Part 6: Billy on holiday - An Easter weekend in London
Good Friday 1st May 1899 (In London following a concert at
Crystal Palace)
On coming out, made my way to the Denny’s[1] place at Carnaby Street off Regent Street.
Found it with but little trouble and gave them all a surprise. They
were kind enough to invite me to sleep at 24a Cavendish
Street[2] so didn’t trouble to get a
bed as I had intended to do. After tea and a look over the place
(which, by the way, is a fine little show, quite a model eating
house[3]), it was decided that Alf,
Alice and I should go to the Egyptian Hall but we were fated to be
disappointed for after “patiently” waiting, we got to the door just
in time to hear the announcement “three shilling and five shilling
tickets only” so we weren’t on. As it was then too late to think of
going anywhere else, Alf proposed that we should go for a spin, so
he went to Carnaby Street to get his jigger, and I went with Alice
to Arthur Cooper’s place at Kilburn to borrow his machine. Found
Arthur in bed with a bad leg as the result of a slight bicycle
accident and his machine away from home. As we were waiting for Alf
to turn up, Arthur beguiled us with selections on the Banjo. It
struck me as being rather a novelty to see an invalid on his back
twanging a ’jo. Well, we waited and wondered but Alf didn’t turn up
so we made track to St. John’s Wood to see if he was there. Had a
pleasant walk with Alice through him not turning up and found him
at home, having had an adventure at the Imperial with a lodger. Mrs
Denny made me very welcome and comfortable and, after a jaw and
supper, we retired to roost. Alf and I shared Mr Faed’s room. Up
betimes in the morning (Sunday). First thing was to admire the
splendid pictures that adorned our room, all engravings from Mr
Faed’s paintings[4].
The Last of the Clan, 1865, by
Thomas Faed; Glasgow Museums and Art Gallery.
Then Alf took me over the studio etc. Very interesting to me to
find myself in the den of a real live Royal Academician. After
breakfast, went round to Henstridge Place to Ernie Pearce’s
diggings[5], rousted him up, borrowed
his bicycle, and we (Alf and I) went for a spin. First up to
Hampstead and Hendon etc., and back through Kilburn to Vauxhall to
call on Jack Kyper and with him called on a friend of his, a Mr
Huntly who is coachman to one of the Palmers of biscuit fame. He
kindly showed us the stables (back of St. George’s Hospital). Then
Alf and I took poor Jack home and rode back to Cavendish Road for
dinner. I reckon we had a fine ride of about 20 miles, my first in
town.
After dinner, Ernie Pearce turned up so he accompanied Alice and I
to Queen’s Hall for concert. Needless to say it was very good
indeed. Then Alice got us a cup of tea at Carnaby Street (as I had
not time to get back to St. John’s Wood) and accompanied me to
Victoria where I just managed to catch train.
Week ending Saturday 1st July 1899
Last Monday afternoon Dad and I (having nothing particular on) went
to Aldershot to see the Royal Review. Had a very good sight both of
Her Majesty and the troops. Also walked far enough to get some
knowledge of Aldershot. No doubt it’s a fine sight to those who see
it too for the first time (as I did then), but I was not very much
impressed. Am afraid I’m a “little Englander”. About the most novel
experience was coming home. We arrived at Guildford too late for a
train back to Horsham. Got to Cranleigh then had to ride on a
“light engine” to Slinfold where we picked up a train and continue
our journey in the brake van.
Thursday 6th July 1899
Sunday School Excursion to Worthing had a very successful day.
About 160 went down but don’t expect to get anything out of it this
year for two reasons: firstly, we only get 3d each on each ticket
instead of 6d as in former years and secondly, our donations don’t
amount to nearly as much. Still, we are in a position to meet a
little deficit.
Beach scene, Worthing, c.1903;
courtesy of West Sussex Past Pictures; Ref: PP/WSL/PC007870; Rep:
West Sussex County Council Library Service;
Photo credit.
Personally I enjoyed myself A1. Bern, Annie, Little Dolly, Nelly
Ansell, Mag and May Holland and I had a trip to the sea in a row
boat then I took the young Hollanders in tow for dinner after. Rest
of the day spent listening to Band, paddling and laying about.
Rather enjoyed the company of Maggie, but I have a notion that she
went down hoping to see AJB[6] but it
didn’t come off. To my disgrace I must confess I didn’t trouble a
little over the kiddies. Am afraid Bern was the only one who did
the work entailed by such an outing.
- [1] Billy met the Denny
family through their mutual friends the Pearce family.
- [2] Alice Denny lived
here with her widowed mother and younger brother.
- [3] Alice Denny had
gone into business in partnership with her younger brother Alfred,
opening a coffee house in Carnaby Street.
- [4] Thomas Faed
(1826-1900) was one of three brothers who all made a reputation for
themselves as artists in the late 19th century. Evidently, Thomas
was lodging with the Denny family in his declining years but was
blind by this time and may have gone into some form of hospital
care.
- [5] Ernie was living
within a few blocks of the former family home at Lords Cricket
Ground.
- [6] Arthur Baker, newly
returned from his time in the Coolgardie goldfields.
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