Stories from Old Newspapers

Waterford News 16th November 1923

 Serious Illness of Mgr.Count Bickerstaffe-Drew.

 “We deeply regret to learn that the celebrated writer who signs himself      “John Ayscough” is lying seriously ill at a hotel in St. Malo.  “John Ayscough”, is Monsignor Bickerstaffe-Drew, the son of the Rev. Henry Lloyd Bickerstaffe, an Anglican clergyman, [He] was a most distinguished scholar of Oxford University, and joined the Catholic church while he was an undergraduate at the ancient seat of learning.  Monsignor Bickerstaffe-Drew’s illness must have been a sudden seizure, for the Editor of this paper has a letter from him dated St. Malo 5th November, in which he stated he was hard at work writing a story for Green and Gold [a literary magazine printed by Waterford News] - a story which, he said, “I shall be much disappointed if you do not care for it”.  In a letter from Versailles, dated 12th October in sending the Editor of “Green and Gold” a contribution for his magazine- a story which will appear in the Christmas number… mentioned that- in the year 1886 he was for six months on a visit at the island, with some dear friends, Geraldine and Claude de Lacy; and it was there I received my appointment [as army Chaplin], which I held for 33 years.  I have a lot of Power forbears, who are all County Waterford people.  One queer ancestor of mine (through the Powers) was Valentine Greatrakes, “The Stroker”, whose home was at Affane. 

 

The mother of Mons. Count Bickerstaffe-Drew was before her marriage, Miss Mona Brougham Drew, of Heathfield Towers, Youghal.  Her distinguished son (who is now in his 65th year) was private chamberlain of his late Holiness Pope Leo XIII, and subsequently of Pope Pius X.  He was created domestic prelate of his Holiness in 1904.  He is a Knight of the Sacred Military Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Count.  His other distinctions are numerous and world-wide.”

 

The Count was born in 1858 and died in 1928.  He converted to Catholicism in 1878.  He was ordained in 1844 and served as a chaplin in the British army for more than 30 years.