Extracts from the Bunbury Section of the Malpas Deanery magazine of March 1899

1 Band of hope: "On Friday afternoon, January 27th, the members of Mrs. Aspinall's Band of Hope assembled in the Grammar School to hear an address by the Rev. F. Binney. At the close of the meeting, books, almanacs, buns and oranges were distributed to the two hundred children who were present. Temperance work of a gentle, persuasive character, exercised in youth, will do far more towards producing good citizens than rabid sensationalism in later life. To prevent evil is a wiser proceeding than attempting to cure it when disease is firmly established."

2 Temperance: On Thursday, January 26th, Mr. J.C. Porter, of Chester, delivered an original and interesting lecture upon this very important subject. The lecture was illustrated by snap shot views of scenes in prison and temperance work. No intelligent person could go away from the lecture without being fully persuaded of the power, which unbridled drinking has, in bringing a man to evil ways. It is absolutely certain that a very strong check requires to be placed upon the drink traffic. The drink seller, whose one aim in life is to force his death laden liquors upon people, should they be effectually effaced. There is no valid reason why a man, making a legitimate use of a licensed house, should be compelled to drink merely for the good of the house. The hours when drink may be sold require to be very materially shortened, and attempts to obtain an extension of the time for drink selling, on the occasion of any departure from the ordinary course of things, should be persistently frustrated by the magistrates." The article continued in a similar vein, and ended with: "The British taxpayer spends £2 6s per head upon school maintenance, but upon prison maintenance he spends £39 16s 2d per head. Truly we are a great and wise nation and wisdom will die with us.!"

3 The Choral Society: A philosophical piece about the power of music concluded with a rather down to earth message: "It is devoutly to be hoped, that the Choral Society will be in a position to resume its practices for another session when the winter months come upon us. The members and officials of the Society tender their most sincere thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who so willingly and generously support the finances of the Society, and, but for whom, our village would be shorn of many of its present advantages."

4 Sunday School: The prizes for those Sunday School Scholars, whose conduct and attendance has been of a high level throughout the preceding year, were distributed by Mr. Brocklebank. We hope there will be a very material increase in the number of prize winners when the next prize distributions come round. In the Bunbury School twelve girls and twenty-one boys earned prizes, and nine girls and eighteen boys earned certificates. In the Spurstow School there were sixty prizes. The Bunbury Scholars must increase their efforts."

5 Bunbury Cricket Club: The Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for 1898 were published. The overall sum of £43 showed that the yearly balance increased from £2 to £21, despite the purchase of a new roller at £6, 6 match balls at 5s each, 6 practice balls at 4s each, and two bats at 10/6 each. The Ground Rent was £3 10s and turfing, mowing, rolling and watering cost £2 4s.

6. Pictorial Lecture and Sacred Concert: "This entertainment in aid of the Girls' School met with a fair amount of success, in spite of stormy weather." From receipts of £5 2s a balance of £3 1s was available for school use

7 Bunbury Brass Band: The 1898 accounts showed, from an overall sum of £41 9s, an increase of about £15. A cornet and euphonium cost nearly £10. The sundries included an account book, lock and hinges, new springs for cornet and tenor horn, and a tip for bombardon, all at a combined cost of 8s.

8 The Vicar: The Vicar was still ill and away from the parish.

9 The Lending Library: "Of the institutions in our village the Lending Library is one of the most thriving and popular. Beginning in 1890, shortly after the erection of the Public Hall, the Library was steadily advanced with the times, and at present day remains one of the greatest boons conferred upon the inhabitants. ... There may be some readers of the Magazine who probably are not aware of the fact that the Library is open to the residents of the entire parish. Although the number of readers is gradually increasing from year to year, still we feel sure that there must be many bookloving persons who do not avail themselves of the Bunbury Library. Should this paragraph be seen by such persons we suggest that they see the Librarian with a view to becoming subscribers. The Library is open each Saturday from 5 to 5.30 p.m.

John Elsworth - Churchwarden in 1999

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1	Band of hope: "On Friday afternoon, January 27th, the members of Mrs. Aspinall's Band of Hope assembled in the Grammar School to hear an address by the Rev. F. Binney. At the close of the meeting, books, almanacs, buns and oranges were distributed to the two hundred children who were present. Temperance work of a gentle, persuasive character, exercised in youth, will do far more towards producing good citizens than rabid sensationalism in later life. To prevent evil is a wiser proceeding than attempting to cure it when disease is firmly established."
2	Temperance: On Thursday, January 26th, Mr. J.C. Porter, of Chester, delivered an original and interesting lecture upon this very important subject. The lecture was illustrated by snap shot views of scenes in prison and temperance work. No intelligent person could go away from the lecture without being fully persuaded of the power, which unbridled drinking has, in bringing a man to evil ways. It is absolutely certain that a very strong check requires to be placed upon the drink traffic. The drink seller, whose one aim in life is to force his death laden liquors upon people, should they be effectually effaced. There is no valid reason why a man, making a legitimate use of a licensed house, should be compelled to drink merely for the good of the house. The hours when drink may be sold require to be very materially shortened, and attempts to obtain an extension of the time for drink selling, on the occasion of any departure from the ordinary course of things, should be persistently frustrated by the magistrates." The article continued in a similar vein, and ended with: "The British taxpayer spends £2 6s per head upon school maintenance, but upon prison maintenance he spends £39 16s 2d per head. Truly we are a great and wise nation and wisdom will die with us.!"
3	The Choral Society: A philosophical piece about the power of music concluded with a rather down to earth message: "It is devoutly to be hoped, that the Choral Society will be in a position to resume its practices for another session when the winter months come upon us. The members and officials of the Society tender their most sincere thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who so willingly and generously support the finances of the Society, and, but for whom, our village would be shorn of many of its present advantages."
4	Sunday School: The prizes for those Sunday School Scholars, whose conduct and attendance has been of a high level throughout the preceding year, were distributed by Mr. Brocklebank. We hope there will be a very material increase in the number of prize winners when the next prize distributions come round. In the Bunbury School twelve girls and twenty-one boys earned prizes, and nine girls and eighteen boys earned certificates. In the Spurstow School there were sixty prizes. The Bunbury Scholars must increase their efforts."
5	Bunbury Cricket Club: The Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for 1898 were published. The overall sum of £43 showed that the yearly balance increased from £2 to £21, despite the purchase of a new roller at £6, 6 match balls at 5s each, 6 practice balls at 4s each, and two bats at 10/6 each. The Ground Rent was £3 10s and turfing, mowing, rolling and watering cost £2 4s.
6.	Pictorial Lecture and Sacred Concert: "This entertainment in aid of the Girls' School met with a fair amount of success, in spite of stormy weather." From receipts of £5 2s a balance of £3 1s was available for school use
7	Bunbury Brass Band: The 1898 accounts showed, from an overall sum of £41 9s, an increase of about £15. A cornet and euphonium cost nearly £10. The sundries included an account book, lock and hinges, new springs for cornet and tenor horn, and a tip for bombardon, all at a combined cost of 8s.
8	The Vicar: The Vicar was still ill and away from the parish.
9	The Lending Library: "Of the institutions in our village the Lending Library is one of the most thriving and popular. Beginning in 1890, shortly after the erection of the Public Hall, the Library was steadily advanced with the times, and at present day remains one of the greatest boons conferred upon the inhabitants. ... There may be some readers of the Magazine who probably are not aware of the fact that the Library is open to the residents of the entire parish. Although the number of readers is gradually increasing from year to year, still we feel sure that there must be many bookloving persons who do not avail themselves of the Bunbury Library. Should this paragraph be seen by such persons we suggest that they see the Librarian with a view to becoming subscribers. The Library is open each Saturday from 5 to 5.30 p.m.