Now as a director of the brewery, David Ward had his
first  experience  of  running  a  large-scale  industrial
enterprise that called on his talents as a publicist and
marketing man. Curiously, he side-stepped any mention to
the press about how his father had first started the
business, nor did he speak of the importance played by his
mother, Charlotte. This may have been nothing other poetic
licence but face-to-face interviews with David in later years
regaled readers with immaculately tailored reflections
omitting any mention of his parents - a trend which became
established detail.

Treasurer and Secretary: Rev Marshall
Committee: Messrs: Inch; Hostler; Piper and Maxim

Curator: D. Byford
Daily,   Weekly,  and   illustrated  papers   are  provided,   also

books, bagatelle, draughts, and other indoor games. It is also
intended to promote outdoor amusements consisting of quoits,
football and cricket. A hearty vote of thanks was given to the

rector  for  kindly  placing  the  rooms  at  the  disposal  of  the
members and also to the Rev. Marshall for the trouble he has

taken  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  club.  Mr.  J.  Chickall,
Mr.C.  Ray,  and  Mr.  D.  Ward  were  also  present  and  kindly

For all his shortcomings, and he had so very few, David
Ward sounds the note of a gifted and thoughtful man. He
was educated at a small private Dame school in Long
Melford by a Mr Zechariah Payne and took a keen interest
in rural affairs. Throughout his adult life he valued the
sturdy principles of self-education and self-improvement;
the latter was a strong force throughout the working
classes in Victorian society and village reading rooms were
one of the commonest projects of philanthropically minded
businessmen, although they were often regarded with
suspicion by some villagers.

added their names to the list as honorary members. About 30
names are already enrolled as members; which promises well
for the future at the club. The party broke up at eleven o’clock

The final chapter in the life of the architect of so many
things  was not a happy one. In the early spring of 1892
Foster’s health deteriorated slowly rather than suddenly.
He had been suffering from syphilis for some time and this
was  now  complicated  by  bronchitis. His  death was
unhurried and lingering. During the night of March 17 he
experienced difficulty in breathing and his body became
feebler. By the morning of March 18, it was all over.

In Foxearth’s case however, local effort alone wrought a
revolution in the intellectual life of the village.

He had been Rector of the parish for forty-seven years
and was the force that shaped it. When he arrived at
Foxearth in 1845 he quickly realised the derisory nature of
the existing village and set about re-organising the parish
to  the  betterment  of  its  inhabitants  and  he  was,
notwithstanding the gossip, and his sometimes triangular
love life, devoted to their welfare. 22

On February 29 1889 the Essex & Suffolk Free Press
reported the opening of the village’s reading rooms:

On Tues. evening  last  a pleasant gathering  took  place at  the
School  room  (Kindly  lent  by  the  Rector)  to  inaugurate  the
opening at the “Village  club and  Reading  Rooms”,  A capital

meat  tea was provided, to which a  large  company  sat  down,
the Rev Foster kindly taking the chair. After ample justice had
been done to the good things provided, the chairman in a few

well  chosen remarks, explained  the  object for which  the  club
had  been started; reading  the rules,  and promising  his very
valuable   assistance.   Officers   were   then   duly   elected   as

account has him pulling up his trousers as a niece arrived at her
aunt’s cottage unannounced. Going into her aunt’s bedroom she

follows:
President: Rev Foster

disturbed the pair. Keeping a cool head Foster made the excuse
that her aunt had fainted and he was trying to revive her.