Day 289. Flying fish and salt horse: a seafaring tale
15th May 1860:
Tuesday 16th. Steering S and by W, ½ W. Going 7 ½ knots. Hands variously employed. Pumps carefully attended. Thinking it would be the Foresters Anniversary today, at Home. Should liked to have been there. Very little wind all night.
Richard has very rarely betrayed any homesickness in his diary after the first week or two. But now his thoughts are turning to home. Not sure if the Foresters were people or an organisation such as the Ancient Order of Foresters, but either way he is missing the anniversary celebrations. The Ancient Order of Foresters were a friendly society established to look after members who fell sick or could not work and became destitute. No connection to forests needed. We hold the papers of the St Andrews branch, founded in 1879, which include minute books, cash books, registers of members and a wonderful, huge, colourful banner.