The War Years; 1924: Farewell Squire and Parson

In the Shadow of the Abbey

In remembrance of Henry James Vansittart Neale KCB, Lord of the Manor of Bisham, lover of the river, deeply involved in his village community with a sense of duty and service, remembered by Reverend Farrer, for 25 years his parson and friend.
Revd William Farrer had been appointed vicar of Bisham by Henry Vansittart Neale in June 1900. He followed Revd Powell who had been vicar there for over 51 years. However it is possible that they knew each other for longer than this as they were distantly related. William and Henry both shared a love of the river as rowers and created a bond between them making a strong team. It is fitting for him to reflect on Sir Henry at this point.
When I was about to issue my letter last May we had just heard that Sir Henry had been taken ill in London and I added a postscript expressing our sorrow and anxiety and hopes for his recovery. Our hopes and prayers were not to be fulfilled and he died on Sunday July 15th 1923. It is impossible to say at all adequately what his loss means to us all.

I must endeavour to place on record here a slight remembrance of him. He succeeded his father as the owner of Bisham Abbey in 1892. Henry had married Florence Eddis, the daughter of a county court judge in 1887 when he could afford a reasonable marriage settlement. They were a happy family deeply involved in the village and with 3 children, the succession looked secure. Tragically, in 1904 George Kenneth died whilst as school at Eton, he was aged 14. Mr Vansittart Neale had the decoration of CB conferred on him in the year of 1897 the diamond Jubilee year of Queen Victoria and a few years later he was promoted to KCB (Knight Commander of the Bath) The honour was given in recognition of the” ability and success” with which he discharged his duties at the Admiralty during 40 years. Everyone around Bisham and Marlow was proud to call him Sir Henry.
In him the Maidenhead Advertiser wrote, ‘the Parish of Bisham had a sincere and generous friend. He was a kind master and considerate landlord’. Such words applied to him seem to us only to need underlining. His religion was I believe the mainspring of his life. I can recollect how in his youth, when Sunday was his only free day he delighted when he could to spend it on the river and that he always made attendance at Church part of the days programme.
Sir Henry will be greatly missed in Bisham and Marlow. A kindly and generous squire he was regarded with feelings of deep affection and regard throughout the district.
The funeral took place at Bisham Church on Thursday 19th July 1923. The church was filled not with onlookers but with mourners who all felt they were parting from one who had done much to brighten and uplift the lives of very many. The Admiralty sent a Union Jack by special Kings Messenger to cover the coffin, the pair of sculls laid alongside the grave a token of his lifelong love of the river and of his sculling boat. A plaque on the wall in the church records his passing. Revd Farrer took the funeral service of his long time friend and squire, then retired to the Cottage at Hurley until his death in 1934, aged 83. He too is buried in the Churchyard at Bisham and has a plaque on the wall in the church. The villagers of Bisham were long to remember, Sir Henry, the squire and Revd Farrer, his parson.
This is the final episode of this section.
Episode researched, written and narrated by Sheila Featherstone-Clark based on The Bisham Parish Report of May 1924 and local newspaper cuttings. Revd Farrer is voiced by Nigel Greenwich. Sound effects from www.Freesound.org. Church bells.
Episode image is an old etching of Bisham Abbey, by Thomas C Farrer