It is not known whether these reports were produced annually but it seems doubtful reading the ones below. It is not known whether there are more than these three, but these are the only ones available in the Berkshire Records Office with other associated documentation and records relating to the Mission House and other related buildings associated with the Sisters. John & Margaret went there in 2019 and researched much of this history and copied many of the photographs.
Mission House Report for 1925
After the band I was in - Beyond the Bars - decided to call it a day some considerable time ago now, after five albums, appearances on TV and Radio, many festivals, I hung up my guitar and neglected my playing. Some years ago I bought a DIY guitar build kit 'for something to do'. Six builds later (and another in progress) I thought it would be a good idea to 're-learn' to play, (and play differently given I was only really the 'strummer' in the band), in order for them not to be just wall hangings! Oh and fashion a studio and then some fast-track learning how to use the GarageBand/Logic Pro and iMovie software on the mac!
'Shells' (Phil Davis)
'Hands Clean' (Alanis Morissette)
'Woodstock' (Matthews Southern Comfort)
'A Design for Life' (Manic Street Preachers)
'Hand in my pocket' (Alanis Morrisette)
'And your bird can sing' (The Beatles)
Free Fallin' (Tom Petty)
Going Home - Wild Theme (from the film Local Hero) by Mark Knopfler
More than a feeling (Boston) - instrumental cover
While my guitar gently weeps (The Beatles)
She said, she said (The Beatles)
Cover #11 Shells
Written by a friend of my former band, Phil Davis's song 'Shells' has long being a favourite of mine. Getting to grips with Logic Pro's 'virtual drummer' and software instruments! Vocals, acoustic guitar and bass me though!
Cover#10 Hands Clean
Thanks to Juliet Owen for the wonderful vocals. All guitars played by me. Keyboards from Jon Greening.
Cover #9 Woodstock
Thanks to Jaime once again for the awesome vocals with Jaime and Jon adding backing vocals. Given neither of them had heard this song before their performance is spot on!
The guy in the photo with me on the video cover image is actually Nicky Wire, the Manic's bass player who I bumped into in town one day!
OK! Cover number six comes in to land. 'And your bird can sing' © Lennon–McCartney 1966 Jaime on vocals (recorded by Jon). from the 1966 'Revolver' album. Again, me on guitars and bass. Drum track courtesy of Joe Montague. ↓
That was fun! 'Free Fallin' by Tom Petty Total of 12 guitar tracks - bass, 6-string electric, 12-string electric 6-string acoustic (all me!) 12 vocal tracks (sorry - all me) Recorded and mixed by me in Garageband except for recording of vocals and keyboards. ↓
Cover 4. 'Wild theme' by Mark Knopfler from the fill 'Local Hero' Not perfect by any means but I'm happy enough. One slight mess up but hopefully no one will notice! ;-) Played on my 'first born' (my first guitar build). ↓
After I finished building the electric 12-string, I messed about with playing along with the Boston track 'More than a feeling' that features a classic 12-string accompaniment, with the 12-string and the semi-hollow Les Paul copy I also built. I uploaded a video to facebook and YouTube. A fellow-guitarist friend mentioned - correctly - "There's something like 13 guitars on this song you'll have to make more lol" Never one to shy from a challenge, and wanting a chance to feature all the guitars I've built, (including one refurbished and rebuilt - the strat copy - and my original acoustic) I decided to give it a go! EVERYTHING you hear, apart from the drum track (I have my limits) is all me. Acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, three electrics and bass and a fair bit of guitar fills and harmonies. Days of Garageband recording (and re-recording) and a son-in-law Jon Greening who has expertly added a production value and mix in his home studio that I could only dream of, and it is finished. I would have liked to have added vocals but the range is far too high and would have seriously distracted from the rest of it. So you'll have to put up with a guitar instrumental instead of vocals. As someone who was pretty much 'carried' in his time with Beyond the Bars I have surprised myself. Wish I had put this effort in years ago! Well here is the result. ↓
OK. The second old man big kid cover attempt, this time with vocals (yes, sorry, I sing on this one as it's [just] within my range). 'While my guitar gently weeps' Again, all the guitar parts are me - electric guitars and bass I built plus the acoustic I didn't! Thanks again to Jon Greening who gave of his talent and production time to his FiL (and added keyboards!) despite being busy with his sterling work producing the sublime sounds coming from Katielou (who if you haven't yet heard you really really must). Drum track again courtesy of Joe Montague. ↓
Here we go! Third cover, (second Beatles cover) 'She said' this time with daughter Jaime singing (far more pleasant an experience than listening to me.). 'She said, she said' by The Beatles from the 1966 'Revolver' album. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was written by John Lennon with assistance from George Harrison. Mixed by me this time, with son-in-law Jon recording Jaime's vocals and adding nice Vox organ part. Guitar parts are the Rickenbacker copy (Hiltonbacker!) I built in addition to the jazzmaster bass built. Drum track again courtesy of Joe Montague. ↓
THE BAND DAYS
Beyond the Bars reformed to play 'Folk on the Lawn 2017' at the Abbey Mill, Tintern. First live performance in some 20 years! That's me on the far right. My daughter on vocals and her husband (my son-in-law on keyboard).
I’ve done some research (Newport Reference Library archives) and it looks like the American troops have had some ‘bad press’ in this regard. This would appear to stem from an article in the Argus in January 1948, remembering the ‘blessing’ of the Mission House in 1908, and implying that the fire damage was while American Troops were billeted there. Indeed, apart from a mention in the 1948 article below, I can find no reference to American Troops being billitted here. Urban myth?
SOUTH WALES ARGUS
Forty Years Ago
The 'Church Times' in retrospect, recalls that forty years ago the Bishop of Llandaff (Dr. Joshta P. Hughes) blessed the Mission House of the Clewer Sisters at Newport.
This fine building in Oakheid Road was extensively damaged by fire during the War, when it was requisitioned as a billet fot American troops. The building is now being converted into flats.
However, having found the original Argus article from 5 February 1943 suggests otherwise. It makes no mention of American troops.
SOUTH WALES ARGUS
Mission Hall Ablaze
ROOF COLLAPSES AT NEWPORT
The whole of the roof was destroyed and most of the building when fire broke out at John the Baptist Mission Hall, Oakfield Road, Newport.
The building was L-shaped, and stood in its own grounds. It was built in the 1900s by the Sisters of the Community of St. John the Baptist Clewer, it is believed at a cost of £ 30.000 It had been used as an orphanage.
The fire started at the rear of the building and rapidly along the whole of the spread roof to that portion of the building facing Oakfield Road, and for several hours, N.F.S. men strove to prevent the flames taking hold of lower floors. They attacked the flames from three sides, and, at one time, lengths of hose were run from the top of Oakfield Road down to the Civic Centre.
The alarm was given by Mrs. Hilda Pidgiey the Matron, with whom were Mrs Chivers, Mrs. Lewis and Miss Joan Lewis. Later, a considerable portion of the roof was ablaze.
RESCUE SQUADS
Fortunately, the fire was discovered in time for the occupants, aided by police and neighbours, to form rescue squads and salvage a considerable quantity of bedding, equipment and furniture.
Willing hands helped to retrieve many articles, which were placed in the surrounding grounds before being removed to a safer place. Among the helpers who entered the building time and time again before the fire took too great a hold was the Rev. Father J H Drew, of St. John the Baptist Church, who threw chairs out from a broken window.
In charge of the Fire Fighting Forces was the Chief Regional Fire Officer (Mr. Varley, O.B.E.). with whom was the Deputy Fire Force Commander for the area (Mr. A V Thomas), and Divisional Officer G. H Scott. The Deputy Regional Commissioner (Alderman Percy Morris, Swansea) was also present. Newport Borough Police Force were in charge of the Chief Constable (Mr. C. M. Harris) and the Deputy Chief Constable (Superintendent Melborne Thomas).
John Hilton
The South Wales Argus - June 1916
ST. JOHN'S MISSION HOME.
Memorial of a Life-Work.
WINDOWS DEDICATED
When Sister Selina and Sister Elise Jane (recalled by the Clewer Community to end their days at the Mother House) gave up their life's work at Newport, it was decided that as a memorial a stained glass window should be placed in the Church of St. John the Baptist. That window was dedicated on Friday evening — the Vigil of St. John the Baptist's Nativity - at a special service at which the Rev. J E Dawson, rector of Chislehurst and Canon of Rochester, formerly Vicar of St. Saviour's, Roath, and closely associated with the Sisters as their chaplain, was the preacher.
The Sisters' Work
Sister Selina, sister of the Rev. Father Congreve, of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, and aunt of General Congreve V.C., founded St. John's Mission Home in March, 1877. It was started at a house in Dorset Place, Stow hill; as the work grew it was removed to Victoria-place; in 1881 a move was made to Severn Terrace; and in 1908 the magnificent home in Oakfield Road, built at a cost of £14,000 was opened. Sister Selina was the founder and inspiration of the work, and Sister Elise Jane was her right hand. Ultimately, when ill-health made the burden of office too great for Sister Selina, Sister Elise Jane succeeded her as Sister Superior. St. John's Mission House and Children's Home is the true memorial of their joint labours; the window is equally a joint memorial.
The Window
The window is placed in the north aisle, and is an excellent specimen of English ecclesiastical stained glass rich in colour with a soft radiance, beautiful in design, reverent in treatment. It is the work of Messrs. Kempe and Co., Nottingham Place, London. The picture is intended to symbolise and commemorate the care of childhood - the great work of the Sisters' life. The centre light is occupied with the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Child, and the outer lights by the adoring shepherds. Above them is the choir of adoring angels. Below are three medallions of special significance. The first is 'The Presentation in the Temple', which is intended to commemorate 'the many children presented by, the Sisters to God through Holy Baptism'. The second is 'The Home at Nazareth', which commemorates the Christian home provided for the children. The third is 'The Flight into Egypt', which commemorates tire removal of so many children from the dangers of evil surroundings. It is a very beautiful window, very appropriate in treatment, and in harmony with the rest of the stained glass in the church.
The Dedication Service
The window was dedicated in a brief special service by the Rev. J. Frank Summers, vicar, before the commencement of evensong, and in the course of his sermon (which dealt with the capacity to say 'No', the power of self discipline, the exercise of self-denial, especially as exemplified in the lives of St. John the Baptist and his mother), Canon Dawson said:
"Many of you know well that I can claim a very long and a very intimate connection with the Mission of St. John the Baptist at Newport, I have been allowed very often to occupy the pulpit. But my closest connection was with the Sisters, whose chaplain I was for close on 20 years. During those years I came to the Mission House every fortnight. You have erected a window to the glory of God, and in honour of and in gratitude for the work of two Sisters who through all those years bore the chief burden of the work, one of whom might truly be termed the foundress at any rate of the Home and the School. I am not going to speak to you of either of sisters personally - the task would be too difficult and too personal to myself This much I may be allowed to say of them: they are women of marked individuality in some ways a beautiful contrast, and so a perfect complement the one with the other, yet alike in remarkable gifts, in power of influences, in organisation, and of rule. These are which are capable of great misuse, and history records how often women who possessed them have misused them. But in the lives of our dear sisters we know what, a power for they could become. And the secret in their case surely was they had the joy and thestrength of self-surrender and self-devotion-of saying "No" to self. They had accepted the yoke of discipline, of obedience, of giving up, of going without; and then, with their own wills surrendered, their own pleasures mortified, their own characters strengthened and sanctified, they devoted their lives to the work of helping, teaching, training, others especially the young. Well may you honour their names, well may you treasure the memory of their work, well may you resolve that that work shall not have been done, and that example shall not have been shown to you in vain".