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January.
The children, Veronica and Susan (B and 6)
nursemaid to joinwMargie with me in permanent
instalment, which I hope will be a settlement,
resources will meet our expenses, in fact I am
than for 3 years past when income was slipping
fully met my expenses putting in Heat{ng which
arrive with Miss Wi11iamson and
residence. Margie's first half
was paid her and· our united
easier on that consideration
away. I find last years surplus
is a great success.

January 1st.
I lunched with my old friends Sir J. and Lady Na11.
Thurs. ,12th Jan.
Last night I stayed at the Paragon, Hull, and motored out to Thorpe Garth,
A1dbro and was gratified that though Fisher cannot pay rent he may be able
to during the year, and there was no call to make a change. Back to Hull and
saw Mr. Todd, Land Agent for many estates, and he says the best.po1icy is to .
let farmers alone to pay as they can~ Large areas in E. Yorkshire can neither
be let or sold. Home by Nottingham·via Grantham and signals all wrong, very
late but C1ark met me at Victoria Station. I glimpsed at noon a sunny shore at
half-tide and the roar of the sea could be heard a mile inland.
Mon. ,23rd Jan.
A hard frost which set in last Friday, my new central heating put in before
Christmas is opportune. The children laid up with flu. Margie went to Nottingham
to meet her father-in-law and then to see· Mr. Dowson about her settlement which
he says should be £1000 a year. She returned to go with the Bournes to Oxton skating
and left at 3 to stay with Lady Cholme1ey at Easton near Grantham •
. Thurs. ,2nd Feb.
Margie returned from London where she went on Tuesday. Last Sat. I went to
Oxton skating, Geoffry took me. But Sunday the frost gone and on Wednesday
we had summer temperature. We had beautiful clear skies all last week. Margie
paid me £30, her first month's contribution to the house. My circumstances .
free of immediate anxiety. .
Be1rte11s me Calverton Co-Op is not affiliated but a purely village shop.
Has over £7000 on deposit and many people £100 to £200 in, Boo population. In 1920
a Russian Agent, paid from Cardiff, was lodging in the village trying to persuad~
the people to revolution. He stayed a year or two.
February 6th.
To Norwood Park for lunch on Starkey's message.He will let Gold Hill
on the failure of his railway shares to produce income. Then to Laxton to meet
Hubert ~les, who macriedLady Sybi1Pierrepoint and looks after the Man~ers'
interests. I want him to buy 10 acres. Laxton with Eakring is the last of the
old open arable fields system universal up to 160 years ago. Returning called on
the Craven-Smith-Mi1nefs.at WinkburnHa11 who were pleased to see me. Their old
BeB!lilolii and furniture gone to London for sale. They stay till August but I expect
the place must be sold to meet estate duties.
~.
Sat.,llth Feb.
Margie with Bournes and Sherbrookes to Bestwood Dance, Edward and Eily and
Geoffry there. My snowdrops in full bloom and cover much of the waste in garden.
Sat. ,25th Feb.
Snow 24 hours but now thawing as it comes at the end of 10'days bitter
. east wind, hot suns, and frosts at night. Margie away 10 days at Cambridge and
Suffolk. Let Gold Hill farm, one of my 3 present anxieties. Seely's shooting lease
the other, but the most serious the Winkburn bank overdraft which· in my name as
Agent was to meet the house and life-tenants expenses. The Bank sent me the present
account debit £1400 or so which I sent on to the Trustees as properly incurred
and there were dues of income which, if I had been continued as agent, I could have
cleared off by now. .
Fri.,28th Feb.
To Sheila Seely'swedding to Talbot, at Daybrook a large church built by
'Sir C. Seely. Took Mrs. Milward and Roderick her boy and to the Lodge after
(reception) lent by Sir Hugh. .
Fri. ,10th Mar.
To Nottingham Castle for Private View W. Nicholson's paintings. Annie to
lunch from Nidderdale.
Sun. ,12th Mar • .
Memorial Service Miss Florence Seely, if ever a woman a saint she was one.
Mon. ,13th Mar.
To Nottingham Drill Hall, East Stanhope, Ministerci War to stimulate Territorial
. Army recruiting. Margie took me and feteched me home, with Miss Williamson and the
children. Says she is to have £800a·year. I hope so, for with mine we can live.
Tues.,14th Mar.
Margie motored me to North Gate Oxton to the meet of the Rufford, a bright
day. Mrs. Bourne, Mrs. Sherbrooke and W. Francklin with us. My great show of snowdrops
now over.
Thurs. ,23rd Mar.
Margaret has been away at the Crichton-Maitlands at Wilton near Salisbury since
Sunday, a day of freak storms. Though the day before fair as I lunched with the Nalls
and arranged an exchange of land. This afternoon, a perfect spring day, Margie arrived,
having returned by Stow-on-Wold and Warwick. Had seen Mollie Allenby, her cousin, at
Tidworth races and tonight goes to Darwen's party at Elston and tomorrow with the
Bournes by motorcar to Aintree for the Grand National, the pace we live now.
If I can maintain my position here in my old house it will be very comfortable.
M. is much happier, she had a wretched time about Sandy, his drinking and that
awful woman. Never a young man threw away such a great chance, a good war record at 19,
a fine regiment and close on being major, £3000 a year and heir to huge fortune. He
is a bitter disappointment to his parents and myself.
Fri. ,24th Mar.
Gold Hill farm stock sale good to Starkey's satisfaction.
3.
Sat. ,25th Mar.
A flawless sky' as it has been since Monday, Italian skies, hot sun and
light frosts at night. Eustace Miller (Capt •. in the Guards, retd.) and Judy
his wife to lunch. Geoff my nephew and Gervase looked in and we went on to the
Manor for· tea where the 2 Bournes, R. Coke and Capt.Sherbrooke turned up after
hunting with the Belvoir. Margie'sfriendswent away with a good impression of
our cheerful neighbourhood.
Fri.,9th ~pr.
A flawless spring day, indeed this is the sunniest spring on record,
Italinn skies for weeks. I walked the isolated fields between Calverton.and
Dove Beck. Last Tuesday came Miss Shepherd to take over the 2 girls from Miss'
Williamson. She has just left Lady Jane Douglas, D. of Beaufort's sister.
Hargie has had 2 dinner parties here lately. The Wm. Seelys, Nora Seely,
Gervase Hilward and "the talkies tl after, and Capt. and Mrs.Sherbrooke,
the Bourne boys and Blair Leighton the artist •.
Palm Sunday,
\&~ early church, a cloudy day, the first time for weeks but no rain here.
Only 6D:Friday Margie left me at Langar as she went to see the Pritchett Barrets
at Barnston with 6 year old Susan. Muriel was at Nottingham but meeting the Rector
Kane strolled about these lovely grounds till Muriel and Margaret came and.we were
to have a luncheon party at Langar for my 7-lst.birthday.
Thursday, 13th Apr •.
Huriel has had a stroke 50 her son Leonard and his wife Margaret lunched
here after Leonard and I had been to the Castle to see Wm. Nicholson's pictures.
Friday I went to early Litany and on Saturday took to bed for the rest of Easter which
had pDomised to be enjoyable. Hiss Shepherd now teaches the children and we all have
meals together in the diriingroom. Easter Honday Margie and party to the Point-to-
Point races at Oxton and Tuesday I got up for lunch to meet Hrs. Hughes, wife:of
Col. Hughes, Grenadier Guards, and a great friend of Margie' 5 Egypt .days. Mrs.
Bourne's great ball and Margie had a dinner party. Milwards 3, the Fillinghams
of Syerston, Mrs. Besley (nee Ransom) from Cairo and her partner Lucas. Very cold
and very sunny, 3 weeks without rain.
\o/eds. ,19th Apr.
Harold Franken Bayley is.at Langar. Dear Huriel is dying. Geoffry is
hastening from Cairo. Langar for years has been an oasis for me and her boys
as brothers to Margie, we shared all our joys. How I recall one of the happiest
holidays in our castle by the sea at Grimston in Yorks in 1913 and every Christmas
for more than 20 years. The last year from death and misfortune the worst I've had
since Folly's death.
Sat. ,22nd Apr.
Died my sister-in-law Muriel, my most devoted friend. Our happy Langar
days for over 30 years are. ended.
Sun. ,23rd Apr.
Annie here from Nidderdale. Margie and I also to Newark to the 8th Sherwood's
Memorial Service at the Church.
 IDues.,25th Apr •.
To dear Muriel's funeral at Langar, a full church. \ve of the family sat
in the Chancel. I stayed to tea to meet my b~ther Harold and Nell. Next day
Annie motored me to Sigsworth in the Nidderdale Moors, which I enjoyed. The
woods and ghylls of Yorks in Spring I always enjoy. Annie brought me home on
Sat. ,29th Apr.
Not well and the Doctor kept me to my room for 4 weeks. -. The Spring one
of the most beautiful and warm. I got up May 30th, but did not come out till
June 7th.
June 8th and 9th
1 was in Nottingham and.Southwell, and at Norwood Park.
June 15th.
Margie and children to Salisbury to stay a week with the Crichton-Maitlands.
Sun. ,18th J.une •.
Annie came for the day and the old comrades 8th Sherwoods paraded with Bertie
Branston and placed a wreath on Charlie's grave who died a year ago, my'3rd brother.
'fhurs. ,29th June
With some timely rain June has been a glorious month. My life here now is
idyllic with Margie and the children. She has £800 a. year and \vith my investment
income we are just about independent. She has her motor. The Rector having rebuult
the organ in the Chancel and lit with electric light we owe £350 of which £200
had accumulated so a garden fete at the Manor clearing some £120 is welcome.
Lady Ley opened.
Fri. ,30th June
A lunch. 'J!he Hector and Mrs. McLean and her' sister Lady Anderson and a
friend of Harold's Mrs. McHullen, also came and I showed her the Manor gardens,
Harold's old home.
Sat., 1st July
~o Warwick's party at Normanton.Prebend at Southwell.

Mon.,3fd July "

School children to tea at my house, 32 children. 12 years ago there were 52
and 40 years ago 80. The population declines and will, I hope. The country is
over-crowded.
Sat. ,8th July it .,
Scenes out of "As you like it" at 6 in Manor grounds, very good Rosalind
excellent and pretty. Weather has been very hot all July.
Tues.;;5th July
The month has been one of the most glorious for weather on record in spite
of one or two freak thunderstorms. My little grandchildren have been running about
in almost nude condition and their skins well browned. Margie has been inseperable from
the Manor party. Last week spent caravanning, Mrs. Bourne, Angla, Margaret, Mrs. Sherbroo
of Oxton, Mrs. Coke of Brokehill, Stanley and Capt. S. went to the Club at Brancaster on
the N. Norfolk coast I knew so well when Percy motored me about pre-war. Daimler motors
were rare then and we looked on reverentially, now the mob have them.
 Sun. ,16th July
Church in the morning and I took Veronica. We went to the Rectory where are
2 Junker Dutch Squires from Cambridge. To tea at Gonalston Hall with myoId

Rct..1Nl/.l =
friends the Edward Franklins, 2 W:illoughbys, Dr. Snell and family. Fine, hot and
sunny and with my usual weather luck walked home, between 2 thunderstorms, one at
11,..;, 4 miles off and one in Vale of Belvoir and got home without a drop.
" . , .
Margie took her family for tea to Kingston, Lord Belper's.
Thurs.,27th July
Margie took me to tea at Muriel Browne'sin lithe African' Village", Wollaton
Park,.one of the "Crane" houses, steel framing'and concrete. Children running
in Lido suits for the heat.
Sat. ,29th July
Veronica's 9th birthday and a party, 23' children and 20 nurses and mothers.
Veronica was born in the house and christened in the church, so a real Epperstonian.
Canon Greenwood, her godfather, gave her £100. Sandy's uncle and aunt, the Firth's,
came,and his mother. It rained hard for, 5 m{nutes and then cleared to a brilliant
afternoon.
Sun., 30th July
Geoffry to lunch, thinks he may live at Langar with a cook and manservant.
I wish he would marry Theodora Benson, ,Lord Charnwood's daughter.
August 4th•.
To the Council at Southwell.
Sat. ,5th Aug.
My brother Wm. Leonard came to stay till the following Tuesday. He now lives
at Passy near Paris with Basil'Knupenski ci devant Czars Ambassador at Pekin and
Tokio where W. Leonard also stayed with him and was with his family in Bessarabia
when war came in 19l4.~My brother visited all his cottage friends here. On Sat.
afternoon I attended ~ late ~arlour1haid, Winifred Barker's wedding, and the
excellent tea at the Institute, she marrying a young man, Dolby of Long Eaton.
Tues ~ ,8th Aug.
Margie motored my brother Leonard. to Nottingham L.M.S.Station and then left
me at Mrs. Bryan's new little house in the Oak Grove on Oxton Hill where a large
party to see it. I walked back to Oxton Hall with Capt. Sherbrooke's 2nd sister'
Mrs. Popert a very pretty woman.
\1eds. ,9th Aug.
Margaret motored the children to Stiffkey where Muriel North lives and
stayed to the following Weds.
Sat.,12th Aug. '
. Geoffry motored me to Stowe near Lichfield to stay with th~grarnwoods.
Theodora at home, Mrs. Harris, Bishop Palmer of Bombay and Commad~ Vilar6,
nephew of Lord Berwick of the party. The weather perfect,especially the vistas
of the cathedral, the walk of. mixed borders where the party promenade before
breakfast to get the morning sun on the Cathedral.
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Sun. ,13th Aug.·
I~ 33.
Lord Charnwood, Vilari, the Bishop, Mrs. Harris and I to the Cathedral and
sat in the Dean's pew. The afternoon we spent in the Garden and had tea in the
Ball Room.How John is married to Beryl Quilter with sisters it will be used.
Mon. ,14th Aug.
To the City with our party and had ices and coffee, a large party to tea,
mostly girls. Betty Askwith, Theodora'sgreat friend and co~traveller to the U.S.A.
came. Talked to' her of her half-brother Capt. Grant breaking off engagement with
Lady Ravensworth, Curzon's daughter, her sister dying the, day the wedding fixed.
Tues. ,15th Aug.
To lunch at the Abnalls with Mrs. Hodson formerly Miss Paget, her daughters
and Mrs. Coke of the Brookhillfamily. I was often here at one time. The butler
has been 40 years here. Clark and car with the housekeeper Emily Whitehead and
Mrs. Knight came and had tea and I returned with them by Tamworth.For Geoffry and
I trying a short cut by No Man's Heath wandered 20 miles out and got over the Trent
at Drake low • '
Thurs. ,16th Aug ~
We had a big luncheon party for all Geoffry's cricket team and sat down 15.
Margaret left after for London to join Mrs~ Bourne and thence to the Broads.
Fri.,17th Aug.
Passed Kimpton, the Bourne's chauffeur, with horsebox prepared for sleeping
room on way to the Broads, on to Southwell, walked part of Grete banks, saw "Jimmy"
in the Minster about the new found ancient carvings in the 10ft. He now Hon.Librarian
was a partner in Coutts Bank.
Sat. ,19th Aug.
To Gonalston to Mrs. Francklin's garden party. Lady Elmor Denison and Mrs.
Warrand, also Mrs. Rodwell still pretty at 60 and the really handsome Miss Egerton
now at Southwell. I walked both ways, the perfect summer continues.
Sun. ,20th Aug.
I went to church, the children running about my garden ha~f naked as all this
summer 'and very br~wn~
Mon. 28th Aug.
Margaret drove me to Nottingham and in Long Row met Capt. Hume I had not seen for
20 years, he was our adjutant in the 8th Sherwoods in 1912 when I left. He was and is
a handsome man, very pleased to meet him.
Tues. ,29th Aug.
To Salterford, Margaret and children bathed, Capt.Sherbrooke allowing us to
use his forest ground.
Weds. ,30th Aug.
To pretty Salterford lake, Miss Sheppard ~ith us bathed and had tea in the Oak
Grove on Darcliffe H~ll overlooking the lake and fine woodland views down the Bogs
to Epperstone Park \'1oods.
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Fri. ,31St Aug.

My party and the Bourne children to bathe again so I tea with Captain and
Mrs. Caruth, the gunner's adjutant, now'at the house. Mrs. Milward Rho was there
had and was the Oddingselles at Hall from 1066 to 1820.

Mon. ,3rd Sept.

I attended Mrs. Handford's funeral, daughter of 1st Lord Belper, married
Mr. Gale Coore who had fine Yorkshire property but he and their ~nkdied,. she' ..
married Dr. Handford and had 2 sons whotf'~ her fion-in-laJ,etr-w~ hstrumental
in bringing into the 8th Sherwood Foresters before the War when Polly and I had
a smart function for the Battalion prize shooting about 1908. All three fell at
the Hohenzollern Octo.19l5, fine officers all.
Becher was descended from and heir to the Irish estate of his ancestor
Becher, aide de camp of William ITr, while my ancestor on my grandmaternal
side commanded the Artillery all through those Irish wars and also in France,'
notably at Blenheim, my ancestor firing the village.