The Henson Journals

[42]

Saturday, February 14th, 1920.

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I travelled to Oxford by the 10.40 a.m. train, and arrived in good time for lunch with the Pembers. At 2 p.m. the Funeral took place. Johnson and I officiated; Frank read the lesson from the Warden's stall. There was a good muster of Fellows and Luordams. The procession to Holywell Cemetery was very solemn. I recalled the same procession nearly 6 years ago when we were carrying Warden Anson to the grave. Now it is Raleigh. The spring–like softness of the air and the bright sun made everything very gracious & comforting. I read the prayer of Committal, and gave the Blessing. Then I walked with Ker, and called on Fletcher who is ill with influenza. After tea in the Common Room, I went to the station, & travelled to Hereford, arriving at 8.25. The Dean was on the platform. I gave him a lift to the Cathedral gates.

There was little interest among my letters.

And so the story of my relations with Raleigh is ended. He was enormously difficult to converse with, for his moroseness of manner and economy of speech made conversation extremely difficult and very laborious. Hence those who only met him in society, and [sic] occasionally conceived an unfavourable notion of him as a man of a hard and cryptic nature, with whom friendly intercourse was all but impossible. But his heart was golden. He loved his friends, and was most patient & forgiving. He was a wise, true, generous man, & the best of friends. I owed him much, consulted him often, & loved him. I wrote to George.

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