(The) Bout-de-Ville Times

Its title a pun in French on the family name, this remarkable handwritten and manually-illustrated chronicle recorded the activities and achievements of the Rev Alfred Townend's numerous family over a period of nine years. Each issue comprised just the one copy, but nevertheless it was a heroic accomplishment. The text has the distinctive handwriting, puckish humour, leavened with the occasional enlightened biblical insight, evidently typical of the Rev himself, but the illustrations were provided by various sons, William especially, and the photographs by Frank in particular, using his 5/- camera! During this period the family lived opposite the chapel of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst of which he was the chaplain.

The pages of the original issues were meticulously photographed, and digitised to disk, some years ago by Hugh Townend, who very generously posted copies to other extant descendants of Rev Alfred Townend, including of course my wife Sonia.

The last eight pages of Number 9 were added at a much later date, but nevertheless contain some useful material.