The Henson Journals

[147]

Saturday, August 4th, 1923.

A magnificent summer day from start to finish. I wrote a welcoming letter to Woollcombe, whose appointment to be bishop suffragan of Whitby is announced in the morning paper. He is a good fellow of the clerical type now fashionable – "life & liberty", mildly socialistic, very "Catholic", & vastly loving to the sectaries at damns!

We left the Castle about 10.30 a.m., & motored by way of Piercebridge & Boroughbridge to Marston Moor, where we ate our lunch under a hedge. Then we continued through Selby, where we looked at the Abbey church, & Doncaster to the "Old Bell Inn", about 3 miles from Retford, where we had tea. Then we resumed our journey, but when we were a few miles from Retford, a rod broke & we limped to Carlton noisily. On the way William telegraphed to Bishop Auckland for a new rod. This is the first breakdown of its domestic economy which the "Nash" car has experienced, and as the register records nearly 3500 miles, I suppose we must not complain. Yet is may not be denied that such an experience on the first day of a motoring holiday is disconcerting!

We were kindly received by Mrs Skeffington Craig at Carlton Hall.

Mrs Lawrie & her family are here. They – except the younger boy Sidney – are about to visit Canada, & this circumstance provided a subject of conversation additional to the too–familiar topic of the family relationships. Haliburton, the eldest boy, is spoiled, & therefore ill–mannered.

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