Maria and the Bellasis Family 27

I feel like there is very little to write in my diary these days, but I should mention weddings and funerals. I have inherited my mother’s arthritis problems, and all movements come with pain these days. 

Another family wedding in 1892 was between Mary Lucy Bowring, Lewin’s eldest daughter, and Mr. H J Wald. It was at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Kennington.  My step-mother Lady Bowring came for it, and Edgar’s wife was also there, and her son Algernon.  The priest was Rt Rev Monsignor Walk, no doubt a relative of the groom, and  with Mary Lucy’s uncle, Rev Richard Bellasis saying the nuptial mass. 

She wore an empire gown of white satin trimmed with Brussels Lace, and a train of white brocade, with lace and orange blossom.  Her attendants were Clara Talbot, her cousin, and Edith Bowring, her half sister, who is currently attending the convent school at St.Leonard’s on Sea in Sussex where my friend Mother Mary Francis Bellasis is teaching.  The bridesmaids wore dresses of French blue trimmed in pink roses. They were given gold horseshoe bangles as a present from the bride’s father, Lewin. 

Then started the funerals. In 1893 my brother John Charles had been going downhill for many years, so his death was not a surprise to us.  He died at Oaklasts Park Hotel. His wife Mary is considering moving from their huge property to something easier to manage on her own. She still has her daughter Mary Isabel with her who is 22, Charles who is 18 and Walter who is 15.  They have 10 servants, so a smaller house will mean they can get by with half the  number, I would hope. 

His will,  which was dealt with by his executors, his wife and oldest son John Frederick Edward Bowring, showed he left £102,858. So Mary will not have to worry about money. 

Poor Mary Lucy, whose wedding we had attended not much more than a year ago, died in childbirth. Her son, Charles James Weld,  will be cared for by his father and his family who live in Lymington Hampshire. . 

I do have one new activity to write about.  As I am not able to get about as much as before, I am stuck in the house and occupy my time but doing the same sort of art and craft work that I did when I was living with Deborah. I have been occasionally going to the Royal School for Art Needlework.

The first President was Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, Queen Victoria’s third daughter, known to the Royal School of Needlework as Princess Helena. It began operating in a small room above a bonnet shop in Sloane Street, London, initially employing 20 ladies. They worked large-scale art embroideries including Musica and Poesis by Edward Burne-Jones and work for William Morris and Walter Crane.

I did meet Princes Helena who is very friendly. In addition to being instrumental in the foundation of the School, she was also a founding member of the British Red Cross and President of the Royal British Nurses’ Association.