DERBY MERCURY JUNE 19TH 1914

LADY OF THE LAMP MEMORIAL STATUE UNVEILED

DERBYSHIRE TRIBUTE TO FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

The Duke of Devonshire, on Friday unveiled the Florence Nightingale memorial statue, which has been placed bordering the grounds of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and facing the London Road. Derbyshire's tribute to "A noble type of good, heroic womanhood" is worthy of the town of the county in which Florence Nightingale spent many years of her life, and it is appropriate that the governors of the Infirmary should have given the site for the memorial, for Miss Nightingale had an intimate connection with the institution. To the Duke of Devonshire who is president of the governors of the Infirmary, is due the credit for initiating the movement for a memorial to Miss Nightingale after that lady's death in 1910, and it was also at the suggestion of His Grace that the execution of the statue was placed in the hands of a lady sculptor of note Countess ~~~~~~~~~.

The ~~~~~ has represented her subject as she was at the time of her beneficent work among the disease-stricken troops at Scutari 60 years ago. The figure in white marble and raised on a stone pedestal, is nearly seven feet in height, and uplifted in the right hand is a lamp, the attitude being symbolical of how Florence Nightingale held a light up to the nursing profession. This conception also finds terse expression in the Latin inscription "Fiat lux" Engraved on a large block of Darley Dale stone, which serves as a screen to the statue, which stands in a semi-circular alcove which, with stone seat and balustrade terminating in low pillars, is open to London Road

The cost of the memorial has been £1,700, of which about £260 remains to be raised.

At the unveiling ceremony, the Mayor of Derby (Coun. S. Johnson) presided, supported by the Duke of Devonshire the Countess Feodora Gleichen, the Bishop of Derby (Dr Abraham), the Mayoress (Mrs Johnson) Sir Arthur Heywood Bart., Mrs Shore Nightingale, Miss Wilmot, Miss Vaudrey, Col Brooke Taylor, Col G Gascoyne, Mrs G. Herbert Strutt, Mrs Hy Boden, Ald and Mrs W. G. Wilkins, Ald R. B. Chambers, Ald W. Blews Robotham, Ald A. C. Barnes, Ald Jas Oakes, Dr Parry Jones, the Rev F Harris Gibson, Mr Arthur Cox, Mr E. S. Johnson, Dr and Mrs W. R. Roe, Coun Frances Smith, Coun G. Innes, Coun and Mrs J. Hill, Mr G. Trevelyan Lee (Town Clerk), Capt. H. M. Haywood (Chief Constable), Mr W. H. Whiston, Mr Clewos, Mr H. E. Currey, Mr E. Forester, and the Matron of the Infirmary. Members of the nursing staff of the Infirmary were accommodated in the Infirmary grounds and a strong contingent of the Derbyshire Imperial Veterans` Association, including half-a-dozen Crimean veterans was present.

The Bishop of Derby opened the proceedings with prayer, and the Mayor then called upon the Duke to unveil the statue, which his Grace did by pulling a cord which drew aside the curtains surrounding the statue. The cord was handed to the Duke by the Countess Gleichen.

The Duke of Devonshire said he had a very pleasing duty in asking the Mayor to accept and take custody of the statue which he had the honour of unveiling. In doing so he thought they were taking a step which would be a memorable one not only in the history of Derby and County, but it would be for a perpetual memorial to the whole country and wherever the name of Florence Nightingale was known, which meant wherever the English language was spoken. He asked the Mayor to accept the statue as the memorial of the work of

A GREAT ENGLISH WOMAN

Whether they built statues to her or what every form the memorials might take, it was only right that her life and her life's work should have some permanent record in her native county. They marked that day as an auspicious one as they in their generation had done something to recognise the work which Florence Nightingale did not only for her own generation but for their generation and generations yet to come. (Applause) It would indeed be a task of some difficulty to attempt in any form or shape to go through the work which she actually did in her own lifetime or in any way to trace adequately the effect of what her work had, or what it would have, on succeeding generations. It was through her courage, perseverance and intense faith in her own righteousness that she undertook the work, and that day they saw in everything which came into their perspective as far as nursing, health and high ideals were concerned, traces of the work which she die. (Hear, Hear) They owned a very great debt of gratitude to those who by their assistance and subscriptions had enabled the statue to be erected. He took the opportunity of thinking the Mayor on behalf of the subscribers for work he had done and work done by predecessors in connection with the Corporation and the ready assistance they gave. (Hear, Hear) The statue as the form of memorial might not have commended itself to all but it was the solution which he cordially supported, and he hoped it would commend itself now to all who possibly might not, have agreed with it in the beginning. (Hear, Hear) They felt they were quite justified in asking the Countess Gleichen to undertake the work., and they required no justification of the action they took. They saw the statue he had the pleasure of unveiling. It would be an impertinence on his part, said his Grave, if he attempted to criticise or to flatter. He wished to do neither, but only to insist on one thing, that

THE REAL CHARACTERISTIC

Of Florence Nightingale's life, her intense and sincere sympathy, had been faithfully and adequately portrayed. He felt that the Mayor would be justified in asking his successors in the high office which he adorned to see that adequate and full care was taken of the statue (Applause)

The Mayor said it gave his great pleasure as Mayor of Derby, and acting on behalf not only of its citizens but of the inhabitants of the whole county of Derby, to take charge of that beautiful statue of the great woman whose name added lustre to the distinguished list of famous men and women which their county was entitled to claim as its own. It was claimed, and with truth, that the name of Florence nightingale would rank among those great and good women whose beneficent influence had helped the world. She had been called !A business-like Saint", "The heroine of the Nation", "The friend of all the world." She might have lived a life of ease and self enjoyment - she put ease and self enjoyment away from her in order that she might serve humanity (Hear, Hear) Her childhood was marked by sympathy with the suffering, she equipped herself for her life's work by her studies in her youth, and after her great struggle as the Lady of the Lamp against disease and disaster to the suffering in the military hospitals of the Crimea, she applied the lessons she had learned in the war against arms, to the war against disease. It had been said that her life was unique - that there was no parallel record of the combination of the highest feminine tact with the highest masculine energy, perseverance, and determination. Her life a mark which would endure throughout the ages for its purity, its subjugation of self and its embodiment of an alliance between goodness and practicability (Hear, Hear) The memorial would do more than perpetuate the memory of a great Derbyshire woman. A great stream of life flowed daily by the gates of this great Infirmary. To all who passed by, to their children and to their children's children, as long as Derby lasted, that statue would be an incitement to duty, a sermon in stone an imperishable reminder and stimulus to all those who had eyes to see and consciences to be stirred to good deeds, an influence ever pointing to the great example which they might follow in their humble spheres. He had both pride and pleasure on behalf of Derby and Derbyshire in accepting the guardianship of that memorial to one of the world's greatest women (Applause)

THANKS TO THE DUKE

Sir Arthur Heywood moved a vote of thanks to the Duke of Devonshire, and indoing so, said his Grave throughout the whole movement had accorded them the strongest support. (Hear, Hear) He did not think they could have hit upon a better method of memorial to their great Derbyshire heroine. He trusted that for many generations to some that figure would stand there as a memorial to Derbyshire people of an ideal woman. (Applause)

Ald. Jas Oakes in seconding the motion said he agreed with Sir Arthur Heywood that the Duke of Devonshire had done a great deal towards the work of promoting a suitable and lasting memorial to Miss Florence Nightingale in Derbyshire. He agreed with him that a statue was the best way to commemorate her because in years to come when strangers came to our town and asked what had been done by the people of her native county to keep her in memory, they would always point to that statue with a certain amount of pride. He congratulated his Grace upon having induce the Countess Feodora Gleichen to undertake the work, and her was sure that anybody who saw that statue would realise from it her deep sympathy in the work she had set herself to do. He went on to refer to the site of the statue, which he said that could she have been consulted she would have chosen a site in the grounds of a great infirmary, where the work of tending and caring for the suffering was carried on, a work which was so dear to her heart. Referring to the Duke of Devonshire's interest in the Infirmary, he spoke of his generous financial support of that institution, of which her was now regarded as the permanent President (Hear, Hear)

The Duke, in reply, said he did not intend to hinder them one moment because he saw a long line of trams filled with people, many of whom were anxious to catch trains. It had been a great pleasure to him to attend that afternoon, and he congratulated the people of Derby and Derbyshire upon having such a memorial to such a noble woman in their midst

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

               Pride of the Peak O maid of crag and tor.

               Love winged in flight from peace to blood and gore.

               Here in the wilds - as puny babe ye came -

               Thy day dawned fair, it waned, it closed the same.

               Ambition carved for thee so toil less way;

               No flowery call of fame dids`t thou obey;

              `T was kindliness of heart which led thee on

               They self-hewn path of life, O gentle one.

               Ne`er thornier path a gentlier form befel;

               Whate`er thy task, `twas nobly done and well;

               Love's strength prevailed `midst scenes of vengeance born,

               Witheld the curse on many a dying lip

               Ye`d breath thy prayer to many a faltering ear,

               On fest`ring would let fall full many a tear.

               Ye made for peace yet followed ye the sword;

               Thy end is peace - befitting`s thy reward

               Thy wond`rous faith war's rude, rough hand withstood

               In fadeless proof of dauntless womanhood

               For worthier head hath no fair laurel grown;

               Self sacrifice doth claim thee for her own'

               Triumphant, aye! Though death hath curbed thy will

               And wanes the flesh thy spirit's with us still

               Oft shall thy memory soothe midst battles din;

               Thy name oft stay the strong man in his sin,

               Oft be it breathed in fulness and pray`r,

               When sinks the heart, to minimise a care.

               Rest then in peace, - here, in thy sylvan glade;

               Deathless to fame, they glory ne`er shall fade,

               But, like thy world famed, never-failing light,

               Shine e`er effulgent through life's wayward night.

               ALFRED J. COTTERILL

13th MAY 

AMERICANS JOIN IN WELLOW WREATH-LAYING

The picturesque St. Margaret's Church, East Wellow, was the focal point on Sunday for the special Florence Nightingale Commemoration service. In addition to local people present in the church two representatives from the American Embassy in London travelled down to take part in the wreath laying ceremony, and pay their tribute to the lady whose name is synonymous with the start of the nursing service.

The service was conducted by the Vicar (the Rev. D. Blair-Brown) and the address was given by Mrs Margaret Duggan, a member of the General Synod and writer for the Church Times. After the third Collect, the Vicar and members of the congregation moved into the churchyard around the Nightingale Memorial.

Mrs A. G. Pilbrow, a member of the St. Margaret`s congregation, laid a wreath on behalf of fellow church members, and Mrs R. F. Puterbaugh, one on behalf of the American Nurses' Association.

It was particularly appropriate that Mrs. Puterbaugh should represent the 170,000 strong Association for she herself graduated from the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota.

Mrs Puterbaugh explained afterwards that when she graduated she gave the Florence Nightingale Pledge and in fact carried with her the New Testament which was presented to her on that occasion. She said that the pioneer nurses in America were inspired by the selflessness of Florence Nightingale and the leadership she gave.

Mrs Puterbaugh accompanied her husband Roger, who is the Assistant Agricultural Attaché at the Embassy in London. They came over here in September of last year from Washington D.C. and this is their first overseas assignment.

Also present at the service were members of the family of the late Mrs. Kate J. Judd. Mrs Judd, who died recently, resided in Middlebridge-street, Romsey, but as a young girl was employed at the London home of Miss Nightingale. The famous nurse presented her with an autographed Bible on her confirmation, and Mrs. Judd was present at the Westminster Abbey funeral.

In her will Mrs. Judd bequeathed a framed photograph of Florence Nightingale, taken in her latter years, to the Wellow Church. On Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Judd (son and daughter-in-law), their daughter, Winifred, and Mr. Jack Judd (son) handed over the picture. Mr. Jack Judd has resided in Canada for the past 27 years, and came over to this country to see his mother during her last illness.

The photograph and other memento`s of Florence Nightingale were on view in the church. Flowers in the church were arranged by the leader of the flower arrangement team, Mrs. F. Locke.

SHE WORKED FOR FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

The funeral service, conducted by the Rev. D. J. Shearlock took place at Stoneham Crematorium on Monday, of Mrs, Kate Jessie Judd, aged 83, of 77, Middlebridge-street.

Mrs. Judd was born at Effingham Surrey, and as a young girl was employed, together with her two sisters, by Florence Nightingale, at her London residence, and she was present at the Westminster Abbey funeral.

Florence Nightingale presented Kate with an autographed Bible on the occasion of her Confirmation at Westminster Abbey; a framed photograph of Florence Nightingale, taken in her latter years, has been bequeathed to Wellow Church at Mrs. Judd's bequest.

It was pure coincidence that Kate came to Romsey some 60 years ago to reside for a time with her sister, Mrs C. J. Alldred, at Palmerston-street, until accommodated at Middlebridge-street, thus being within walking distance of Florence Nightingale's burial place.

During World War One Kate was employed at Strong and Co. Mineral factory at Bell-street, and during the Second World War was an enthusiastic seller of poppy emblems and associated with the knitting and distribution of woollen comforts to the troops at the British Legion.

Mrs Judd was predeceased by her husband Frederick and one son, George.

Present at the committal were her two sons, Maurice and Jack, Mrs M Judd (daughter-in-law), S. Judd (grand-daughter), Mr K. Smith, Miss D. Backensell, Mr R. Lewis, Mr E. Alldred, Mrs T Alldred, Mr F. Alldred, Mrs W. Alldred, Mr R. Alldred, Mrs M Alldred, Mr T. Dunleavey, Mrs J. Dunleavey, Mrs J Sillence, Mr A. Forsythe, Mr D. Forsythe (nephews and nieces) and Mr. and Mrs. Duffett, Mr F. Early (friends). There was a floral tribute from the family but no other flowers by request.

DERBYSHIRE LIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE VOL 41 DECEMBER 1976

DERBYSHIRE CHARACTERS  FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

`The Angel of Scutari`

by Robert Innes-Smith

`GOD BLESS OUR old comrades of Balaclava. . . . .` the quavery voice from the scratched old phonograph rings out to us over the years, for by the marvels of science we can still hear the voice of Florence Nightingale captured for ever in the convolutions of an old wax cylinder.

Born in Florence in the reign of George III, Florence, or `Flo` as she was known to her intimates, was the daughter of William Edward Shore whose mother, Mary Evans, was the niece of Peter Nightingale the squire of Lea Hurst under the terms of whose will W.E. Shore assumed the name and arms of Nightingale upon inheriting his great uncle's estates in Derbyshire. `So it was that Florence became famous not as Florence Shore but as Florence Nightingale` wrote her cousin, Lady Stephen.

Florence's maternal grandfather was William Smith, MP an active champion of the abolition of slavery so that it is probably through him that she inherited a strong streak of compassion in her nature. Yet unlike many people who concern themselves almost exclusively with the well-being of others, Florence Nightingale was not in the least stuffy or serious minded. As a young woman she was not short of suitors and enjoyed parties and dancing but she felt compelled to devote her life in some way to relieve the very real suffering of the labouring poor. From an early age she started visiting the sick and the poor and as a young woman took up nursing in the teeth of some parental opposition. Between 1844 and 1855 she visited many hospitals abroad and trained as a sick nurse at the Kaiserwerth Institute for Deaconesses and Nurses. In 1853 she became superintendent of the Hospital for Invalid Gentlewomen in Chandos Street and in the meantime had become friendly with Sidney Herbert, a son of the 11^th Earl of Pembroke by his second wife Catherine Romanovitch, daughter of Count Woronzow, the Russian Ambassador.

Herbert was Secretary for War at the time of the Russo-Turkish troubles and, because of his maternal ancestry, must have felt torn when war broke out between Britain and Russia. It was largely through Herbert that Florence was sent to the Crimea to organise and efficient nursing system.

It is difficult to realise what she was up against. One old doctor who had been in the Peninsular wars with Wellington was horrified at the disgraceful and unmanly way that some of the officers asked for anaesthetics for amputations. It was never like that at Waterloo! With this attitude and the general hostility of men for women in authority, Florence had difficulty in getting started. She arrived at Scutari on November 4^th 1854, and was not at first taken very serious. By tremendous feats of tact and forbearance she eventually won over those who were against her and by her other gifts of organisation and administration, eventually revolutionised the conditions of the fearful old barracks hospital.

To the men who lay wounded and dying in the quiet of the Russian night punctuated only by the snores and moans of those who were able to sleep, the graceful figure in the long skirt who swept quietly through the wards to see that all was well, was an angel - `The Lady with the Lamp`. To the old doctors who resented her and to the politicians and bureaucrats at home whom she bullied she was a veritable tigress and a persistent nuisance until she got her own way.

The story of her life and her achievements is well known and it would be impossible to try to summarise it in so short a space, but as there can scarcely be many alive today who can remember her since she died in 1910, it is interesting to re-print part of a contribution made to Derbyshire Countryside in 1941 by Florence Nightingale's cousin Lady Stephen who knew her well and often visited her at Lea Hurst and in London:-

From our childhood, "Aunt Florence" was one of the foundations of our world. Some of my earliest recollections are of our summer holidays at Lea Hurst, when she usually there. She had a bedroom and an adjoining sitting room with a wide balcony, and I remember seeing her standing one the balcony. We so seldom saw her except upon a sofa that her tall figure, viewed from the garden below, made a striking impression. When we children paid our visits to her upstairs, she was always to be found on her sofa, but we did not think of her as an invalid. Her bright eyes and kind face gave us a warm welcome; we always found her ready to talk and to listen, to sympathize, and to encourage. A visit to her was a never failing pleasure.

After my childhood, Lea Hurst was let for a good many years, but we saw Florence constantly in London where she lived, and we, too, had our home. We were aware that she was always very busy with the Nightingale Training School for Nurses founded by her at St Thomas's Hospital, and with the many threads of her work for nursing and sanitation, both military and civil, and in India; but she seldom spoke to us young one of these matters. Her talk was that of a sympathetic older relation, a delightful companion, and it was only later that I realised how much I had unconsciously learned from her. She delighted to hear news of her old friends in the Derbyshire villages where as a young woman she used to try with all her might to give people the kind of help now provided by the District Nurse and the hospital services. She interested herself in a "coffee tavern" at Whatstandwell, an attempt to provide something like the "tea rooms" now so familiar then almost unknown. She was always eager to help with charitable gifts. She sent books for prizes to the village school at Lea, made acquaintance with the successive headmasters, and, busy as she was corresponded with them from her home in London about their work.

All these things were of special value in those early days, when the county library, the public health services, and so forth, were as yet undeveloped; and through Miss Nightingale, they became familiar ground to us young people. When my brother came to live in Derbyshire, before the beginning the last war, he naturally followed on these lines. After some harassing work in connection with agricultural war tribunals, it was a great pleasure to him when her was elected in 1917 to the Derbyshire County Council, as member for the Crich division. He and his wife were then living at Wood End, near Cromford, an old house built by Peter Nightingale. After my mother's death in 1922, they went to live at Lea Hurst, where his wife died in 1927. Throughout the sad years of her illness and afterwards, his keen interest in public business and his sense of public duty were a strong support to him. He took special pleasure in the work of the Education Committee and the County Library, and in the Rural Community Council. The village had at Holloway, named after Florence Nightingale, was built through his initiative and energy. He was very modest about his own powers, and unwilling to put himself forward personally, but he had a firmness and uprightness of character which with is good sense and practical experience gave his work its special value. His humour, kindliness, and desire to help were, I believe, a real encouragement to officials with whom he worked.

Perhaps one of the best ways of visualising Florence Nightingale is when she arrived back from the Crimea, a heroine to every patriotic Englishman and woman. A great civic reception had been arranged and she was to have arrived in a blaze of glory with bands playing. She did not like this sort of thing and avoided it by travelling straight home to Derbyshire. She arrived at the little local station and was spotted walking up the drive of Lea Hurst carrying her luggage, a small, lonely figure who had in her own way helped to change the course of history.

It seems incredible that it was not until her eighty-eighth year that this national heroine was granted an honour from the state commensurate with her achievements. In 1907 she was awarded the Order of Merit and when it had been explained to the blind, deaf old lady what had been conferred upon her she murmured `Too kind! Too kind!` though it was doubtful whether she understood the importance of the decoration, as by then she had almost completely lost her faculty for comprehension. Suddenly the world realised that Miss Nightingale was still alive. Many had thought her long dead. The result was that further honours were bestowed upon her but all of them too late as she had reached oblivion long before August 13^th 1910, the day of her death.

FRIDAY MAY 22nd 1970

A DERBYSHIRE WOMAN'S DIARY

By Rosemary Maynell

Lea Hurst

May 12^th was the 150^th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth and I spent it in her old home, Lea Hurst, Holloway near Matlock.

The House is now a residential home for the elderly but, during the whole of last week crowds of visitors came to see the beautiful grounds and the exhibition of Nightingale relics which had been arranged for the occasion. Much of her family furniture is still in daily use in the house and also there sere some of her books and china, letters and photographs, portraits of her family and herself and most touching of all to me, the stuffed body of her little pet owl, Athena, whom she rescued from bullying boys in Greece and carried in her pocket to the Crimea and finally brought home to Derbyshire.

Many schoolchildren came to see these relics including a party from Heanor Gate School where they have a Nightingale House and remember Florence's birthday each year by sending flowers to Lea Hurst and eggs to residents. All the visitors I met were impressed with the beauty and atmosphere of the place so wonderfully summed up in a poem by the Derbyshire writer - Teresa Hooley - from which the following is an extract -

She did and I am glad the peace of Lea Hurst  was there to lap her round when she returned from the Crimea broken in health and spirit, to rest in the west bed-room with its views of Crich Stand and the Derwent Valley. This room still contains her writing desk, dressing table, and prie dieu chair.

Celebrations

In Holloway village itself, the Nightingale anniversary was celebrated throughout the week. There was a splendid dinner-dance at the Memorial Hall for which a baron of beef was supplied by Messrs Thomas Walker family butchers to the Nightingale's. Nearly all the guests wore Victorian costume (I am told there was a big run on the Matlock Oxfam shop for old evening dresses!) and people of all ages took part in the old-fashioned dances arranged for the evening. There was also a Victorian garden party at Lea Hurst on Saturday and an exhibition of early nursing procedures at Lea Green.

In fact the whole village was humming with activity.

The great excitement was getting the special "one-day cover" envelopes stamped and franked for the actual anniversary. Volunteers worked tirelessly under Mr N Keen of Lea School, to get the covers addressed to collectors all over the world who had applied form. I helped in the last hectic rush at Holloway Post Office, to stamp the final batch of envelopes while the Royal Mail van spluttered with impatience outside, or so it seemed though in fact, the kindly driver came in to help us lick the stamps!

A long walk

I had a very happy time staying at Lea Hurst. Mrs Goodwin the matron, her assistant - Miss Doreen Fern - and the residents made me so very welcome. It is such a homely place and so comfortable and not in the least institutional as matron's husband and six years old boy - Nicky - are living there; and there are two friendly cats and a dog. One day I went for a long walk through fields alight with cowslips and wood misty with bluebells. I visited Christ Church, Holloway, a fin building dating from 1900 by the Derbyshire architect - P H Currey. This type of architecture is just beginning to be appreciated again. Many of the furnishings were given by the late Mr J B Marsden-Smedley who as a plaque records his gift of the organ. From the Church I walked towards his old home - Lea Green - and as the road was hot and dusty was lucky enough to be given a lift there by Mr H England in his butcher's van. People are kind and friendly to strangers in this part of Derbyshire and it is quite natural for a tradesman's van to stop and pick up a lone walker or for residents to call out over their garden hedges - "Are you looking for someone? And when I answered that I was just exploring they would give me good advice as to what to see.

Rhododendron gardens

From Lea Green, now a Youth and Sports Centre (being too early to sample one of Mr and Mrs Hugh Sheldon`s cream teas at the Coach House Café) I went on to the lovely Rhododendron Gardens at Lea, which are open to the public daily in aid of charity There I had the good luck to meet the owner, Miss J E Colyer, who told me how happy she is that the gardens should give pleasure to so many people. After I had wandered round this marvelously colourful place, I took a footpath through a rocky wood which led down to the church again and went into the nearby cemetery to look for the grave of a friend and contemporary of mine Michael Ham, brother of Mr Christopher Ham, of Morley Hall who was killed serving in Bomber Command of the RAF in 1940. Nearly 30 years had passed since the cold December day when I attended the funeral and realised for the first time that war was something more than a gay adventure; but my memory led me to the exact place on the beautiful hillside when his grave lies.

A cartoonist

Like many another visitor to Holloway I dropped in at the Yew Tree Inn on the edge of the Lea Hurst estate and I was glad I did as the licensee showed me some delightful pictures of village life done by a talented young cartoonist. Mr John Cordon, who lives nearby. They are most amusing and excellently drawn. I wished I could have stayed to sample the "Ploughman's lunch" the Yew Tree provide for only 2s, but I had to hurry back to catch a bus to Matlock where the inhabitants were still reeling from the news that one of their banks had been struck by lightning and the other attacked by armed robbers. It seemed like another world after the peach of Florence Nightingale's village