Croydon’s Weekly Standard, November 14th 1874

CONCERT.- A pleasant and more than usually rational mode of celebrating Guy Fawkes Day was adopted this year at Castlethorpe. A concert, especially calculated to please and amuse a village audience, was decided upon by those in authority, and the local musicians, aided by several of the ladies and gentlemen of the neighbourhood, accomplished this undertaking with great success. The doors were opened at seven, and the schoolroom was speedily filled to overflowing. The chair was taken by the Rev. J. Wigglesworth, who announced the names of the pieces and the performers in due order. The music commenced with a duet by Master T. and Miss A. Varney, “Fairy Dewdrops;” after which the glee “Let the Hills resound,” was performed by a class of school children, trained and accompanied by Master T. Varney. Miss Pike then gave the sweet old song, “There’s nae luck about the House,” which was warmly received. Miss H. Mansell relieved the singers by reciting “The Lady’s Dilemma,” an amusing piece by Mrs. Sewell, descriptive of the difficulty of finding experienced needlewomen in those days of machines and fancy work. This again was followed by a song from Miss. E. Varney, whose sweet soprano voice sounded most pleasantly through the room. But we should occupy too much space were we to speak of each piece in detail. Two duets for violin and pianoforte were most skilfully performed by Mr. W. J. Sargeaunt and Miss D. Walpole. Mr. D. Sargeaunt’s sweet and scientific handling of his instrument gave universal satisfaction; and both players and singers were much indebted to Miss D. Walpole for her well and carefully-executed accompaniments. The third time the violin came into use was (in concert with the piano) as an accompaniment to Miss Walpole’s performance of “La Seranata,” which might have given pleasure to even a more critical audience than the one assembled at Castlethorpe. Much applause was elicited by Miss H. Mansell’s amusing songs, “The Lords of Creation” and “Mistress Crop;” as also by Mr. T. Pike’s reading of Bloomfield’s “Harkey Night.” The proceedings closed by the singing of “God save the Queen,” in which the whole of the performers took part. Amongst the company were Mr. and Mrs. Watts, with Miss Selby Lowndes; Miss Ward and Mr. Frank Langham; Mrs. T. Pike, of Tickford House; &etc., &etc.