26.—Mr. Fred Morgan, lessee of Norwich Theatre, was presented with a massive silver Monteith punch bowl and a purse of gold by members of the theatrical profession and personal friends.
SEPTEMBER.
2.—Died at Adelaide Place, Windsor, in her 91st year, Miss Jane Rigby, “second daughter and last surviving child of Dr. Edward Rigby, of Norwich.”
12.—A demonstration took place at Norwich in aid of the funds of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
27.—Died at St. Andrew’s Parsonage, Norwich, the Rev. Arthur Charles Copeman, M.B., vicar of St. Andrew’s, Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral, and rural dean of Norwich, aged 72. He was the youngest son of Mr. Edward Breese Copeman, and was born at Coltishall. At the age of 15 he was placed under the care of his eldest brother, Dr. Edward Copeman. On entering King’s College, London, as a medical student, he obtained his M.B. degree at the London University, won the gold medal in anatomy and physiology, and became an associate of King’s College. At the end of his student days he was offered, on the nomination of the Chancellor of the University, and accepted it, a commission on the Army Medical Staff. He soon resigned it, however, and commenced private practice at Epsom, when it became his ambition to enter the Church, and forthwith he applied himself to reading for Holy Orders. Ordained by the Bishop of Worcester, he was in 1851 admitted deacon and priest, and for the next five years held curacies at Warwick, Bury St. Edmund’s, and Wisbech. In the last-named town he worked single-handed among the cholera-stricken inhabitants, and received from them in recognition of his services an address, a collection of theological works, and a cheque for £100. Mr. Copeman’s work in Norwich began in January, 1857, when he was elected vicar of St. Andrew’s. He was appointed rural dean in 1870, and honorary canon in 1877. In 1881, on the death of Mr. Field, he became chairman of the Norwich Board of Guardians. He had been a member of the School Board, and was identified with the managing bodies of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and other charitable institutions.
29.—The Norwich Town Council, on a representation of the Inspector-General of Cavalry that the city would cease to be the headquarters of a cavalry regiment unless the drill-ground on Mousehold Heath were enlarged, authorised the hiring of 62 acres of land adjoining the drill-ground for a term not exceeding five years, at a rent to be agreed upon.
OCTOBER.
6.—The Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival commenced at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, with a performance of “Jeptha.” On the morning of the 7th was produced the dramatic oratorio “The Rose of Sharon,” and in the evening Suite No. 1 “Peer Gynt” (Grieg), “Blest Pair of Sirens” (C. Hubert H. Parry), conducted by the composer; a new violin concerto in D Minor (Frederic Cliffe), composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer, and the dramatic cantata “Fridolin” (A. Randegger), conducted by the composer. “Elijah” was performed on the morning of the 8th; and in the evening was produced the poetic cantata, “Hero and Leander” (Liugi Mancinelli), composed expressly for the Festival, and conducted by the composer. On the morning of the 9th was performed the sacred trilogy, “Redemption” (Gounod); and in the evening, overture, “Leonora,” No. 9 (Beethoven); Irish ballad for chorus and orchestra, “Phaudrig Crohoore” (C. V. Stanford), first time of performance, and conducted by the composer; suite in D Minor (Edward German), conducted by the composer; and Act 3, “Lohengrin” (Wagner). The principal artistes were Madame Albani, Miss Gertrude Izard, Madame Ella Russell, Miss Katherine Fisk, Miss Sarah Berry, Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Reginald Brophy, Mr. Ben Davies, Mr. Watkin Mills, Mr. J. H. Brockbank, Mr. Andrew Black, and M. Tivadar Nachez (violin). Mr. Alberto Randegger was conductor. The receipts amounted to £5,191 17s. 2d., and the payments to £4,738 4s. 7d. Of the balance £200 was allocated to the local charities.
7.—The Prince of Wales visited Norwich on the occasion of the Musical Festival. Princess Louise, who with the Marquis of Lorne, was staying at Sheringham as the guest of Lord and Lady Battersea, arrived at Thorpe Station at 11.45, and awaited the arrival of the Royal train from Wolferton. The Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of York, arrived at twelve o’clock, and was received by Lord Suffield, who presented to their Royal Highnesses the Mayor and Mayoress and the Sheriff. Joined by Princess Louise the Royal party drove to St. Andrew’s Hall, where they were received by Mr. F. Oddin Taylor, honorary secretary to the Festival Committee, Mr. H. C. Bolingbroke, chairman of the Orchestral Committee, and Mr. C. R. Gilman, Deputy-Mayor and chairman of the Committee of Management. During an interval their Royal Highnesses were entertained to luncheon by the Mayor in the old Crypt of the Friars of the Sack; and at the conclusion of the performance they proceeded to the County Club. The Duke and Duchess of York and Princess Louise afterwards drove to the Cathedral, where they were received by the Dean, and had afternoon tea at the Deanery; and the Prince of Wales attended a Masonic gathering at the Agricultural Hall, where his Royal Highness unveiled a bust of Lord Suffield, presented to his lordship to mark the conclusion of his twenty years of office as Provincial Grand Master. His Royal Highness subsequently visited the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, and proceeded to the Deanery. The Royal visitors afterwards dined at the County Club, and attended the evening performance at St. Andrew’s Hall. They left early, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York for Sandringham, and Princess Louise for Overstrand.
9.—Princess Louise, accompanied by the Marquis of Lorne, M.P., arrived at Norwich from Cromer, and proceeding to the High School for Girls distributed the prizes.