The annual fête in aid of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund of the Great Western and Bristol and Exeter Railways' Provident Society was held in the grounds of Nuneham Park, near Abingdon, on Tuesday the 9th inst. As in past years, the Board of Directors granted special trains, which ran to the Culham Station, within three-quarters of a mile of the scene of the day's festivities. The entertainment included a company of vocal and other performers from London, a cricket match between an eleven of Paddington and an eleven of Newbury, archery, dancing, and rural sports. The bands in attendance were those of the 36th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, the 3rd Gloucester Artillery Volunteers, and Matthew's Quadrille Band from Oxford. Nuneham Park belonged to the Harcourt family in the 13th century; it afterwards passed into the possession of other families, but was re-purchased by Simon, first Lord Harcourt, in 1710. On the occasion of these fêtes, Col. Harcourt gives the use of his park to the committee, who provide various entertainments. The following information concerning the fund may be of service :-Members subscribe 2d. per week, which produces an income of 1,800l. per annum. The Great Western Railway gives the trains for the fête, and 120l. every year; the Bristol and Exeter Railway provides fête trains, and gives 20l. a year, though last year they gave 100l. instead of a freight [sic]train. The average ammount derived from the fête is about 800l., so that the total income of the society is about 2,740l. per annum. But it costs 3,300l. to support 286 widows and 281 orphans. The difference between the receipts and the expenditure has to be met by voluntary contributions, which the secretary will be most happy to receive, addressed Mr. A. C. Elwes, Provident Office, Paddington. Our engraving represents "Kiss in the Ring," "The Theatre," and "Going Home."
Transcribed by Colin and Daniel Taylor, 2022