2000
This section, the last, covers episodes 22 - 23: 1933 - 1934 and an "epilogue" by
Mrs Avril Burrell.
EPISODE 22 1933
1933
18th Jan.We all went to Tivoli to see Dick Whittington
2nd Feb.Jonathan Catherall died
4th Feb.Fred and I at funeral
8th Feb.Gave talk on Hymn Tunes at the Tabernacle
22nd Feb.Deep snow
5th MarchI addressed the Cong. Sunday School scholars in afternoon and distributed the prizes
22nd MarchGwynedd and I at Mold Church re Organists' Association. Mr Middleton introduced me to Malcolm Boyle, Organist of Chester Cathedral
26th MarchPresided at Mixed Glee Party's Concert at the Tivoli
29th MarchAt the Buckley Choral Society's performance of "The Messiah"
16th AprilGave organ recital at Bistre Methodist Chapel
28th AprilPollie and I at Tom Roberts' Organ Recital at Buckley Church
3rd MayAnnie, Edward Emily and Mary went to Llandudno
6th MayPollie, Gwynedd, Trevor, Freda, Emrys and I went to Moel Fammau. All save Pollie and I went to the top
22nd JuneFreda and Alma arranged a "birthday menu" as it was Pollie's birthday
22nd JulyJonathan Catherall's will in newspapers. He left £44,539
25th JulyWent with Gwynedd to Chester for her first lesson with Miss Walker
1st Aug.At St. Deiniol's Library with Frank Burkhill
10th Aug.Pollie, Trevor and I went by car to Llangollen and visited Vale Crucis Abbey. Splendid ride over the heather clad moors
15th Aug.Fred, Pollie, Trevor, Freda and Emrys at new Brighton
17th Aug.Fred, Pollie, Trevor and Freda at Shrewsbury Flower Show
21st Aug.Fred, Pollie, Trevor and Freda at Rhyl
26th Aug.Gwynedd, Freda and I walked up Hope Mountain, came back via Coed Talon
15th Oct.I was taken ill in evening
16th Oct.Dr. Dobson attended me for pleurisy and Nurse Croft came
21st Oct.Allowed out of bed
23rd Oct.Had attack of Haemorrhage
1st Nov.Had tea downstairs again
FINAL EPISODE 23 1934
1934
4th MarchRev. Keyworth Lloyd-Williams commenced his ministry at St. John's
6th MayI was received into Fellowship at St. John's Cong. at Buckley for the second time
7th MayFred and Rev. Lloyd-Williams went to London for May Meetings
27th MayGwynedd and I gave "Famous Marches" at Mynydd Isa
3rd JuneGwynedd, Freda and I at Moel Fammau
7th JuneWent to London and Southend. Stayed with Annie and Robert
9th JuneAt Bowling Green
13th JuneWent to Euston, found I had lost my return ticket. Arrived at Buckley at about 6p.m.
10th JulyBuckley Jubilee. Elvet Lewis and his daughter called. (His father, the late Joseph Griffiths, was one of the founders of the Jubilee. Elvet Lewis - the renowned Minister, Hymn writer and Bard who commenced his ministry at St. John's and from his bardic name "Elfed" the Comprehensive School in Buckley is known - Editor)
11th JulyAnnie and Edward went to Buxton. Emily and Mary went to Blackpool
11th Aug.Fred, Pollie and children went to Blackpool and returned on the 18th
2nd Sept.Gwynedd, Freda and I at Moel Fammau
9th Sept.They and I to Loggerheads and through the Leete
7th Oct.I played at the Congregational Church
3rd Dec.With Dr. Middleton at Chester Cathedral Service
25th Dec.Christmas Day. Willie and the boys here
31st Dec.Pollie, Trevor and I saw New Year in. Fred was at the Congregational Service
And so ends the Diary of my Great Uncle John, which has made such interesting reading for the past twenty-three issues of "Common Interest".
To everyone who has connections with his family this has been a particularly absorbing account of his life, but I am sure that for every reader there have been many items of great interest.
For a man of his era he was extremely well travelled, regularly visiting Germany, France and Switzerland. He was fluent in German, French and Esperanto and found no difficulty at all with the languages.
He was a brilliant musician, organist and composer and although he was resident in the South of England for most of his life he visited Buckley at least twice a year
My own recollection of him is of a tall (to me at any rate, as I was just three years of age) white haired and wax moustached gentleman, sitting at a desk in the Dining Room at my Aunty Pollie and Uncle Fred's house at the Cross. He would say to me "Hello, Sobersides" or "Hello Stick-in-the-mud) because I would never speak to him. I can clearly remember thinking "What will he call me today."
One item of his diary is of great interest to David, my husband and I. On 9th April 1923 he wrote that he had attended St. John's Church, Barmouth and mentioned a "delightful lady soprano". At this time David's mother who was a singer "Madam Mary Evans" (her maiden name) sang regularly at that church. Unfortunately, Uncle John did not give her name. We are almost certain this would be David's mother who was a well known singer in Barmouth. What a coincidence if this is true! A pity he didn't write her name in his diary. What would he have thought that day? "Sobersides - will marry this Soprano's son"
My grateful thanks to his grand-daughters, Misses Gwynedd and Freda Griffiths for allowing me to take extracts from these precious diaries.
I am told that my Auntie Pollie would ask "Why are you writing that diary" and he would reply "because I think my life has been as interesting as that of anyone else." How very,very true.
Avril Burrell
Author: Griffiths, John Robert 10,1857-1936
Year = 2000
Building = Religious
Extra = WW1
Extra = Music
Extra = 2000s
Copyright © 2015 The Buckley Society