25.—The German Emperor and Empress arrived at Sandringham on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their Majesties, who were accompanied by the Prince of Wales, were met at Wolferton station by the Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Victoria of Wales, and Sir William and Lady ffolkes. The Emperor and Empress accompanied the Prince and Princess of Wales to church on the 26th, the Sandringham preserves were shot over on the 27th, and their Majesties departed on the 28th.
28.—Killed in action at the battle of Modder River, Lieut.-Col. Horace Robert Stopford, commanding 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. Col. Stopford was a resident of Sheringham, captain of the Sheringham Golf Club in 1895, and a member of the Improvement Committee. He was in his 44th year.
DECEMBER.
12.—The new organ erected at Norwich Cathedral at the cost of £6,000, with the celestial organ given by Mr. Hugh G. Barclay, was opened at a special service attended by the Mayor and members of the Corporation. The sermon was preached by the Dean, and a recital was given by Dr. A. L. Peace, organist of St. George’s Hall, Liverpool.
30.—The extensive premises known as “Free Trade House,” Swaffham Road, East Dereham, occupied by Mr. F. Vincent, grocer, factor, and general warehouseman, were destroyed by fire. The loss was estimated at £2,500.
—Died at 5, Park Square, Regent’s Park, London, Sir James Paget, Bart. The son of Mr. Samuel Paget, merchant, of Yarmouth, he was born in that town on January 11th, 1814. After a most distinguished medical career he was appointed Serjeant-Surgeon to the Queen, and surgeon to the Prince of Wales. He was created a baronet in 1871. His third son, the Rev. H. Luke Paget, vicar of St. Pancras, married a daughter of Sir Samuel Hoare, Bart., M.P.
1900.
JANUARY.
1.—Died at Booton rectory, the Rev. Whitwell Elwin. He was born in Norfolk on February 25th, 1816, and entering Caius College, Cambridge, graduated B.A. in 1839. After his marriage with his cousin, Miss Frances Elvin, in that year, he was ordained, and became curate of Hemington with Hardington, in Somersetshire. In 1849 he was presented to the family living of Booton, where he resided until his death. During his incumbency he undertook the great work of re-building his parish church in the Early Decorated style upon the old ground plan. Elwin was best known as editor of the “Quarterly Review,” the personal friend of Thackeray and Bulwer Lytton, of Dickens and Forster, and of many other famous people in the literary world. It was in 1843 that he wrote for the “Quarterly Review” his first article—on the “Histoire du Chien” of Elzéar Blaze. When Lockhart’s illness made it necessary for him to go abroad in 1853 he asked Elwin to do the work of editing the “Quarterly Review.” Lockhart died in 1854, and Elwin then succeeded him in the post of editor. He lived at home in Norfolk and went up to London for the publication of each number. Thackeray gave to him the gold pen with which he had written most of “Vanity Fair,” and has left a pleasant sketch of him in his “Roundabout Paper” on “Screens in Dining Rooms.” Elwin wrote the review of “The Newcomes” in the “Quarterly” for September, 1855.
2.—The formal presentation of gifts subscribed by the residents of Norfolk and the citizens of Norwich for the men of the Norfolk Regiment took place at Aldershot by a deputation consisting of the High Sheriff (Mr. Upcher), the Deputy-Mayor of Norwich (Mr. G. H. Morse), Col. Shepherd, D.S.O., Mr. P. E. Hansell (Under-Sheriff of Norfolk), and Mr. E. J. Caley, honorary secretary to the fund. The battalion left Aldershot on the 4th for Southampton, and embarked on the P. and O. liner Assaye for South Africa. The strength of the battalion was just under 1,000. On this day (January 2nd) the non-commissioned officers and men of the Loyal Suffolk Hussars and many civilians, who had volunteered for active service in South Africa with the Imperial Yeomanry, attended at the Maid’s Head Hotel, Norwich, for the purpose of being medically examined and attested. About 46 members of the Loyal Suffolk Hussars and 112 civilians were accepted. On the 12th the commanding officers of the four Volunteer battalions of the Norfolk Regiment met at Norwich and arranged details for the clothing and equipment of men who had volunteered for the front. Three officers were appointed to the service company—Capt. Archdale, 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Lieut. B. H. L. Prior, 1st Volunteer Battalion, and Lieut. H. L. Willett, 4th Volunteer Battalion. The company consisted of four sergeants, five corporals, two buglers, and 99 rank and file—total 115. On the 25th the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment (Militia), commanded by Col. Custance, was embodied at the Britannia Barracks, Norwich, and on the same day left for Fermoy for garrison duty. The Yeomanry and Volunteers attended a farewell service at Norwich Cathedral on the 26th; and in the evening the Volunteers were entertained to dinner at the Drill Hall by public subscription. The Yeomanry (43rd Company) were similarly entertained on the 27th by Mr. Alfred Haldinstein, whose eldest son had volunteered for service with the company. On the 30th the 43rd Company paraded on Tombland, and, headed by the band of the 7th Hussars, marched to Trowse, where they entrained with their horses for Southampton, and on the 31st embarked on the Goth. The officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the 44th Company left Norwich by special train at 4.50 on the morning of February 3rd for London, where they were inspected at Albany Street Barracks by the Prince of Wales. They returned to Norwich in the evening. On the 5th they were entertained to dinner at the Assembly Room, Agricultural Hall, under the presidency of the Deputy-Mayor. The Norfolk Volunteer Service Company left Norwich on February 11th, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Diver, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, who had been appointed in place of Capt. Archdale, incapacitated by illness; the same day they arrived at Southampton and embarked on the Donne Castle. Meanwhile the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment (Militia) had volunteered for service at the front, and the battalion on February 25th left Fermoy for Queenstown, where they embarked on board the Orotava. Col. Custance was in command, and there were 22 officers and 550 non-commissioned officers and men. On March 1st news was received in Norwich of the relief of Ladysmith. A boom was fired from the Castle, the city flags hoisted upon public buildings, and the bells of St. Peter Mancroft rung. Bands of music paraded the streets, and in the evening the city was illuminated. Similar rejoicings took place throughout the county. On the 3rd, at two a.m., the 44th Company, Imperial Yeomanry, paraded on Tombland, and headed by torch bearers and the band of the Artillery Volunteers marched to Thorpe Station, whence they proceeded to London, and on the same day embarked on the Cornwall at the Albert Docks. News of the relief of Mafeking reached Norwich on May 18th at 10 p.m., and was received with great enthusiasm. On the 19th the city was decorated, and Sir Harry Bullard, M.P., on visiting the corn market, was loudly cheered by the farmers and merchants and compelled to make a speech. In the evening the Volunteers paraded the streets, which were illuminated, and a great gathering was held at the Conservative Club, under the presidency of Sir Harry Bullard. Thanksgiving services were held on the 20th in all places of worship in the city and county. The occupation of Pretoria, the crowning point in the success of British arms, was made known in Norwich on June 5th, and on the 6th a great demonstration took place in celebration of the event. A procession, in which the naval and military forces were represented, marched round the city, and afterwards a dense crowd witnessed a cinematographic exhibition in the Market Place. On December 15th a meeting was held under the presidency of Viscount Coke, at the Shirehall, Norwich, at which was inaugurated a movement for the erection of a memorial to Norfolk men who had died whilst on active service in South Africa.