Part 2: Billy on holiday - Fire Brigade picnic and a trip to the docks
For a couple of years Billy was a member of the Horsham
Volunteer Fire Brigade. He and his brother Harry were ‘messengers’
rather than active fire-fighters. Once Billy’s work started to take
him out of Horsham for weeks at a time, he had to give up active
membership in the Brigade. See the earlier posting on ‘Working
round Horsham’ for a photograph of the assembled force.
Thursday 9th July 1894
Went to Worthing with the Fire Brigade. Started at 7.00 a.m.
Salvage Van had a pleasant journey down through West Grinstead,
Dial Post, Ashington, Washington and Findon making several calls on
the way and arriving at Brighton before 11.00. Had a walk on the
Front and a row with P Knight, Sam, Nel and W. Sendall[1]. Nel and I very nearly “Shot the Cat” but
got all right again on reaching terra firma. Then came across a
party of “Angels” who had also come down for the day, stayed with
them till 1.30 then made for Royal George where justice was done to
a very good spread. After dinner, the four of us laid on the beach
and went to sleep till a party of nippers woke us. Quite a sight to
see them paddling etc. thick as Bees in a tar tub. Presently, up
came the “Angels” again. Being a lot of fairly decent girls we
spent the afternoon with them and fairly enjoyed ourselves. Then
had tea, purchased a pair of toy trombones for the homeward journey
and started from Royal George about 7.15 amusing ourselves with
songs, choruses, and trombone solos. As usual had several coaling
stations and arrived home about 11 p.m. after spending a jolly
day.
Saturday 13th October 1894
After work went home and cleaned up to go to London and Tilbury to
meet AJB[2]. Met Nel at the station
and got to Victoria just after 3 p.m.. There we found Bern and
Annie Pearce waiting for us. Jolly good of them to come right from
St. John’s Wood. As Nel had never seen the Tower Bridge we decided
to go there. Had a fine walk down Victoria Street and along the
Embankment, Thames Street and over Tower Bridge and Tooley
Street.
Victoria Street, reproduced from
Billy’s copy of the Queen’s London, 1896, p.217.
Unfortunately we were unable to see the Bascules go up so, after a
little time on it, we started off to Lords. Through the kindness of
Mrs P had tea and off again to a theatre. Tried the “Strand” but
found it closed, then crossed over to the “Opera Comique” and
discovered the Gorman affair[3] was
on, so off we went again, landing at last at “Terrys” in plenty of
time for a good seat. Saw a good one act play entitled “And then
the flowers grew Fairer” followed by “The Foundling”[4], a jolly good thing, but a bit “thick” at
times. Fairly enjoyed it and I think all four of us did likewise.
Going home on the bus we had several stoppages on account of the
slippery condition of the roads. Got home about 12.30, had a good
supper (with the famous pudding), sat yarning till about 2 a.m.
when we retired to bed, some of us nearly asleep.
Got up next morning about 9 and had a walk round the ground.
Breakfast and started with Bert Pearce, Nel and Bern for a
“ramble”. Went across Regents Park to Seven Dials. First time I’ve
seen that lively spot. Came back through Hyde Park.
Hyde Park Corner and Apsley House,
reproduced from Billy’s copy of the Queen’s London, 1896,
p.328
Saw several “spouters” and got home in good time for dinner with an
equally good appetite. Then Nel, Bert and I went off for another
ramble to Hampstead Heath via Finchley and Oak Hill Park. Came back
via Parliament Hill, Haverstock Hill and Primrose Hill only just in
time for Nel to have tea and be off to Victoria. Bert and I saw him
as far as Baker Street. On returning found another addition to the
family, viz. Miss ‘Olly Botting[5].
Had a very pleasant hour or two then off to Waterloo with Bert. Got
there in good time, had a drink together and left Waterloo at 9.50
arriving at Leatherhead at 10.45 after spending a very pleasant
holiday except that the main purpose was missed: owing to fog it
was ascertained from Green’s office that the “Orient” would not be
in till Sunday about 4 p.m. instead of Saturday night.[6]
- [1] Percy Knight, Sam
and Nelson Chriss and W. Sendall were all members of the Fire
Brigade. Percy and Nelson appear in the 1893 photograph of the
Brigade.
- [2] Arthur Baker,
Bernard’s brother, who at the time was a steward serving on the
Orient, a steamer on the Tilbury to Australia run.
- [3] Probably a
reference to Gorman’s Spectacular Minstrels, another blackface
minstrel show of the time.
- [4] Presumably the play
written by Edward Moore and first performed by Garrick in
1748.
- [5] A cousin of Bernard
who lived in Shipley south of Horsham.
- [6] The purpose of the
London trip was to meet Bernard Baker’s brother Arthur off the SS
Orient when it arrived at Tilbury Docks. Arthur was a steward on
the Orient which plied the route to and from Australia.
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