The Henson Journals

[152]

Saturday, November 8th, 1930.

A brilliant day, mild and almost spring like. My post was swollen by "Birthday letters" from a quaint collection of friends, new and old.

Jack Cass and Derek sent me their photographs. Dick sent me some of his heather honey. Charles gave me a knife: and Fearne, nail–scissors. The following wrote to me:–

1.	[symbol] Jack Boden	17.	[symbol] Nancy Wynne Willson
2.	[symbol] Linetta (Mrs Richardson)	18.	[symbol] Arthur
3.	[symbol] Mary (Mrs Radford)	19.	[symbol] Joyce Jopling
4.	[symbol] Sybil Lady Eden	20.	[symbol] Angel Thelwell
5.	[symbol] Arthur Watts	21.	[symbol] Rev. H. Collier
6.	Ian Wynne Willson	22.	Brook Westcott
7.	Arthur Spelling	23.	John Wrightson
8.	[symbol] Leslie Wilson	24.	D. T. Dick
9.	[symbol] Kitty Wilson
10.	[symbol] Christian Collinge
11.	Jack Clayton
12.	Lionel Trotman
13.	[symbol] Audrey Hall
14.	Jack Carr
15	[symbol] Derek Elliott
16.	[symbol] George Nimmins

[153]

I was pleased to receive letters from Phelps, lately Provost of Oriel, and Burkitt, acknowledging copies of the 'Bishoprick". Also a letter very kindly expressed from old Bishop Knox.

John Wrightson came to lunch. He has left Eton, & is now working at this father's works. He seems to enjoy the novel experience.

Charles motored me to Chilton, where I dedicated an organ in the Mission Chapel. There was a large congregation, & (in spite of the Vicar's oddities of voice and manner) a reverent service. To my surprise, I was taken in to the parish room, & given the 3 vols. of Francis Thompson's poems as a birthday present from the parish! How far this represents the Vicar's own mind, or also that of his people, I cannot know, but I am sentimental & credulous today, so that I took everything at face value.

Then, on returning to the Castle, I set to write acknowledgments to those who had written to me for my Birthday. They are a curiously varied company, indicating rather personal affection than popularity, or official importance. For, indeed, I am extraordinarily alone.

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