock. Godfather Mr. Collingwood.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. High Mass – Bishop too weak to sing – and Benediction.
July 2nd. Feast of Sacred Heart.
July 3rd. Visitation of Our Lady. Started Novena for “blessing on our studies and exams”.
July 6th. Philosophers’ test paper, on Birkhausen’s Second Period.
July 15th. Philosophers’ prize paper on Bede’s History. Six candidates.
July 16th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
July 17th. Oxford Locals began.
July 22nd. Turned back: V. Hildyard staying in 1st Class, Fred. Nethersall and Edw. Clarkson in 2nd, J. Hernandez in 3rd. July 25th. Next year’s Minors: Mr. Harker taking I Class, Mr. J. Manly II Class, Mr. E. Hothersall III Class if there is
one, Mr. Butler Math., Mr. Morrissey French, Mr. Lyons the Study Place, Mr. Myler the Sacristy etc.
July 27th. Going home day.
Aug. 6th. Preached at Esh.
Aug. 8th. Left for Hawick after staying on because of Bishop’s illness.
Aug. 13th. Preached at Hawick on Our Lord weeping over Jerusalem.
Sept. 14th. Returned from N. Berwick.
Sept. 15th, 16th. Said Mass in Bishop’s room.
Sept. 16th. Return day.
Sept. 17th. 18 new boys on list, 3 old boys yet to return.
Sept. 26th. Retreats: Fr. Howell CSSR led Juniors, Fr. Proctor OP the Seniors, Mr. Myler reader.
Nov. 2nd. Gave sermon at All Souls’ Day Community Mass.
Nov. 21st. Presentation of Our Lady: Benediction at 7 in St. Aloysius’, with approval of the Bishop, who attended. Concert afterwards on eve of Singers’ Feast.
Dec. 2nd. Vin.Wickson appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 8th. Immaculate Conception. Bishop pontificated at Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’.
Dec. 17th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 20th. I Class Latin and French exams not finished – “very slow and poor”, to be required to explain after Christmas.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day: rising at 6.10, breakfast at 6.40. 17 boys gone.
Dec. 26th. Responsibilities during the vacation, with all Minors except Mr. Myler gone home.
Dec. 29th. St. Thomas of Canterbury: Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’with the Bishop’s leave. Operetta in evening, repeated on the 31st.
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Jan. 4th. Operetta in the Hall, Benediction in St. Aloysius’. Grand Benediction on the 5th.
Jan. 10th. President’s Feast, and afternoon Christmas Tree celebration. One and a half dozen Holy Water Fonts, three dozen glass pictures, games and sweets given out.
Jan. 11th. Return day for those who went home. Seven boys still to come back.
Jan. 14th. Feast of the Holy Name, with order.
Feb. 23rd. Afternoon performance of
Dick Whittington, for Juniors only. Further performances on evenings of 26th, 27th. Feb. 29th. Ash Wednesday. Gave short instruction before Stations in evening, as choir practice had precluded giving instruction in the
morning.
March 4th First Sunday in Lent. Gave instruction on Penance.
March 5th. Exposition in St. Aloysius’ after Community Mass.
March 6th. Juniors given studies off from 6 to 7, for cat balls to be made in Low Figures’ playroom.
March 18th. Gave instruction on St. Joseph and St. Cuthbert.
April 1st. Passion Sunday: Instruction by Mr. Knuckey.
April 2nd- 4th, 6th-7th: Exams for all classes. April 5th. Studies off for the Bishop’s 81st birthday.
April 8th. Junior retreat led by Fr. M. Watts Russell CP, Seniors by Fr. F. Couturier OP. Reader Mr. Myler. Sent reply to a review in the
Guardian [of Extinction of the Ancient Hierarchy ?].
April 9th. Junior retreat revised, as weak throat limited Fr. Watts Russell to giving three instructions daily. Nine boys absent as in Infirmary with ringworm, three more with influenza. Loosely inserted sheet giving details of confirmed and
suspected cases of ringworm.
April 12th. Raymond Warner, Char. Marshall and John Hernandez took their First Communion.
April 13th. Good Friday. Stations, and Veneration of Relic of the True Cross.
April 15th. Easter Day. Refused request for whole choir to sing in College as this had no precedent, letting only select boys go.
April 28th. Giulio Lacayo appointed Sacristan. April 30th. Procession and Benediction for opening of May. Bishop too unwell to attend.
May 6th. Confessors met to discuss the Pope’s wishes regarding daily communion. Bishop suggested that Deacons and perhaps Subdeacons should be recommended to go daily, others advised individually by their Confessors. Great caution to be used with
the younger students.
June 3rd. Whit Sunday. Devotions to Sacred Heart, with spoken text on loosely inserted sheet.
June 7th. Jos. Morgan gone home to have operation on swollen neck.
June 14th. First Communion of Herb. Newsham, Leo de Verteuil and Eric Duggan.
June 17th. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, for the preservation of Catholic schools against the Education Bill.
June 18th. Mr. Swales to take over as Prefect of Study Place for the remainder of the year, as Mr. Lyons was about to leave for ordination. Mr. Butler appointed for next year.
July 2nd. Began Novena for blessing on studies and exams.
July 8th. Feast of the Relics, order as on paper (not extant).
July 14th. Philosophers’ Church History test paper, on Birkhausen’s Third Period.
July 20th. Retreat for Confirmation. July 21st. Nine boys confirmed: H. Newsham, J. Lacayo, Ch. Marshall, Eric Duggan, Cuth. M’Cahy, Leo de Verteuil, Edw. Buckley, Ben. Croke, John Hernandez, Raym. Warner. Philosophers’ History Prize Paper, with
nine entrants.
July 23rd – 27th. exams for all classes. July 30th. List of next year’s form and subject masters. Low Figures Rev. Knuckey, I Class Mr. Harker, II Class Mr. Manly, III Class Mr. E. Hothersall. Boys turned back: Fred. Rosner and Leo de Verteuil
promised to go on at Christmas if their work is sufficient, Eric Duggan to be dropped by Bishop unless he does better.
July 31st. Boys kept in because of thunderstorm: Special Prizes etc. distributed in Gymnasium. Distinctions read up: qualification for Distinction may need “tightening up”, perhaps by requiring 80 marks rather than
75. Arithmetic, Geometry and Algebra to be treated as a single subject.
Aug. 2nd. Going away day. Left on foot to catch special train from Aldin Grange rather than having to go to Durham Station.
Aug. 6th. Loosely inserted printed sheet giving schedule for clergy retreat at Ushaw, Monday 6th to Saturday 11th.
Sept. 22nd. Return day. 46 boys returned, 6 more delayed by illness etc., 28 new boys with 3 more expected.
Sept. 26th. Joseph Shane left, “having done nothing since he came, but mope and cry, and ask to go home”.
Sept. 27th – 29th. Teaching responsibilities. Rev. Knuckey to take Low Figures for Writing and English History, Mr. Harker I Class for Writing. Mr. Hodson all but III Class for Elocution.
Oct. 2nd. Retreats. Senior led by Fr. John Burke CSSR, Junior Fr. Hull CSSR. Reader Mr. Myler.
Oct. 3rd.-6th. Some details of Junior retreat. Rosary said at Mass rather than at Benediction during the Retreat, as it “seems too much for the boys at night, after all the Retreat exercises of the day”.
Oct. 8th. Bishops arrived for their meeting. Rosary in St. Aloysius’ now to be said generally at Mass except on Sundays: continuing to be said at night as before in St. Cuthbert’s.
Oct. 11th. Letter sent to the Archbishop of Westminster, signed by the six northern Bishops, asking for steps to be taken toward the Beatification of the eleven Bishops of the English College.
Oct. 21st. General Communion for the defeat of the Education Bill.
Oct. 30th. Arrangement made with Mr. Hodson to take all but III Class for Elocution.
Nov. 22nd. Concert given, repeated on the 25th. Nov. 23rd. St. Cecilia’s Day, a playday for the choir as before.
Nov. 30th. Will. Murphy appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 2nd. Gave instruction on the Benefit of our Redemption: How to spend Advent.
Dec. 8th. Immaculate Conception: Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’. Bishop not strong enough to pontificate.
Dec. 16th – 21st. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day, 18 Juniors gone.
Dec. 26th. Revised class responsibilities for the vacation, as all Minors but Mr. Myler had gone home.
Dec. 27th. Play put on in Hall.
Dec. 29th. St. Thomas of Canterbury: High Mass and Grand Benediction.
Dec. 30th. Gas failure.
Dec. 31st. Skating, first mention this season. End of 1906 Diary.
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Jan. 1st. Operetta performed at night, repeated on 3rd.
Jan. 2nd. Play given by I Class in Gymnasium, for Juniors only.
Jan. 9th. President’s Feast, and Christmas Tree celebration, with costed summary of prizes.
Jan. 10th. End of Christmas Vacation. School resumed on 11th.
Jan. 15th. John Moralee made Sacristan, replacing Jul. Lacayo who had been overtaxed by it in combination with his choir and piano practice.
Jan. 20th. Feast of Holy Name, with brief order.
Feb. 8th. Play Aladdin rehearsed in Hall with all Juniors present.
Feb. 11th, 12th. Junior play Aladdin.
Feb. 12th. Beginning of small influenza outbreak. 2 cases diagnosed and sent to Infirmary, 11 more over next few days. Feb. 18th. Quarant Ore exposition.
Feb. 26th. Measles outbreak began. 19 cases diagnosed in all, the last on March 27th.
March 14th. Dedication of St. Cuthbert’s: High Mass.
March 14th – 21st. Exams for all classes.
March 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Day. Cat struck out for Juniors, deferred from the 17th on account of bad weather and measles.
March 24th. Retreats began. Senior led by Fr. Moore OP, Junior by Canon Dallow.
March 28th. First Communions: Jos. Bretherton, Bern. Wilkinson, Will. Clifford, Vin. Pickering.
April 7th. Scheme of marks and prizes for midsummer papers read out at Rosary Tickets.
April 25th. To Abbot Gasquet’s for a meeting of the Commission on the Cause of the Eleven Bishops.
May 4th. Philosophers told to expect a midsummer exam. paper on Birkhausen’s Second Period, but no prize as history had not been studied in school this year.
May 12th. Headmasters arrived for conference. June 1st. St. Philip Neri, with order.
June 2nd. Gave instruction on Frequent Communion and the Month of the Sacred Heart.
June 15th. Rob. Baybutt appointed Sacristan.
June 21st. High Mass and Benediction for the Feast of St. Aloysius. Guy Smith made his first Communion. June 23rd. Start of Confirmation Retreat.
June 24th. Confirmations: Guy Smith, B. Wilkinson, C. and W. Clifford, V. Pickering, Osc. Burke, Fran. Jones, Fran. Croke, Dan. Sharpe, Rich. Gillow, B. Bradley.
June 30th. Returned papers and Report of the Hist. Commission on the 11 Bishops to Dr. Burton, with own appendix signed and with postscript.
July 1st. Cuthbert M’Cahy gone home for change, “never quite well after Influenza”.
July 17th. Philosophers’ Cosmology paper.
July 19th. Playday given for the first day of the College’s 100th year. Bishop blessed the new rooms of the raised front story.
July 20th – 26th. Exams for all classes.
July 25th Leo de Verteuil gone home after four months or more in Infirmary.
July 28th. Eight priests and two deacons ordained in St. Aloysius’, as scaffolding was up in St. Cuthbert’s. July 30th. Reading up, and distribution of Special Prizes.
July 31st. Guy Smith turned back in I Class, F. Croke and T. Cookson allowed to advance on trial.
Aug. 2nd. Minors’ rooms for next year.
Aug. 5th – 10th. Clergy retreat. Printed timetable loosely inserted as last year.
Sept. 19th. Rector returned from vacation.
Sept. 21st. Return day for students. Expected total 89, 28 of them new.
Sept. 26th. Study began for Juniors.
Sept. 27th. Philosophers given private playday for new master Dr. Towers. Timetable and masters for writing lessons for all Junior classes.
Sept. 28th. Started Church History with High Philosophers only.
Oct. 1st. Retreats began. Senior given by Mgr. Croke Robinson, Junior by Fr. B. Camm, reader Mr. Pickering.
Oct. 7th. Bishops arrived for meeting, Leeds and Shrewsbury absent.
Oct. 9th. Bishops left for London to elect the new Bishop of Northampton. Rob. Myerscough allowed to stay until Christmas, but to be dropped then by Bishop of Liverpool unless much improved.
Oct. 11th. Playday given for Dr. Coulston’s Jubilee.
Oct. 12th. St. Wilfrid’s playday. Juniors had been spoken to about not giving up confession on playdays.
Oct. 19th. Two cases of chicken pox. Three more by Nov. 5th.
Nov. 28th. Bernard Smith appointed Sacristan. Dec. 1st. Weekly Instruction given on Sundays through Advent, Rector alternating with Rev. Knuckey.
Dec. 14th. Philosophers’ Church History paper, from St. Peter at Rome to the Council of Nice.
Dec. 16th – 23rd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day, 23 Juniors gone. Dec. 25th.
Staff responsibilities during the Christmas vacation.
Dec. 27th. Christmas Tree celebration in the afternoon. Religious artefacts, games and fruit distributed.
Dec. 29th. Order of devotions before the Crib.
Dec. 31st. Benediction for last day of the year. Close of 1907 Diary.
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UC/AA6/4/22 8 January 1908 - 3 January 1909
Jan. 8th. President’s Feast, with Benediction.
Jan. 9th. Return day. Three boys delayed.
Jan. 19th. Feast of Holy Name, with order.
Feb. 13th. Order for Confirmation Retreat.
Feb. 14th. Eight boys confirmed: G. Cooper, Reg. Bradley, Ever. Maingot, John Stevenson, Kevin Henegan, Wilf. Finn, Edw. Barnes, G. Sinclair.
March 8th. Gave instruction on Fasting and Temptation of Our Lord. Quarant Ore put off as St. Cuthbert’s was being redecorated.
March 12th – 13th. Mid-term exams for Philosophers.
March 29th. Gave instruction on the Gospel of the Samaritan Woman, and on the Quarant Ore, delayed until now.
March 30th. Exposition in St. Aloysius’. No Juniors were wanted for singing, so none went to High Mass.
April 4th. Philosophers’ Church History paper: Ven. Bede books I and II and Birkhauser’s Second Period.
April 5th – 11th. Exams for all classes. April 8th. I Class Latin Grammar not well known, Themes very bad and had to improve before a playday would be granted. Rob. Myerscough gone home as consumptive.
April 12th. Retreats: Senior led by Fr. Proctor OP (Provincial), Junior Fr. R. Moss OP, reader Mr. E. Wilkinson.
April 17th. Good Friday. Stations of Cross and Sermon for the Servants in St. Aloysius’ at 4. Stations and Veneration of Relic at 8.30.
April 28th. Erection began of scaffolding for repainting of St. Aloysius’ roof.
May 1st. Short sermon by Mr. Knuckey to open Month of Mary.
May 4th. Repainting of St. Aloysius’ roof began, by Grey. Cost to be under £70, Rector promised £63 towards it and Mgr. Corbishley undertook to pay the rest. May 11th. Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Devotions at St. Innocent’s altar before
Mass.
May 30th. Painting of St. Aloysius’ roof partly finished, scaffolding moved to middle bays.
June 1st. St. Philip Neri. No Benediction in St. Cuthbert’s, but Benediction in St. Aloysius’ with Bishop’s leave as he was Low Figures’ Patron.
June 20th. St. Aloysius’ decorators had finished all but the Antechapel roof area.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Some singers from College joined for High Mass.
July 9th. Philosophers’ Church History test paper, on Birkhausen pp. 526-631 and 651-654.
July 13th. Philosophers’ Prize Paper, from Bede’s History, with 8 eligible to compete. Subject:
“Trace the ecclesiastical history of Northumbria from the death of St. Edwin to the death of St. Wilfrid, showing that the Holy See’s supremacy always was acknowledged”.
July 16th – 18th, 21st – 24th: Exams for all classes. Prizes given on the 26th.
July 19th. Centenary day. Bishop said Community Mass in St. Cuthbert’s then preached. Playday for the Centenary given on the 20th.
July 27th. Minors’ appointments for next year. Mr. Pickering French, and Subprefect: Mr. Bentley I Class, Mr. Baines II Class, Mr. Molony III Class, Mr. Butler Study Place, Mr. Wilkinson Math, Mr. Harker Sacristy etc.
July 28th. Turned back: Edw. Walsh, Vin. Galloway, Fran. Taylerson all to proceed to I Class when ready. Oscar Burke given up by Bishop, T. Lambert warned of danger of dismissal, Godfrey Tipper warned of severe punishment unless he improves.
Sept. 25th. Mr. Butler going to the Paris Institut, so Mr. Hothersoll appointed Study Place master in his stead.
Sept. 26th. Return day. 55 old boys, 22 new with several more expected.
Oct. 6th. Retreats. Senior Fr. Gaisford CSSR, Junior Fr. Charlton CSSR.
Oct. 14th. First Class split into two Divisions: Mr. Bentley to take the 1st, Mr. Moloney the 2nd, with the four Third Class boys going into Second Class. I Class Divisions to be taught French and Arithmetic together for the present, each class
to be taught Writing by its own master.
Oct. 15th. Low Figures Spiritual Reading master to be Mr. Moloney. Sacristan Mr. Harker should be free to be in the Sacristy during Spiritual Reading, and to take care that Images, Reredos etc. were dusted.
Oct. 16th. Mr. Sargent appointed Bounds Master, responsible for Gymnasium and taking boys to country.
Nov. 2nd. Order for All Souls’ Day.
Nov. 19th. Cassimir Hobi made Sacristan.
Nov. 30th. Specific opening times of Study Place to get books for classes and Dormitory to change for football.
Dec. 7th. Geoffrey Martin and Raymond Corboy in retreat for First Communion tomorrow.
Dec. 8th. Immaculate Conception. Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’. “Bishop too feeble to officiate: remained at bottom of the Chapel”.
Dec. 15th – 23rd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day, 25 Juniors gone. Grand Benediction in St. Aloysius’ for Bishop’s Diamond Jubilee.
Dec. 26th. Some boys allowed home for the day. Told not to leave until after breakfast, and to be back for supper.
Dec. 27th. Christmas Tree. Crucifixes, toys and sweets obtained: enough pictures and holy water fonts were left over from last year.
Jan. 3rd. Visit to Crib at Night Prayers. Last entry in 1908 Diary.
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UC/AA6/4/23 1909
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UC/AA6/4/24 8 January - 26 December 1910
Jan. 8th. Return day. Six boys delayed.
Jan. 10th Studies began. V.P. to take Low Phils. for Council of Nice etc., Rector High Phils. for St. Bede.
Jan. 17th. Philosophers’ History Prizes – this year two equal prizes, one to Low Phils., and one to High for a paper on St. Bede after a qualifying paper on Birkhausen.
Feb. 3rd. Louis Fitzgerald returned after father’s illness and death. Play rehearsal, without audience of boys as it was thought better they should not see it three times.
Feb. 7th. Junior play
Lost Heir of Cola, repeated on 8th.
Feb. 13th. Rector’s instruction on Quarant Ore and the necessity of prayer.
Feb. 14th. Exposition as before in St. Aloysius’.
Feb. 15th. Mr. Alan Barton-Fannin received into the Church.
Feb. 20th. Instruction by Dr. Towers on state of grace.
“Barton Fannin erupit evasit”.
Feb. 28th. Begun 2nd Novena to St. Gerard for Mgr. Corbishley.
Mar. 10th. Catechism exam for I and II Class. Very badly known by II Class who would have to be examined again.
Mar. 13th – 19th. Exams for all classes.
Mar. 14th. High Mass for Dedication of St. Cuthbert’s. Low Figures Latin and French Grammar: P. Morris and L. Nivet to be punished for doing badly.
Mar. 16th. I Class Latin exam, “a good deal better than at Xmas”.
Mar. 18th. II Class Latin and French. “Several did very badly”.
Mar. 19th. Magic lantern lecture on St. Gerard given by Fr. Jeanrenaud.
Mar. 21st. Retreats began: Seniors led by Fr. J. Davidson CSSR, Juniors Fr. Jeanrenaud. Reader Mr. Bentley.
Mar. 23rd. Some 60 boys enrolled in the People’s Eucharistic League by Fr. Jeanrenaud.
Mar. 25th. Good Friday. Servants in retreat, so no service in St. Aloysius’ during Tenebrae. Stations at 8.30, and kissing of Relic of True Cross.
Apr. 12th. Mr. Adamson to take five of 2nd Class “who are only really fit for 3rd Class” and who would drop Latin: J. Forrest, H. Marshall, T. Fayer, G. Foggin and G. Welsh.
Apr. 20th. Public Blessing of image of St. Gerard at end of Night Prayers, by Rector with Bishop’s leave.
Apr. 23rd: St. George. No playday, but Grand Benediction in both Chapels at night.
May 11th. Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Evening devotions at 6.30 with President’s approval.
May 22nd. Cuthbert Peckston appointed Sacristan.
May 27th. President away for about a fortnight.
June 1st. St. Philip Neri. Benediction in St. Aloysius’, with Bishop’s approval, though this was perhaps unnecessary.
June 9th. Rector’s rheumatic attack began.
June 18th. First time taking Philosophers after illness.
June 20th. Retreat for Confirmandi.
June 21st. Confirmation in St. Aloysius’, of all the remaining boys: Aug. Watts, Will. Dunne, John Whinham, Rol. Kay, John Forrest, Pat Gaughan, Geo. Foggin and Geo. Welsh.
June 26th. Flowers etc. at St. Aloysius’ statue prevented Sacred Heart devotions.
July 3rd. Boys told to write home for 5/- above their journey fares. Novena for blessing on studies announced to begin the next day.
July 7th. Minors for next College year. Low Figures Mr. Baines, I Class Mr. Moloney, II Class and Dormitory Master Mr. Nich. Brown, Math Mr. McElroy, French Mr. Adamson, Study Place Mr. Ern. Wilkinson, Sacristan and “Gaoler” Mr. Hothersall.
July 10th. Feast of the Relics. Rector fell and sprained knee.
July 11th. Philosophers’ Prize Paper on St. Bede. Only four candidates.
July 14th. Rector up again after fall.
July 17th – 22nd. Exams for all classes. No separate exam playday for any school this year.
July 25th. Boys to be turned back: I Class A. Watts, II Class T. Fayer, G. Foggin. J. Forrest, H. Marshall, G. Welsh. T. Taylor to be tried in I Class, likewise J. Southworth with no Latin.
July 26th. Church students dropped after exams: Thom. Whelan Liverpool, John Barras and John Rogerson Hexham.
Sept. 17th. Return day. 53 old boys, 40 new, 6 not back yet.
Sept. 20th. Retreats began. Seniors led by Bishop of Northampton, Juniors Rev. John Seed as Mr. G. Knuckey prevented by illness.
Sept. 24th. Close of Junior Retreat. Brettaner Radclyffe, John Leeming, William Carins and John Carins made their First Communions.
Sept. 25th. Five sent on into High Figures: Fran. Chaloner, Ber. Cavanagh, Vin. Galloway, Ern. Grey and Will. Strickland.
Sept. 26th. Bishops, excepting Salford, arrived for their meeting.
Sept. 27th. Change in terms for appointment of the Study Place Master. In future to be a Minor employed in school time as a teacher, to coach backward boys, rather than engaging in his own studies. No suitable candidate could be found this
year.
Sept. 28th. Arrangements for the four Third Class boys. To write in copy books, learn English parsing, etc., with Mr. Brown while others are studying Latin, but to work alongside the rest of the school as much as possible.
Oct. 15th. Instruction on St. Gerard after Night Prayers, and his Relic given to be kissed.
Oct. 31st. Bret. Radclyffe to go on into 2nd Class, Edw. Southworth put back into 3rd.
Nov. 2nd. Rector sent to Bath by order of Dr. Page.
Nov. 25th. Return from Bath.
Nov. 29th. James Quinn appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 9th. 200 copies of Cause of the 11 Bishops with Answers to Objections received from Oliver & Boyd.
Dec. 15th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day, 22 boys gone.
Dec. 26th. Going home day for Minors. Local boys (Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington etc.) allowed home for this day only, returning at night.
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Jan. 7th. Return day. Three boys delayed by mumps, one more a suspected case.
Jan. 15th. Order for Feast of Holy Name and Holy Infant of Prague. President officiated.
Feb. 1st. Rector in bed with influenza.
Feb. 26th. Dinner in Parlour for first time after illness.
Feb. 27th, 28th. Junior play
Robinson Crusoe. Dormitory bell at 6.45 on following mornings to give a little more sleep.
Mar. 2nd. Studies off given by President for play, as it had been prepared entirely in play time.
Mar. 9th. Wrote to Cardinal Merry del Val.
Mar. 10th. Revised statement of
“Cause of the 11 Bishops with answers to objections” sent out to those Bishops who had not yet received it.
Mar. 12th. Instruction by Dr. Towers on need of frequent and daily Communion.
Mar. 19th. Pope’s name day. Boys asked to offer their Communion for the Pope’s intention, and to pray for his independence.
Apr. 2nd – 7th. Exams for all classes.
Apr. 8th. Requiem for Bishop Wilkinson.
Apr. 9th. Retreats began. Seniors led by Fr. Jackson CSSR, Juniors Rev. G. Knuckey. Ern. Wilkinson appointed to read.
Apr. 13th. Maundy Thursday. Bishop empowered Mr. Knuckey to give the Papal Blessing. Stations at 8.30, also on Good Friday.
Apr. 28th. Arthur McCormack appointed Sacristan.
May 11th. Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Morning and evening Devotions at St. Innocent’s altar.
May 13th. High Philosophers’ Church History paper, deferred from last Easter owing to Rector’s illness.
June 17th. Retreat for Confirmandi began at 5 PM.
June 18th. Confirmation in St. Aloysius’. Boys confirmed John Kelly, John Leaming, A. Forkin, Jos. Vokes, Nat. Dunne, Bret. Radcliffe, John Corboy, O. Moody, F. Holland, Mich. W. O’Connell, Ch. Rogerson, T. Chadwick, W. Carins, J. Carins. None
now left unconfirmed. Godfather, Rev. Rob. Corbishley.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Pontifical High Mass sung by the Bishop.
June 22nd. Coronation of King George V. High Mass at 8.30, Te Deum at Benediction. Boys given eggs for breakfast and “an extra good dinner – strawberries etc.”. Extra week of vacation announced, and Coronation
playday on the 23rd.
June 26th. Next year’s responsibilities for Minors. Low Figures Mr. J. Morrissey, I Class John Kavanagh, II Class Mr. Mich. Brown, Math. Thomas Carroll, French Mr. Adamson, Study Place initially Mr. E. Wilkinson, Sacristy Mr. Hothersall.
July 2nd. Usual instruction to write home asking for railway fare and 5/- over for sundries.
July 3rd. High Phils’ Church History paper: Birkhauser’s 2nd Period, 2nd Epoch. July 9th. Feast of Relics, Rector celebrant. July 10th. Philosophers’ Prize Paper on St. Bede’s History: 5 competitors. Low Figures and I Class Latin Prize
Papers.
July 16th – 21st. Exams for all classes.
July 22nd. Mr. J. Cavanagh appointed to Dormitory.
July 23rd. P. Bennett, C. Higgins and E. McManus to progress into Low Figures. Fran. Carr, J. Whinham, Thom. Taylor turned back in I Class.
July 31st. Beginning of diocesan Clergy Retreat. Printed Horarium loosely inserted.
Sept. 23rd. Return day. 28 new boys. Sept. 24th. Mr. Nick Brown appointed Subprefect.
Sept. 26th. Retreats began. Senior led by Fr. Nicholson CSSR, Junior Fr. Jeanrenaud. Reader Mr. Ern. Wilkinson.
Oct. 1st. Ordinations. Mr. Henry Smith appointed to III Class.
Oct. 2nd. Bishops arrived for meeting. Rector to take High Phils. for St. Bede 10.15-11 Mondays and Fridays. Some history of the Reformation to be studied in third quarter if possible.
Oct. 3rd. Bishops unanimously adopted the Cause of the Eleven Bishops. Bishop of Middlesbrough to write to the Archbishop to that effect.
Oct. 6th. Playday for Bishop Cowgill.
Oct. 15th. Led Devotions after night prayers on eve of St. Gerard.
Oct. 16th. Votive Mass for St. Gerard.
Nov. 2nd. Brief order for All Souls’ Day.
Nov. 23rd. Eric Dawes appointed Sacristan. Change to cleaning regime – Butler and other servants would be allowed to clean only in the afternoons, 3.15 to 7, with a break in the middle when Sacristans take tea, as soon as possible after 5.
Nov. 24th. Dr. Towers gone home to rest – “nerves out of order”.
Dec. 3rd. Beginning of weekly Instruction by Rector on Sundays in Advent.
Dec. 14th. Catechism exams, except Low Figures on 17th.
Dec. 18th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 22nd. Going home day for lay students.
Dec. 25th. Devotions before the Crib at Night Prayers.
Dec. 26th. Local boys allowed home for the day, to be back by 9PM at latest. Minors all gone home for the vacation: Messrs. Manby, Baines, Molony and McElroy to stand in.
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UC/AA6/4/26 10 January - 23 December 1912
Jan. 10th. President’s Feast.
Jan. 11th. Return day. J. Leeming and P. Adamson delayed by illnesses.
Jan. 14th. Feast of Holy Name and Infant of Prague, with brief order.
Jan. 15th. Philip Bennett diagnosed with scarletina. No further cases mentioned.
Jan. 17th. I Class Latin explaining repeated – did better than at examinations.
Jan. 20th. Three gone to Liverpool to be ordained.
Jan. 21st. Ordination of two Priests, four Deacons, one Subdeacon.
Feb. 4th. Cyril German given Last Sacraments.
Feb. 7th. Death of Cyril German. Funeral at 10 AM on the 10th.
Feb. 17th. Rehearsal of Robin Hood at 3. Rector stayed for first hour before hearing Confessions.
Feb. 19th. Junior play Robin Hood performed. Repeated on 20th.
Feb. 25th. Gave instruction on Our Lord’s fasting and temptations. Quarant Ore deferred for a week.
Mar. 3rd. Instruction on Quarant Ore by Dr. Towers. Usual Exposition in St. Aloysius’ on the 4th.
Mar. 10th. Decree Quam Singulari read in St. Cuthbert’s after High Mass.
Mar. 11th. Philip Bennett allowed amongst the boys again after supposed scarletina.
Mar. 12th. St. Gregory the Great – Grand Benediction.
Mar. 18th. Benediction for triduum of St. Joseph. Grand Benedictions on 19th and 20th.
Mar. 19th. Cat struck out for Juniors. College begun already, on 14th.
Mar. 21st, 24th. Catechism exams.
Mar. 25th – 29th. Exams for all classes.
Mar. 27th. Decided Thomas Foyer and Peter Bordas should cease to be Church students.
Mar. 31st. Retreats began. Senior led by Fr. Alexius, Capuchin from Oxford: Junior by Fr. Priaxe [? - smudged], Redempt. Reader Mr. John Cavanagh.
Apr. 5th. Good Friday. Servants in retreat. Kissing of Relic of True Cross at 8.30, then Stations.
Apr. 11th. Peter Bordas, given up as a Church student by the Bishop of Middlesbrough, to remain as a lay student.
Apr. 14th. Austin Fee put into Low Figures.
May 2nd. Will. Rigby appointed Sacristan. Petition to fix the Douai Martyrs’ Feast on Oct. 29th sent to Rome by the Bishop.
May 11th, 12th. Eve and Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Devotions at St. Innocent’s altar on both days.
May 26th. Whit Sunday. May Procession and Benediction, Bishop officiating.
June 1st. St. Philip Neri. Relics exposed morning and evening, Bendiction in St. Cuthbert’s.
June 9th. Began Instruction for Confirmandi, at 6.50 in own room. Rector and Dr. Towers to alternate in taking them.
June 16th. Feast of the Sacred Heart. Benediction in St. Cuthbert’s, with Act of Consecration ordered by the Pope.
June 20th. Retreat for Confirmandi began.
June 21st. Seventeen boys confirmed: Gab. Redmond (High Figures), H. Southworth, Per. Mills, Ch. Dunne, John Featherstone, Eric Brown, Cuth. Findlay, Ger. Clifford, John Coyle, Geo. Phillips, Ger. Finch, Merv. Morgan, Geo. Morgan, Rob. Moody, Leo
Corboy, James Sullivan, Anth. Robinson. None now unconfirmed.
July 7th. Boys asked as usual to write for 5/- more than their fares home, to cover luggage, food etc.
July 8th. Began Novena “for a blessing on studies and Examinations”. Philosophers given paper on Birkhauser, pages 533 – 663.
July 9th. Eight of nine Philosophers sat the paper, and half gained less than a third of the marks available.
July 12th. Philosophers’ Prize Paper on Ven. Bede. President decided that all should have to sit the Prize Paper, taking the view that those who did badly on Birkhauser were trying to avoid it.
July 14th. Feast of the Relics – Devotions at St. Innocent’s altar, then Benediction.
July 16th. Minors’ roles for 1912-13. Low Figures Mr. J. Morrissey, I Class Mr. J. Cavanagh, II Class Mr. N. Brown, III Class (if enough boys) Mr. H. Smith, Math. and Dormitory Rob. Milroy, French James Pollock, Study Place Mr. E. Wilkinson. Mr.
McElroy and Mr. Adamson advanced to Divinity.
July 19th, 21st Catechism exams.
July 22nd – 26th Exams for all classes.
July 27th. Cyr. Walmsley and Cecil Hindhaugh turned back. John Carins unfit for I Class but advanced nonetheless, after two years in II Class. Church students dropped: T. Fayer, P. Leach, J. Featherstone, John Watson, Will. Carins, John Carins,
Rud. Hindhaugh and Cec. Hindhaugh. July 30th. Special Prizes awarded.
Aug. 1st. Going home day. Community Mass at 5.50, breakfast 6.30.
Aug. 5th. Start of Clergy Retreat. Horarium loosely inserted.
Sept. 21st. Return day. 86 Juniors including three delayed: A. Tornquist mumps, Ger. Finch whooping cough, J. Kennedy broken arm.
Sept. 24th. Retreats began. Senior Fr. John McMullen CSSR, Junior Fr. Hugh Pope OP. Timetable revised, as Fr. Pope arrived late after a missed connection.
Sept. 28th. Junior Retreat ended with sung Litany.
Sept. 30th. Both sets of Philosophers addressed by President on rules etc.
Oct. 2nd. Bret. Radclyffe to be prepared for Naval Cadetship exam in December. Last year’s exam papers obtained and given to the Minors who were to teach him.
Oct. 3rd. Mr Hodson to continue Arithmetic with the less able boys in Low Figures, whom he had taken when they were in I Class – J. Whinham, G. Welsh, T. Taylor, J. Forrest, P. Bordas, F. Holland, T. Chadwick. Rest of Low Figures to study
Arithmetic under Mr. Milroy.
Oct. 7th. Dr. Wheatley to take the two Leonards for German on Mondays and Fridays.
Oct. 13th. Gave instruction on Blessed Sacrament, Communion and watching, and spoke about Archconf. of Blessed Sacrament. 12 or 14 boys enrolled in the Archconf., and their names given to the President.
Oct. 14th. Circular from Bishop announced that the Prayer of Pope Leo to Our Lady was only to be said on Sundays, not on weekdays. Special prayers for the Conversion of England ordered for the second Sunday of the month.
Oct. 16th St. Gerard’s Day, here Feast of Maternity BVM, with order.
Nov. 2nd. All Souls’, with order. Nov. 25th. Bret. Radclyffe gone to London for Navy examinations.
Nov. 28th. John Coyle appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 1st. Could not give Instruction, as voice lost through bad cold. First day of skating.
Dec. 8th. Immaculate Conception. Rector celebrant, as President away.
Dec. 16th – 23rd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 23rd. Going home day – 32 boys gone.
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Jan. 8th. President’s Feast. Jan. 9th. Return day after Christmas vacation.
Jan. 19th. Gave instruction on Holy Name. Feast transferred to next day.
Jan. 31st. Rehearsal, for cast only, of play
Carrier Pigeon. Boys not involved, around 30, studied under Mr. Kavanagh.
Feb. 3rd. Play
Carrier Pigeon. Repeated on 4th.
Feb. 9th. Dr. Towers gave instruction on Quarant Ore, as Rector too unwell.
Feb. 11th. Benediction on Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Feb. 16th. Instruction by Rector on Death. Weekly Instruction continued on Sundays through Lent.
Mar. 6th and 9th. Juniors’ Catechism exams.
Mar. 7th. Philosophers’ paper delayed until about a month after Easter, as the quarter had been short.
Mar. 10th – 15th. Exams for all classes.
Mar. 16th. Retreats began. Seniors led by Fr. Albert, Capuchin of Olton: Junior by Rev. Aloysius Johnson.
Mar. 17th. Revised morning order for retreats, as breakfast was being delayed by the number of Communions.
Mar. 20th. Short instruction by Rector, and Papal Blessing in virtue of faculty from Apostolic Union.
Mar. 21st. Good Friday. Exposition of Relic of True Cross.
Apr. 25th. Shortened Litany of Saints, with prayers following, said in English in St. Aloysiu “s’. It doesn’t seem the best thing to ignore the Litanies altogether”.
Apr. 28th, 29th, 30th. Litany of Saints, as on 25th, said instead of morning prayers.
May 1st. George Phillips of I Class appointed Sacristan.
May 4th. Announced Special Prizes. Three each for Low Figures, I and II Class for highest Midsummer marks in Latin, French and Maths. III Class one prize for highest in English and Arithmetic, same in Low Figs. and I Class, and a Testament
prize.
May 11th. Whit Sunday. Relics for Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina exposed at Mass. Benediction in St. Aloysius’ with the Bishop’s leave.
June 1st. Boys forbidden to leave study books in the ambulacrum, except during the half hours, as great damage had been done them. Books were to be left in classrooms or the Study Place at all other times.
June 15th. Gave instruction on Jubilee. Six Visits to St. Aloysius’ to be made, nightly until the 20th, with the Bishop’s sanction.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius: Jubilee Communion.
July 6th. Boys told to write for journey money with 5/- over as usual. Boxes, parcels etc. to Ushaw Moor station rather than Witton.
July 7th. Began Novena for blessing on Studies and Exams.
July 10th. Minors’ responsibilities for 1913-14. Low Figures Mr. Geo. Brunner, I Class Mr. Jos. Howard, II Class Mr. James Fallon, III Class Mr. Henry Smith, Math. Mr. Rob. Milroy, French Mr. James Pollock, Study Place Mr. John Moloney.
July 11th. Note of Grand Week revisions to the above. Mr. Jos. Howard to take Low Figures, as G. Brunner’s health very uncertain. Mr. V. Nickson, I Class and Dormitory Master. Mr. H. Smith to begin his Divinity – there may not be a III Class,
“and he has taught III Class long enough”.
July 14th. Philosophers’ Prize Paper on Ven. Bede, sat by all High Phils:
“Trace the sources from which each kingdom of the Heptarchy received its Christianity; with proofs that in each case the supremacy of the Holy See was recognised””.
July 17th-18th, 20th-25th. Exams for all classes.
July 23rd. Francis Pickering told that he must do better next quarter, or be dropped by Bishop or at least turned back.
July 24th. Rowland Atkinson to stay back.
July 28th. Minors forbidden to go to their Parlour after Night Prayers unless with special leave, in view of “great abuses, late suppers etc.”. Singing and piano playing after Night Prayers forbidden, also the
wearing of golf jackets instead of cassocks. “Great abuses” also found by Procurator re. Divines sleeping in the Infirmary during Grand Week.
Sept 20th. Return day. 57 old boys returned, 23 new boys arrived, so 80 Juniors in all.
Sept. 22nd. No new boys have “more than the mere beginning” of Latin. 19 assigned to II Class, 4 to III Class. Mr. Will Doyle to be III Class Master after the retreat, Mr. Milroy appointed Subprefect.
Sept. 23rd. Retreats began. Seniors led by Fr. Rossalll CSSR, Juniors by Fr. MacCabe CSSR, Mr. Molony appointed Reader.
Sept. 29th. Playday for new Prefect. Bishops, except Bp. of Shrewsbury, arrived for meeting.
Oct. 1st. Bishop’s resolutions: Tuesdays and Thursdays to have normal school day mornings. Course to be shortened by a year – High Figures to be in Junior House after the 1914 vacation, Low Figures to remain, then Underlow to combine present I
and II Class, III Class unchanged. During transition, each school to be gradually pushed toward doing some of the work of the school above it.
Oct. 5th. Spoke at Rosary Tickets about the pending rearrangement of the schools.
Oct. 16th. Feast of St. Gerard observed, with exposure of relic during Mass.
Nov. 2nd. Rector in bed from a chill. Dr. Towers gave Instruction on praying for the dead
Dec. 3rd. Leo Landreth appointed Sacristan, and told that he need not go to choir practices: choir master Mr. Bonney had “seemed not to object”.
Dec. 7th. Public Ordination and High Mass.
Dec. 8th. Immaculate Conception: Procession and Benediction in St. Aloysius’.
Dec. 11th. Catechism exam for I, II, III Class.
Dec. 14th. Gave instruction on Prayer. Spoke at Rosary Tickets about cutting names on class room desks.
Dec. 15th. Church History paper for High Philosophers, on Birkhauser, Boniface VIII to Magna Carta.
Dec. 17th – 22nd. Exams for all classes.
Dec. 19th. I Class Latin and Greek. “Several very poor & idle, who did badly” – only perhaps 6 or 7 with any hope of entering High Figures at end of year.
Dec. 22nd. II Class Latin – so bad that they would have to be examined again before exam playday granted. French and Math. better.
Dec. 23rd. Going away day. Supper after Night Prayers allowed to the Minors who had put up the Crib.
Dec. 25th. Rector said three Masses at midnight in own room. Devotions to Crib at Night Prayers.
Dec. 26th. Divines taking Minors’ responsibilities during vacation: Mr. J. Adamson Sacristy, Subprefect, Low Figures. I Class Mr. D. Lucey, II Class Mr. J. McKenna, III Class Mr. John Thompson.
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Jan. 1st. Visit to Crib at 7, play performed in Gym after supper. Play repeated on 4th, 5th, 6th.
Jan. 7th. Took over work of Mr. Morrissy, who had contracted influenza. This to include arranging for around 30 newcomers, including “war returns”.
Jan. 8th. President’s Feast, with play in evening.
Jan. 9th. End of Christmas vacation. Many boys very late on account of railway delays. New in Sem., P. and M. Charlton and T. Power.
Jan. 14th. New boys examined. Geo. Empson to go to College.
Jan. 15th. 12 new desks arrived for Study Place. Four old ones being moved to College, leaving increased total of 100 in Study Place.
Jan. 17th. Fred Bamber put back to Underlow at his own suggestion.
Jan. 20th. Mr. Godfrey returned to Ushaw as Professor, to take one year of Philosophers when the years are separate again, but in the meantime taking a division of High Figures. This released Mr. Cunningham to replace Mr. Meyer in Sem., allowing
Mr. Meyer to concentrate on his theology, though he would still live in the Junior School and act as Bounds master.
Jan. 26th. George Baines advanced to Low Figures. Recent arrival Th. Power turned back from Low Figures to Underlow.
Feb. 4th. Oswald Gibson turned back to Underlow.
Feb. 8th. Skating began, with morning studies off. Mr. Corbishley ill in bed.
Feb. 22nd. Diarmuid Scammell and John Morris arrived.
Feb. 28th. Sem. play rehearsal at 3 PM, with studies off until 7 for those involved.
Mar. 1st. J. Moody returned after appendicitis.
Mar. 3rd. Cock Vac., and sudden influenza outbreak. Sem. play put off and 20 Juniors sent to Infirmary joining three already there.
Mar. 4th. 14 more influenza cases, Infirmary overflowing into dormitory. Mr. Meyer in bed in his room.
Mar. 5th – 6th. 14 further cases of influenza. Stations dropped on 5th (Ash Wednesday) as so many were absent, studies off on 6th with healthy boys sent out for walks at doctor’s suggestion.
Mar. 7th. Only one new influenza case, several recovering. 47 cases among Juniors in the past week, out of the total of 96 boys present.
Mar. 13th. George Spencer (High Figures) died of pneumonia.
Mar. 15th. Requiem and funeral of George Spencer.
Mar. 17th. St. Patrick’s Day. Studies off in afternoon, Divines given morning off too in return for their nursing work during ‘flu outbreak.
Mar. 18th. Rev. J. Sullivan returned from Rome, joining the staff to teach a class of Syntaxians and Poets. Mr. J. Clifford, formerly taking Syntax,, given a division of I Underlow.
Mar. 21st . J. Colgan gone home as mother ill.
Mar. 22nd. Return of Mr. Corbishley. C. Turner arrived, making 100 boys currently on Ushaw’s list.
Mar. 24th. Quarant Ore exposition in St. Aloysius’. Two more new boys, both Belgians.
Mar. 26th. Went to Newcastle to give lecture on Socialism.
Apr. 7th. Went to Preston until Friday 11th, with lectures finished for the quarter.
Apr. 13th. Retreats began. Rev. A. Johnson in Sem., Fr. McCarthy (Servite) in Senior House.
Apr. 14th. Arrival of two new boys, who followed the exercises of the retreat but were given the use of a small room with one playfellow where they could talk.
Apr. 20th. Easter Sunday. Mr. Corbishley spoke at Mass, Rector said Mass at Langley Park.
Apr. 21st. F. Dawson taken ill with appendicitis and sent home. Mr. Corbishley went away. Four deacons, a subdeacon and some minor orders ordained by Bishop of Leeds.
Apr. 24th. Mr. C. and Mr. W, Clifford gone home as their brother was seriously ill.
Apr. 27th. Mr. G. Marshall and Mr. Meyer appointed to look after Underlow while the Cliffords were away.
Apr. 30th. To London, representing President on Committee of Head Masters, considering scheme of Apologetics and Christian Doctrine for secondary schools.
May 2nd. Back from London.
May 3rd. L. Ferris appointed Sacristan.
May 7th. Fr. Woodcock SJ delivered lecture on Lourdes.
May 8th. Jh. Finnegan gone home, probably unable to continue at Ushaw because of chronic rheumatism.
May 11th, 12th. Sem. play in evening, postponed from Cock Vac..
May 21st. Requiem for those fallen in War, and a playday in honour of those who had returned.
May 29th. Ascension Day. 36 boys publicly enrolled in Brown Scapular.
June 7th. Mr. Corbishley gone to German camp at Catterick.
June 11th. Cleaning day for Sacristans. They were seen playing tennis from 4.30, after working during the Hour to finish early, a laxity that must not be repeated.
June 21st. High Mass (President) at 8.30. Farce produced in the Hall by Low Figures after supper, without asking permission: Rector only heard indirectly.
July 2nd. J. Wilson, a Philosopher, died unexpectedly, after diagnosis of rheumatic fever with endocarditis the day before.
July 5th. Requiem and funeral for J. Wilson.
July 13th. Preached at unveiling of war memorial in Esh. July 19th. Peace Day. All allowed out after night prayers to watch bonfires and fireworks. Strike on NER causing anxiety about availability of trains for going home.
July 24th. Boys left for vacation. Rector left on 25th.
Sept. 17th. Rector returned to Ushaw.
Sept. 18th. Return day for boys.
Sept. 19th. Several boys not returning or doubtful, so a few bed places free.
Sept. 20th. Fall of snow. Joe Langton put into quarantine on news of measles at home.
Sept. 21st. John Dix also quarantined, as scarlet fever reported at his home.
Sept. 23rd. Retreat began, led by Rev. Ch. Hayes. A college retreat had begun on the 19th for a few returned from the war, with preacher Fr. J. Reeves OP.
Sept. 24th. New boy Thomas d’Aguiar. Given permission to speak to his playfellows during retreat, but not to others.
Sept. 27th. End of junior retreat. Boys to number 109 once the two who were missing (one new, one old) arrived. Current staff – Prefect, Mr. R. Baybutt: Study Place, Mr. Meyer: 1st div. High Figures, Mr. B. Whiteside: 1st div. Low Figures, Dr.
Hart: 2nd div. Low Figures, Mr. Skehan: 1st Underlow, Mr. Cunningham for now. For French, Low Figs. to Mr. Campbell and Underlow to Mr. Kennedy: for Maths, Low Figs. to Mr. T. Dunne and Underlow to Mr. Heaney.
Sept. 28th. End of college retreat. Bishop should have been present for ordinations, but prevented by general railway strike.
Oct. 1st. Sacristans had day cleaning the silver.
Oct. 4th. J. Langton out of quarantine.
Oct. 11th. J. Dix out of quarantine.
Oct. 13th. Bishops arrived for their meeting, postponed from a fortnight ago because of the railway strike.
Oct. 14th. Jas. Hardy diagnosed with measles.
Oct. 15th. Cadet Corps abandoned on instructions from Rome.
Oct. 16th. President authorised by Bishops to allow smoking for higher Bounds on certain conditions.
Oct. 17th. Benediction at 8.30 because of a shortage of gas.
Oct. 23rd. Boys reminded of the necessity of reasonable thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
Oct. 24th. Second case of measles, Eric Coudron. Several boys now in infirmary, and colds widespread.
Oct. 25th. Sem. play,
Dick Whittington, to be attempted, with Mr. Cunningham in general charge and Mr. Kennedy seeing to the music.
Oct. 26th. Dr. Hart confined to bed with feverish cold, Mr. Skehan taking both divisions of Low Figures in his absence.
Oct. 30th. Now eight cases of measles in Sem., and one in College.
Nov. 1st. Breakfast now to be at same time on Sundays and holy days as on ordinary days. Nov. 2nd. Mr. Corbishley ordered by doctor not to say Mass for a fortnight. Mr. Dunne to Sem. in the meantime.
Nov. 11th. Armistice Day: heavy snow. Two minutes’ silence and recollection at 11.00 as requested by the King, then some prayers.
Dec. 4th. Last measles case dismissed from infirmary.
Dec. 5th. Ed. Hodgson appointed Sacristan.
Dec. 15th. Rector gone away for change before Christmas.
Dec. 23rd. Rector returned. Boys going home had left on the 22nd.
Dec. 24th. Usual Christmas Eve – boys to bed after prayers at 5 PM, rising at 9. Dec. 26th. Local boys allowed home for the day.
Dec. 31st. Community Mass in Sem. said by Fr. Wilfrid Fitzgibbon, visiting.
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Jan. 1st. Low Mass said by President at 10, as nobody was available to play organ for High Mass.
Jan. 2nd. Concert and short play in Gymnasium.
Jan. 5th. Private Secretary performed at night. Play in Gym in afternoon.
Jan. 7th. President’s Feast.
Jan. 8th. End of vacation. Mr. Heaney had left: Mr. Skehan now to take Maths, Mr. W. Clifford taking over 2nd division Low Figures. Mr. Blenkin taking place of Mr. Whiteside until his return.
Jan. 9th. Two new boys, A. and W. Lane. L. Barr and A. Macdonald moved up to Low Figures. Sacristans allowed to leave Study Place at 12.30 to remove holly from the chapel.
Jan. 14th. To Newcastle to give lecture, staying at Dunston overnight.
Jan. 18th. Devotions at the Crib, not yet taken down.
Jan. 28th. Mr. McGough away on sick leave, Mr. Blenkin taking charge of II Underlow and Dormitory.
Feb. 8th – 13th. Rector mostly confined to bed by rheumatic pain.
Feb. 11th. Mr. Corbishley went away after hearing of death of his brother Sydney.
Feb. 16th. Rector now in hardly any pain, but right leg lame. Sem. play
Whittington & his Cat, repeated on 17th.
Feb. 21st. J. Langton gone home on account of scabies.
Feb. 26th. Mr. McGough returned.
Mar. 1st. Quarant Ore exposition, brief note only.
Mar. 23rd. Lectured in Newcastle.
Mar. 28th. Retreats began: Junior led by Fr. Gordon CSSR, College by Fr. Green OSB.
Mar. 31st – Apr. 29th. The two Lanes gone to see their father, returned from India after several years.
Apr. 2nd. Good Friday. Passion sermon by Fr. Gordon. Apr. 3rd. To Langley Moor to supply for Fr. Parker, who was ill. Apr. 5th. Returned from Langley Moor. Some boys had been away for the week, some others allowed to Durham for the day.
Orchestral concert in Hall at 8PM.
May 1st. Neil Grimes diagnosed with scarlet fever – at least six cases already in College. Two more Juniors being watched.
May 4th. Rector began a series of short talks at first prayers, to continue for now on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beginning with the Blessed Sacrament, in the hope of improving preparation for and thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
May 10th. Now 10 cases of scarlet fever in College, and 2 juniors.
May 14th. F. Newman died after short illness, malignant scarlet fever.
May 15th. Requiem for F. Newman. Funeral “quite privately” at 3 PM.
May 17th. Great anxiety over M. Ryan (Grammar), whose scarlet fever had struck suddenly as for F. Newman. Local Medical Officer present, advising as much time in open air as possible for all. Contact between College and Sem. to be reduced as far
as possible during the outbreak.
May 18th. Death of M. Ryan.
May 19th. Bishop attended to confirm ten boys.
May 20th. Requiem for M. Ryan followed immediately by private burial.
May 26th – 31st. Four more cases of scarlet fever. Several parents now asking for their boys to be sent home for fear of the disease. “Our policy is to allow a truthful state of affairs to be made to parents, but I am
stopping alarmist reports & urgent requests”.
June 6th. A nurse, Sr. Dolores, sent to Newcastle for an immediate operation for appendicitis.
June 9th. J. Clarkson to be taken home after two days of seizures, considered epileptic.
June 13th. Preached at Newhouse, on the unveiling of memorial window.
June 14th. Leo Barr returned after long absence through eye trouble.
June 21st. St. Aloysius. President sang High Mass.
June 27th – 28th. M. Thorpe (Grammar) and L. Ferris diagnosed with scarlet fever, more than four weeks since the last case.
June 28th. T. O’Connor went home, having become extremely nervous through scruples.
June 29th. Ordination of five priests at public Low Mass.
June 30th. Playday given at doctor’s suggestion.
July 11th. High Mass, and exposition in honour of B. Oliver Plunket and for peace in Ireland.
July 15th. Last hour off to be given to those who would not receive a third Biggin Day. President related the decision that, when a third round of Biggin Days could not be completed, Sem. rather than Syntax should begin the round.
July 16th. Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Enrolled several boys in Brown Scapular.
July 18th. Readings up. Term ending a week early, as scarlet fever had forced the cancellation of Grand Week.
July 20th. Prize Day. High Mass and evening Benediction.
July 21st Boys left. Rector left later in the day.
Sept. 15th. Rector returned.
Sept. 16th. Boys returned. Numbers a little under 100, with High Figures all in Sem..
Sept. 17th. Breakdown of classes: 35 in High Figures under Mr. Whiteside, 34 (probably 1 more to come) in Low Figures under Dr. Hart and Mr. Nathaniel Dunne: 20 in 1st Underlow, master Mr. Fr. McGuinness: 5 (a 6th to come) in 2nd Underlow under
Mr. McGough. Maths, Mr. Skehan: French divided between Rev. L. Campbell, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. N. Dunne; Study Place Mr. Meyer. Sept. 20th. Some playfellows going out without the new boys assigned to them. A proclamation against this to be made next
year.
Sept. 21st . Retreats began: Dr. Geo. Wheatley taking Juniors.
Sept. 26th. Public ordination.
Sept. 27th. Playday for the Pope, who had sent an autographed message of thanks for an address on the 50th anniversary of Def. of Papal Infallibility. Bishops arrived for their annual meeting.
Sept. 29th. Gerard Collingwood diagnosed with scarlet fever.
Sept. 30th. E. Witherspoon to leave, as he had abandoned thoughts of the priesthood. Oct. 1st. Annual High Mass for health.
Oct. 5th. O. Corboy advanced from 1st Underlow to Low Figs.
Oct. 6th. Rob. Cahy with scarlet fever.
Oct. 7th. Francis Travis to leave – “does not settle down & it would seem that he ought not to have been sent to college” ”.
Oct. 10th. A. Wickwar to leave, as did not want to become a priest.
Oct. 16th. General coal strike began. Aristotes to save fuel – school to begin at 9.30 (Oct. 18th entry) - and night prayers or benediction at 8.30. A. McCabe with scarlet fever.
Oct. 17th. A. Pippet found to have scarlet fever.
Oct. 25th. Double aristote for gas economy on return to normal time. R. Redmond with scarlet fever.
Oct. 31st. A. Coia scarlet fever.
Nov. 2nd. All Souls. Aristotes abandoned for the day, order as in other years.
Nov. 3rd. Jas. Shields moved up to Low Figs..
Nov. 7th. Geof. Kershaw diagnosed with German measles, W. Costello with mumps.
Nov. 11th. Armistice Day. Bell rung at about 10.53 to summon all to the chapel: Litany of Our Lady and De Profundis said. No further study in the morning.
Nov. 22nd. Benediction at 7, concert at 8 PM.
Nov. 28th. Gave instruction,
“Honour as feature of Spirit of Ushaw”. Dec. 12th. Instruction on Thoughtlessness, with special reference to Prayers and Holy Communion.
Dec. 14th. Last sacraments given to J. Cullen, in consequence of scarlet fever with danger of meningitis. With disease still raging, many were let home immediately for Christmas.
Dec. 16th. J. Cullen much better, but three new cases of scarlet fever and more of influenza. Parents of boys with ‘flu being told their departure will be delayed. General state of upset & uncertainty.
Dec. 17th. Senior house emptying fast through early Christmas departures to avoid sicknesses. Divines’ exams cancelled by President.
Dec. 20th. General departure of remaining lay boys. Fewer than 20 remaining in Sem., but many in Infirmary.
Dec. 21st. Kept busy making arrangements for early departures of healthy boys and delayed departures for the sick.
Dec. 22nd. Rector left for Christmas. A few boys were still at Ushaw waiting for journey money, and the two Lane boys could not go back to Ireland in view of the state of the country.
Dec. 30th. Rector returned. 12 students in residence including the Lanes, Infirmary now empty, 6 convalescents in Sanatorium.
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Jan. 1st. Rector to act as chaplain at the Sanatorium on Sundays and holidays.
Jan. 11th. Boys returned, but many still away, and three, W. Coghlan, A. Parkinson and A. Smith, had gone down with scarlet fever during the vacation.
Jan. 12th. President’s Feast. Newcomer G. Storey.
Jan. 17th. The two divisions of Low Figs. to be united under Dr. Hart. Mr. N. Dunne now taking French for the whole sem..
Jan. 28th. Greek playday. Death of Archbishop of Liverpool.
Feb. 1st. J. Moore arrived, new boy from Stanley.
Feb. 2nd. Feast of Purification. Ceremony 8.30 – 10.05, shorter than usual because of Gregorian Mass.
Feb. 7th. Cock Vacation. College play The Magistrate, repeated on 8th.
Feb. 9th. To bed with bronchial cold.
Feb. 12th. Gradual recovery, but contact with boys limited in view of risk of infection.
Feb. 14th. Usual Quarant Ore exposition in St. Aloysius’.
Feb. 21st. E. Laverty gone home on death of his brother – returned March 5th. Half playday as promised by President for when Divines’ exams were finished.
Mar. 5th F. Fitzpatrick scarlet fever.
Mar. 19th. To Langley Moor for confessions and Mass the next day.
Mar. 20th. Start of retreats. Juniors led by Fr. McCabe CSSR, College by Fr. Crank.
Mar. 28th. Several boys gone away for the week after Easter.
Apr. 5th. Transferred Feast of St. Cuthbert.
Apr. 6th. St. Cuthbert’s playday. Requiem at 8.30 for Mgr. Corbishley.
Apr. 8th. Students allowed out of school from 9.50 to 10.15 to view the solar eclipse.
Apr. 11th. Studies off given in afternoon, as fires were out on account of strike and the house “bitterly cold”.
Apr. 19th. Gas turned off through the house because of continuing coal shortage. Apr. 28th. Gerard Collingwood appointed Sacristan.
May 1st. Rogation Sunday: procession at 8.30 with President assisting. Rosary to said each day for Ireland.
May 4th. Return to normal times for supper etc..
May 11th. Order for Feast of SS. Bassus and Fabius.
May 14th. Rector to Whitby to see his brother, who had been there since April 27th through ill health. Returned to Ushaw on 17th.
May 29th. President considered Rector’s brother’s health too uncertain for him to continue as Prefect. Considering moving Mr. Baybutt from Sem. to College and appointing new Sem. Prefect, probably Mr. Gracey. June 3rd. President to make
arrangements for Mr. Gracey’s early ordination, to allow immediate change of Prefects.
June 6th – 8th. Rector to Whitby to see his brother and discuss his future plans in view of loss of Ushaw duties.
June 18th. Mr. Baybutt commenced College duties. Mr. Gracey to be Sem. Prefect from the 20th. June 19th. Mr. Jos. Marshall, Mr. Gracey and Mr. McLeary privately ordained by Bishop.
June 20th. Mr. Gracey said first Mass and took up duties of Sem. Prefect. Playday given.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, sung Mass by President. Playday on 22nd.
June 23rd. Going home day set at July 14th on account of the coal strike.
June 24th. Gerard Storey taken home with appendix trouble. June 26th. Return day to be Sept. 8th, allowing exactly eight weeks for the vacation.
July 4th. Start of examinations.
July 11th. St. Cuthbert’s Soc. Council met. Exams ended in the morning: afternoon off given.
July 12th. President agreed to Dr. Hart’s earnest request to be allowed to go on mission. “Reading up” at 12. July 13th. Bishop could not attend, so President sung High Mass and distributed prizes.
July 14th. Boys left. Rector staying until 18th. “Very tired”.
Sept. 7th. Rector returned.
Sept. 8th. Boys returned. New appointments: Mr. Meyer Sacristan, Mr. Bibby Dormitory, N. Dunne Sub-prefect.
Sept. 9th. 2nd Underlow to be abandoned, as it would only have contained two boys. Responsibilities: High Figures Mr. Whiteside, Low Figs. Mr. Bibby, Underlow Mr. McGuinness, Maths Mr. O. Whitaker, French Mr. N. Dunne, Study Place Mr. Meyer.
Sept. 10th. Arranged with President that Mr. Kennedy, to be Bounds Master and responsible for singing, would receive a vacant room. Rector gave all his penitents opportunity of confession, as he was leaving for Preston until the 15th, to be the
MC at consecration of English Martyrs’ Church there.
Sept. 15th. Rector returned at night.
Sept. 16th. Robert Preston diagnosed with diphtheria.
Sept. 20th. Retreats began. Sem. led by Fr. Jas. Nicholson SJ, College by Fr. Jos. Davidson CSSR.
Sept. 28th. Arrival of Bishops for annual meeting, excepting Salford who was ill.
Sept. 30th. Playday in honour of the new Archbishop of Liverpool.
Oct. 2nd. Rector to look after Mgr. Broadhead’s work while he took vacation.
Oct. 3rd – 5th. . President decided Underlow should be divided again, requiring Mr. C. Cronin to return from College to be responsible for the second division, taking the room of Mr. Kennedy who would be moved into a small empty room.
Oct. 9th. Mr. Douglas Beaufort gave an entertainment in the Hall.
Oct. 17th. Whole house in front ambulacrum to welcome Cardinal Bourne, who gave an address in Hall and assisted at Benediction.
Oct. 18th. Cardinal Bourne said Mass for the Sem. boys, and left at 10 AM, with all assembled to see him off.
Oct. 24th. Mr. Whiteside to London to sit for his BA.
Nov. 2nd. All Souls’ Day arrangements as last year. Mgr. Broadhead returned, but went straight to bed with an attack of phlebitis: Rector to continue doing his work.
Nov. 3rd. President read Rector a letter from Dr. French, relating real danger in Procurator’s condition.
Nov. 11th. Juniors out on the pond for most of the morning, after several days of frost.
Nov. 27th. Gave instruction against hurrying away after Holy Communion.
Dec. 4th. Started public prayers for Mgr. Broadhead after a very bad report on his condition.
Dec. 5th. Mgr. Broadhead received Last Sacraments. Much better report on him later in the day.
Dec. 9th. Playday for Irish peace, “tho’ this seems far from certain”.
Dec. 20th – 21st. A few early Christmas departures, including three Irish boys.
Dec. 22nd. Lay boys went home.
Dec. 24th – 26th. Usual Christmas schedule. Rector at Ushaw until the 30th.
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Jan. 12th. Rector returned from Preston.
Jan. 16th. Return day. Carts sent to meet trains at Ushaw Moor and Aldin Grange, as thick snow kept buses off the roads.
Jan. 17th. Many boys still not arrived. ‘Flu raging in some parts of the country.
Jan. 18th. First morning of skating, but with frequent falls of snow.
Jan. 20th. Cuthbert Archard and Cuthbert Duffy with ‘flu. News received of the Pope’s grave illness.
Jan. 23rd. Now several cases of ‘flu, but none serious. Confirmation received that Pope Benedict XV died on the morning of the 22nd.
Jan. 24th. Requiem for the Pope. Still some boys returning.
Jan. 25th. ‘Flu cases beginning to leave the Infirmary.
Jan. 27th. Performance of A Pair of Spectacles.
Feb. 2nd. Purification: ceremony 8.30 to 10.15. Study, but no school.
Feb. 5th. Spoke on Confraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and took down many names for membership.
Feb. 14th. E. Scallon went home, as mother dying.
Feb. 27th. Cock Vac. Abraham Lincoln performed.
Feb. 28th. Shrove Tuesday: boys rose at 6.50 for Mass at 7.10. Play repeated at night. E. Scallon returned.
Mar. 3rd. S. Gilroy left.
Mar. 5th – 7th. Quarant Ore observed. Instruction given on 5th, exposition in Sem. on 6th.
Mar. 10th. A. Parkinson left.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Playday, with High Mass at 8.30. Beginning of Cat. Mar. 20th. Morning like an Aristote, as Summer Time began.
Apr. 9th. Palm Sunday. Retreats began: Rev. R. O. Bilsborrow taking Juniors, Fr. Evans CSSR in College.
Apr. 13th. Retreat ended in usual way. Blessing of Holy Oils.
Apr. 17th. 18 boys left for the week after Easter, A. Gray permanently.
Apr. 20th. Rector to College for Community Mass, as President had bad cold and others were away.
Apr. 25th Asking Down. A. Kirkby advanced from Underlow to Low Figs.
Apr. 30th. Cuthbert Duffy appointed Sacristan. Arranged for Life of General de Souis to be read at first prayers.
May 3rd. President’s Feast.
May 11th. Feast of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Visit to relics before Mass.
May 28th. All day Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament by order of the Pope, in union with Eucharistic Congress in Rome. Procession in Sem. at night.
May 29th – June 1st. Rector to St. Edmunds to represent President at Conference of Catholic Colleges.
June 7th. Surprise playday given, 10 until 7, at request of Cardinal Merry del Val, received through C. Walmsley, Censor, having attended the Eucharistic Congress in Rome.
June 19th. Anniversary of Dedication of St. Cuthbert’s. Decision taken after many years of uncertainty not to keep this feast in the Junior House, rather taking the feast of St. Aloysius as titular.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. High Mass sung by President, Mr. Corbishley in charge of music.
July 8th. Mr. Meyer entered retreat for ordination. Mr. Blenkin given Study Place for rest of year, and care of Sacristy from the 15th when Mr. Meyer leaves.
July 10th. Vincent Foley gone home.
July 15th. Departure of Mr. Meyer, for ordination next day at Mill Hill.
July 16th. 50 boys enrolled in Brown Scapular, and their names sent off.
July 27th. General departure. Rector also left to begin vacation.
Sept. 16th. End of vacation. Appointments: Mr. J. Quin - Dormitory, Mr. N. Dunne – Sub-Prefect, Mr. Bibby – Sacristan.
Sept. 17th. Letters at noon. 23 new boys examined: two divisions of Low Figures would be needed. Only 12 new boys for 1st Underlow.
Sept. 18th. Arrangements completed: 4 of last year’s boys staying in 1 Underlow. Full appointments: High Figs. Mr. J. Quin, Low Figs. I Mr. Bibby, Low Figs. II Mr. Roskell, Underlow I Mr. Hickey, Underlow II Mr.Burrow, Maths Mr. O. Whitaker,
French Mr. N. Dunne, Study Place Mr. R. Corboy. Sept. 19th. Retreats: Canon Burton in Sem., Fr. John Hary OSFC in College.
Sept. 22nd. Stations of Cross substituted for visit to Relics by Rector, to give better opportunity for confessions. Five old boys still not back at Ushaw, and one new boy delayed by sickness.
Sept. 23rd. End of junior retreat.
Sept. 24th. Ordinations at Ushaw. Rector at Ushaw Moor as supply.
Sept. 25th. Arrival of bishops, except Middlesbrough, for their annual meeting. W. Malone (High Figures) made Sacristan.
Oct. 9th. G. Wearden advanced to High Figures.
Oct. 15th. Began giving sermons to the maids.
Oct. 17th. New boy, A. Moran, arrived from Leeds.
Oct. 18th. Return of A. McCabe after sickness.
Oct. 27th. Several boys to Infirmary with bad throats and in some cases sickness. Thomas Ethrington proved to have scarlet fever, the beginning of an outbreak.
Oct. 29th. John Mitchel confirmed with scarlet fever on 28th Oct. 31st. B. Smith and C. Wilkinson with scarlet fever.
Nov. 8th J. Catterall scarlet fever.
Nov. 11th. David Quinlan to Infirmary with scarlet fever, the seventh case. Second nurse sent for, as the nursing sister was confined to bed with rheumatism and high temperature. Visits of brothers from College suspended.
Nov. 12th. Sister severely ill, and given last sacraments. J. Lawler (Poetry) thought ot have acute mastoid trouble.
Nov. 13th. Death of Sister Peter. J. Lawler removed to Newcastle by ambulance. Two new nurses met at Durham by Rector.
Nov. 14th. Sarsfield Kenny and Mr. Hickey with scarlet fever.
Nov. 15th. Requiem and funeral of Sister Peter. Boys sent to country while Sem. was fumigated – lost their way and came back very late.
Nov. 17th. G. Storey confirmed with scarlet fever – now 6 cases at Sanatorium, 5 in Infirmary.
Nov. 21st. A. Pippet with pleurisy.
Nov. 22nd. Concert in Hall at 8PM.
Nov. 27th. Death of Sarsfield Kenny following severe nasal haemorrhage.
Nov. 28th – 29th. Rector taking care of Mr. and Mrs. Kenny, arrived from Dunfermline
Nov. 30th. Body of Sarsfield Kenny taken home for burial after requiem at Ushaw.
Dec. 1st. Playday given, “nominally for Bp. Dobson who was consecrated yesterday, but more, perhaps, as a tonic”.
Dec. 3rd. H. Berry with scarlet fever.
Dec. 9th. Playday given for Sir Mark Sheldon, staying at Ushaw.
Dec. 11th. Five former scarlet fever patients left for home.
Dec. 14th – 15th. Rector to Dunfermline, taking S. Kenny’s possessions.
Dec. 21st. Lay boys went home, also Jas. Lawler who was in poor health.
Dec. 23rd. D. Quinlan, J. Ruddy and Mr. Hickey left for home after scarlet fever. Dec. 24th. Boys to bed at 5.20 PM without prayers.
Dec. 25th. Boys called at 9.30 rather than 9.00 as usual on Christmas Day.
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Jan. 15th. Rector back from vacation. Mr. Gracey in bed in College since Christmas, so unable to resume his work for some time.
Jan. 16th. Return of boys, but several absentees, including Mr. Hickey. Five new boys, including John Graham, “not a Catholic but his parents are very willing that he should be instructed & received into the
Church”.
Jan. 17th. Mr. Cronin to take charge of Underlow until return of Mr. Hickey.
Jan. 20th. A. Pippet back after illness.
Jan. 21st. M. Charlton turned back to Low Figures, and R. Maxwell and D. Ethrington to Underlow. A. Ord moved on to High Figs., and J. Lyons and L. Daly to Low Figs..
Jan. 26th. Spoke at last prayers about Bishop Collins, thought to be dying.
Jan. 31st. Two more Juniors returned, leaving 8 still away.
Feb. 4th. J. Graham turned back to II Underlow.
Feb. 12th, 13th. Daily Aristotes, Pinafore performed at night.
Feb. 19th. Quarant Ore. Exposition on the 19th with visits at 11.30 and 6.40.
Mar. 3rd. Return of Mr. Hickey, kept at home since Christmas by infection in the house.
Mar. 18th. Passion Sunday – instruction by Mr. Corbishley on St. Joseph and St. Cuthbert.
Mar. 19th. A. McCabe went home, on death of his father.
Mar. 24th. Lantern lecture on the Passion given by Fr. Woodlock SJ, who was to give the College retreat.
Mar.25th. Junior retreat led by Fr. Devas SJ.
Mar. 27th. Return of A. McCabe.
Mar. 30th. Good Friday. Passion Sermon, by Fr. Aherne CSSR who was giving retreat to the maids, was so long as to require Tenebrae to be postponed half an hour.
Apr. 1st. N. Irvine’s first Communion. Bishop of Leeds arrived for next day’s ordinations.
Apr. 2nd. Ordinations at 8.30: 2 priests (C. Marshall and A. Slack), 20 Subdeacons, 3 Minors.
Apr. 4th. A. Lane went away to see his parents lately back from India, and J. Linnell returned after being absent since Christmas.
Apr. 9th. E. Carroll back, absent since November.
Apr. 10th. G. Storey returned, Miles Clement arrived.
Apr. 13th. F. Pearson turned back to II Underlow.
Apr. 17th. Admiral Charlton arrived on a visit.
Apr. 18th. President’s Feast.
Apr. 19th. Lantern lecture by Admiral Charlton on the destruction of war material in Germany. He had been responsible for the naval side of the work.
Apr. 20th. Playday for Admiral Charlton at end of his visit. W. Spencer taken to Newcastle Infirmary after breaking his arm in falling from a tree in the Plantation. Mr. Gracey left for three weeks.
Apr. 22nd. J. Graham conditionally baptised, and made first confession.
Apr. 24th. Return of A. Smith after operation for adenoids and tonsil trouble.
May 4th. Rector in bed suffering from tonsillitis. T. Dawson (Low Figs.) starting as Sacristan. W. Spencer back from Newcastle Infirmary.
May 7th. Rector kept to his room, with meals taken to him.
May 9th. Play at night,
Ready Money.
May 11th. Return of Mr. Gracey.
May 14th – 17th Conference of Head Masters very successful.
May 23rd. W. Spencer gone home, as arm required special treatment: also H. Denney, needing extensive treatment for his teeth.
June 11th. H. Denney returned.
June 16th. First cases of ringworm diagnosed. Six isolated in Infirmary by the 19th, and a final two more on the 21st.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Parlour breakfast 7.55, President sang High Mass at 8.30.
June 26th. Mgr. Rooney sang a special High Mass in thanksgiving for his Golden Jubilee, kept on the 15th. P. McAloon went home for possible appendicitis operation.
July 5th. Six ringworm cases discharged from Infirmary.
July 24th. A number of boys confirmed by the Bishop of Leeds.
July 26th. Start of vacation.
Sept. 15th. End of vacation. Numbers not high, as almost no boys had been sent by Hexham & Newcastle. Minors: Mr. R. Corboy (Sub-Prefect) to Study Place. High Figures Mr. Quinn and Mr. Rospell: Low Figures & Dormitory Mr. Darragh: I
Underlow Mr. Hickey: II Underlow Mr. Burrow (Sacristan). French, Rev. L. Campbell and Rev. A. Gracey.
Sept. 17th. New boys standing at 22, with one more to come. G. Storey not expected back until after Christmas.
Sept. 18th. Retreats began: Rev. G. B. Pippet Juniors, Fr. Dominic (Devas) OSF in College. No deacons in the House, so Benediction to be by a priest alone.
Sept. 22nd. End of Junior retreat, and the third playday for new boys.
Sept. 23rd. Ordinations by the Bishop of Leeds.
Sept. 24th. Bishops arrived for their annual meeting. Playday given for the Prefect General.
Sept. 26th. T. Ethrington appointed Sacristan.
Oct. 11th. Paul Warrington put in isolation with ringworm, upstairs in Infirmary.
Nov. 2nd. As in other years, boys rose at 7AM and heard two Masses.
Nov. 5th. Surprise playday given.
Nov. 25th – 27th. First three skating days of the season.
Dec. 9th – 10th. F. E. Coughlan suffering rheumatic fever: not a serious attack.
Dec. 16th. Juniors to College chapel to hear reading of a long encyclical on St. Francis de Sales.
Dec. 21st. Irish boys left for home after dinner.
Dec. 22nd. Lay boys left.
Dec. 25th. Skating after dinner, then heavy snow.
Dec. 26th. No buses because of condition of the roads, so boys walked to Aldin Grange to catch trains home. Rector left for home.
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Jan. 15th. Rector returned to Ushaw.
Jan. 16th. End of vacation. F. E. Coughlan unable to return, Mr. Quinn still away, as were three boys. Gerard Storey back for first time since midsummer vac.
Jan. 20th. Reg. McCurdy advanced to Low Figures.
Jan. 25th. Mr. Quinn back.
Jan. 28th. R. Rickaby and A. McShane returned.
Feb. 9th. News received of death of Bishop Collins. Prayers at 11 for the repose of his soul.
Feb. 14th. Funeral of Bishop Collins. High Mass at 9.30, body arrived shortly after 2 PM. Many clergy attending: Archbishop of Liverpool officiated, assisted by Archbishop of Cardiff, Bishop of Portsmouth, Bishop of Leeds, Bishop Dobson, Bishop
Hanlon.
Feb. 15th. Playday given for the Archbishop of Cardiff, who was staying at Ushaw.
Feb. 29th. E. and H. Hewitt left.
Mar. 3rd – 7th. Rector away.
Mar. 6th. Arrival of new boy, Patrick Manley.
Mar. 15th. Month’s Mind for Bishop Collins.
Mar. 19th.
Pirates of Penzance, delayed from Cock Vac. by sickness.
Mar. 20th. Feast of St. Cuthbert: High Mass and Benediction. Play in Hall.
Mar. 30th. Rector gave instruction, on Temptation, in place of Mr. Corbishley supplying at Durham.
Apr. 13th. Retreats began, Fr. Woolock (?) SJ in Sem. and Fr. Mays SJ in College.
Apr. 21st. Easter Monday. Bishop of Leeds ordained 6 priests, 2 deacons, 16 subs. H. Backhouse gone home for throat operation.
Apr. 23rd. Around 20 Grammarians occupying Little Dormitory, to allow building work in the East Dormitory. Night Prayers to be at 9.15 henceforth, so that boys would not be disturbed by College members after the dormitory had settled down. Song
recital given by Mr. J. Maltby at 8PM.
May 1st. J. Graham gone away at father’s request, to go to Bruges for the procession of the Precious Blood.
May 2nd. Reginald McCurdy appointed Sacristan.
May 3rd. Thos. Ethrington gone home as his father had died. Returned on 10th.
May 4th. Peter McDonald gone away to receive treatment for glandular trouble.
May 6th-9th. Rector away.
May 12th. E. Coughlan returned after rheumatic fever.
May 14th. New boy, Douglas Chapman. J. Graham returned.
May 29th. Rogation Sunday: procession at night, President assisting.
June 1st. No special devotions this month, as decoration work in the Lady Chapel prevented the Sacred Heart picture from occupying its usual place.
June 7th. Usual Eve of Pentecost arrangement: Matins and Lauds 5PM, dinner 6.45.
June 21st. St. Aloysius’ Feast. President sang morning Mass and gave Benediction in evening. “Beautiful weather for the playday”.
June 22nd. Rector began instructing confirmandi.
June 28th. Eight boys confirmed by Bishop Shine. Mr. Wm. Walmsley, visiting, acted as sponsor.
June 29th. 7 priests ordained by Bishop Shine.
July 27th. Sunday of Grand Week.
Sept. 19th. Back at Ushaw. Number of boys to be low, but accommodation well filled as new East Dormitory, scheduled for completion by Sept. 1st, was far from ready. Mr. Cunningham taking Mr. Gracey’s place as Prefect.
Sept. 20th. Boys returned. Tea given to those arriving by 5PM. Minors for the year, Mr. R. Corboy Study Place and sub-Prefect: Mr. Lowrie High Figures: Mr. Darragh Low Figs. and Sacristan: I Underlow Mr. Pownall: II Underlow Mr. Anderson: Maths
and Dormitory Mr. Paul Grant: French and Small Dormitory, Mr. Louis Landretti. F. Whiteside appointed Sacristan, as T. Ethrington would not be back for a week.
Sept. 21st. Usual letters 12-1 on first full day back. Divines’ retreat began, conducted by Fr. H. Lucas SJ. Boys numbering 63, with G. Robinson as well as T. Ethrington currently away.
Sept. 23rd – 27th. Sem. retreat, under Rev. J. Corboy.
Sept. 28th. General ordination by Bishop of Leeds.
Sept. 29th. Bishops present for annual meeting.
Oct. 6th. Nothing heard of George Robinson, so he was presumed to have left, reducing junior numbers to 62.
Oct. 15th. J. Dolan found to have scarlet fever.
Oct. 16th. Letters to Mrs. Dolan and to Mr. McDonald re. Peter, whom doctor considered unfit for college life.
Oct. 18th. Peter McDonald gone home to be examined by doctor there.
Oct. 24th. Peter McDonald back at Ushaw with satisfactory written report by doctor.
Nov. 13th. Gerard Brown discovered to have scarlet fever, a second case four weeks after the first.
Nov. 19th. Dr. Beattie found J. Kinsella to have valvular disease of the heart.
Nov. 22nd. P. McDonald gone home for further medical exam.
Nov. 23rd. J. Kinsella suffering acute appendicitis. Given last sacraments and taken to Newcastle for immediate operation, in spite of grave risk because of his heart condition.
Nov. 25th. Visited J. Kinsella in Newcastle, safely through operation.
Nov. 28th. Dermot Donelan with scarlet fever.
Dec. 4th. Speaking by High Figures, very good.
Dec. 5th. Playday given for exercise. F. Anwyll suffering appendicitis, heart affected: taken to hospital for operation.
Dec. 19th. L. Maidens gone home, with pains suggestive of appendicitis.
Dec. 20th. R. Henshaw sent home with unmistakeable appendicitis. Death of Mr. J. Nixon at 10.30 PM.
Dec. 23rd. Requiem and funeral for Mr. Nixon.
Dec. 26th. All gone away. J. Charnley driven to Blackpool by Rector, as considered unfit for travel by train. D. Donelan (scarlet fever) remaining in Sanatorium.
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Jan. 16th. Rector returned to Ushaw. Bishop Elect of Hexham and Newcastle present, making his retreat before consecration.
Jan. 17th. Boys returned. Three new boys, but B. Lucas had left. George Robinson back after missing the whole of last quarter. Eleven boys not yet back, largely on account of illness, with only two not accounted for.
Jan. 18th. J. Dolan to go back to Underlow.
Jan. 19th. Playday given for the new Bishop. Higgins turned back from College to Sem..
Jan. 24th. Later return of L. Maidens and J. Malone.
Jan. 27th. Bishop Thorman consecrated at Newcastle. Study continued at Ushaw though most Profs. attended.
Jan. 28th. Around 12 boys down with ‘flu.
Feb. 8th. Gave out rosary tickets, delayed from previous Sunday as many boys were in infirmary with ‘flu. Outbreak now almost over.
Feb. 17th. Austin Healey gone home for health – “seems to have got into a state of nerves & there is no doing any good with him”. Feb. 23rd. Cock Vacation. Play at night, The Purple Mask, repeated on 24th.
Mar. 1st – 3rd. Quarant Ore. Instruction on
“Christ living with us” on the 1st., exposition in Sem. on 2nd with visits at 11.30 and 6.45.
Mar. 4th. Exercise playday given. “A very nice day after much bad weather”.
Mar. 16th. Cat struck out.
Mar. 20th. Feast of St. Cuthbert. Bishop Thorman sang Pontifical High Mass, and gave evening Benediction in Sem..
Mar. 31st. J. Walmsley gone home, as mother dangerously ill.
Apr. 2nd. R. Rickaby left, J. Stubbs arrived. Sem. retreat to be started by Dr. Godfrey, as Fr. Bonaventure Meagher unable to come as arranged, and his replacement couldn’t arrive before Monday.
Apr. 4th. Junior Rector told by President to be ready to start College retreat, as the intended giver Fr O’Dea was suffering from bronchitis and might be unable to come.
Apr. 5th. College retreat started by Rector, relieved by Fr. McGuire OP (standing in for Fr. Meagher) on the 6th. Dr. Godfrey gave the entire Sem. retreat.
Apr. 6th. J. Walmsley returned to Ushaw.
Apr. 9th. Brian Wesley left, and James Charnley returned for first time since Christmas.
Apr. 29th. President’s Feast. May 2nd. H. Backhouse appointed Sacristan.
May 14th. General vaccination against smallpox.
May 21st. Several boys suffering from the smallpox vaccination, with high temperatures. Playday given on the 22nd on account of this: 12 boys in infirmary on the 23rd, down to 4 by the 26th.
May 26th. F. Pearson gone home as mother dangerously ill.
June 1st. Spoke on Devotion for June. Altar of the Sacred Heart reluctantly foregone, to avoid danger to decorations of the Lady Chapel.
June 7th. President sang High Mass of thanksgiving on the 66th [or 60th ?] anniversary of his coming to Ushaw. Special dinner for students,
Cox & Box performed after supper.
June 8th. Playday for the President’s jubilee.
Cox & Box repeated.
June 11th. Corpus Christi, Bishop pontificated.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius, with no High Mass as a Sunday. Chapel decorated as usual.
July 1st. J. Lawler gone home because of bad heart.
July 7th. V. Lee gone home through rheumatism.
July 24th. Large number of boys enrolled in Brown Scapular.
July 28th. A few boys confirmed by Bishop before Mass.
Sept. 18th. Rector returned to Ushaw. Two brothers from Ireland arrived.
Sept. 19th. General return, with over 30 new boys but some absentees.
Sept. 20th. New boys examined: 32 for Sem., with 2 more to come. No 2nd Underlow, so Mr. Anderson not required to be a master. Minors for the year, Mr. R. Corboy Study Place and Sub-prefect: High Figures Mr. Lourie, not yet back from illness: Low
Figures and Dormitory Mr. Chew: Underlow Mr. Pownall: Maths Mr. P. Grant; French and Little Dormitory Mr. Louis Landreth. Mr. Cronin in charge of Sacristy.
Sept. 22nd. Retreat began, under Fr. Delany OP.
Sept. 25th. Mr. Gribbin now hearing Sem. confessions, in place of Dr. McCormack who was switched to College.
Sept. 27th. Arrival of Paul de la Riviere. Left “apparently for good” on Oct. 26th.
Sept. 28th. Arrival of Bishops for annual meeting.
Oct. 2nd. Playday for the Bishop of Lancaster.
Oct. 16th. Gerard Corbet left.
Oct. 17th. George Leek left. Dr. Godfrey began hearing Sem. confessions, releasing Mr. Gribbin who became confessor for the maids.
Oct. 24th. James McKenny arrived.
Oct. 27th. F. Pearson went home as his father was dangerously ill.
Nov. 14th. First morning off for skating.
Dec. 6th. Rector gave Conference on Immaculate Conception.
Dec. 22nd. Lay boys went away, a day earlier than usual apparently through a mistake by the President.
Dec. 26th. Boys left as usual.
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UC/AA6/4/35 15 January - 27 December 1926
Jan. 15th. Rector back at Ushaw.
Jan. 16th. Boys returned: some absentees. Thos. McGoldrick back for first time since midsummer.
Jan. 17th. M. Elcock advanced from Low Figs. to High Figs., B. Foley and J. Hughes from Underlow to Low Figs..
Jan. 23rd. Leo Kelly returned.
Jan. 30th. Gordon Redington returned.
Feb. 1st. L. Sharratt returned.
Feb. 4th. J. McKenna returned.
Feb. 15th. Cock Vacation: The Mikado performed. Repeated on 16th.
Feb. 21st. 23rd. Quarant Ore observed as usual, with exposition in Sem. on the 22nd.
Feb. 24th. President gave an exercise playday.
Mar. 16th. Cat struck out in afternoon.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Feast and playday.
Mar. 21st. Passion Sunday. Rector gave instruction on Hearing Mass.
Mar. 28th. Palm Sunday. Bishop present to bless palms. Retreats began: Fr. Boyle CSSR in College, Fr. Leach CSSR in Sem..
Apr. 2nd. Passion sermon by Fr. Boyle.
Apr. 4th. Address given by Fr. Leach at Community Mass in Sem..
Apr. 21st. President’s Feast. May 1st. Beginning of May devotions. Fr. Morris’ lecture on English Martyrs to be read at first prayers.
May 6th. Influenza outbreak in College had arrived in Sem.. Mr. Chew among the cases.
May 7th. Small Dormitory cleared to accommodate ‘flu cases as Infirmary was full.
May 8th. ‘Flu beginning to wane.
May 11th. Visit to relics of Sts. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina with Benediction at 6.50. There had been no visit before Mass, because of Rogation Litanies.
May 24th. Death of David Hennessy (High Phils.) of heart failure after four days’ illness. Anointed by Rector, sickness prevented his receiving Viaticum. Dirge at 6.30 on 25th, Requiem on 26th.
June 2nd. John Walmsley gone home with appendix trouble.
June 7th. Mgr. Broadhead gone away for holiday, Rector in charge in his absence.
June 12th. D. Bankes went home as father ill.
June 18th. Sem. Sacristans’ cleaning day. Preparations on 19th for Feast of St. Aloysius.
June 20th. Feast of St. Aloysius. Bishop sang High Mass, President gave evening Benediction.
June 25th. Wilfrid Rigby (Grammar) died at a Durham nursing home, where he had gone on night of the 21st.in need of operation for appendicitis and peritonitis.
June 26th. Body of W. Rigby returned to Ushaw, received by Divines and placed in Oratory.
June 28th. Funeral of W. Rigby. Studies off for morning and until 6 PM.
July 12th. Return of Denis Bankes.
July 14th. M. Pigott went away.
July 16th. T. and J. Dolan went away.
July 25th Grand Week Sunday.
July 29th. Vacation began.
Sept. 17th. Rector returned. 41 new boys for Junior House, making 86 in all.
Sept. 18th. Boys returned.
Sept. 19th. 39 new boys after examination, so total of Juniors was 84. Some College boys sleeping in Junior dormitory.
Sept. 20th. Minors for the year: Mr. Darragh, Study Place and Sub-prefect. High Figures Mr. Lourie, Low Figures Mr. Chew. Mr. Pownall I Underlow, Mr. Greenwood II Underlow, Mr. P. Grant Maths, Mr. O. Curry French. Mr. Burrow, Sacristan, given the
little room.
Sept. 21st. Retreats began. Juniors Fr. Wilmot SJ, College Fr. Jagger [?] SJ.
Sept. 26th. General ordination.
Sept. 29th. Arrival of Bishops for their annual meeting. Date changed because of Catholic Congress at Manchester.
Oct. 1st. Playday for Bishop Henshaw, visiting for first time since his consecration.
Oct. 3rd. Changed daily schedule, introducing tea for all. Weekdays: study until 12.50, dinner at 1, schools from 3 until 4.45, tea 4.45, study 5.15 to 7. Sundays dinner still at 1.10, but Vespers at 3.30, tea 4.30. Parlour dinner to be 5.30
every day.
Oct. 8th. Introduced porridge at breakfast.
Oct. 27th. Playday for visit of the Bishop of Menevia.
Nov. 3rd. Rector to bed with influenza.
Nov. 9th. Rector recovering, went to Parlour for lunch after days in bed and in own room.
Nov. 22nd. St. Cecilia’s Day. Benediction in Sem. at 7 PM, concert by Divines at 8.
Nov. 28th. Mr. Adamson began saying Mass in Sem. in place of Mr. Dunne.
Dec. 1st. Playday honouring Bishop Hinsley, consecrated the day before in Rome.
Dec. 8th. Usual procession in Sem. on Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Dec. 16th. Lantern lecture on SS. Aloysius and Stanislaus given by Fr. Martindale.
Dec. 23rd. Departure of lay boys.
Dec. 27th. All went away.
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UC/AA6/4/36 17 January - 26 December 1927
Jan. 17th. End of vacation. Mr. Chew and several boys not back yet.
Jan. 18th. Morgan Sweeney and Ralph Malone advanced to High Figs., Hugh Welch dropped to Low Figs..
Jan. 19th. Lantern lecture in Hall at 8 PM: another on the 20th.
Feb. 6th. Play performed in the Hall, until nearly 10.30. Rector arranged that bell next morning should not be rung until 6.45.
Feb. 9th. Requiem for Bishop Collins. Return of J. Charnley.
Feb. 12th. Return of Mr. Chew.
Feb. 28th. Mountebanks performed at night, repeated March 1st.
Mar. 1st. Return of J. McKenny, absent since Christmas through appendicitis.
Mar. 2nd. Ash Wednesday. Bishop blessed ashes at 10, service ended by 11.30.
Mar. 6th – 8th. Quarant Ore. Exposition in Sem. on 7th, Rector gave instruction on 6th and sang Mass of Reposition on 8th.
Mar. 13th. Instruction by Rector on Uncertainty of Life.
Mar. 14th. Feast of Dedication of St. Cuthbert’s, returned this year to the date originally fixed rather than the actual anniversary. Resumed observing the feast in Sem. on President’s decision, after a few years in which it was not kept there on
account of St. Aloysius being regarded as their titular.
Apr. 10th. Palm Sunday. Beginning of Summer Time, rising now at 7. Bishop blessed palms. Retreats began, led by Fr. Cheeseman CSSR in Sem., Fr. Bradley CSSR in College.
Apr. 14th. End of Junior retreat.
Apr. 15th. Passion sermon by Fr. Bradley.
Apr. 16th – 19th. Rector away at Whitby.
Apr. 20th. W. Lupton left. J. McKenny appointed Sacristan in his place.
Apr. 23rd. Return of D. Waugh and of J. Hughes, away since Christmas.
Apr. 24th. Joe Scott, staying at Ushaw for a few days, gave an address in Hall after supper “Quite wonderful”.
Apr. 27th. Playday given in honour of Joe Scott.
Apr. 30th. Paul Armstrong arrived. Douglas Chapman appointed Sacristan.
May 2nd. Beginning of May devotions. St. Alphonsus’ Month of May to be read in first prayers in Sem..
May 4th. President’s Feast.
May 11th. Octave of Solemnity of St. Joseph took precedence over SS. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Usual devotions before Mass, but nothing in evening.
May 16th – 19th. Rector travelled to Oxford to represent the President at the Conference of Catholic Colleges.
May 29th. Procession at night – Mgr. Broadhead.
June 4th – 6th. Rector gone to Preston.
June 21st. President unwell, so Rector sang Mass for St. Aloysius’ Day.
June 28th. Last hour off for cricket match. Boys to bed early, after prayers at 8.40, to allow early rising to view eclipse. June 29th. Boys rose at 5.45 in time for eclipse at 6.24. Too cloudy for a good view.
June 30th. President approved the last hour off for High Figs., who missed the hour off on the 28th as they were at Biggin.
Sept. 17th. End of vacation. Rector detained in Lancashire.
Sept. 19th. Rector returned. 31 new boys for Sem., of whom one not yet arrived. Minors for the year: Study Place and Sub-prefect Mr. Darragh, High Figs. Mr. Greenwood, Low Figs. Mr. Chew, Underlow Mr. J. McShane, Maths Mr. B. Kershaw, French Mr.
Curry. Mr. Burrow remaining in Sem. and acting as Sacristan. No II Underlow.
Sept. 20th – 24th. Junior retreat, led by Fr. Edmund, Capuchin.
Sept. 26th. Playday given in honour of Cardinal Merry del Val, who had visited Ushaw during the vacation. Bishops arrived for their annual meeting, leaving on the 28th.
Sept. 30th. Rector began instructions with Underlow, after dropping Apologetics with Syntax. He felt a need to be brought into closer touch with boys in the Sem., particularly at the start of their time at Ushaw.
Oct. 11th. Return of Terence McAloon, delayed by adenoid trouble.
Oct. 17th. Rector called home, as his father had died.
Oct. 21st. Rector back at Ushaw. Two new boys, Noel Donelan and Desmond O’Brien.
Nov. 27th. Rector gave instruction on Obedience.
Nov. 28th. Playday given for exercise.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Procession at night, President assisting.
Dec. 24th. Tea at 4.30, prayers at 5 before bed.
Dec. 26th. All went away.
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UC/AA6/4/37 16 January - 4 November 1928
Jan. 16th End of Christmas vacation. Several boys delayed.
Feb. 1st. Andrew Brett gone home with ear disorder.
Feb. 2nd. Roland Fox pronounced to have German measles.
Feb. 3rd. Wilfrid Fee also with measles: 2 other suspected cases.
Feb. 5th. Morgan Sweeney (Grammar) with measles. Two further cases later in the month.
Feb. 6th. Leo Holleson returned after broken arm.
Feb. 17th. Rehearsal of Sem. play,
Puss in Boots.
Feb. 20th. Cock Vacation: Sem. play, “very successful”. Repeated next evening.
Feb. 25th. P. Armstrong last measles case to leave the Sanatorium.
Feb. 26th. Instruction by Rector at beginning of Quarant’ Ore. Usual exposition on the 27th.
Mar. 2nd. Rector took John McGregor home to Gosforth, to have arm X-rayed after a fall in the gym.
Mar. 8th. Sydney Breen gone home because of knee trouble. J. McGregor back at Ushaw.
Mar. 12th. Noel Donelan with measles.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s. Bishop sang High Mass.
Mar. 26th. Sem. began Cat. College delayed as rings were not ready.
Mar. 29th. J. Connor in Infirmary with heart trouble, needing to be kept quite still. Declared to be in a very dangerous condition by doctor on the 30th, and given Last Sacraments.
Apr. 1st. Retreats began: Fr. Geddes SJ in College, Fr. W. Davis SJ in Sem.. J. Connor with rheumatic fever, but in general no worse.
Apr. 3rd. Horarium for the retreat revised. Main change was to move Stations to 4.30, omitting visit to relics and leaving 10AM free.
Apr. 5th. Mr. Greenwood’s place taken by Mr. Lowrie. N. Doullan gone away for Easter.
Apr. 6th. Good Friday. Passion sermon preached by Fr. Davis.
Apr. 9th. Ordinations. Boys allowed to visit Durham with relatives.
Apr. 14th. L. Masterson returned, away since Christmas through sickness: also O. Clement.
Apr. 21st. Andrew Brett returned.
Apr. 25th. President’s Feast. Breakfast at 9AM.
May 1st. J. Fox appointed Sacristan.
May 2nd. Morris’ The English Martyrs to be read at 1st prayers.
May 11th. Feast of SS. Bassus, Fabius and Lucina. Ordered that relics be left exposed all day.
May 21st. Rector to Manchester for Conference of Catholic Colleges. Returned on 24th. May 28th. Entertainment in Hall, The Diletective, repeated on 29th.
June 6th. Bishop confirmed Norbert Manly and Noel Donelan.
June 8th. The Memorial Chapels consecrated by the Bishop, in private.
July 22nd. Grand Week Sunday, with public ordination.
July 26th. Start of vacation.
Aug. 7th. Returned to Ushaw because of Mgr. Broadhead’s illness. President away for holiday.
Aug. 24th. Mgr. Broadhead distinctly worse: Dr. Parkin said there was heart trouble, his condition serious but not immediately dangerous. Wired for two nursing sisters and wrote to President.
Aug. 28th. President returned.
Aug. 29th. Better report on Mgr. Broadhead from Dr. Parkin. President decided that Rector should drop Dogma to be free to help Mgr. Broadhead in future. Bishop visited and stayed for dinner, and agreed to R. Delaney’s return to Ushaw.
Sep. 12th. Mgr. Broadhead up for first time since illness began.
Sep. 15th. Students returned, total number on the books now 349. Mr. Gerard Corboy now given extra room near the Library. Low Figs. passed to Mr. O. Corboy, while Mr. Chew took the little room with responsibilities of Sacristan. Other Minors as
last year. Dormitory. Mr. O. Corboy.
Sep. 16th. Juniors now numbering 84.
Sep. 18th. Beginning of retreats. Rev. Hayes of Crook in Sem., Canon Knuckey in College.
Sep. 21st. Mgr. Broadhead’s progress fairly satisfactory, but Dr. Parkin advised that he should not leave his room.
Sep. 23rd. Ordination of 3 subdeacons and 15 deacons.
Sep. 24th. Bishops’ meeting, without Bishop Lacy. Newly consecrated Archbishop of Liverpool brought Mgr McMahon of New York and Major Vaughan.
Sep. 25th. President abolished Askings Down. He himself would grant Studies-off from time to time.
Sep. 26th. Departure of the bishops. Playday given for the Archbishop of Liverpool.
Oct. 1st.. Rector went away for a vacation.
Oct. 26th. Rector returned to Ushaw. Desmond O’Brien ill with pneumonia. T. McAloon had left, and Olsen been turned back from Grammar to Sem..
Oct. 27th. D. O’Brien’s parents staying at Sanatorium.
Oct. 28th. Graham Bush turned back to Underlow.
Nov. 2nd. D. O’Brien doing markedly better after grave concern for him.
Nov. 4th. Rector gave out Rosary tickets at 12. To keep to this time in future, as 9 was not always possible. Final entry for 1928.
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UC/AA6/4/38 15 January - 6 April 1930
Jan. 15th. Returned from Cambridge. Gribbin in bed after throat operation.
Jan. 16th. Boys returned, but many delayed by fog, P. & A. Storey by whooping cough at home.
Jan. 18th. Mr. Bonney began hearing Sem. confessions in place of Dr. Godfrey, now College confessor. Rare visit by President to Smoke Room. New bus service started on Top Road.
Jan. 21st. Paul Armstrong, Low Figures, “ran home” to Newcastle. Mother telephoned to explain.
Jan. 22nd. Paul Armstrong brought back: had walked to Durham and taken train to Newcastle. Punished at his mother’s request.
Jan. 29th. Greek Playday. High Figs. 4 – Low Figs. 0.
Feb. 1st. Death of Canon Newsham of St. Mary’s, Newcastle.
Blackfriars Magazine and the Illustrated London News introduced into Smoke Room. Vice President anxious about conforming to new Holy Communion regulations: thought rails would be needed
in St. Cuthbert’s, St. Joseph’s and St. Aloysius’.
Feb. 10th. Mgr. Joe McCormack appointed Ministrator of St. Mary’s Newcastle.
Mar. 3rd, 4th. Sem. play
Blue Beard, “Everyone seemed delighted… Mr. Crosse played the piano & paid great compliments to the orchestra and boys”.
Mar. 8th. P. Donnelly returned from Newcastle after operation on mastoid. “Wonderfully quick (2 wks). Seems quite well”.
Mar. 9th – 11th. Quarant’ Ore, More notes than usual on the ceremonies and timings.
Apr. 6th. Passion Sunday. “Ceremony did not end until 12.55 (Coram).” Final entry in the 1930 Diary.
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UC/AA6/4/39 2 January - 31 December 1937
Memoranda – three closely written pages of notes before the start of the diary proper, under several headings (Gratuities, Nurses, Grand Week, Clergy Retreat, Phils. Feast, Divines Feast.
Jan. 2nd. Mild weather: boilers cleaned. Fires lit in boilers and heating resumed on the 3rd.
Jan. 4th. Liam Moreland gone home, after being in Infirmary since Dec. 22nd.
Jan. 5th. Housekeeper returned. News of Mgr. McCormack’s appointment as Bishop.
Jan. 6th. Wrote and sent article on the new bishop in response to telephoned request from
The Tablet.
Jan. 7th. Failed washing machine examined. P. Seed phoned insurance and manufacturers (Vulcan), replacement part to be sent next day.
Jan. 9th. Students returned, but a number missing through sickness. Washing machine repair completed in evening.
Jan. 10th. Mr. Corboy in bed with ‘flu. Rector explained to President the need for systematic office help. This to be provided by Dr. Gowland.
Jan. 11th. Departure of Sr. M. Rock and Rector’s sister, arrival of Sr. Attracta.
Jan. 12th.. To Newcastle to discuss matters of tax, first with Fr. Johnson at Chester-le-Street then with Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Mulcahy. Mr. W. Clifford and Mr. Malone with ‘flu.
Jan. 14th. Back to Newcastle to visit solicitors etc.. ‘Flu patients getting better.
Jan. 16th. Mr. P. Cleary (Infirmarian) went home, after stay at the Minories for cartilage operation.
Jan. 19th. Went to Ebchester re. tax on loan interest.
Jan. 20th. President’s Feast. Farm estimated to provide 300 lbs. turkey: bought 150 lbs. further from Bainbridges. Supplies ample. 2 oranges, 2 apples, 1 banana each. Dinner 2 PM, with cold trifle as second course. Some difficulties as a number
of maids were ill.
Jan. 22nd. T.McCormack sent to Durham for X-ray of shoulder injury. Dislocation revealed, immobilized for three weeks.
Jan. 27th. Took Mr. Greenwood to Minories for an X-ray regarding suspected kidney stone, after he had begged to avoid the original intention of his going to Mr. Gilmour’s home for the scan. 28th – no stone found.
Jan. 29th. To Durham with President, Vice-President and Mr. Gowland to make tax declarations regarding properties and investments.
Jan. 30th. Mr. E. Oldmeadow arrived for a two day visit. Infirmarian Mr. Cleary returned to Ushaw.
Feb. 2nd. Mr Greenwood’s left kidney found affected. Right kidney’s condition needed to be known before any action.
Feb. 3rd. Revs. V. O’Shaughnessy, G. Griffin, B. Bleasdale and Mr.J. Duckett arrived in advance of consecration.
Feb. 4th. Bishop McCormack consecrated at Newcastle, with most Profs. attending. President stayed for dinner at Mansion House.
Feb. 6th. Further examination to be made of Mr. Greenwood’s right kidney: no immediate operation on left. V. Hurson to go to Durham for X-ray of ankle: probably a broken bone. Two girls gone home ill, one with probable appendicitis.
Feb. 7th. Kitchen difficulties, with the chef wanting to give notice.
Feb. 8th. Sem. play Puss in Boots, repeated on 9th with Bishop present. Further tests on Mr. Greenwood showed right kidney was worse than left, so no question of an operation.
Feb. 10th. Ash Wednesday: fasting for students, but they would not fast during Lent.
Feb. 11th. Architect Mr. Burke visited to go into several matters, including Dining Room enlargement and improvements to the swimming bath.
Feb. 13th. Hours of work in laundry found too long by Rector. Nothing said to chef about his wish to give in his notice. All maids’ places currently filled.
Feb. 16th. Visited Consett Iron Co. to clear up dividend payment matters. Vincent Whelan returned to Ushaw, after it had been thought that Salford had dropped him because of his deafness.
Feb. 18th. Mr. Greenwood had been told that he should lead a sedentary life, which seemed to rule out his continuing as Prefect. Suggestion of his changing over to teaching.
Feb. 20th. Mr. Greenwood returned, looking “very broken”, and expected to keep to his room for some time.
Feb. 22nd. Mr. Grant with sharp attack of ‘flu.
Feb. 23rd. Complaint made to police re. troublesome young fellows coming along the Back on Saturdays and Sundays when maids are returning.
Feb. 24th. Mr. Corboy with acute rheumatism, for the third time this quarter: currently 5 Profs. laid up.
Feb. 25th. Representatives of H. Walker and Sons looking into possible improvements to Library heating.
Feb. 26th. Mr. Cook present to consider leaks from Swimming Bath: currently empty, several cracks to mend before filling it again. He also reported on royalties, particularly Broom Hall which was almost worked out.
Mar. 1st. To American Consulate in Newcastle re. legal matters arising from the estates of Mgrs. Brown and Broadhead and their stock holdings.
Mar. 2nd. Mr. Moody, solicitor, undertook to resolve the matter of Philadelphia Co. stock holdings. Pair of swans arrived from Liverpool, a gift from Joe Scott. Mar. 5th. Picked up President from Tynemouth, where he had taken lunch with
Bishop.
Mar. 7th. Lectured to Big Lads and Phils. on
“Ushaw 45 years ago”.
Mar. 8th – 13th. Went for short holiday, leaving Dr. Gowland in charge of office.
Mar. 16th. Continuing difficulties re. maids and domestic arrangements – “we are carrying on somewhat precariously, with a number of substitutes of doubtful capacity”.
Mar. 17th. A party to the Brooms for Dirge of Rev. W. Rickaby, “staunch Ushawman”, found dead in bed on the 15th.
Mar. 18th. Sr. Attracta confined to bed. Sister obtained from Ebchester Convent. Kevin Byrne with temperature 104.5: inflamed gland in neck. Memorandum: Bishop Thomson had previously bought palms for Palm Sunday. This year Rector bought 12 ft.
palm for bishop, 24 @ 8ft. for priest, assistant priest, and cutting in three for Profs. and part of stalls, and 400 crosses. Intention to order 32 @ 8ft. in future, to give all in stalls a good sized palm.
Mar. 23rd. Sicknesses continuing, all rooms occupied. Number expected for Conference of Higher Studies next week becoming too large: suggested to President that lists should be closed.
Mar. 26th. Good Friday. General position in Infirmary improving. Fr. Sleigh preached Passion Sermon.
Mar. 30th. Conference of Higher Studies, with 40 attending, and taking their meals in Parlour. Visitors mostly accommodated in new wing, with those displaced sleeping in the dormitories. Seven diphtheria contacts soon to leave Infirmary.
Mar. 31st. Work of the Conference proceeding. Very cold weather, and new fireplace in Reading Room found unequal to keeping it warm.
Apr. 1st. Discussion of the condemnation of five rows of cottages at Ushaw Colliery. Offer from Peases to pay full rent until first four rows are evacuated, then a third rent until the last is evacuated, with an ex-gratia payment of two years’
rent at the end, but with the College responsible for demolition work.
Apr. 3rd. Conference dispersed.
Apr. 4th. Invalids doing well except for Mr. Corboy, and Liam Moreland with TB. Long spell of bad weather making general health worse.
Apr. 6th. Walkers assessing Reading Room with a view to improving its heating. Orders given on 8th. for them to install extra heating in various parts of the House during the vacation.
Apr. 9th – 10th. With Sr. Attracta, took Liam Moreland to Nottingham and gave him into the care of his parents.
Apr. 11th. Ordinations: one for each Minor order, 20 Subdeacons, 4 Deacons.
Apr. 12th. Playday in place of St. Cuthbert’s Day. Gave all an orange and an apple each at dinner. President went to Conference of Catholic Colleges at Downside.
Apr. 13th. Visit by stepfather and two brothers of Mr. Corboy, anxious about his prolonged illness. Dr. Rollin on 18th was satisfied that it was normal rheumatism, with some impairment of the heart.
Apr. 14th. Retrieved large bundle of deeds from Newcastle.
Apr. 15th. Bishop of Leeds and Dr. Duin, Rector of Leeds Seminary, to lunch. Bishop given the deeds of Normanton parish.
Apr. 16th. Fr. Bede Tuohey, lately arrived at Bishop Auckland, came for information on the Bishop Auckland loan. Mr. Burke left plans for dining room enlargement. A maid who left ill on the 15th was found to have scarlet fever.
Apr. 17th. Prof. Hume saw Mr. Corboy, and recommended removal of tonsils once present condition has abated, thinking an infection there was responsible for the persistent rheumatism.
Apr. 18th. Decided that Mr. Burke’s plans for enlargement of the dining room should be carried out in the summer.
Apr. 19th. Peter Jarrett to Minories for operation on neck glands.
Apr. 22nd. Mr. Addison to discuss Cornsay Colliery and Ushaw Colliery village. Fr. Jos. Whitaker, newly in charge of St. Godric’s Durham, visited to discuss his loan.
Apr. 23rd. To Newcastle. Lent £2000 to Convent of Good Shepherd at 4.25% interest.
Apr. 24th. Girl sent home then hospitalised immediately with diphtheria.
Apr. 25th. President down with ‘flu.
Apr. 27th. Visit by Dr. Ellis, St. Nicholas’ Cathedral’s choirmaster, who had been training several Profs. in voice production and Mr. E. Clifford in general choir work.
Apr. 28th. Crowe’s cottage discussed with sanitary inspector at Hill Top.
Apr. 29th. Fr. Raphael Williams OSB arrived to stay a few days. May 1st. W. Rooney, rheumatic fever, returned for first time since Christmas. P. Jarrett returned from Minories after operation. Afternoon studies off for some Divines working on
building bonfire.
May 4th. Concerns over the bonfire having developed a list: attempts would be made to correct it. £10,000 to be lent to Franciscan Missionaries of Mary on May 25th, exhausting all available capital. Special arrangements would be needed after this
to fund almost £4000 for La Sagesse, Grassendale, on June 1st.
May 5th. Divines Feast. Breakfast of fried egg with bacon, served at usual time.
May 7th. Mr. Corboy to go to Minories on the 10th for removal of tonsils, though the extent of their responsibility for his rheumatism remained unclear.
May 10th. Party of 11 Profs. took an excursion to Fountains, Rievaulx and Bylands as guests of Canon Smith.
May 11th. Kevin Payne gone away to convalesce after long illness.
May 12th. Coronation of King George VI. Dinner required seven “good sized lambs”, served with new potatoes and mint sauce: rhubarb tart, fruit and a glass of port to follow. Fireworks at 9.30, bonfire at 10, supper
at 11. Bishop attended. “Great success”: after rain early in the day, evening was dull and cold but dry.
May 13th. Bishop left. Discussed with Addison questions of Ushaw Colliery and proposed demolition order.
May 16th. Whit Sunday. Phils. and Big Lads party game, ended 16-14.
May 17th. Canon T. Chadwick at Ushaw for his annual rook shooting, later than usual as weather had been bad. Heating turned off in the evening.
May 18th. J. Scott broke his collarbone, set by Dr. Dickinson.
May 19th. Enquiry received as to whether Ushaw might sell property in Northgate, Darlington. Mr. Corboy had tonsils removed.
May 22nd. Received income tax refund of £5685. 8s.3d: a further sum thought to be due. Cheque for £2300 sent to Fr. Leavy (Penshaw).
May 24th. Cheque for £10,000 sent to Franciscan Missionary Sisters.
May 25th. Arranged for house at Farm to be pebbledashed, as its brick walls were out of harmony with the Farm buildings. Good profits from the Farm would cover “this little luxury”.
May 27th. Corpus Christ: Bishop sang High Mass. Mr. Anwyll of Darlington advised asking at least £8000 for the Northgate property if it was to be sold.
May 31st. Visited School Camp at Blackhall Rocks with Peter Seed, to examine an automatic dishwasher.
June 1st. Arranged with parents of John Harker to take him home to Newcastle the next day, on account of mental trouble.
June 3rd – 5th. Angela Tobin ill with pneumonia.
June 10th. Began sending urns of tea to the cricket field for players in the course of games, using bakelite cups rather than crockery.
June 11th. Progress made in pebble-dashing the farm house.
June 12th. Three students left for London for BA exams, to return in a fortnight. Given £8. 10s. for expenses, with a further £1 for the head of the party in case of emergencies.
June 14th. Pease & Partners started work on the Pond: “leaking badly for some years… They have never denied liability but have not known what to do”.
June 15th. Fr. Short, friend of Dr. Meagher, arrived for a few days’ stay.
June 16th. President went to Harrogate: Rector travelled with him to Stockton, then visited School Holiday Camp near Redcar to inspect another dishwasher. Unsure if Ushaw could use one to advantage in view of the large number of girls at work
here
June 20th. Bishop ordained a deacon and a subdeacon.
June 21st. St. Aloysius’ Day: Rector sang High Mass in Sem. and gave Benediction. Buns for breakfast and new potatoes at dinner.
June 23rd. To Hill Top to discuss byre accommodation at North View with Mr. Addison and sanitary inspector.
June 24th. Full set of rose coloured vestments, “most beautiful”, including three copes and altar frontal, presented by Mr. Stephens. They had been designed by Mr. Bonney and made at Clare Abbey, Darlington.
June 25th. To Newcastle re. carpet for the enlarged dining room. Quoted price for extending the room was £1080, more than expected.
June 26th. The three students (June 12th) returned from London, and gave back the £1 emergency money as their allowance had been sufficient. Jos. Wrangham, tailor, very ill.
June 28th. Death of Jos. Wrangham.
June 30th. Saw Mrs. Wrangham, telling her to take her time over future plans. “Serious trouble” in kitchen, involving charges against the chef. Rector made enquiries and concluded that wild accusations were being
made. Was prepared to dismiss the chef immediately, but could not justify such action on the evidence available.
July 1st. Went to Newcastle re. tailoring. Farm worker taken to Durham Hospital after cycling accident.
July 2nd. Burial of Joe Wrangham. Rector drove to Barnard Castle to begin a short holiday.
July 5th. Saw Canon Blackoe at Poulton on business matters, and agreed to take some of his furniture to Ushaw after he resigned his parish, conditional upon his being given facilities to say Mass in the house at Poulton.
July 8th. Heard from Poulton of Canon Blackoe receiving authority for Mass in the house, and that he would shortly resign.
July 12th. Returned to Ushaw. Sadlers were withdrawing their wish to terminate coal lease. Mr. Malone still sick, Mr. Corboy’s return expected next week.
July 13th. Arranged that Frank Goundry (?) would take over the tailor’s shop at a date to be determined. Mrs. Wrangham wished to leave on the 23rd.
July 14th. Discussed several cases with Dr. Rollin, including Vincent Lynch (bad heart). John Corcoran to go home after exams for removal of tonsils. A divine arrived from Oscott to join the ordination retreat starting on the 17th.
July 15th. Discussions with solicitors and architects at Newcastle.
July 16th. Tried to resolve how to do without students helping to wait at dinner in Grand Week.
July 18th. W. Walsh in infirmary since the 14th with quinsy. Doctor punctured his throat in the hope of giving relief.
July 19th. Mr. McGuckin performed emergency tracheotomy on W. Walsh, but he died at 2.15 AM. Mr. Corboy returned to Ushaw, President went away.
July 21st. Dirge for W. Walsh at 6.30. Mrs. Walsh and three daughters arrived and were put up in Infirmary. Photo of all taken after Refectory dinner. Registered death at Lanchester and saw F. Goundry at South Moor.
July 22nd. Requiem and funeral. The Walshes left after an early lunch. Grand Week shopping in Newcastle, and arranged at Birtley for a girl to come to help in the Iinfirmary. Called on Mrs. Wrangham to say goodbye.
July 23rd. Mr. Malone went away after many weeks off work suffering from nerves. All three BA candidates were successful, including a First for Ronald Fox.
July 24th. Bishop arrived for ordination, and some Salford students left for their ordinations. Frank Goundry took over tailor’s shop.
July 25th. Ordination of six priests including one from Oscott.
July 26th. Beginning of Grand Week. Four pots of peas ordered from Newcastle as the supply from the kitchen garden was insufficient. Four extra altars for Masses.
July 27th. Visitor Rev. McShane returned home with suspected diphtheria. Cherries could not be had, so extra strawberries bought from Durham.
July 28th. Dinner went well, with eight waitresses.
July 29th. Students went away, and various works were started immediately. July 30th. received furniture and books from Canon Blackoe.
July 31st. President went away. Hay-making going well.
Aug. 1st. Start of clergy retreat, led by Fr. Myerscough SJ: 99 attending.
Aug. 7th. End of clergy retreat. Screen across dining room allowing most of it to be used during enlargement works.
Aug. 10th. To Newcastle. Saw picture by T. Henry of consecration of Bishop Wilkinson. “Owner asks £50 – much too much”.
Aug. 12th. Small excess of income over expenditure now expected, thanks to Farm profits.
Aug. 13th. Work on heating system getting on: dining room appears behind schedule.
Aug. 14th. Hay nearly all in. Plants and candles arranged before Lady Statue. Party from Tow Law shown round by T. Dunne.
Aug. 15th. Visit by Children of Mary from St. Dominic’s, Newcastle.
Aug. 17th. Arranged for radiators to be fitted to Mortuary wall.
Aug. 20th. Attended requiem for Fr. Jos. Whitaker at St. Godric’s.
Aug. 21st. Rector’s brother Leo, and Richard Winter, arrived for the weekend.
Aug. 23rd. Most maids returned. Visit by Canon and Miss Blackoe. Aug. 24th. Housekeeper and others gone on holiday. Canon Blackoe added £1000 to his fund, from which he would draw £50 per year.
Aug. 31st. Audit. Auditor Canon F. Wilkinson, assistant auditor Canon George Brunner. Canon Pippet and his curate M. McCleary to lunch.
Sept. 4th. Plasterers working in dining room. Much still to be done re. heating pipes, decoration, furnishing and cleaning in the last fortnight.
Sept. 7th. Two boilings of jam: Victorias from garden and damsons, each with apples from the garden.
Sept. 8th. Discovered that dining room fireplace had been fixed in wrong place, and must be taken down and rebuilt. Workmen regularly working late in attempt to finish on time.
Sept. 11th. Rector’s brother and R. Winter arrived bringing replated sanctuary lamp, “very beautiful”.
Sept. 12th. Benediction, with a party of 55 from Chorley.
Sept. 14th. With Mr. Burke, decided to paper rather than paint the dining room, in part to save time.
Sept. 17th. Mr. Burke supervising a long day of work by polishers, cabinet makers etc..
Sept. 18th. End of vacation. 342 students on books. Cabinet makers not quite finished, some pictures still to hang, but the enlarged dining room was used and met with enthusiastic approval. Mr. Corboy back at work though still stiff with
rheumatism, Mr. Malone also returned.
Sept. 19th. Fr. Harold CP came to give retreat, in place of Fr. Oswald who was ill.
Sept. 20th. Fr. Fennessy arrived to give Sem. retreat. Sr. Attracta returned, to an empty infirmary.
Sept. 21st. Phils. v. Big Lads, given Cornish pasties for breakfast instead of porridge: same next day for Lower Bounds v. Sem., with syrup allowed. Triptych of English Martyrs arrived, “a success”. Mr. Addison visited to discuss demolition of
colliery cottages.
Sept. 23rd. English Martyrs triptych “put into position & looks very well”.
Sept. 25th. Visit by Mr. Geoffrey Webb, artist of the triptych. New table brought for dining room. P. Seed began a holiday: given £5 in reward for much extra work during vacation, and authorised to give reward of £1 to head painter O. Towns.
Sept. 26th. Fr. Harold went after tea, paid £12. Ordinations – 25 for each of minor orders, 20 deacons.
Sept. 27th. Mr. Webb left, and all seven bishops arrived, with Canon Wilkinson and Dr. Tootill.
Sept. 28th. Bishops’ meet6ing finished, with only Shrewsbury and Leeds remaining overnight. Professional audit planned for next year.
Sept. 29th. New students examined and considered to be above average Three geese obtained for Michaelmas. Concern over R. Carson, showing appendix symptoms.
Oct. 1st. Carson better. Requiem for Mgr. Brown.
Oct. 5th. To bank, to settle £850 of Mr. Burke’s work and Walker’s heating installation.
Oct. 6th. Left at noon for a holiday until the 30th.
Nov. 2nd. Returned to Ushaw later than intended, after attack of ‘flu. Income tax return claim settled in the meantime, with something over £8600 recovered.
Nov. 3rd. Sent lorry to Newcastle for fruit, as apples from the garden had finished.
Nov. 5th. To Newcastle to examine samples of concrete tiles suggested for the Stations cloister.
Nov. 8th. Working with Mr. Ferguson, who was reorganising Ushaw’s book-keeping method. Visit by Fr. Vernon Johnson (speaking in Newcastle) and L. Campbell.
Nov. 9th. Mr. Ferguson’s fees 450 gns. plus out of pocket expenses, “Rector quite satisfied… total expenses are about 6% of what has been recovered”.
Nov. 10th. Began allocating income tax refund to various funds.
Nov. 15th. Concern over water wastage, after 4000 gallons passed through meter during night.
Nov. 16th. Instructed Richardsons to apply for £5000 worth of Australian 3½%. President and four others to Burn Hall in the evening.
Nov. 17th. Discussed with Mr. Cook the proposed nationalisation of coal royalties. Announcement of Archbishop Hinsley’s nomination as Cardinal.
Nov. 18th. Serious leak discovered on an underground water pipe: being repaired.
Nov. 19th. Visit by request to London Assurance in Newcastle, to discuss “housemaid’s knee”, of which Ushaw had several cases, and whether precautions could be taken.
Nov. 22nd. Playday in honour of Archbishop Hinsley, to be made Cardinal at the December consistory.
Nov. 24th. Phils. Feast. 64 with Profs., 15 bottles of port allowed. 20 lb box of Californian grapes obtained as the usual barrel of Almerian could not be had. Mr. Patterson of Newcastle took Leeming, Tate and Gradwell chalices away for
regilding.
Nov. 25th. President to Manchester for Ushaw dinner: Rector travelled with him to Darlington before making local visits.
Nov. 26th. To Newcastle to discuss with Bishop the investment of income tax refund.
Nov. 29th. £20 sent to Miss Broadhead, better lately after a cerebral thrombosis about ten days earlier.
Nov. 30th. Bernard Rowey (?) taken to Sanatorium after swab tested positive for diphtheria. New bacon slicer ordered for kitchen. Tiles ordered for Stations cloister, plain with no colouring as advised by Mr. Geoffrey Webb and accepted by the
President.
Dec. 1st. New bacon slicer came, and the chef cut his hand on it.
Dec. 4th. To Esh for funeral of John Suddes of Biggin Farm, believed to have worked the farm for 51 years before his sudden death on the 30th.
Dec. 7th. Snow. Meeting with Mr. Addison at Cornsay Colliery cancelled on account of weather, as was plan for Big Lads to join meet of beagles at Ushaw Farm after an early lunch.
Dec. 8th. Feast of Immaculate Conception. First Holy Communion for John Chadwick and Michael Stiles. Rector gave turkey and goose for Parlour dinner: best claret and port.
Dec. 11th. Wet and snowy weather continuing. More rainfall in first 10 days of December than in October and November combined.
Dec. 12th. First use of the new rose coloured vestments given by Mr. Stephens, who officiated at High Mass and Vespers.
Dec. 13th. Thaw after frost. One Tip Top room flooded by water getting under the lead.
Dec. 14th. Injuries to John Jones, knee wrenched while sledging, and John Caden, wrist put out in gym.
Dec. 15th. Martin Kehoe, ankle injury while skating: to go to Durham with J. Caden for X-rays. Gave 20 Cailston masses to each Prof. from income tax refund, in addition to 20 for the next year.
Dec. 16th. X-rays: Martin Kehoe cracked bone in ankle, John Caden broken wrist.
Dec. 17th. Visit from Dr. Edge, Mathematics lecturer at Edinburgh University and a friend of Vice-President and Mr. Corboy from Cambridge days.
Dec. 23rd. Very mild day and a rapid thaw. Lay boys and those from Ireland went away.
Dec. 25th. Warm and bright. 8 turkeys obtained from Bainbridges, average 16 lbs., to supplement 24 from the farm thought below the expected 13.5 lbs each. First breakfast at 1.45 AM, bed at 2.20: then House rose at 9.15 for breakfast at 9.45,
High Mass 10.30.
Dec. 27th. Students gone, and all Profs. excepting President and Rector. Removal of tiles in Stations cloister began, preparatory to laying new ones.
Dec. 29th. Rector gave the maids a party, using Divines playroom for concert and dance.
Dec. 30th. Oswald Pippet came, with Canon Pippet, to examine cracking paint on panels in the Memorial chapels.
Dec. 31st. Tiling of Stations cloister finished. Kevin Byrne and the sister went away, leaving Infirmary empty.
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UC/AA6/4/40 2 January - 31 December 1938
Jan. 2nd. Chimneys swept. Male swan found dead.
Jan. 3rd. Boilers re-lit. Some filling by Atlas Concrete to finish the work on Stations cloister.
Jan. 4th. Dinner given to “locals” – Canon Pippet and curate, Fr. Shelby, Rev. W. Meagher and Dr. McCormack.
Jan. 5th. Death of the other swan. They had been given special attention through autumn and winter, but had ailed in the past month’s harsh weather.
Jan. 7th. Cloister floor polished, and French polishers at work all day in dining room.
Jan. 10th. End of vacation. Rector’s sister left. All Profs. returned, some students missing as usual.
Jan. 12th. To Crook to see Mr. Addison. New tenancy at Biggin to be granted to a son of the late tenant. Rector agreed to increase of annual sum allowed for service on Biggin days from £10 to £15.
Jan. 15th. B. Rowey gone home for four weeks after successive negative swabs. Rector spoke to five representative maids, regarding many arriving late for Mass and returning late from days out. Asked by Archbishop of Liverpool to represent him at
the funeral of Fr. M. Kelly, who had died at Blyth.
Jan. 17th. To Cowpen for the funeral of Fr. Kelly. Crib taken down.
Jan. 18th. Panels of Memorial chapels’ altars sent to Hardmans for restoration.
Jan. 19th. President’s Feast. 580 lbs. of chicken found more than sufficient for student dinner, 520 lb. would have been enough. Mr. Cook at Ushaw to inspect serious leakage from swimming bath. Kitchen under strain after second girl in two days
sent home ill.
Jan. 20th. Bishop gave two minor orders to Mr. O’Dea in Lady Chapel.
Jan. 21st. Infirmary filling, with 13 patients. Several girls gone home ill, and Miss Seed not yet back to her full duties.
Jan. 23rd. Doctor saw 18 patients in Infirmary. Numerous severe chills, some with diarrhoea.
Jan. 25th. Mr. Cook investigated further serious leak from the bath: to communicate at once with colliery. Wonderful Aurora Borealis seen between 7 and 11.
Jan. 29th. Mr. Clifford to Infirmary, which was still busy, with the Infirmarian himself suffering a chill.
Jan. 31st. 20 in Infirmary including 10 Juniors. Rector and Mr. Bonney to Newcastle to discuss details of new stage curtain. Dr. McReavy to London for meeting of committee preparing National Synod.
Feb. 1st. Dinner at 11.45 for Big Lads, to enable them to follow Beagles meeting at the Farm at 12.30. Rector allowed Quarry field to be used for rugby.
Feb. 3rd. To Newcastle re. registration of coal royalties. Sister Martha very poorly.
Feb. 4th. Much work through the week on stopping cracks in the swimming bath.
Feb. 6th. Infirmary down to 9 patients, including Mr. C. Clifford and Sister Martha. Rector gave talk to Big Lads Ushaw Society, Phils. also attending, on Ushaw’s benefactors.
Feb. 8th – 9th. President to London for committee meeting of Conference of Catholic Colleges.
Feb. 10th. Rector with Dunne and Cunningham to Hexham for funeral of Mgr. Mackin.
Feb. 12th. Re-filled swimming bath still leaking after about a fortnight’s attempts to seal it. Dead leaves lifted and blown over the Infirmary roof by an exceptional wind. B. Rowey returned from convalescence after diphtheria, John Chadwick also
returned after being absent since Christmas.
Feb. 14th. Peter Seed showed Rector how a corner of the swimming bath appeared to have sunk. Trouble in scullery, with the girls there quarrelling.
Feb. 15th. Work in Newcastle on registration of coal royalties. Decided against getting a dishwasher, as there was no suitable place for one.
Feb. 18th. To Newcastle with Mr. Dickinson, whose cheek had been giving trouble. Calculus found in a salivary duct, and removed surgically at Minories on the 20th.
Feb. 20th. Gone away for a few days.
Feb. 25th. Returned to Ushaw in the evening. Mr. Dickinson still at Minories.
Feb. 26th. Spoke to Mr. Cleary after Sister Martha complained that she was finding him very hard to work with.
Feb. 28th. Cock Vac.. Canons Smith and Pippet, Fr. Walton from Burn Hall, Campbell and Gibbons for dinner and the Sem. play, Blue Beard.
Mar. 1st. Bishop among guests for dinner and a repeat of the play.
Mar. 2nd. Ash Wednesday. Bishop blessed ashes, leaving before lunch.
Mar. 4th. Brought Mr. Dickinson back from Minories. Swimming bath emptied, having lost 9 inches of water in 3 weeks.
Mar. 6th. Quarant’ Ore. Rector obtained white lilac and lilies which were placed on the altar, part during procession and part after ceremony.
Mar. 7th. Demolition of cottages at Hill Top beginning.
Mar. 9th. J. Potter back in Infirmary, 2 days after spending 7 weeks there. Rector and President agreed that he should return home once fit to travel, and see how he does once there.
Mar. 10th. A. Bryce taken to Minories, with a high temperature and acute pain in ear. Mr. Burke at Ushaw with Mr. Pearson, cabinet maker, taking particulars for a cupboard for vestments.
Mar. 11th. Rector offered Jas. Connor new post of under butler, which he accepted.
Mar. 14th. Operation on A. Bryce after abscess burst in his ear. Under butler took up his duties.
Mar. 16th. Measurements taken re. possible reorganisation of swimming bath and sacristy. Panels returned from Headmans being re-fixed in Memorial chapels.
Mar. 17th. J. Potter put on train home to Liverpool after 8 weeks in Infirmary.
Mar. 18th. Called on new tenant of Biggin House. Top office to be fixed up as a room for Dr. Theissen, who was being troubled by noise in his present room.
Mar. 21st. Transferred Feast of St. Cuthbert: Pontifical High Mass at 8.30. Buns for breakfast, chicken and fried ham for dinner. Bishop left in evening. Mr. Curry gone home, as his father had died.
Mar. 23rd. President to Berwick for Silver Jubilee of J. McHugh, a schoolfellow.
Mar. 24th. To Newcastle, arranging for two mortgages at 4¼%, value something over £5000.
Mar. 25th. Doctor’s report on V. Lynch: no organic disease found, but “no reserves of strength & is little suited to hard work”. Report forwarded to bishop.
Mar. 28th. Mr. Burke at Ushaw to discuss substantial alterations to swimming bath and East Dormitory. Rector suggested cutting off part of the dormitory as a lavatory with baths, and allocating remaining bed-places to Phils. as
study-cubicles.
Mar. 30th. Peter Seed bought two bookcases and other items at auction sale at Mrs. Shafto’s in Durham, as directed by Rector who had viewed them the day before.
Apr. 1st. C. Roddy and D. Backhouse left for ordination, the former to return to teach in Sem..
Apr. 3rd. Mr. W. Clifford left for short holiday. Dr. Theissen left by night train to visit Belgium and Germany, not expected back until Low Week.
Apr. 5th. Cheque for £4250 left with Mr. Waugh at Newcastle to cover a mortgage.
Apr. 7th. Arranged to lend £2500 to Sisters at Cromer on the 23rd.
Apr. 9th. Mgr. Aspinall arrived for Sem. retreat.
Apr. 10th. Palm Sunday. Fr. Oswald CP arrived for College retreat.
Apr. 13th. Bishop came and assisted at Tenebrae. Fr. Oswald began maids’ retreat. A divine arrived from Upholland for ordination as deacon: lodged in Infirmary as it currently only held one patient.
Apr. 15th: Good Friday. Passion Sermon preached by Fr. Oswald.
Apr. 16th. Took Bishop to Stockton in afternoon to see Canon Taylerson, who was dying.
Apr. 17th. Ordination of 23 subdeacons and 2 deacons. Bishop and Fr. Oswald left.
Apr. 20th. £2500 loaned to convent at Cromer.
Apr. 21st. Sem. lads shown around the Farm in the morning and taken on bus trip to Blanchland in afternoon.
Apr. 22nd. Two juniors left, making three Hexham students dropped this Easter.
Apr. 23rd. Most Profs. returned after a few days away.
Apr. 27th. Mr. C. Clifford still ill at home. Evening meeting of Butsfield Young Farmers Club at Ushaw farm: Rector attended.
Apr. 29th. Dr. Jedin, German priest and a recognised scholar, began a short stay at Ushaw to consider the possibility of coming to teach Church History.
Apr. 30th. End of a very dry month: a total of 0.4 inch of rain between March and April.
May 1st. Discussed several lads with doctor, particularly J. Wilson (persistent stomach trouble) and D. Gaurley (bad case of nerves). May 2nd. President to Conference of Catholic Colleges at Old Hall, taking Dr. Jedin with him: he would decide
later whether to come to teach, but “[p]rospect of his coming unpopular”.
May 3rd. Brought flowers from Durham: roses for English Martyrs’ altar and white iris for St. Joseph’s.
May 4th. Preached at La Sagesse, Newcastle, in the morning, for their Silver Jubilee. Divines’ Feast: 95 for dinner, 5 Minors, 1 head carver. Rector and four others to Sunderland in evening for football match against Preston North End.
May 5th. Received two swans, gift of J. Scott. Visit from Mother Provincial of La Sagesse and Reverend Mothers of Newcastle, Preston, Chorley and Liverpool.
May 8th. Sunday: three Profs. at Chester-le-Street and Mr. Dickinson supplying at St. Godric’s, Durham.
May 11th. Weather warmer: Rector ordered that playroom and classroom fires were to be left to go out in the night.
May 12th. Canon Chadwick arrived to shoot rooks. Dr. Gowland gone home as his father was seriously ill.
May 13th. Farm valuation received, £330 above last year’s.
May 14th. Dr. Meagher to Lancashire for special sermons at Weed Bank. Farm appeared to have made a surprisingly substantial loss on the year.
May 16th. Saw Newcastle solicitors about Canon Blackoe’s property in Preston. Bishop and his secretary arrived, for consecration of church at Ushaw Moor the next day.
May 17th. Studies off given, to allow several Profs. to assist at church consecration. Analysed farm workings to reveal cause of losses – mostly through foodstuffs for stock, sheep, and horses.
May 19th. Arrangement of north end of East Dormitory fixed with Mr. Burke. Sent to Stockton for a picture left to Ushaw by the late Canon Taylerson, reputed to be a Guercius.
May 22nd. Gave address at CYMS Rally at Ushaw Moor.
May 25th. Bishop arrived to confirm 5 Sem. lads, and to ordain a deacon next day. Rector visited Neville’s Cross steam laundry, checking prices and confirming that Ushaw’s laundry was saving the college money.
May 26th. J. Daly ordained deacon by Bishop in St. Charles’.
May 27th. Representative of Vulcan Boiler Co. visited and approved proposed changes to plant. Mr. Burke came re. proposed new wash house.
May 30th. Friends of National Libraries visited, and were shown an exhibition of books prepared by Mr. Payne.
June 1st. Chimney fire discovered during night prayers, after President had left blower running in front of his fire. Much mess from burning soot.
June 2nd. Bishop consecrated 30 altar stones.
June 6th. Rev. A. Ord, currently at Newcastle Grammar School, told that he was to return to Ushaw next year to teach Maths in Sem. and assist the Rector.
June 7th. Doubt as to whether private “sports” arranged by Big Lads at Busby should continue to be allowed: Jos. O’Mahoney damaged his ankle jumping, and on the previous occasion Jas. Scott had broken his collarbone.
June 12th. Resolved that June 22nd. should be a day of celebration for the President’s Silver Jubilee, which would fall in August.
June 15th. Boiler makers advised that a new boiler smaller than the present small one might be capable of higher output than the existing two boilers, which would remove the ned for a new wash house. Discussed loans to Leeds parishes with Bishop
at Tynemouth.
June 17th. Mr. C. Clifford returned after illness lasting since Easter week.
June 21st. Bishop sang High Mass for feast of St. Aloysius.
June 22nd. Celebrations in honour of the President’s coming Jubilee. Students had an egg at breakfast: dinner soup, lamb with new potatoes, desserts and fresh fruit, wine and biscuits. Used 7 lambs, 90 lbs. cherries, 12 bundles of mint.
June 24th. Papal Visitation by Mgr. Godfrey with secretary Rev. E. Roberts. Visitor received by whole House on arrival: intoned Veni Creator in church and delivered a short address. June 26th. Mgr. Godfrey’s work continuing – as much time as
possible spent with Divines.
June 27th. Thomas Seed began work on the outdoor staff. Fourth generation of Seeds working at Ushaw.
July 1st. Playday for the Papal Visitor. Rector had long talk with Mgr. Godfrey: “very similar” views on matters of discipline.
July 2nd. Mgr. Godfrey addressed students in chapel, gave papal blessing, and ended the visitation, leaving at 3.40 to a send-off by House assembled on terrace. He mentioned receiving complaints over food, its service and variety. Rector
considered in response doing away with carving hall and introducing steam hot plates in Refectory.
July 3rd. President to Oscott for their centenary celebrations.
July 4th. Rector left for ten days’ rest.
July 14th. Rector returned to work in the afternoon. 112 names on Grand Week list.
July 17th. Increased seating required in Divines’ lecture room next year, as they would number well over 100.
July 20th. Gave orders to Mr. Pearsall of Thompson’s, including for a super economic boiler to be erected early next summer. Cheque for £2450 received as income tax refund.
July 24th. Bishop ordained 8 priests. July 25th. Start of Grand Week. Rector to Durham to buy plums and gooseberries: strawberries, beans and potatoes supplied by Ushaw’s garden. Final number on list 113.
July 26th. More fruit from Durham, but could not get cherries. Girl who had gone home sick the day before was said to have scarlet fever and possibly diphtheria: fumigation needed.
July 27th. Almost 200 for dinner. “A very successful Grand Week”.
July 28th. Fine weather for departure of students.
July 29th. President left. Ordered provisions for clergy retreat.
July 31st. Went to Langley Park for Mass after Mass at college. Finished list of rooms (102 including Rector) for clergy retreat.
Aug. 1st. Start of clergy retreat, Bishop of Menevia preaching. Unexpected arrival of four priests not on list. Aug. 5th. Serious escape of gas from refrigeration plant: larder difficult to enter for a time.
Aug. 6th. End of retreat. Canon and Miss Blackoe arrived from Poulton. Refrigerator repaired, a full day’s work.
Aug. 8th. Works proceeding in many parts of House. Walkers installing steam pipes for hot plates in Refectory.
Aug. 13th. President arrived with his brother Wilfrid, and Ernst Clostermann from Germany. Bishop of Nottingham arrived later.
Aug. 14th. Further arrivals for President’s Silver Jubilee. E. Clostermann presented a missal and stole
Aug. 15th. President’s Jubilee. He said Mass at High Altar, served by R. Worsley and G. Maingot. Mgr. Cogan in for dinner, making a total of 16.
Aug. 20th. Departure of seven visiting priests. G. Maingot, B. Wren, W. Corbishley and E. Clostermann still at Ushaw.
Aug. 27th. Visit by a party of around 100 of the Legion of Mary. Looked after by Rector and Mgr. Cogan.
Aug. 30th. Work began on E. Dormitory tiling. Sept. 6th – 9th. Canon Wilkinson at Ushaw for audit, and Canon T. Chadwick for a holiday.
Sept. 12th. To Bishop Auckland to see bank manager re. Bishop Wilkinson’s account. Maids had a party, for which Rector had given £3.
Sept. 16th – 19th. Visit by Fr. T. Connolly SJ, an American authority on Francis Thompson.
Sept. 18th. Arrival of Archbishop Goodier to lead retreat. Hot plates in Refectory now in use.
Sept. 20th. Retreat began: Sem. led by Rev. Denis Kennedy.
Sept. 24th. Departures of Fr. Kennedy and Archbishop Goodier. News of death of Bishop Henshaw.
Sept. 25th. 81 ordinations. Ceremony lasted until nearly 11.45, Bishop left at 2 PM. Concern continuing over new boy J. Forster, with suspected appendix trouble.
Sept. 26th. Arrival of most bishops, for annual meeting beginning next day. “Grave anxiety over international situation”: Rector had talk with Dr. Theissen regarding his position.
Sept. 28th. Began digging trenches in front of racket houses in Bounds, with Divines helping. “Dramatic and good news of situation in late afternoon. Coffee and liqueurs in honour of Chamberlain”.
Sept. 29th. J. Forster operated on for appendicitis.
Sept. 30th. “Great rejoicing” and a playday, for settlement reached at Munich.
Oct. 3rd. Mr. Cunningham to Minories for operation on varicose veins. Rev. Gerard Culkin visited before going to Louvain to prepare for post as Professor of Church History. Gale at night damaged various windows.
Oct. 5th. Conference with Peases’ representatives re. damage, especially at the farm house. Rev. Culkin left: to receive £50 per year including allowance for books, and Rector allowed an extra £12 towards books and clothes.
Oct. 12th. St. Cuthbert’s Society playday, but nasty weather. 11 Profs. to Canon Smith’s at Hexham.
Oct. 14th. Mr. Cunningham and J. Forster brought back from Minories. Last of harvest brought in, unusually good at over 15 stacks of corn.
Nov. 8th. Rector returned. Mr. Ord at Minories for operation. R. Wood gone home, tuberculosis. Pease & Partners given notice to terminate coal lease.
Nov. 12th. Arrival of new boy, Laurence Murray.
Nov. 16th. Operation on Mr. Ord – adhesive peritonitis found, and his condition thought very grave.
Nov. 18th. Mr. Cunningham appointed Headmaster of St. Cuthbert’s Grammar School, Newcastle.
Nov. 19th. R. O’Sullivan KC, at Ushaw for the weekend, gave talk to Divines.
Nov. 20th. Mayor’s Sunday at St. Godric’s, Durham. President sang Mass, Rector preached.
Nov. 21st. Inspected repairs at Biggin Farm: still much to do. Joseph Wilson had developed pleurisy, and heart trouble suspected.
Nov. 23rd. J. Wilson considered probably to have TB. Phils. Feast, “a very wild day with much rain and wind” . Newspaper enquiries following the announcement of Mgr. Godfrey’s appointment as Apostolic Delegate to
Great Britain.
Nov. 24th. Arrival of Sr. Evangelist to take over night duty. Dr. McReavy in bed with a severe chill.
Nov. 27th. President to Manchester for funeral of Rev. J.A.Gribbin.
Nov. 29th. Valentine’s Meat Juice obtained for J. Wilson, who was showing some improvement but taking little nourishment.
Nov. 30th. To Stanhope with President and Fr. Shelley to visit Raphael Wood, in sanatorium there. Mr. Cunningham to be succeeded by Mr. Greenwood in Sem..
Dec. 1st. An entertainment given by Mr. Finlay Dunn.
Dec. 2nd. Playday for Mgr. Godfrey’s appointment as Apostolic Delegate. J. Wilson taken by ambulance to Minories.
Dec. 5th. To Lancaster with President and Mr. Kershaw for funeral of Bishop Pearson.
Dec. 6th. Harriers met at Ushaw Farm at 12.30, Big Lads had early dinner then followed the hunt.
Dec. 14th. Brought Mr. Ord back from Minories after “wonderful recovery”. Damage inspected at Farm and Sem. Bounds wall etc.. Order for reconditioning Sem. organ at cost of £118 given to Pearson & Phelan.
Dec. 15th. A. McConnell taken to Minories for operation re. appendicitis.
Dec. 17th. Met Mgr. Ronald Knox at Durham station.
Dec. 18th. President and Vice-President accompanied Mgr. Knox to Newcastle after dinner.
Dec. 21st. Mgr. Godfrey consecrated in Rome. Mr. Cunningham named Honorary Canon of Hexham and Newcastle on his appointment at Newcastle Grammar School.
Dec. 23rd. Lay boys went home.
Dec. 25th. All turkeys for Refectory were from own farm.
Dec. 26th. Students left, and all Profs. excepting President, who left the next morning.
Dec. 29th. Most maids left for brief holiday.
Dec. 31st. Rector took Mr. Cunningham to Sunderland. Frosty weather, causing concern as heating was off ready for cleaning of flues.
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UC/AA6/4/41 2 January - 27 December 1939
Jan. 2nd. Maids returned. Heating back on after boiler re-lit. Jan. 6th. Severe weather, pond frozen hard. Rector took his sister to Minories for examination: non-malignant fibroids.
Jan. 9th. End of Christmas Vacation.
Jan. 12th. To Newcastle with Sr. Attracta, to bring J. Wilson back from Minories.
Jan. 13th. To Jarrow to view the furnishings of the Berengaria, to be sold by auction.
Jan. 16th. Peter Seed to Berengaria sale, but prices were too high.
Jan. 18th. President’s Feast. Turkeys from Bainbridges. TB officer visited to see J. Wilson: thought to have recovered well, and to be moved to a sanatorium.
Jan. 19th. President to Manchester for Conference of Catholic Colleges committee meeting.
Jan. 23rd . J. Wilson taken to Wolsingham Sanatorium. Rector viewed furniture to be sold at Auckland Castle.
Jan. 24th. President to Middlesbrough for funeral of Mgr. Sullivan: brought back from John McCormack at Stockton “an interesting old spinning wheel”. Peter Seed made a few purchases at Berengaria sale.
Jan. 30th. More goods, 2 loads, bought from Berengaria.
Feb. 4th. Went away for a few days.
Feb. 5th. Mr. Leo Sharratt ordained at Gosforth, to take up post of Prefect General. Returned to Ushaw on 7th, and Mr. Greenwood went over to Sem..
Feb. 8th. Playday for the new prefect.
Feb. 9th. Rector returned. In bed with heavy cold from the 11th to 26th, allowed up for a little longer each day after that.
Feb. 20th. Cock Vac.. Play, Iolanthe.
Mar. 2nd. News of Cardinal Pacelli’s election as Pope. Champagne for Pius XII on the 3rd. Rector back to his room after sickness, but not yet allowed out.
Mar. 8th. Divines’ playday for feast of St. Thomas.
Mar. 12th. Coronation of the Pope. Studies-off for an hour from noon to allow listening to end of Coronation broadcast.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Day, High Mass at 8.30. Buns at breakfast, chicken and ham for dinner. Bishop and five local visitors at dinner. Cat struck out.
Mar. 24th. Weekend visit by Dr. Edge, lecturer in Maths at Edinburgh.
Mar. 28th. To Accrington with a lorry taking a ram from Broadgate for exchange with a reconditioned one.
Apr. 1st. Arrival of Fr. Vernon Johnson to give College and maids’ retreats.
Apr. 2nd. Palm Sunday. Supply of palms failed: some from last year were used, but most people had willows or catkins. Fr. Campbell CSSR arrived to lead Sem. retreat.
Apr. 5th. Mr. Clifford called home in response to his father’s condition, arriving shortly before he died.
Apr. 6th. Maundy Thursday. Archbishop Godfrey arrived and presided over Tenebrae.
Apr. 7th. Passion sermon preached by Fr. Johnson.
Apr. 9th. Easter Day. Archbishop Godfrey sang High Mass and gave Papal Blessing.
Apr. 10th. Most Profs. and Fr. Johnson left. Archbishop Godfrey and Secretary left on morning of the 11th “after a very pleasant visit”.
Apr. 15th. Most Profs. returned, also most of the students who had gone away.
Apr. 17th. Playday for the Apostolic Delegate.
Apr. 24th. President to Beaumont for Conference of Catholic Colleges. Frs. Hoelson and Fitzpatrick came to stay several days.
Apr. 26th. To Barnsley to see Miss Broadhead, now very weak.
Apr. 29th. Mr. A. Roddy and Mr. G. Hinchliffe left to be ordained the next day.
Apr. 30th. Ordination of 16 subdeacons and 2 deacons. May 2nd. Peter Seed unfit for heavy work after a motorbike accident on April 30th, leaving him with a cracked rib and much bruising. Juniors began having May devotions in their own chapel,
only to go to College on Mondays and Saturdays.
May 3rd. Divines’ Feast. Egg and bacon for breakfast, and dinner at 3 PM.
May 6th. Sr. Vincent LCM came on visit. Vincent Fairclough left, at his father’s urgent request, so as to be able to choose his own regiment for compulsory military service.
May 9th. All fitted with gas masks in the morning. Small boiler moved to new boiler house. Rev. R.O.Bilsborrow, visiting, gave talk on Cat in Hall.
May 11th. Canon Chadwick arrived for rooks.
May 15th – 19th. Canon Prescott and Rev. T. Turner paid visit.
May 18th. Ascension Day. Cold and with showers, so no party game.
May 24th. To Lanchester for show and sale of calves, and distributed prizes.
May 26th. Heard of death of Miss Broadhead. Attended her funeral in Barnsley on the 28th.
May 29th. Party of 14 Profs. given a day out as guests of Canon Smith, visiting Blanchland, Hexham for lunch, then Ullswater.
May 31st. Arrival of Apostolic Delegate for a short stay. Playday given in his honour on June 2nd. Course of ARP instruction began, mainly for Rector, Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Sharratt, who were to be air wardens.
June 3rd. Students aged 20 and 21 registered for military service at Ushaw Moor.
June 12th. Six boys staying overnight prior to sitting exams for two scholarships. Canon T. Flynn appointed Bishop of Lancaster.
June 15th. Completed papers re. Miss Broadhead’s probate.
June 19th. To Newcastle, and ordered flowers etc. for the feast of St. Aloysius. ARP instruction completed.
June 20th. Dr. Brown of Auton Stile began giving first aid course to ARP wardens and other interested Profs..
June 25th. Several to see the doctor. “Mostly end of year exhaustion, I think”.
July 1st. Rector went away for ten days.
July 14th. Meeting of numerous interested parties to discuss compensation for damages to grounds and buildings.
July 18th. Shopping for Grand Week. Visit from Frs. E. Whiteside and R. Taylor regarding Ushaw students in camp at Carlisle and much distressed by conditions there. Rector writing a report to be sent to Cardinal.
July 20th. Communications re. Carlisle, where position of the Ushaw lads was improving. Fr. Gerald Culkin arrived for brief stay.
July 21st. Meeting with surveyor and sanitary inspector about byreman’s cottage and gas house cottages
July 22nd. Bishop arrived for ordinations next day, also Frs. Simpson OSB and Robnett OSB to assist.
July 23rd. Ordination of 12 priests and 6 subdeacons.
July 24th. Monday of Grand Week. 114 visitors: over 210 for dinner on Wednesday.
July 27th. Students left, except those with public exams still to finish.
July 31st. Start of clergy retreat. Total of 112 with Bishop and Mgr. Knox.
Aug. 1st. Meeting toward deciding liability for colliery damages, with architect, mining engineer and representatives of Peases and Sadlers.
Aug. 5th. End of retreat. Mgr. Knox left, Canon and Miss Blackoe arrived.
Aug. 7th. Visit by some SVP delegates after their conference in Newcastle: Rector speaking at Catholic Reunion in Durham. Small calf from Ushaw won second prize at Durham County Show.
Aug. 14th. Heard from Carlisle that Ushaw militia men had been given the option of transferring to non-combatant corps. Bishop considered that they should, but some seemed reluctant.
Aug. 16th. Outing to Lake District for Rector, his sister and Dr. Theissen.
Aug. 19th. Drove to Carlisle to enquire about the Ushaw men there. All had applied for transfer to non-combatant corps.
Aug. 21st. Hospitality offered to an Arab gentleman, native of Bethlehem, speaking several languages, who called at Ushaw. Dr. Theissen hoped to talk with him about Palestine and be given some lessons in Arabic.
Aug. 24th. Sent the Bishops a short report on the position of the Ushaw men at Carlisle. Wondering whether war imminent, tested paint for obscuring windows.
Aug. 25th. Departure of the Arab guest after breakfast. Visited Mr. Cunningham at Newcastle Grammar School and bought a quantity of material for covering windows.
Aug. 26th. President to return, at least for a few days, on the 28th, after cancellation of pilgrimage to Lisieux because of the threat of war.
Aug. 28th. Met President in Newcastle, and experimented further with ways of darkening windows.
Aug. 31st. “International position very grave”. Asked by head of ARP to stand by for 24 hours. Lighting restrictions ordered.
Sept. 1st. War between Germany and Poland. To Lanchester in evening for ARP lecture. Many children brought from Newcastle to Esh. Working on darkening windows.
Sept. 3rd. War declared. Visit by party of Children of Mary. Short Benediction at 3.45.
Sept. 4th. To Consett with Dr. Theissen, to ask police authorities about his position. “Extremely well received. He will have to keep within a 5 miles radius but is not likely to be otherwise disturbed”.
Arrangements for obscuring lights inspected at night with local policeman. More work next day to remedy defects.
Sept. 8th. Rector’s sister unable to return home, as trains to Carlisle had been withdrawn for 2 days for further evacuations.
Sept. 10th. Mr. Leblique, son of old gym master, arranged for his boy to start at Ushaw. Rector’s sister taken home.
Sept. 11th. Long discussion with Mr. Armstrong, of Fowler and Armstrong, on supply of petrol, about to come under government control. Fred Wrangham found dead.
Sept. 13th. Still working on darkening windows and adjustments to lighting. Attended Fred Wrangham’s funeral.
Sept. 16th. End of vacation, but many students delayed. Dr. Meagher returned to England from USA. No news of Mr. Brennan, who had gone to USA with Pax Romana.
Sept.17th. Fr. Ernest Graf OSB arrived to give retreat.
Sept. 18th. Day to begin half an hour later, to gain more light for Masses. Dr. Meagher back at Ushaw.
Sept. 19th. To Durham, Low Fell and Newcastle. Fish wanted for Ember Wednesday, but only kippers available in Durham. Powell’s of Low Fell promised to maintain supply of jam as long as they could get sugar. Fr. G. Griffin arrived for Sem.
retreat. No evening Benediction because of lighting restrictions.
Sept. 20th. President to Manchester for ordination of Bishop of Salford. Effects including piano sent to Fr. C. Clifford. Defects in blackout screening observed at night.
Sept. 21st. Obtained, with difficulty, fish for parlour on Friday. Consulted Mr. Rowe in Lanchester re. work of air wardens.
Sept. 22nd. (Friday). Potato pie for Sem. and maids, rest of house 2 eggs each.
Sept. 23rd. Bishop to Ushaw to give tonsure, and for ordinations next day. Mr. Ord in great pain: given morphia injection and to be taken to Minories next morning.
Sept. 25th. Fr. Graf left. Called on Fuel Oversser at Lanchester re. rationing. Bishops arrived for their meeting, except Archbishop of Liverpool whose mother had just died.
Sept. 27th. Playday for Bishop of Lancaster. Last of the bishops left.
Sept. 28th. After worsening reports, Mr. Ord died at Minories. His body to be brought back to Ushaw on the 29th for funeral on the 30th.
Sept. 29th. News received that church students would be exempt from military service, and that the Ushaw militiamen would return to the college.
Sept. 30th. Mr. Ord’s funeral, attended by around a dozen visiting priests and ten relatives. The President delivered a short panegyric. Lighting of playroom fires delayed because of rationing.
Oct. 2nd. Larger fireplaces being partially bricked up to save coal.
Oct. 4th. Fires to be lit from the 5th, but would have to be let out overnight. Lighting fires daily would make for too much work for the maids to perform in the time available, so some of Peter Seed’s men would be charged with the lighting.
Oct. 6th. Air raid alarm rehearsal, “went very smoothly”.
Oct. 7th. Given gas chamber test in Langley Park. Selby Jackson died at Durham County Hospital after being struck by a train at the station.
Oct, 9th. Vincent Lynch returned after an absence of more than a year for bad health.
Oct. 10th. Selby Jackson buried: requiem at Esh. Canons Wilkinson and Prescott stayed overnight at Ushaw.
Oct. 11th. Arranged for a son of Frank Goundry to wind up his shoe repairing business and take over Ushaw’s shop, with help from a younger brother who would also work as a labourer under Peter Seed.
Oct. 13th. A day’s meeting of interested parties re. colliery damages, largely to chapel foundations and swimming baths.
Oct. 15th. Doctor had “serious talk” with Mr. Leo Harrison about his nervous debility.
Oct. 16th. Requiem for Mgr. Brown. Mr. Henry Olsen came back to Ushaw to take the place of Mr. Ord.
Oct. 17th. Air raid warning lasting an hour and a half in Newcastle, where rector was, and at Ushaw. Decided that an air raid warning by itself was not sufficient cause to send everyone to the cellars – all would stay on ground floor in absence
of further evidence of the proximity of raiders.
Oct. 18th. Permission readily granted to an officer from Ushaw Moor to establish a small rifle range in the old quarry below the cricket field.
Oct. 23rd. Rector went away for a week.
Oct. 30th. Driven back to Ushaw by Fr. Coia.
Nov. 1st. Vespers of the Dead followed Vespers of the feast. Pheasants for dinner.
Nov. 3rd. Community Mass to precede meditation because of blackout. Visited Hermitage in Chester-le-Street to view sale of effects.
Nov. 8th – 9th. Peter Seed bought items at the Hermitage sale, chiefly for the Infirmary, which were transported to Ushaw on the 10th. Turkeys ordered for the Phils. Feast.
Nov. 12th. Six including Rector to ARP lecture in Langley Park.
Nov. 15th. Mr. Leo Harrison examined by Dr. Horsley Drummond at Newcastle: considered him physically sound, but suffering effects of overwork and lack of exercise while studying for his BA.
Nov. 16th. News received that Ushaw’s army men had been released on the afternoon of the 14th. They were to be allowed to stay at home until after Christmas, but the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle wished his men to make a retreat first.
Nov. 17th. Divines v. House at football, “a game to which no objection could be made” after the Rector had spoken to Divines about rough play in the past two years.
Nov. 18th. Ration books received. Nov. 19th. With ending of summer time, lights could go up earlier and so meditation was returned to before Mass.
Nov. 22nd. Phils. Feast, at 4 PM as the days were starting later.
Nov. 23rd. To Durham to talk to Meat Controller and Divisional Food Controller about registration for rationing. Ushaw categorised for rationing purposes as a Catering Establishment, rather than a Residential Establishment or an Institution.
Nov. 28th. Much progress made in kitchen garden, where some Professors and students had been helping out. Donnellys told they must work harder if they were to stay.
Dec. 6th. New finishing machine arrived for cobbler’s shop.
Dec. 8th. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Grand Benediction in Sem. at 1.45.
Dec. 12th. Geo. Canavan taken to Minories: suspicion of pelvic abscess or bone trouble. Operation on the 15th discovering a quantity of pus at the hip joint. Varying reports on his progress on successive days, and reference to his having had
meningitis in the past.
Dec. 22nd. Students left for Christmas.
Dec. 24th. Death of Mrs. Seed.
Dec. 27th. Attended Mrs. Seed’s funeral.
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Jan. 1st. Keen frost: gave some Ushaw employees permission to skate on the Pond.
Jan. 7th. Applied to Ministry of Food for permission for Ushaw to kill its own stock when rationing began.
Jan. 9th. End of Christmas Vacation. All Profs. back in time for dinner, except Dr. McReavy (flu).
Jan. 10th. Skating all day. Mr. Brennan fell and broke his collarbone.
Jan. 12th. To Sunderland in lorry, returning with 1cwt. of salt for water softener.
Jan. 15th. Sr. Vincent in bed, and four Divines and two from Sem. in Infirmary, also a Philosopher with knee injury from Pond.
Jan. 17th. President’s feast. Turkeys from Bainbridges and the Farm. Oranges and apples served but no bananas or biscuits: port obtained from Blaneys, Samos Muscat brought up from cellar, students very pleased with the dinner.
Jan. 21st. 20 degrees of frost: some frozen pipes and cisterns. Ten Juniors and four Divines in Infirmary.
Jan. 24th. Infirmary overflowing, with more flu cases daily having to be kept in dormitory or private rooms.
Jan. 26th. Now around 70 with flu, Sem. and Divines worst affected.
Jan. 27th. Choirmaster-organist among flu victims, and Benediction for the feast of St. John Chrysostom ws performed without the organ.
Jan. 29th . Recoveries from flu now outnumbering new cases. Snow covering much of pond but skating still possible on parts of it: Oliver Plunket to Durham for X-ray of broken fibula.
Feb. 5th. Cock Vac.: “impromptu, but enjoyable” concert in Hall at 8PM, and another the next day. Bad report on George Canavan, with bone disease having extended to hip joint.
Feb. 11th. Quarant’ Ore not possible because of blackout, but daily Expositions on the three days. Visit by representative of
Daily Mail intending to feature Ushaw in a series on theological colleges.
Feb. 12th. Article on Ushaw printed in Daily Mail, entitled
“Where priests get their smiles from” – “Not bad: very entertaining”.
Feb. 15th. George Canavan taken home, and then to be admitted to a local hospital.
Feb. 17th. Henry Townend sent to Sanatorium with scarlet fever, and Theodore Guthrie followed next day.
Feb. 19th. John McNabb to Newcastle to spend ten days in nursing home receiving treatment for ear trouble. Dr. Meagher gone home as his father was dying.
Feb. 20th. Sanatorium cases declared to be German measles rather than scarlet fever.
Feb. 26th. Back to summer time, and Peter Seed’s men would now start work at 8 rather than 7 AM, with no break at 9. Painters, masons and bricklayers to have wages and time at work adjusted to trade union rates and hours.
Feb. 27th. Two more Divines with German measles, making eight cases in all.
Feb. 29th. Mr. Cook called re. damage to the Farm House, “now in a very bad way”.
Mar. 5th. A 12-1 win at football for a strong Ushaw team over a team of army men from Ushaw Moor.
Mar. 11th. Start of meat rationing. Ushaw had obtained a permit to kill its own stock, but difficulty was still anticipated in maintaining supply.
Mar. 13th. Vincent Wrangham left, called up for Friday (15th). Given £5 by Rector.
Mar.14th. To Newcastle, High Mass and church dedication. Michael O’Donahue left to return to India.
Mar. 16th. Bishop arrived after dinner, to stay for the retreats.
Mar. 17th. Arrival of Drs. Garwin and Morgan for the retreats. Some boys confirmed in Sem. by the Bishop during vespers.
Mar. 19th. Bishop returned to Tynemouth for the day as Provost Rogers was seriously ill.
Mar. 20th. Dr. Garwin began maids’ retreat. Students had rabbit at dinner, after Rector obtained 70 ready skinned from Oliver in Durham.
Mar. 22nd. Good Friday. Passion Sermon preached by Dr. Garwin. No veneration of Relic of the True Cross at night, because of blackout requirement: special ceremony in Sem. at 7AM with Bishop presiding.
Mar. 23rd. Infirmary now empty.
Mar. 25th – 30th. Most Profs. away for the week, as usual.
Mar. 31st. Ordinations: 1st and 2nd Minor Orders, 20 Subs. and one Deacon.
Apr. 2nd. Candles in St. Joseph’s for his transferred feast. Arrival of Fr. Parisotti to stay two days.
Apr. 3rd. Pontifical High Mass on transferred Feast of St. Cuthbert. Seven Profs. to Fenham Convent for meeting of the Priests Eucharistic League, where Rector delivered a paper on Fostering Vocations to the Priesthood.
Apr. 8th. President to Mt. St. Mary’s for Conference of Catholic Colleges.
Apr. 9th. Vincent Fairclough, suffering rheumatism and ear trouble, gone home for two weeks to recuperate.
Apr. 13th. Water storage tank by Sanatorium found to be seriously damaged.
Apr. 15th. Visit for two days by Fr. Leonard, head chaplain to Forces in Durham and Northumberland.
Apr. 16th. Dr. Theissen appeared before a court in Newcastle, accompanied by the President, to obtain renewal of his permit for a further year on its existing terms.
Apr. 22nd. Went to Satley, where a show of calves – Ushaw’s two entries were placed 2nd and 4th – was followed by a cattle sale. Mr. J. Hardy was told that he would be Infirmarian next year.
Apr. 26th. Mr. McGuire to Cambridge to receive his MA.
Apr. 28th. J. Magee said by doctor to be outgrowing and outworking his strength, and ordered to take a fortnight’s complete rest. To do so in Infirmary, rather than at home which would be too dull.
May 1st. Divines’ Feast. Lamb unobtainable, so roasts were beef and pork, following the usual menu otherwise.
May 3rd. Overnight stay by the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Godfrey, and his secretary Fr. Rickaby, travelling from London to Edinburgh.
May 5th – 8th Fr. Coia visited Ushaw.
May 9th – 11th. Archbishop Godfrey and secretary at Ushaw again.
May 12th. Aliens’ Office required the immediate internment of all male Germans and Austrians between 16 and 60. Dr. Theissen taken initially to Brancepeth: “took it very well indeed”.
May 13th. Visit by a party from Preston, under Canon Prescott. Ruddigore performed in the evening, and repeated next day.
May 16th. Rector left for holiday.
May 17th. President visited Dr. Theissen, who was confined at Fenham Barracks and not able to say Mass.
May 30th. Rector returned. Ushaw asked to be ready to accommodate up to 50 officers evacuated from France. Beds prepared in Infirmary and East Dormitory, but no men arrived.
May 31st. News received that Dr. Theissen was being held at Huyton. While in Lancashire, Rector heard a story that Dr. Theissen, while on supply with the Benedictines in Blyth, had been gathering information about the submarines there. Wrote to
Abbot Bamford requesting his observations.
June 2nd. The first of the officers to be billeted at Ushaw arrived, two in the morning and two at night.
June 6th. Officers continued to arrive, and played a game of cricket against an Ushaw team.
June 7th. Officers coming and going: around 56 took breakfast. BBC broadcast of Vespers from Ushaw, 3.40 – 4PM.
June 13th. The last few officers left Ushaw, after steady departures through the preceding days. Received “many expressions of appreciation and gratitude”.
June 14th. Wonderful weather, and start of haymaking.
June 15th. Five students gone away for ordination.
June 18th. £21. 13s. received from an officer from Ushaw Moor for the recent billeting, not including messing.
June 19th. Jos. Orrell pronounced to have endocarditis.
June 20th. Noises of firing or bombs, then sirens, raised the college before midnight, and all went to cellars. All except wardens to bed around 2AM, though the All Clear had not yet sounded. The trouble had been at Hartlepool and Stockton.
June 21st. Bishop assisted at High Mass for Feast of St. Aloysius: arrived by car and left in mid-morning. Peter Storey (English College) arrived to make retreat before ordination.
June 22nd. Further air raid warnings around midnight and in early hours. Received letter from Dr. Theissen, written in Huyton on the 12th. Retreat for ordinandi began.
June 24th. So many lettuces grown that gardeners were anxious to sell 1000 head.
June 25th. French oral examiner present.
June 28th. 20 dozen lettuces, grown by Dr. McReavy, sold to Rushworth and Storey.
June 29th. Departures for ordination: Gerard and Raymond Crumbley to Jarrow, Messrs. Brady, Carter and Lovelady to Liverpool, Mr. Costello to North Ormesby.
June 30th. Bishop ordained 3 priests and a subdeacon.
July 1st. Big Lads in garden picking gooseberries, of which 1 cwt. Were for sale to Rushworth and Storey.
July 3rd. Air raid warnings becoming frequent. Heard of firing of Spillers’ old mill at Newcastle in previous day’s raid, with casualties: more casualties at Jarrow, and broken glass at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
July 4th. Visit from Mr. Travis Mills and his wife.
July 7th. Revised arrangements introduced to cope with nightly interruptions by air raid warnings. Community Mass to be said immediately when the Alll Clear sounds after 2 AM. Students to make their own beds on those days, and maids to rise at
7AM. Rector to say Mass at 7.30 for those free to attend.
July 8th. Sent parcel of books to Dr. Theissen.
July 9th. Heard that Dr. Theissen had left Isle of Man, presumably for Canada.
July 10th. Mr. Rowe from Lanchester to address wardens on HE bombs. He approved Ushaw’s arrangements for air raid shelters.
July 14th. On doctor’s advice, John Bardsley (rheumatism) and Jos. Topping (run down) to go home. End of eight well observed days of fasting and special prayer for the war.
July 17th. Fire extinguishing practice at a cottage at Hill Top.
July 18th. Dr. Vincent McNabb took away his two boys, paying £50 toward their accounts and undertaking to try to make further monthly remittances.
July 22nd. Grand Week cancelled, but 11 officials and members of the Council of St. Cuthbert’s Society attended for a meeting. Council decided to give £300 to College as nucleus of a new Lay Scholarship Fund.
July 23rd. Tuesday, with morning order following that of a Grand Week Wednesday. Over 40 visitors for a general meeting and a meal at 1.30. Mr. Stephens related being told by President that he thought he should end his work at Ushaw.
July 24th. Students left, except for Jos. Orrell in Infirmary and 32 continuing exams.
July 27th. Rector left alone at Ushaw after departure of President, Corboy and Gowland. Did not rise for air raid warning in night.
July 29th. Arrival of the Blackoes, met by Rector in Newcastle.
July 30th. Lanchester surveyor, Mr. Simkins, at Ushaw to discuss possibility of erecting obstacles in Park to prevent enemy aircraft from landing. Fr. Harold Wrangham in for Mass.
Aug. 2nd. Subsidence damages received, just under £3300, much less than had been expected.
Aug. 12th. Heard from Mr. Grant of the Ministry of Health that in extremity Ushaw would be used as an emergency hospital for air raid casualties.
Aug. 13th. Rector’s sister arrived for her annual stay.
Aug. 18th. Visit by a party of Children of Mary from Middlesbrough.
Aug. 23rd. To Newcastle to discuss with the Bishop the idea of making grants of money to Profs. who leave the college after long service, with particular reference to Stephens.
Aug. 24th. Received letter from Stephens with the information that he had been offered and would accept the newly vacant parish of Ince.
Aug. 28th. Meeting to wind up arbitration process re. colliery damages.
Sept. 3rd. Canons Wilkinson and Brunner arrived for audit, and Canon T. Chadwick for a visit.
Sept. 6th. Mr. Stephens left Ushaw. Air raids continuing, and in night Rector and others had seen, from the end of the Library, a plane caught by searchlights and finally shot down.
Sept. 7th. Heard from E. Stephens that he had accepted parish of Earlstown.
Sept. 14th. End of vacation, with all Profs. returned. Arrival of Mgr. Knox for retreat.
Sept. 15th. Bishop arrived to make short retreat. Rector saw him and put the case for being set free no later than October 1941. “Bishop felt compelled to agree… but would do his best to find good reasons for the
contrar” ”. Crowe finished as second chef: given £10.
Sept. 16th. New second cook, named Bishop, began work.
Sept. 17th. Arrival of Fr. A. Johnson for Sem. retreat.
Sept. 19th. Received in Newcastle cheque in settlement of Mining Damages Award, £3296, from which Mr. Cook would receive 100 gns. and Peter Seed £25.
Sept. 21st. Rector received in writing from Bishop the opinion that it would be best for him to carry on at Ushaw, but with more help. Decided to let students sleep until 8 AM, after sirens at bedtime had continued until almost 1.
Sept. 22nd. Ordinations 10 to 12.30, of all orders excepting priest. Sept. 23rd. Departure of Mgr. Knox, and arrival of bishops for meeting: all except Middlesbrough , who was expected next day.
Sept. 24th. All bishops present for meeting. They sent a letter of thanks and appreciation to Stephens, and Rector was to present next year a scheme for a Profs’ Pension Fund.
Sept. 26th. Archbishop of Liverpool left: “has been very pleasant”, relishing the quiet of Ushaw after Liverpool’s bombs.
Sept. 27th. Boy sent to Newcastle for examination of eye injury caused by paper pellet.
Sept. 28th. Hydrants tested in exercise, and water pressure even with aid of a pump found hardly sufficient to reach top of Front or of the Church.
Oct. 5th. Requiem for Mgr. Brown at 9.30.
Oct. 7th. Rector left for holiday, very tired.
Oct. 24th. Back from holiday, feeling much better. Gave order that all heating should be put on.
Oct. 26th. Bishop arrived for ordination next day. Arranged for Philip Cronin to give help in the Infirmary.
Oct. 27th. Ordinations in St. Joseph’s: 1 priest, 1 deacon, 2 for 2nd and 3rd Minor Orders.
Oct. 28th. Frequent air raids continuing. Decided after much discussion to black out St. Cuthbert’s, St. Aloysius’ and St. Joseph’s.
Oct. 29th. Painters blacking out St. Joseph’s. Use of table lamps by students prohibited.
Oct. 31st. Blackout of St. Joseph’s completed.
Nov. 4th. Arrival of 36 Army Chaplains for retreat given by Fr. Oswald. All housed in new wing, except Senior Chaplain Fr. Parisotti, in Visitors’ Rooms with the Retreat Father.
Nov. 7th. Solemn Requiem for deceased Chaplains sung by Fr. Parisotti, and the chaplains’ retreat ended: well appreciated, despite “many difficulties on the domestic side”. Infirmary full of Juniors.
Nov. 9th. Sr. Vincent arrived to help with Infirmary after an appeal to Nottingham.
Nov. 13th. Protracted evening air raid warning. Celebrated news of a successful air attack on Italian ships at Taranto with a glass of Marsala with soup at dinner.
Nov. 19th. Sent to diocese £6000 of surplus cash at 3% interest, withdrawable without notice.
Nov. 22nd. Blackout of the Church completed, so full lights could now be left on in evenings.
Nov. 23rd. K. McDool sent to Durham Hospital for examination of arm fracture.
Nov. 24th. New regular order for the days. Rise 6.30, Meditation 7, Mass 7.30, Breakfast 8.15, Spiritual Reading 9.30, Prone 9.45. H Mass 10.15, Middle Hour 12.15 – 1, Dinner 1.10.
Nov. 26th. Domestic work difficult as numerous maids were off work through illness.
Nov. 27th. Phils. Feast, “more or less up to the usual standard” with eggs for breakfast, turkeys and chickens, 6 bottles port.
Dec. 2nd. Washing machine in need of repair taken to Manchester on Ushaw’s lorry.
Dec. 4th and 5th. Correspondence continuing about, and with, Dr. Theissen.
Dec. 7th – 11th. Apostolic Delegate at Ushaw with his secretary. Celebrant in Sem. on the 8th, playday given in his honour on the 9th.
Dec. 12th. 10 Profs. and a Divine played Grammarians at football, and won 6-2.
Dec. 14th. Three boys, A. Bryce, D. Milburn and V. Leonard, went home for reasons of health.
Dec. 22nd. All seven boys in Infirmary allowed by doctor to leave, but two more admitted after supper. Readings up, and a successful concert by Divines in Hall after supper.
Dec. 23rd. All students left. Mr. Corboy the only Prof. staying over Christmas.
Dec. 28th. Authorised any boys who wished to return early from Liverpool and Manchester, where air raids had done great damage.
1 volume
UC/AA6/4/43 3 January 1941 - 11 January 1947
1 volume
UC/AA6/4/43i 1941
3/1 Heard that Canon Blackoe had received Last Sacraments. Reported next day to be in no immediate danger.
9/1 End of vacation.
10/1 To Edinburgh to preach at Profession after staying overnight.
12/1 Arranged for soldiers from Hill Top to visit Ushaw for hot baths on Mondays and Fridays.
16-17/1 Visit from Fr. O’Hea SJ.
20/1 Road blocked by blizzard. 30 Divines sent to help clear the way from Millgate Cottages to Hill Top, as college was in danger of running out of coal.
22/1 President’s Feast. No fruit or biscuits available. 300 lbs of turkeys obtained from Bainbridges to add to 12 birds from the farm – more than was needed.
27/1 Divines gave orchestral concert with some community singing.
2/2 Candlemas Day. Rector had been to Newcastle on Jan. 31st to buy processional candles after head sacristan had forgotten to order them.
3/2 Denis Gantley in Infirmary with very bad throat infection.
6/2 Bought £1000 of 3% Defence Bonds as part of Lanchester’s War Weapon week: “much appreciated by local authorities”.
9-12/2 President away, staying with Bishop of Notts. in order to attend consecration of Bishop of Northampton.
10/2 Received in confidence from Consett police the information that the Home Office had ordered Dr. Theissen’s release.
14/2 Dr. Theissen arrived at Ushaw.
16/2 A night of sirens after months of quiet, with the All Clear not sounding until 6AM. Community Mass at 6.30, High Mass dropped to allow students to get some sleep. Kate McQuillan and K. Meehan, returning in the dark, hit by car which then
took them to Ushaw, suffering head injury and shock respectively. K. Meehan found next day to have fractured collar bone.
17/2 To Ministry of Labour in Durham with Dr. Theissen, regarding his obtaining a permit to continue in employment.
20/2 Roads blocked after heavy snow. Divines and others set to work clearing ways in the college grounds, but outside roads impassable. Potato pie planned for the next day (Friday), as no chance of obtaining fish.
21/2 Phils., Divines and others again at work clearing ways. No mail, and telephone wires down for third day.
22/2 Conditions still severe, but flour obtained from Newcastle by lorry and coal from Ushaw Moor. First mail since the 19th arrived, brought by military gun carrier.
24/2 Coal obtained from Hill Top after a morning’s digging. Frs. Shelley and Gibbons to dinner, 1066 and All That performed.
25/2 Bishop brought by Ushaw’s vehicle as snow prevented use of his own. Canon Prescott and Rev. W. Clarkson also staying for next day (Ash Wednesday). B. McCabe diagnosed with scarlet fever and taken to Sanatorium.
27/2 Kate McQuillan went home, after almost a fortnight in bed since car accident.
28/2 Mr. Kershaw gone to Cambridge to take his MA, and Dr. Meagher gone home as his mother was gravely ill.
2/3 Quarant’ Ore observed.
3/3 Air raid alert from 8.10 PM until around 12.30. Blessed Sacrament removed while it lasted, replaced after the All Clear when adoration continued through the night.
5/3 Dr. Meagher returned. Concern over Dan Shanahan, septic knee and temperature reaching 103 F.
7/3 Application made for renewal of licence to kill cattle, which was to expire at the end of the month.
8/3 Rector left for short holiday.
10/3 Arranged for Ushaw lorry to go to Preston to pick up provisions difficult to get in the North East.
11/3 Business arrangements at Poulton with Canon Blackoe, whose faculties were failing.
14/3 Back to Ushaw on the college lorry, with a large load of goods. Air raid warnings through most of night.
18/3 Jos. McDonald to go home to be treated for scabies.
19/3 Arrangements completed for Sr. Martha to go home for rest and recuperation when fit to travel, with her place taken by Sr. Vincent.
20/3 Pontifical Mass for St. Cuthbert’s. Bishop, Mgr. Cogan. Frs. Shelley, Gibbons, McShane and Smith to dinner. Cat struck out.
22/3 All the Hexham candidates for ordination as subdeacons went to Newcastle for examination by a TB specialist.
23/3 Beginning of a week of prayer and penance.
27/3 Received special grant of syrup amounting to 50% of former supplies, in addition to recognised ration of preserves.
31/3 Shower of flares dropped over Ushaw by a German plane around 9.25. Alert followed shortly, All Clear around 10.30. B. McCabe gone home to convalesce after scarlet fever.
1/4 14 flare cases picked up in college grounds and collected by Head Warden from Lanchester, taking notes of their positions. One more found next day. Difficulties with tea and sugar supplies from Newcastle.
3/4 More alerts, and an evening meeting of wardens to discuss how to respond to them. Visited Lanchester Food Office about various supplies, including tea.
5/4 Arrival of Bishop, Fr. Devas OFM – for College and maids’ retreats – and Rev. T. McGoldrick.
6/4 Palm Sunday. No real palms, so some of last year’s used along with catkins. Some confirmations by Bishop. Fr. Frank Thompson arrived for Sem. retreat.
8/4 Alerts through much of the night, so House only rose at 8.30 and schedule adapted.
9/4 Fr. Devas began maids’ retreat. Dr. Theissen in bed with erysipelas.
10/4 Another long night of air raid alerts – St. Michael’s, Elswick badly damaged. Bishop left to visit bombed areas.
11/4 Good Friday. Passion Sermon preached by Dr. Devas. Bishop returned briefly in afternoon, leaving after Tenebrae for Newcastle in view of danger of air raids there.
14/4 Most Profs. gone away for the week. Dr. Theissen back in Parlour after being declared free from erysipelas.
16/4 To Tow Law with President for funeral of Rev. T. A. Dunne.
17/4 To Newcastle with Dr. Theissen, who was to stay at Hexham for two days. Arrival of Apostolic Delegate.
19/4 Profs. returned, excepting Dr. Meagher whose mother was gravely ill.
20/4 Ordination of 35 subdeacons and one priest. Bishop left after breakfast.
22/4Took Apostolic Delegate to Darlington to catch the London train.
28/4 Mr. Corboy to Stonyhurst to represent Ushaw at Conference of Catholic Colleges. Denis Gantley and J. Bardsley returned after illnesses.
2/5 Serious problems from an outbreak of scabies among the maids: 11 current cases.
3/5 Clocks put on, but Ushaw’s timetable to run an hour later than usual – rising at 7, prayers at 10.15 etc. Workmen refused to change their hours.
5/5 Rector doubting suitability of the revised timetable, which still did not work well when alerts at night necessitated later rising.
7/5 Ushaw to return as soon as possible to the horarium observed after rising at 6.30 on a playday.
9/5 To Newcastle to discuss War Damage Compensation and insurance.
10/5 Another alert, but most people now getting a good amount of sleep even through the alerts.
12/5 Rector gave day’s retreat at Marie Redemptrice, Newcastle. Rev. F. Pearson arrived for a few days.
14/5 Ministry of Health representatives at Ushaw to revise plans for hospital accommodation in case of severe air raid casualties. Dr. J. Heenan arrived for a few days.
15/5 Ministry of Health now regarded Ushaw as a place to which a neighbouring hospital could be briefly evacuated, rather than as itself a potential emergency hospital receiving casualties.
16/5 Dr. Heenan addressed Higher Bounds on Rerum Novarum.
May 18th. Several attended rally in Durham for jubilee of Rerum Novarum.
May 20th. To Lancashire for eggs and other provisions, calling at Poulton to see Canon Blackoe, who had been given Last Sacraments on the 17th.
May 23rd. Tom Donnelly, Ushaw’s gardener, died after some five weeks off work.
May 27th. Attended burial of Tom Donnelly at Esh. Fr. Ernest Graf OSB arrived for two days’ stay, and gave lantern lecture on Holy Land.
June 1st. Fr. Coleman staying overnight, and to say Mass next day at searchlight station, Hill Top.
June 2nd. News received of Canon Blackoe’s death at Poulton.
June 5th. Preached panegyric at Canon Blackoe’s requiem, Fernyhalgh. Bishop presided, Mgr. Knuckey sang Mass.
June 7th. Durham Archaeological Society met at Ushaw, with over 50 attending.
June 12th. Corpus Christi: Bishop sang Mass.
June 13th. Went to Poulton to collect some of Canon Blackoe’s possessions, and saw solicitor in Preston regarding his estate. Returned with large load of eggs and other provisions.
June 14th. Warmer day. Gave orders for fires to be put out the next day, “surely… the latest date on record”.
June 17th. President’s first sitting, at Ushaw, for a portrait by Dawson. Kate McQuillan to return to work after four months away.
June 18th. Three men called to National Service, one to start that day.
June 25th. To Lanchester re. ARP and fire watching. A ton of rhubarb from garden taken by Powells Products.
June 26th. Army chaplains to be given a retreat in first week of August, as there would be no clergy retreat this year.
June 27th. Four students went away for ordination: B. Farrell, W. Boulton, I. McGaun (Lancaster) and K. Davies (Liverpool).
June 28th. Nine priests ordained – seven Hexham and Newcastle, one Middlesbrough, one Salford.
July 8th. Peter Seed to Newcastle, where he bought large bookcase wanted by Rector.
July 10th. Divines v. House cricket match won by House off last ball. July 13th. Gave three talks to Boys’ Clubs at Stockton, around 300 lads.
July 17th. Visit from Rector’s brother Ted and family, on leave prior to his going to the Gold Coast.
July 18th. Two students to Cambridge for a three week French course. Given £2 each plus their rail fares.
July 19th. Student from Valladolid arrived for ordination retreat. College Birthday: Beaujolais at dinner.
July 20th. SVP conference in Sunderland. Four went from Ushaw, Rector gave an address.
July 21st. Six girls left, resulting in difficulty getting domestic work done.
July 23rd – 25th. 16 Divines and 2 Phils. to Newcastle for special TB test required by Bishop, six per day.
July 28th. St. Cuthbert’s Soc. council meeting.
July 29th. General Meeting of St. Cuthbert’s Soc, and lunch with 94 attending.
July 30th. Only President, Dr. Gowland, Mr. Grant and Rector still at Ushaw.
Aug. 2nd. Heard that Gerard Giblin had TB, and that two others were prescribed three months of complete rest.
Aug. 4th. 37 Army Chaplains arrived for retreat, to be given by Fr. Butler OSB, himself an RAF chaplain. Mostly accommodated in new wing, and the retreat was preached in St. Joseph’s.
Aug. 6th. Bishop Dey, army bishop, arrived in the afternoon. Said Requiem for Deceased Chaplains on the 7th.
Aug. 21st. Arrangement of Sem. classrooms discussed with Mr. Corboy. At least 104 Sem. students expected.
Aug. 23rd. Rector suffered severe attack of dizziness and had to be helped back to his room. Dr. Rollin blamed strain, and gave orders to go easy and take a holiday as soon as possible.
Aug. 24th – 31st. Rector in mixed health, saying Mass some days. Doctor repeated orders to rest.
Sept. 9th. Rector taken away by his brother Leo for complete rest ordered by doctor and the Bishop.
Nov. 4th. Rector returned after eight weeks away.
Nov. 5th. Death of Francis Tidy. Rector examined by Dr. Rollin and found greatly improved.
Nov. 7th. Rector examined by Dr. Hume, who considered that he would never be able to do nearly the amount of work as hitherto. Dirge for F. Tidy, Requiem next day. Six relatives staying at Ushaw.
Nov. 9th – 10th. Discussion of how to reduce Rector’s responsibilities. Dr. Gowland to take over the domestic side completely.
Nov. 13th. Junior boy, John Page, quite badly hurt in a fall from the balustrade. Sent for X-ray next day, and injuries pronounced not serious – fracture of nose and maxilla.
Nov. 20th. Heard that the bishops’ September meeting had instructed the President to obtain the services of a community of nuns to oversee domestic arrangements.
Nov. 26th. Phils’ Feast. No turkeys available, so jugged hare was followed by chickens and pork.
Dec. 3rd. £1000 of Savings Bonds invested in Lanchester Warship Week.
Dec. 5th. Compline broadcast from Ushaw’s chapel. Some loss of quality toward end of broadcast.
Dec. 19th. Decided going home day should be Monday 22nd, as railways could not handle the departure of all the students on the 23rd as intended.
Dec. 26th. Departure of Dr. Gowland, leaving Rector as only Prof. and in charge of all business matters.
Dec. 29th. President went away.
UC/AA6/4/43ii 1942
Jan. 1st. Beginning of five year diary, received as gift from Marie Reparatrice.
Jan. 4th. Visit for tea from Mr. Murray, Classics lecturer at Durham and a friend of Dr. Theissen, with his wife.
Jan. 7th. Rev. E. Boyle arrived to take Dr. Gowland’s place as Prof. of Philosophy.
Jan. 13th – 15th. Bishop Mathew visiting. Playday given for him on the 14th.
Jan. 15th. Attempted to buy farms at a sale in Bishop Auckland, but prices were too high. All were bought by Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Mrs. Tezzaghi arrived to be Matron of the Infirmary.
Jan. 21st. Mr. Dickinson found to have cracked scapula after falling on a slippery road. President’s Feast not observed as no poultry could be had.
Jan. 22nd – 25th. Various roads blocked by snow.
Jan. 25th. Mr. Payne dined in parlour but continued to occupy the Infirmary. “There has been a considerable element of imagination about his case”. Left the Infirmary on the 27th.
Feb. 2nd. Candlemas Day: Dr. Gowland had to go to Newcastle to get votive candles for the procession. Rector given medicine for blood pressure.
Feb. 11th. Visit from Mr. Douglas Woodruff. He gave a talk to Divines on the 12th, and left at mid-day on the 13th.
Feb. 16th. Cock Vacation. Good skating, and a play in Hall, but no visitors.
Feb. 17th. Visitors for dinner and play: Bishop, Mgr. Cogan, Fr Shelley and curate, Frs. Redmond Gibbons, A. McShane, O. Whitaker.
Feb. 22nd – 24th. Quarant’ Ore observed.
Feb. 27th. Cheque for £8000 sent to Bishop of Northampton. First lamb born.
Mar. 6th. Recent severe weather continuing. Some Divines cleared road between Millgate Cottages and Hill Top.
Mar. 14th. Mr. Greig, manager of Esh Winning colliery, looked at damage to west drive and cricket field. Work on the drive began on the 16th.
Mar. 18th. Single case of scarlet fever.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Day. Bishop sang High Mass, beginning at 8.50 to allow his early departure to attend Requiem of Canon Byrne at South Shields. Visit from Rev. R. Henshaw, chaplain to Canadians.
Mar. 21st. Cat began in Sem., not in College as rings were not ready. G. McClean left to be ordained next day at Redcar.
Mar. 26th. Evening air raid alert. Bomb dropped on Malton Colliery.
Mar. 28th. Arrival of Bishop and Fr. Deeny CSSR.
Mar. 29th. Palm Sunday. Three boys confirmed by Bishop in Sem. chapel: Fr. Locke CSSR arrived to lead Sem. retreat.
Mar. 30th. First meditation at 9.30 rather than 9.00, to allow students more time for their domestic work.
Apr. 1st. Fr. Deeny began maids’ retreat. Their afternoon talk dropped because of shortage of labour.
Apr. 5th. Easter Sunday. Mr. Clifford ordered to keep to his room after head injury by a Cat ball.
Apr. 6th. Departure of most Profs. for the week.
Apr. 8th. President in lorry to Winston, with Mr. Marron driving, to bring cases of birds for museum from Mr. Frank Bell’s there.
Apr. 10th. Visited Greystones Farm, Winston, with a view to its possible purchase. Asking price was £11,500.
Apr. 11th. Two Nottingham and five Leeds men left for ordination.
Apr. 12th. Ordination of two Deacons, 19 Subs., two Minor Orders. Tabernacle key broke at start of Benediction. Instructed Mr. Addison to negotiate for purchase of Greystones Farm.
Apr. 13th – 17th. Frs. T. Moss and A. Gracey visiting.
Apr. 18th. Left for short holiday, after arranging purchase of Greystones Farm for £11,125.
Apr. 30th. Returned to Ushaw. Rev. J. Heenan DD arrived on visit.
May 1st. Bombing near Durham. Paid 10% deposit on Greystones Farm.
3/5 Vincent Sproson taken to Minories suffering from appendicitis.
May 4th. Dangerous fire occurred in Mr. Roddy’s room during his absence for an operation. Insurance claim made.
13/5 Studies off for Silver Episcopal Jubilee of the Pope.
16/5 Mr. Roddy and Vincent Sproson brought back from Minories after their operations. Mgr. Knox arrived for one night before continuing to Burn Hall for a retreat.
May 22nd. Meeting with Brandon and Byshottles RDC over strip of land along lower road, occupied by Ushaw at minimal rent, which the Council now proposed to take over.
May 24th. Death of Henry Brown after some months’ illness.
May 27th. Henry Brown buried, with several attending his requiem at Esh.
May 28th. Oral exams in French for Durham School Certificate. Major Fairfax Blakeborough at Ushaw to discuss matters of military service.
May 31st. Several Profs., including Rector, ill and unable to say Mass.
June 6th. Gave lecture to Divines on family allowances.
June 8th. The younger Donnelly fell badly from top of the greenhouse staging. Golden Jubilee of wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Wrangham. Rector said Mass for them in St. Joseph’s.
June 19th. Four Shrewsbury students left for ordination. Mr. Douthwaite went home because of petit mal.
June 20th. Mr. Roddy went away for a change, after a difficult convalescence in Infirmary. Returned on 30th.
#July 15th. Arrival of Mr. E. McCartan to make his retreat before ordination.
July 20th. Visited Greystone Farm, on way to Darlington to make some calls and collect an ice cream machine.
July 22nd. John McGough diagnosed with definite TB, with recommendation of immediate sanatorium treatment.
July 26th. Ten Hexham priests ordained.
July 27th. 13 members of St. Cuthbert’s Society Council for dinner and a meeting.
July 28th. High Mass, but no St. Cuthbert’s Society lunch, with only five ordinary members attending.
Aug. 3rd. Clergy retreat, with attendance of just over 100, including Bishop of Northampton, Fr. T. Corbishley SJ.
Aug. 5th. Rector left for holiday.
Aug. 27th. Returned to Ushaw. President had returned more than a fortnight earlier but in poor health: had been ordered to take ten days’ complete rest, and was now saying Mass again.
Aug. 31st. President postponed going away, as he did not feel well enough. Left on Sept. 2nd.
Sept. 3rd. Benediction for anniversary of opening of war, with singing led by Mr. Grant.
Sept. 11th. Nuns and girls from Dublin, to take over Sem. domestic duties, settling in to their quarters.
Sept. 18th. End of vacation, with 116 boys expected in Sem..
Sept. 20th. Fr. T. Corbishley arrived to give College retreat.
Sept. 22nd. Arrival of Fr. Barrett SJ for the Sem. retreat.
Sept. 28th-29th. Bishops’ meeting, with the seven bishops and Canon Wilkinson. Archbishop “warmly approve[d]” Rector’s staying at Ushaw to be chaplain to nuns and to lecture to Divines as well as working as outdoor
Procurator.
Oct. 1st. Archbishop left. Requiem for the late President.
Oct. 7th. Visited Pearson’s with Mr. Addison and asked for a valuation of the cottage, as Ushaw might buy it. Valued at a maximum of £190 with possibilities as business premises, or £150 as building alone.
Oct. 8th. Arranged with Frances Pearson to buy cottage for £190.
Oct. 9th -12th. Visit from Brazilian priest, accompanied by Dr. Sullivan of Ilkley who could speak Portuguese. Part of a tour arranged by the Ministry of Information.
Oct. 10th. Rector began his lectures to Divines.
Oct. 12th. Peter Derbyshire broke a leg playing football: sent to Durham for setting and X-ray.
Oct. 14th. Sem. girl found to have scarlet fever, and sent to hospital. The other girls were quarantined, leaving Sem. and Infirmary with no maids. Boy found to have chicken pox and sent to Sanatorium because of the Infirmary’s lack of staff.
Oct. 16th – 17th. Visit by the Abbot of Downside.
Oct. 20th. Won football match against an Army team, 9-2.
Oct. 25th. Several cases of impetigo in the Sem., and one of scabies.
Oct. 28th. Supply of biscuits received as part of emergency rations in case of invasion. Further invasion rations arrived on the 30th.
Nov. 6th. Playday for Victory in Egypt. Water run into swimming bath for the first time this college year.
Nov. 8th. High Mass performed as a requiem for those killed in the War.
Nov. 12th. Death of Frances Pearson, upsetting arrangements for Ushaw’s purchase of the cottage.
Nov. 16th. Several Profs. attended Frances Pearson’s funeral, some Divines also allowed to go.
Nov. 18th. Sr. Celestine joined Sem. community, and Miss Seed informed that from Christmas the sisters would take charge of College as well as Sem.. New gardener took possession of Pearson’s. Nov. 22nd. Rector offered the early Mass for Miss
Seed, who was much upset at having to leave Ushaw.
Nov. 23rd. Ushaw took prizes in cropping competition organised by Durham County Agricultural Society: 1st for oats and kale, 2nd. for potatoes.
Nov. 25th. Rector’s hearing tested at Newcastle, found defective for high notes.
Nov. 28th. Mary Fitzpatrick back from Sanatorium after convalescence. New scarlet fever case in Sem..
Dec. 3rd. Dr. Gowland bought an Austin 10, a not much used 1939 model for £240. Delivered from Armstrong on the 7th., and Ushaw’s Daimler sent there.
Dec. 16th. Offered £200 for a field in Langley Park on Mr. Addison’s advice.
Dec. 16th – 19th. Three new cases of scarlet fever in Sem..
Dec. 21st. Departure of Miss Seed. Case of acute appendicitis taken to Minories.
Dec. 22nd. Start of Christmas vacation. Several boys remaining in Infirmary, mostly scarlet fever contacts.
Dec. 27th. Ciborium Benediction in Sem., arranged by the Sisters, with one of them playing the organ.
Dec. 28th. Rector began a little retreat for the Sisters.
UC/AA6/4/43iii 1943
Jan. 2nd. Rector left for holiday.
Jan. 14th. Rector returned. Domestic staff much depleted until the arrival of a further sister and nine girls due to come on the 19th.
Jan. 19th. Sr. Aquinas and eight girls arrived from Ireland. Visit from Mr. Robert Morgan, until the 29th.
Jan. 23rd. Clapham and Bishop (cooks?), paid a month’s salary in lieu of notice by Dr. Gowland. “There has been unpleasantness & it was felt that there would be no peace unless there was a clear out”.
Feb. 2nd. Candlemas Day observed. Won 8-2 against an Army team at football.
Feb. 5th. Mr. Dickinson to Durham to meet four more girls who arrived from Ireland.
Feb. 8th. Labour shortage obliged arranging for students to help with distributing coal.
Feb. 11th. Sr. Celine in bed with erysipelas.
Feb. 12th. Gale tore away part of the ivy on walls between the Bounds racket houses.
Feb. 19th. Two girls tried to leave for London, but failed.
Feb. 25th. First four lambs, triplets and a single, arriving in a spell of exceptionally mild weather.
Mar. 8th. Cock Vac.:
Murder in the Cathedral performed, and repeated next evening when Bishop and Mgr. Cogan were present. Feast of St. John of God, with relic exposed on Sem.’s Lady Altar for the Sisters.
Mar. 11th. Successive alerts after Benediction, and bombs were dropped near Earl’s House. The Irish girls somewhat alarmed.
Mar. 12th. Another air raid alert. Dr. Gowland took the girls to the old gas house, to calm them by showing them searchlights at work.
Mar. 14th. Quarant’Ore began. Girls slept through noisy air raid alert.
Mar. 17th. Girls had a party for St. Patrick’s Day. Death of Cardinal Hinsley.
Mar. 18th. Disappearance at night of one of the girls, apparently to travel with another who was going to London with permission.
Mar. 22nd. President in London for Cardinal Hinsley’s funeral.
Mar. 24th – 25th. Visit from Mr. Stafford Northcote.
Mar. 25th. Visit from Dr. Jos. McDonald, who was to teach Dogma from next year. Farm awarded 2nd Championship Cup in county cropping competition, missing first place because of silage.
Apr. 5th. Strong gale. Weathercock blown off.
Apr. 12th. Mr. Marron gone home for a few days after being sick for some time.
Apr. 13th – 15th. Visit from Bishop of Leeds.
Apr. 14th. Four more girls from Ireland. Now well staffed but accommodation was short. Former chapel being cleared, and housemaid’s room to be used as a storeroom.
Apr. 18th. Palm Sunday. Fr. Ring arrived to give retreat.
Apr. 23rd. Good Friday. Passion Sermon preached by Fr. Ring.
May 1st. Return of most Profs. after customary week away.
May 2nd. Ordination of 3 Deacons and 17 Subdeacons. Rector left for a few days.
7/5 Rector returned, with his nephew Ted.
8/5 Fr. Brooks OSB, former chaplain on the Anson (adopted some time back by Ushaw’s students), arrived for a few days’ stay.
13/5 Ministry of Information film show.
14/5 Dr. Heenan on short visit. Benediction delayed until 9.30, after Churchill’s broadcast from Washington.
May 20th. Party game: Grammar 17, Syntax 10.
May 24th. Raid alert previous night, with damage and loss of life at Sunderland.
May 25th. To Newcastle. Rector’s first visit to bishop’s house.
May 28th. Mr. Corboy went away because of poor health.
June 1st. Cricket started.
June 8th. Rector giving conferences at Day of Retreat, Notre Dame Convent, then to Halifax spending night with Austin Henry.
June 14th. Whit Monday. Grammar performed scenes from Twelfth Night.
June 15th. President to Nottingham for funeral of Bishop McNulty. At Ushaw Divines and Phils. performed a short drama
A Night in an Inn, and Phils. a farce Aforesaid.
June 21st. Feast of St. Aloysius. Bishop said Mass in Sem. and assisted at High Mass sung by President.
June 22nd. Heard that Campbell had suffered a serious stroke.
June 23rd. Ronald Fox arrived on a visit.
June 27th. Corboy briefly back at Ushaw, before going to London for a course of treatment lasting up to two months.
July 5th. Bishop consecrated 17 altar stones. Ronald Fox left. M. Malachy and Sr. Mel left for retreat in Ireland, taking with them one of the girls, Mai Watson, who had suffered a haemorrhage.
July 10th. Death of Rev. L. Campbell shortly after suffering a second stroke.
July 13th. Attended Rev. Campbell’s funeral at Newcastle. Canon Prescott came to visit, bringing a portrait of Cardinal Hinsley which he had painted for Ushaw.
July 14th. Godfrey Bryce taken urgently to Minories with perforated duodenal ulcer.
July 16th. Vespers of St. James recorded by BBC for overseas transmission on his feast, July 25th.
July 21st. Heard of the appointment of Paul Grant as Vice-President.
July 23rd. Four Salford men left for ordination.
July 26th. Ordination of nine Hexham and Newcastle men, including Rector’s nephew Tom who gave Benediction in the afternoon.
July 27th. Nephew Tom said his first Mass, in St. Joseph’s. Meeting of St. Cuthbert’s Society Council after dinner, and entertainment in Hall.
July 28th. Start of vacation.
July 29th. Arrival of Fr. Vernon Johnson to give Clergy Retreat.
Aug. 2nd. Rector left for vacation.
Aug. 30th. Rector returned.
Sept. 1st. To Esh with Dr. Gowland, for wedding of Vincent Wrangham and Marie Reed.
Sept. 7th. Arrival of auditors. Account books not in good condition, as they had not been checked.
Sept. 8th. Return of Srs. Hilary and Aquinas, with two new sisters.
Sept. 9th. Overnight stay by two Blue Nuns. Dr. Duff of Durham University and Mr. Everett of Cambridge came to tea.
Sept. 17th. End of vacation. Sr. Benedicta arrived to complete the community of seven nuns. Spam and tomatoes for supper.
Sept. 19th. Start of Divines’ retreat. Mr. Clifford in bed with poisoned foot.
Sept. 20th. Fr. Coia arrived for College retreat.
Sept. 21st. College retreat began, and Mgr. Aspinall came for Sem. retreat. Rev. R. Rickaby arrived to make retreat.
Sept. 26th. End of retreat. Ordinations, Deacons and Minor Orders. Rector gave address at half yearly CYMS meeting in Durham, on
“The Pope and the War”.
Sept. 28th. Bishops’ meeting. President was with them for an hour, discussing Relatio and the reading of the Fathers.
Sept. 29th. Bishops’ meeting continued, preparing for a meeting at 8PM with Mr. Butler, President of Board of Education, and others, who left afterwards to catch night train to London.
Sept. 30th. Departure of the bishops. “Their meeting with the Board of Education seems to have been quite animated on one side”.
Oct. 3rd. Doctor called to attend to Eamon Sarson, who had a finger badly crushed by a door. Further visits over coming days, with fear of a need for partial amputation.
Oct. 26th. Arrival of a new Divine, Hignett.
Nov. 3rd. Dr. Gowland up in the morning, during a spell of variable health in which Rector was taking much of his work. E. Whitehead taken to Sanatorium with scarlet fever.
Nov. 14th. Solemn Requiem for fallen in war.
Nov. 17th. V. Sweeney taken to Minories for operation. Found to have very bad appendix with adhesions, but no further trouble.
Nov. 23rd-24th. Rev. B. Scannell on visit.
Nov. 24th. Phils. Feast postponed through supply difficulties.
Nov. 29th. Cases of flu increasing, with Infirmary full and four accommodated in Sem..
Dec. 1st. Phils. Feast postponed again, as Sr. Aquinas, 8 girls and the butler were all confined to bed.
Dec. 5th. Influenza abating, but Rector now ill.
Dec. 7th. Rector should have been on holiday, but instead in bed with cold or flu. Continued unwell through most of December.
Dec. 20th. Christmas vacation began, two days early because of railways.
Dec, 21st. Arrival of two Sisters of God from Hull, to stay for Christmas holidays and Triduum.
Dec. 25th. Benediction in St. Cuthbert’s at 4, with the girls singing.
Dec. 28th. News of death of Fr. Bernard Ford of Sheffield, with whom the President had intended to stay for part of the vacation. Began Retreat to Sisters.
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Jan. 1st. Renewal of Vows at Mass in St. Joseph’s.
Jan. 2nd. Rector went away.
Jan. 10th. End of vacation. Rector away until the 14th.
Jan. 16th. Delayed Readings-up, as results had not been ready when the vacation began.
Jan.18th, Began Novena for Catholic schools.
Jan. 20th. Fr. Owen Dudley arrived for a few days, and spoke to Divines on the 21st.
Jan. 23rd. Departure of Fr. Dudley, and of six Irish girls leaving the college understaffed.
Feb. 7th. “A President’s Feast without a Feast, but the students had a boiled egg each at supper”.
Feb. 10th. Ushaw’s own electric plant running again, after being out of action since before Christmas.
Feb. 14th. Kitty Sheehan, with “clear signs of mental trouble” of late, brought back from Craghead by police in the early hours after vanishing in the night. She ran off again in the middle of the day: police
informed and a search initiated.
Feb. 16th. Kitty Sheehan located in Meadowfield, brought back to Ushaw in a confused state, then taken to Bishop Auckland to stay there with a sister of hers.
Feb. 20th – 22nd. Canon J. Cunningham visiting.
Feb. 21st. Cock Vac.. Apostolic Delegate arrived for a two day visit, together with the Bishop. Little Lads performed scenes from
Henry IV, and on the 22nd. Phils. and Divines presented a comedy.
Feb. 28th. Snow drifting: students had to dig a way along the top of the Mill Field.
Mar. 8th. Received news of death of Dr. Kane on previous day. Feast of St. John of God: relic exposed in St. Joseph’s.
Mar. 16th. Return of Mr. Corboy after being in London for a cure since last July. “He doesn’t seem much different, but it is claimed the trouble has been arrested”.
Mar. 17th. Ushaw’s farm awarded the county silage championship.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Day. Pontifical High Mass. Students given buns for breakfast, oranges for dinner, a boiled egg each at supper. Play Abraham Lincoln performed at 8.
Mar. 21st. To Newcastle with Dr. Gowland for a meeting about coal royalties. Mr. Burke agreed to consider acting as Ushaw’s official adviser at a fixed salary.
Mar. 27th. Attended Durham Agricultural Society meeting, where Geo. Dixon received the silage championship cup on Ushaw’s behalf.
Apr. 1st. Fr. Hall (Salesian) arrived to give retreats.
Apr. 2nd. Rev. Wilf. Blenken (?) came to give Sem. retreat.
Apr. 7th. Passion sermon by Fr. Hall.
Apr. 10th. Easter Monday, with many Profs. leaving for the week.
Apr. 11th. Visit by Rector’s nephew, supplying at Bishop Auckland. Just as in last Easter week, Leonard Spencer hit one ball over the wall and another into the Plantation.
Apr. 14th. Evening performance of Pastoral Interlude.
Apr. 17th. Canon Prescott arrived with Fr. Whelan, one of his curates, bringing with them a portrait of the President. Both stayed until the 21st.
Apr. 19th. DM taken to Minories with suspected mastoid trouble, and kept there under observation.
Apr. 23rd. Ordinations by Bishop, including 12 subdeacons.
Apr. 26th. Gave day’s retreat to Guild of Catholic Mothers at Marie Reparatrice, Newcastle.
Apr. 27th. Paul Wilkinson to Minories for operation on appendix.
8/5 Visit by Rev. R. Bleasdale and Edmund Quinn.
12/5 With Geo. Dixon to a livestock demonstration at the Earl of Durham’s farm near Fencehouses.
17/5 Farm valuation, showing annual profit down from over £1200 to less than £400. The fall was caused by rust in the wheat and infectious abortion among the cattle.
May 20th. Sem. boy, Duffy, developed acute appendicitis, and was taken to Minories for immediate operation on a perforated appendix.
May 21st. Afternoon visit from Fr. G. Burns SJ.
May 23rd – 24th. Visit by a Polish chaplain. At his request, it was agreed that Ushaw would accommodate 50 Polish lads, who had been in Russia, for three weeks’ leave in August.
May 25th. Another operation on Duffy at Minories. His condition next day “serious but not desperate”.
May 29th. Mr. Corboy to London for a medical exam.. Rev. J. Lyons arrived on visit.
May 30th. Canons Pippet and E. Wilkinson, and Rev. E. Flynn, at Ushaw for lunch and to watch party game: Divines 12 – House 19.
May 31st. Mr. Corboy returned, pronounced better. Mr. Payne returned from examining books at Dodding Green, Kendal, bringing back a Sarum Missal and an early, perhaps first, edition of Ben Jonson.
June 5th. Playday to celebrate the entry of Allied troops into Rome. “It is a great mercy that there has been no bombardment of the city”.
June 12th. 13 boys at Ushaw to sit exam for two Lay Scholarships.
June 17th. Revs. G. Farrell and R. Fallon staying at Lodge and taking meals at Ushaw. B. Duffy brought back from Minories in an ambulance after four weeks there.
June 21st. St. Aloysius’ Day. Bacon for breakfast in Sem.. Jos. Harrold in bed with pneumonia, requiring nursing through the night.
June 22nd. Rev. A. Pickering arrived for short stay. Government inspector visited to assess Ushaw with a view to issuing a maintenance licence.
June 29th. To Middlesbrough with President and W. Clifford for the Golden Jubilee of Bishop Shine.
July 10th. Polish soldier visited to make arrangements for 50 young Poles to stay at Ushaw for three weeks from the 27th. Jos. Harrold found to have TB.
July 16th. Death of Dr. Geo. Wheatley in Minories.
July 23rd. Ordination of four priests.
July 24th. Arrival of St. Cuthbert’s Society Council, and of the Apostolic Delegate.
July 25th. Bishop sang High Mass, Apostolic Delegate distributed prizes. Polish officer came to take charge of the young Poles on their arrival.
July 26th. Start of vacation, but a number of students staying another day or so to take public exams.
July 27th. Arrival of 40 Polish boys with two instructors.
July 31st. Rector left for his holiday, travelling by car with his brother Leo and nephew Gerald.
Aug. 28th. Returned to Ushaw.
Sept. 15th. End of vacation. As numbers were high in the lower schools, High Figures would be put in College.
Sept. 16th. Arrival of Fr. Aelred Graham OSB to give College retreat.
Sept. 17th. End of double summer time, and blackout regulations relaxed.
Sept. 19th. Rev. T. Cain came to give Sem. retreat, and Rev. G. Banks, wounded, to make a retreat.
Sept. 24th. Said Mass in Infirmary for four Sisters renewing their vows. Ordination of 12 deacons and numerous Minor Orders.
Sept. 26th. Bishops’ meeting, with Rector involved in a long discussion on the balance sheet.
Sept. 28th. Departure of last of the bishops, Bp. Moriarty. Requiem for the late President.
Oct. 2nd. Mr. Crosse, with increased pupil numbers (32), to stay at Ushaw each Monday night.
Oct. 4th. Gastric trouble afflicting a number of Juniors.
Oct. 10th. Standstill order imposed because of foot and mouth disease in Spennymoor.
Oct. 15th. 150th anniversary of Crook Hall celebrated. President sang High mass with Te Deum. Studies off, and a small dinner.
Oct. 16th. Playday for Crook Hall. Fr. Pope OP on a two day visit.
Oct. 21st. Peggy Stapleton sent to Durham for operation on appendicitis.
Oct. 23rd. BBC recorded Vespers of Christ the King for transmission on Sunday 29th.
Oct. 24th. Rev. A. Coia (wounded) and Rev. F. Pearson arrived on visit.
Nov. 6th. Bishop consecrated 35 altar stones. Last barley cut in Quarry Field, in a harvest made difficult by much wet weather.
Nov. 7th. Announcement made by Mgr. Cogan in the Bishop’s name, that the President and Vice-President had been made Honorary Canons of Hexham and Newcastle. Playday given on the 8th in their honour.
Nov. 14th. Rector began as Spiritual Director to a Praesidium of the Legion of Mary.
Nov. 16th. Army team from Brancepeth defeated Ushaw’s team 6-4 “on a quagmire”.
Nov. 18th. New gardener to start on Jan. 8th, replacing Alison who would be told that he must be out by then.
Nov. 21st. Visit by Revs. E. Stephens and E. Glynn. Rev. Stephens brought gifts, including a dessert service bequeathed to him by R.O.Bilsborrow which had belonged to Lingard, Bilsborrow’s Ushaw notes (from Mgr. Wrennall), and a lock of Lingard’s
hair.
Nov. 29th. Suggestion from Sisters that they might have days of retreat on Sundays rather than a triduum, as the late departure of students at Christmas left them short of time for work.
Nov. 30th. Departure of Rev. Stephens after “a most successful visit”. Dr. Gowland agreed with Rector that the Sisters should not be denied a proper triduum, and so persuaded President to add three days to Ushaw’s
vacation.
Dec. 4th. Mr. Acomb at Ushaw for dinner, and to lecture to the Divines.
Dec. 5th. Installation of President and Vice-President as Honorary Canons.
Dec. 19th – 22nd. Dr. Edge visiting.
Dec. 22nd. Lay boys went home.
Dec. 25th. Rector said three Masses in St. Joseph’s, assisted by Peter Seed. House rose at 9.15: High Mass 10.30, Reading-up 12.10. Turkeys and mince pies, apples and nuts. Most pleasant concert of carols at 8.
Dec. 26th. Students left for Christmas vacation.
Dec. 28th. Began Triduum to Sisters.
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Jan. 2nd. End of Triduum. Went to Byker with Dr. Gowland.
Jan. 3rd. Went away, returning on the 16th.
Jan. 17th – 19th. Fr. G. Corboy on a visit.
Jan. 21st. Willie Wade left to escort back to Ireland the father of one of the girls, who had suffered a stroke and was having to return home from war work.
Jan. 30th. Roads blocked after blizzard. Divines cleared a way for coal, opening the road all the way to Langley Park, where they dug out a coal lorry and helped to load it twice.
Jan. 31st. Road cleared for mail van by a group of German prisoners.
Feb. 5th. President’s Feast, again without a feast.
Feb. 11th. Delivered lecture to Big Lads on the Rebellion of 1842.
Feb. 12th. Cock Vac..
Toad of Toad Hall performed. Canon Cunningham at Ushaw for the night, Mgr. Cogan and Fr. Shelley for dinner and the play.
Feb. 14th. Ash Wednesday. Bishop blessed and distributed ashes.
Feb. 18th – 20th. Quarant’ Ore.
Feb. 21st – 23rd. Rev. H. Dowd on visit.
Mar. 2nd. Mr. Cook, Mr. Dunne and a surveyor from Peases inspected a crack that had appeared in Bounds. The damaged places were filled in by Peases on the 5th, by when a new crack had appeared.
Mar. 6th. Buildings of Hedley Hill Farm found to be in worse condition than Rector had expected. “Very good performance” of
Macbeth at 7.45.
Mar. 19th. Peases filling in new crack in Bounds.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Day. Pontifical High Mass, and five Sem. boys confirmed.
Mar. 23rd. Announcement made that the Bishops of England and Wales would hold their Low Week meeting at Ushaw.
Mar. 24th. Fr. Ric. Davey OSB, of Downside, arrived to give College retreat.
Mar. 25th. Fr. Deery CSSR came to lead Sem. retreat.
Mar. 26th. Leo Leblique arrived to make retreat, and to stay until the 31st.
Mar. 28th. Fr. Davey began maids’ retreat.
Mar. 30th. Good Friday: Fr. Davey preached the Passion sermon.
Apr. 2nd. Fr. Davey left, and as usual most Profs. left for the week after Easter.
Apr. 5th. Easter Thursday. Lyons and Corbally left for ordination at Leeds.
Apr. 8th. Low Sunday. Ordinations of 18 subdeacons, 3 1st, 2 Minors.
Apr. 9th. Arrival of the Archbishops and Bishops of England and Wales for their Low Week meeting: only Brentwood and Shrewsbury missing and Middlesbrough delayed. Reading Room used for their meetings and as lounge.
Apr. 10th. Bishops’ meetings continued, and Bishop Shuey arrived for the day.
Macbeth performed at 9PM.
Apr. 11th. Last business of the bishops’ meeting concluded in the morning. Photographs taken after lunch.
Apr. 12th. The remaining bishops left. President heard of his election to the Old Brotherhood. Playday on the 13th in honour of his election.
Apr. 16th. Mr. H. Roberts, who had been a student in Mr. Bonney’s school, visited after an absence of 53 years.
Apr. 23rd. Mr. Roberts left. Much work on removal of blackout after restrictions lifted.
Apr. 26th. To Newcastle with Dr. Gowland, to consult Mr. Waugh on the purchase of £11,000 of ground rents. Sent word to Mr.Weld that Ushaw would buy them.
Apr. 27th. Mr. M. Vasey, ordained last Sunday at Whitby, returned to teach at Ushaw before beginning to study English at Durham in the autumn.
May 1st. Visit from Rev. G. Forster, recently liberated from Germany. 8/5
Victory Day: “Great joy. A happy day, notwithstanding much rain in p.m.”. A singsong at 8 PM, and devotions delayed for the King’s broadcast at 9. Further celebrations on the 9th ending in a march through the
grounds.
10/5 Ascension Day. Ordinations included a Polish subdeacon from Upholland.
May 18th. Fr. Agnellus arrived to stay overnight. Farm discovered to have lost over £1000, “a very disappointing result”.
May 28th- 30th. Went to visit T. Swarbrick at Great Eccleston, dying of cancer.
May 31st. Corpus Christi. Bishop sang High Mass, Vespers at 3.30, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament until night.
June 12th. Six visiting boys sat scholarship exam.
June 16th. Mr. A. Bullen taken to Minories with appendicitis. Mr. Corboy to Ampleforth for a weekend of discussion about the effect of legislation on boarding schools.
June 18th. President gave a long promised playday for the Archbishop of Westminster.
June 19th. Departure of Dr. Gowland for a holiday in Ireland with the Bishop. Mr. Loftus left for ordination.
June 27th. To Lanchester with Peter Seed to view a large collection of furniture for sale. “Mostly rubbish”.
June 28th. Heard unofficially that the return of Mother Malachy and Sr. Reynagh would be delayed for some weeks.
July 3rd. Chapter meeting. Studies off, and fresh salmon from Berwick.
July 4th. A successful performance of a home made musical play
The Orphan Bandit.
July 5th. General Election. Students allowed to go to vote in the morning.
July 7th. Rector gave weekend retreat at Marie Reparatrice, Newcastle.
July 18th. Dr. Gowland due to return from his holiday. Rector in Preston, where he blessed the marriage of Mary Hayward, with nuptial mass.
July 22nd. Ordination of five priests.
July 25th. Start of vacation, but some students remaining for exams. All had left by the 27th. July 27th. Rector’s brother Leo arrived, bringing brother Fred who was to stay at the Sanatorium.
July 28th. Dr. Theissen went for duty at German prisoners’ camp at Barnard Castle, then left for London next day. Dr. McDonald arrived to give Mass to Italians near Durham.
July 30th. Rector left for vacation.
Aug. 27th. Back at Ushaw. Rector’s brother Fred still in Sanatorium. Rev. E. Stephens visiting
Aug. 29th. Afternoon visitors included Mgr. Bickford, President of Old Hall.
Sept. 11th. Return of President and Mr. Sharratt. Rector’s nephew Tom in for tea and dinner, about to leave Esh after two weeks on supply.
Sept. 12th. Late arrival of Sr. Aquinas and a new sister. Last of the barley cut, perhaps the earliest date ever.
Sept. 14th. End of vacation. “Record number of Students & Profs – 405 if all come”.
Sept. 16th. Rector’s brother Fred taken home. Fr. Oswald CP came, and started Divines’ Retreat.
Sept. 17th. Naval chaplain Rev. J. Houston came to make retreat.
Sept. 19th. Forwarded to Bishops a letter from Mr. Ferguson on Ushaw’s income and expenditure, recommending interest rate adjustments and an increase to pensions. “Mr. Gregory brought back Geo., whom I caught bolting
again in the evening”.
Sept. 20th. Geo. Gregory, “a highly nervous lad”, found going off again at breakfast time. He had to be allowed to go away.
Sept. 21st. Departure of Fr. Houston.
Sept. 23rd. Ordinations of Deacons and Minor Orders. Sunday meal arrangements changed to an informal dinner in the middle of the day and a cold supper at 7.30, as Profs. need to take schools on Sunday evenings.
Sept. 25th. Bishops’ meeting. They decided to pay £5 more per student, and to accept an ½ % less than average yield on investments, with a minimum of 3¼ %.
Oct. 1st. Arrival of Fr. Bamber, Salesian, for a visit.
Oct. 3rd. Playday given for victory in Japan.
Oct. 6th. Vincent Wrangham in to discuss his future at Ushaw. He hoped to leave the Army in spring or early summer.
Oct. 9th. Arrival of Mr. Willis of Pease & Partners to inspect the Pond, and of Mr. Dunn, of the Lambton estates, to inspect and advise on the plantation.
Oct. 17th. President to London to take his place on the Old Chapter.
Oct. 18th. Rector to Newcastle to give conference at Marie Reparatrice.
Oct. 21st. Thick, wet fog, and 1.51 inches of rain, the most for three years.
Oct. 22nd. Rev. Gerard Culkin on visit until the 27th.
Oct. 29th. Observed a Day of Recollection for the first time. Fr. Worsley SJ gave conference at 6 PM. Sem. began a retreat, conducted by Fr. John Deans.
Oct. 30th. High Mass for Feast of Douai Martyrs. Day of Recollection ended after a conference at 11.30. Fr. Conche, Provincial of the Salesians, arrived to discuss a series of loans: £5000 immediately, £5000 in two or three months, £10,000 next
summer.
Oct. 31st. Fr. Deans left early after a bilious attack.
Nov. 1st. Very short handed after two Irish girls left, one after vague notice and one with no notice at all. Nov. 5th. John Moore to Minories for appendicitis.
Nov. 9th. M. O’Donahue left to convalesce after scarlet fever.
Nov. 16th. Second VJ Day: special meals for students. Mr. Burke called with a set of small crosses for the Stations of the Cross in St. Cuthbert’s. Informal evening concert.
Nov.23rd. Visit by four chaplains, including John O’Mahoney who had been imprisoned by the Japanese.
Nov. 27th. Dr. Gowland gone away for two weeks with tired heart. Rector to Newcastle to obtain poultry for Phils. Feast next day.
Nov. 28th. Bishop came to bless the Stations of the Cross, which had been installed earlier in the day.
Dec. 1st. Recollection began at 3, with Mgr. Cogan giving a conference.
Dec. 2nd. Mr. Roddy allowed up after two weeks in bed.
Dec. 10th. Mr. Malone taken to Minories for operation on appendix.
Dec. 15th. Visit from Mr. Arkwright regarding details of a bequest from the late Mrs. Morley of Blackburn.
Dec. 16th. Rector began the retreat for Sisters, to be given by Mgr. Cogan in the Oratory.
Dec. 18th. K. O’Donaghue to Minories, appendix trouble.
Dec. 21st. Departure of lay boys.
Dec. 25th. Shortage of turkeys for students’ dinner – 24 from Farm, but only 2 could be had from Newcastle – made up for with pork.
Dec. 26th. All students went away.
Dec. 27th. Rector left for a fortnight.
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Jan. 10th. Rector returned. President and a few others at Ushaw, and Mr. Malone and K. O’Donaghue both convalescing after appendicitis.
Jan. 11th. End of vacation. Rector started as Ordinary Confessor to Sisters at Burn Hall.
Jan. 20th. Quite a number in Infirmary, and Dr. Gowland in bed with ‘flu.
Jan. 23rd. Now 25 in Infirmary.
Jan. 31st. Dr. McReavy gave religious service broadcast on radio at 10.30 PM.
Feb. 8th. Mr. McGoldrick went to Cambridge for M.A. Returned on the 11th.
Feb. 9th. Recollection at 3PM, with Conference given by Mgr. Cogan.
Feb. 10th. Mr. Stokes MP visited with a companion and stayed for lunch.
Feb. 26th. To London for an interview with Mr. Bellord (?) of Witham & Co..
Feb. 28th. Ice gave way under some Phils. who had tried skating after their Mid-terms.
Mar. 3rd. Gave conference to Sisters in absence of Canon Shelley.
Mar. 4th. Mgr. Cogan and Fr. W. Lowrie to dinner. Play performed at night, and the next night when the Bishop had arrived for Ash Wednesday.
Mar. 9th. Day of recollection. Mgr. Cogan addressed Higher Bounds, Rev. W. Meagher the Little Lads. Sisters at Ryde backed out of an arranged loan and returned a cheque for £16,000.
Mar. 10th. Beginning of Quarant’ Ore.
Mar. 12th. Brian O’Donaghue badly concussed at football, but no permanent injury found.
Mar. 17th. Rector took 2nd Mass and evening service at Esh.
Mar. 19th. Bishop stayed at home rather than making the intended visit, as he was recovering from ‘flu.
Mar. 20th. St. Cuthbert’s Feast, with High Mass at 9. “Successful performance of Marlowe’s Faustus by Big Lads”.
Mar. 22nd. Lorry to Wigton to collect valuable sets of birds’ eggs etc. bequeathed by the late Fr. Kerr.
Mar. 23rd. Last Sacraments given to Tommy Holliday, joiner.
Mar. 29th. Arrival of Fr. O’Halloran, Franciscan. Canon Shelley received Last Sacraments in Minories. The Rector, his sole executor, visited at his request and discussed his will and instructions.
Apr. 1st. Fr. O’Halloran left, and Mr. Clifford left Ushaw in the afternoon. Rector returning from Newcastle heard that Mr. Marron was in Durham Hospital after a motor accident. “Considerable injuries to head, but
apparently not dangerous”. Satisfactory reports followed, with no fracture found.
Apr. 4th. Mr. Clifford’s goods taken to Malton by lorry.
Apr. 8th. Mr. Marron brought back to Ushaw by ambulance. Fr. Collins arrived from Birkdale.
Apr. 9th. Gave day of Recollection at Corboy Hall.
Apr. 11th – 16th. Dr. O’Doherty stayed at Ushaw while attending psychological conference in Durham.
Apr. 13th. Rector moved to Mr. Clifford’s former room after its redecoration.
Apr. 14th. Mgr. Knox in for lunch. Mgr. Cogan arrived to give college retreat, and Dr. E. Avery for Sem. retreat.
Apr. 15th. Agreed to President’s request to take Fundamental Moral Theology next year.
Apr. 20th. Canon Shelley worse, “more or less in state of coma”.
Apr. 22nd. Easter Monday, with most Profs. going away as usual. Canon Shelley died.
Apr. 25th. President sang requiem at obsequies of Canon Shelley. Departure of four Leeds ordinandi.
Apr. 26th. Easter Friday, with an impromptu concert at 8.10.
Apr. 27th. Most Profs. back. Rector rejoined the official list of confessors.
Apr. 28th. Ordinations: 19 subdeacons, 1 for 3rd and 4th Minors. Rector preached at Ushaw Moor in memory of Canon Shelley.
Apr. 29th. Fr. O. Whitaker appointed to succeed Canon Shelley.
May 1st. Lantern lecture on Roman engineering given to Big Lads and Syntax by Mr. Richmond of King’s College Newcastle.
5/5 Rector left for a few days.
9/5 Back at Ushaw.
Julius Caesar performed by Grammar and High Figs., repeated next day.
11/5 Death of Mrs. Frank Goundry.
12/5 Report of consultation on Mr. Bonney: duodenal trouble, requiring treatment by diet.
15/5 Mr. Bullen moved from Sem. to College to act as Prefect General on account of Mr. Marron’s prolonged illness.
17/5 Visit by Dr. Hugh Dowd and Fr. Edge.
May 23rd. Mr. Marron went away for further convalescence.
June 1st. Day of Recollection. Mgr. Cogan gave conference to Higher Bounds, Fr. W. Meagher to Little Lads.
June 2nd – 5th. A young French student of Francis Thompson at Ushaw for work on his thesis.
June 3rd. Mr. Bonney weak after seven weeks of illness. Operation on duodenum postponed because of haemorrhage.
June 4th. Arrival of Archbishop Simmonds, Coadj. of Sydney, for a two day stay. Wedding from Ushaw: Eileen Murphy to T. Towns, joiner.
June 8th. Victory Parade in London. An ordinary day at Ushaw.
June 10th. Whit Monday. Rev. J. Lyons of Shrewsbury arrived for four days. “A very successful entertainment” by Phils. in evening.
June 11th. Operation on Mr. Bonney, only on duodenum, but as well as duodenal ulcer two gastric ulcers were found, also thickening of the entrance to the pancreas. A boy, Brian McNamara, taken away with appendicitis: returned from Gilmour’s on
the 24th.
June 16th. Visit from Judge Lynskey for High Mass and lunch. June 21st. feast of St. Aloysius: President sang High Mass. Mr. Bonney “brighter but condition remains desperate”.
June 26th. Victory Playday, with a repeat performance of Faustus in evening.
June 27th. Death of Mr. Bonney, after a further operation from which he never regained consciousness.
June 29th. Mr. Bonney’s body received at 5 PM, and taken solemnly to lie in state in Reception.
July 1st. Funeral of Mr. Bonney. President sang Mass, Rector gave Panegyric.
July 2nd. Rector to Newcastle, attending to matters including registration of Mr. Bonney’s death and transfer of securities.
July 3rd. To Middlesbrough for Bishop’s Episcopal Silver Jubilee.
July 10th. Valuation of Mr. Bonney’s effects for probate, by Anderson and Garland. Overnight stay at Ushaw of the chaplain at Madrid.
July 15th.- 17th. Visit by Dr. P. Redmond, to teach Phils. next year.
July 18th. Mr. Corby appointed Rector of St. Edmund’s Hall, Cambridge.
July 22nd. Arrival of Council of St. Cuthbert’s Society.
July 23rd. Pontifical High Mass, followed by distribution of prizes. Rector made a member of St. Cuthbert’s Soc. Council.
July 24th. Start of vacation, with only some examinees delayed until next day.
July 25th. To Middlesbrough with President for Consecration of Bishop Brunner.
July 27th. Rector’s brother Leo arrived with his two boys, and left, with the Rector, on the 29th.
Aug. 26th. Returned to Ushaw.
Aug. 29th. Rector unwell. Canon Pippet and Revs. J. Kelly and D. Cronin guests at lunch.
Aug. 31st. Rector recovered, and heard Sisters’ confessions at Burn Hall in evening.
Sept. 3rd. Arrival of Bishop Brunner and Canon Wilkinson for annual audit.
Sept. 8th. Rector took care of a party of 60 Legionaries from Middlesbrough.
Sept. 12th. Return of Vice President after duodenal trouble. Mr. Loftus arrived for two days before going to Louvain for Moral Theology.
Sept. 13th. End of vacation. More than two dozen put in Infirmary because of large student numbers.
Sept. 16th. Arrival of Fr. Agnellus OFM to give Divines’ retreat.
Sept. 18th. Mid-morning coffee and biscuits now to be provided for all.
Sept. 23rd. Arrival for meeting of all Bishops except Middlesbrough, along with Canon Wilkinson and three secretaries. Playday given for new Prefect.
Sept. 24th. Bishops raised Juniors’ pension to £85.
Sept. 25th. Rector began his lectures in Moral Theology. Started Ascetical and Mystical Theology lectures on the 29th.
Oct. 5th. Requiem for Mgr. Brown, the last of the series.
Oct. 11th. Last of the year’s barley led. “All of the grain has been won in good condition notwithstanding bad weather”.
Oct. 24th. “Last of potatoes lifted: grand lot”.
Oct. 27th. Chicken pox case taken to Sanatorium.
Oct. 28th. Scabies case to Sanatorium.
Oct. 30th. Staff shortage, so currently no waiters at dinner.
Nov. 14th. Start of Sem. retreat, Rev. F. Thompson. Overnight stay by Rev. B. Hagen, foreign mission.
Nov. 15th. Two new scabies cases, one kept in Infirmary.
Nov. 25th. President, Vice-President and Dr. Gowland went to Darlington for funeral of Canon Tom Chadwick.
Nov. 27. Phils’ Feast.
Nov. 30th – Dec. 2nd. Visit by Fr. Moore O’Farrell.
Dec. 10th. Mr. Bullen to Liverpool for eye operation. A. Lennox had pneumonia.
Dec. 16th. Start of Sisters’ retreat, given by Dr. E. Avery.
Dec. 20th. Departure of lay boys. Rector said Mass for Sisters renewing their vows.
Dec. 26th. Went away.
Jan. 11th. Returned to Ushaw.
Jan. 13th. Students returned.
Jan. 14th. Mr. Dunne appointed Honorary Canon of Hexham and Newcastle.
UC/AA6/4/44 13 January - 4 March 1948
Jan. 13th. End of vacation. Fred Devlin gone home on 12th after developing scarlet fever on Dec. 23rd: returned to Ushaw
Feb. 4th. Roderick Macdonald returned after missing the whole first quarter.
Jan. 15th. Richard Morrissey moved from Underlow A to Low Figs. B, and Leo Edgar from Low Figs. A to B.
Jan. 16th. J. McElroy moved from Underlow A to B, and T. Clifford from Underlow B to A. The Bishop asked in a letter to President that S. Sedgwick and A. Summer be told that he is not pleased with them, after seeing their Christmas reports.
Jan. 18th. Sem. High Mass – Rev. R. Carson. Rector gave Conference on the New Year’s resolution of doing things now, not just looking forward. Chasuble hanger borrowed from Mgr. Jefferys of Thornley as a model for more to be made.
Jan. 19th. Names taken for membership of the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary. A letter or two each day sent to last year’s ordinate to remind them to subscribe to the Ushaw Magazine.
Jan. 20th. Saw Procurator re. various items still lacking after a year and a half of asking: servers’ cottas, albs, a wardrobe for vestments, hangers for chasubles etc..
Jan. 22nd. Sycamore tree nearest the buildings in top gardens removed, and others trimmed.
Jan. 23rd. G. McEnnerney, and his brother Michael in High Figs., very upset when told of the death of their grandmother: left on the 24th to attend her funeral. J. McGrath back at Ushaw after gastroenteritis.
Jan. 25th. Conference by Rev. L. Harrison, on Septuagesima – Spiritual Fitness.
Feb. 1st. Received new silver spoon from BCS, and put it to the use of the temporary altar.
Feb. 3rd. Received 63 magazine subs. in the day’s post after sending out bills: 43 more the next day, 32 the day after. Requested baptism certificates for the four confirmandi: J. Foulkes, A. Wilkinson, P. O’Neill and M. Hampson. Historical Quiz
held by (Low?) Figures History Club: Revs. T. McGoldrick and B. Doyle and the Rector attended, also Rev. L. Harrison arriving late.
Feb. 9th. Cock Vac..
Mikado performed at night, produced by Rev. R. Carson, with about six local clergy attending: repeated the next evening.
Feb. 11th. Ash Wednesday. Benediction, not Stations, at night, as it was the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Feb. 13th. Further digging up of a row of sycamore trees between the top tennis court and top gardens, which had apparently been planted by P. Gillow.
Feb. 15th. Quarant’ Ore, with detailed order. Antony Wilkinson found to have scarlet fever.
Feb. 16th. Completed altering Drinkwater’s Short Instructions on the Mass, to make it suitable for public use in St. Aloysius’ by dividing it into 20 readings.
Feb. 18th. First shrubs, two brooms, planted in the new “top gardens”.
Mar. 1st. Nicholas Middleton found to have scarlet fever.
Mar. 4th. Antony Wilkinson ready to travel home after scarlet fever.
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