b'The Vicars TreeMike Prattfor Saturday, December 31, 1904, an extract from which follows:REV.J. A. ELDRIDGE, OF BISHOP WILTON OVER SIXTY-THREE YEARS MINISTRY A REMARKABLE NONAGENARIANOn the 26th of December, 1814, there was born to Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge, at Oxford, a son, and today that son survives, and is the Rev. John Adams Eldridge, the venerable vicar of Bishop Wilton. For the long period of 47 years and about two months Mr. Eldridge has held the living of Bishop Wilton, and, on Monday last, County Councillor T. N. F. Bardwell, J. P., of Bolton Hall, the churchwardens, and a few friends, commemorated the 90th anniversary of the vicars birth and his long occupation of the living, by planting in the churchyard a young horse chestnut tree.After the planting of the Vicars Tree, and the unveiling of the List of Vicars in the Church, which was unveiled by the wives of the two churchwardens of Bishop Wilton, Mrs Bailey and Mrs Newby, a party assembled at the Vicarage, when Mr. T. N. F. Bardwell, of Bolton Hall, proposed the health of the aged vicar, which was drank with enthusiasm. Among others present we noticed Mr Westerdale Eldridge (the Vicars son), Miss Crawford, Mr T. G. N. Bardwell, Mr and Mrs Bailey, Mr & Mrs Newby, Mr and Mrs H. Bramley, Mr H. Appleton, and Mr Drewitt. The Rev. C. F. Hutton proposed a hearty vote of thanks I n 2001 this old postcard (shown opposite) turnedto Mr Westerdale for his kind hospitality, to which he up at a postcard fair. A high resolution computerreplied in a humorous and effective speech. scan allowed identification of the writing on the plaqueA complete list of the names of the Vicars of the standing in front of the tree in the foreground on theChurch, engrossed on vellum, was placed in the west left. It says: wall inside the Church, in addition to the planting of the chestnut tree in the churchyard.The Vicars Tree The Rev. John Adams Eldridge died soon after the THIS TREE WAS PLANTED ON DECEMBER 26THplanting, on January 10, 1905. 1904 BY THE CHURCHWARDENS & PARISHIONERSThe account of his death in OF BISHOP WILTON IN COMMEMORATION OF THEthe Hull News for January REV. JOHN ADAMS ELDRIDGE M. A. ATTAINING14, 1905, under the heading THE AGE OF 90 YEARS ON CHRISTMAS DAY 190463 Years A Preacher, was AND HAVING BEEN VICAR OF THE PARISH FOR Aaccompanied by this sketch PERIOD OF OVER 47 YEARS. of him.Further research unearthed an article in the Howdenshire Chronicle and Pocklington Weekly News BULLETIN 1 13'