Fifty Years An Organist

I recently came across an old clipping, entitled Fifty Years An Organist, and dated 1932. It read as follows:

Fifty years' service by Mr. W. E. Edwards, a retired school master, as organist and choirmaster to Blankney parish church, under three rectors, was rewarded last night, when Mr John Cartwright (Metheringham) made the presentation of a sedan armchair on behalf of the parishioners.
When performing the ceremony, Mr Cartwright (vicar's warden) said he had been associated with Mr. Edwards all the time he had been in the village and he had a great respect for his long service. The Rev. C. H. Sibthorp, rector of Blankney, said that only a prior engagement prevented the Earl of Londesborough from being present. He warmly congratulated Mr. Edwards upon a marvellous record on not missing a single Sunday service and never being late, unless prevented by illness or holiday.
Mr W. F. Nunn (people's warden) announced that although they were not able to be present Lady Londesborough, Lady Carisbrooke, Miss L. A. James and Mrs. and Miss Gurney, wished to associate themselves with the function.
Mr J. E. West said he came to Blankney in 1882, the same year as Mr. Edwards and no-one realised better than he the excellent work Mr. Edwards had performed.
Expressing thanks, Mr. Edwards said he was deeply touched by the appreciation which he valued very highly. He received rather a shock on coming to Blankney as schoolmaster when he was asked to take over the post of organist and choirmaster without previous experience. At the time he said he would try and had just gone on trying ever since.

Horseracing

Today sees the start of the 2009 Flat racing season, and the first big race of the year, the William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) run over a mile at Doncaster (3.55). The 'Lincoln' is always a tricky affair, as most of the horses have been 'laid out' for the race. The horse we are going to put forward for this valuable £125,000 added race is Huzzah, a 4.y.o. bay colt, trained at Lambourn by Barry Hills (pictured right), and ridden by his son Michael. Huzzah is an early type, winning both of his first two starts in 2008, at Newbury and Chester. He goes on any ground, having won on good/firm and good/soft and he ran well on this track last September when running third to a horse called Virtual, beaten under 2 lengths. But for being slowly away on that occasion he may well have won. The high draw may well prove an advantage and he runs here off a fair handicap mark. You can never be confident in a race like the 'Lincoln' but we are hopeful that Huzzah will run a big race and we expect to see him there or thereabouts at the business end of the race. Barry Hills won this race in 2003 with a horse called Pablo (Won 5/1).
Footnote
The Lincoln is a one mile handicap flat race for four year olds and over, run usually in March at Doncaster racecourse. The Lincoln at Doncaster was first run there in 1965 but the actual history of the race goes back much further. The race was moved to Doncaster after the closure of its original venue Lincoln Racecourse which ceased holding race meetings in 1964. The race had first been run at Lincoln in 1853. At Lincoln the race was known as the Lincolnshire Handicap. The 2007 race was run at Newcastle Racecourse (1m 3yds) and the 2006 race was run at Redcar Racecourse.

Today's Smile

Blankney Pictures

The Lake, Blankney Hall

As you walked out of the front door of Blankney Hall, it led onto a terrace, which in turn stepped down into the sunken gardens. Beyond the sunken gardens a path led down to the lake. The lake was a man made structure, circling a small island, accessed by the wooden bridge pictured above. At the north end of the lake stood a summer house. Growing along the eastern bank of the lake was a mass of bamboo canes giving the waters edge a tropical feel. In more modern times the lake became known as bamboo island, because of this unusual feature.

Brainteaser - Friday's Answer

How did you get on with the Friday brainteaser? The answer to the ten 'trivia' questions are set out below.

01 In Babylon.
02 From Paris.
03 A colony.
04 St. Peter's, in Rome.
05 Alaska.
06 Five.
07 A lama.
08 Heat.
09 In mosques.
10 Constellations.

9/10 Excellent 7/8 Very Good 5/6 Good - Below 5 Could do better!