Hopping (1912):very good year for pickers and growers.

Post date: Nov 24, 2011 4:4:9 PM

Extract from Parish Magazine October 1912:

The hop-picking that is just over is said to have created a "record" in recent years for prosperity and contentment so far as the pickers are concerned. We hope it may also prove a good year for the growers; but we fear that it will not be so easy for the brewers, with both barley and hops up in price.

The Mission's work has been smooth and uneventful, except for a case of measles, which necessitated the disinfecting of the ward at the hospital. We all missed the presence of Miss K. Kerr, who has been with us for many seasons (and hopes to come again); but the new nursing staff, Miss Lea and Miss Ashworth, with Mrs. Cox as "cookie," did splendidly: they had six in-patients and nearly 600 outpatient cases. The number of immigrant pickers was rather smaller than usual, and, with fair though very cold weather throughout, there was not much illness among them.

The Club Room and Vicarage Coffee Stall were managed with great success by Miss D. Livett, with the help of the Misses Goodwin and several other local ladies, in addition to the "Mission ladies," who came into the parish to give their assistance both in the Rooms and at the Garden Stalls. Miss Hilda Lepper and, successively, Miss K. Crosse and Miss K. Moore, who came specially to help at the Rooms, stayed at the Vicarage; while the Mission Ladies, Miss Varville and, successively, Miss Crosse and Mrs. Willett, lived at the Hollies, rented for the purpose. The Station Stall and the Garden Stalls at the Canon Court and the Home Farms proved useful as usual, managed by paid servants under the Vicar's general supervision.

Lastly, there was the Lantern Mission, conducted by Mr. Paige Griffiths, student at Warminster Missionary College. After a preliminary break-down with the lantern on the first evening the ten services that were held were well attended. Additional services were conducted by Mr. R. Colby, who is always ready to help.

Perhaps special mention should be made of the Sunday School conducted in the Rooms by Miss Crosse, with the help of the Missioner and Miss F. Goodwin, who brought a large flock of children from Canon Court Farm.

Dean Carter, at whose suggestion, after a little conference of workers held 15 years ago in the Vestry of Wateringbury Church, ladies accustomed to working in the London slums were invited to come down for the hopping, delivered an address at the Celebration this year, on the occasion of the Annual Conference of the Church of England Mission; and Lady Falmouth acted as chairman of the Conference, which was enlivened by a characteristic speech from "Father" Richards. He advised, very sensibly, that anyone wishing to take part in the work should begin by picking at the bins for a few days in the regular way, without attempting anything more, so that they might get to know something of the people and the conditions under which they work. For those of us who have been engaged in the work for several years the freshness and excitement of organising it has worn off, but we are convinced of its many-sided usefulness and feel we must not let it flag.