The Henson Journals
Sat 23 November 1929
Volume 48, Pages 466 to 467
[466]
Saturday, November 23rd, 1929.
BARNARD CASTLE
A wretchedly wet, depressing day with suspicions of thunder. I left the castle after breakfast, and motored to Barnard Castle School for the meeting of the special Committee appointed to investigate the financial position, & to make proposals to the Governors. We met at 10 a.m. and sate until 3.20 p.m., with an interval for lunch. We were, I think, all present viz:– Dr Eustace Hill, Barkett, Sir Walter Raine, Hodgson, and two others with myself. In attendance were the Headmaster, Bursar, & Clerk. We began by going over the school buildings. The Matron was fetched in, & examined on the possibilities of economy in her department. We rejected Bircham's violent proposition to cut down on the Headmaster's salary by £200: but we recommended acceptance of the Bursar's offer to retire on his pension at Easter, and then to be re–appointed on the lower stipend of £200 per annum. We made some other recommendations affecting a total economy of between £800 and £900 per annum.
[467]
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Wynne Willson writes to assure me of the "excellent impression" made by the meeting of Parochial Church Councillors last Tuesday. "The lucidity of your explanation & the fact that you did not desire to convert them to a Disestablishment policy on the spot has exploded a great deal of misunderstanding. But above all the patience with which you dealt with the questions & resolved difficulties charmed them. All sorts of people have spoken to me about it, & I think you ought to know that you have, so far as Wearmouth is concerned, accomplished your object, & have won many friends." This is satisfactory so far as it goes.
Peter Richardson came to dinner. He is full of plans for his approaching marriage.
Another very disconcerting letter from Mary Radford about Kenneth. I begin to suspect that there must be a kink in the boy's brain. His behaviour on ordinary assumptions is inexplicable. It is certainly a melancholy outcome for an enterprize which in its origin was entirely benevolent. But now I am totally at a loss how to perceive my duty with respect to him.