Provides an indication of his complicated arrangements for visiting the area. Apologises for treating everyone shabbily: has to include Gillingham (Mrs Kenyon), Beccles (Fr Campbell), Bungay (Fr MacEvoy), Woodbridge and Wroxham (Traffords) in one visit with no motorcar available.

Suggest Wednesday July 2nd - arriving on the day as have another appointment in the area. Sorry to hear about Dr Helsham, his Jesuit brother gave a poor account of it. Cyril Banham is doing well - have to curb his enthusiasm to keep him within his health compass.

Thanking Fr Clothier for the day - full of the Spirit. Good learn of the congregation's view of your pastoral care and that Tom Murray has chaperoned you into East Anglian parochial life. Thanks him for the Sony Clock/radio with the generous offering. Hope you can bring the Abbot with you for lunch on 1st July. Do take care of yourself - having a proverbial day-off and cosseting/feeding yourself!

Confirming that proposed schedule acceptable. Will visit the sick, spending 10 minutes in each house, but prioritising those unable to get to church. Easy run back so will not accepting the offer of a bed for the night.

Wonderful welcome - delighted to see you settled in and happy. Parishioners like you. Shall try to become "un vescovo alla mano" [a bishop in hand]

Having returned from an episcopal funeral in Portsmouth, invited to another in Liverpool by Archbishop Worlock for +Anthony Hitchen. You now know why the visitation is cut short - proposes to leave for Liverpool after lunch and hence cannot attend the school on Monday but offer Wednesday instead.

Reschedule visitation from 19 September to 3 October? Bishop due in Westminster for Compline at 6pm on previous Saturday.

Gary [Fr Dowsey] will make arrangements as 17 April gets closer. AIDS is a terrible scourge.
Am improving in health; have not let it stop him from going to Rome, Geneva and Corfu.

Bishops suggests an informal Visitation at Leiston; formal at Aldeburgh.

Mass at Leiston fine - no breakfast. Assist at 11am Mass in Aldeburgh and preach after Mass to give you the opportunity to get breakfast prior to the Visitation. Glad to be able to inaugurate the Guild of St Felix on Tuesday

Bishop thinks the programme is excellent. One request. He wishes to administer a Baptism in Brantham on 14 October (part of St Mark's parish, Ipswich). Ann has organised well and arranged supper on Saturday with John & Pauline Matthias - are you coming too?

Fr John Smith writes to say that the Visitation scheduled for 16 April [1978] will now take place on 19 November 1978, following Fr Thomson's willingness to reschedule.

Confirms that the schedule stands as arranged except for rescheduling 10am Mass to 10.30am. Bishop will lunch with Todhunter and will be bringing chrism, etc., etc..

Fr John Smith confirms the Bishop will: preach at 8am mass at Gillingham; 10am Confirmation Mass at Beccles will be said in English; preach at the 6.30pm; visits of 10 minutes each i the afternoon; cup of tea at the convent; visit to St Mary's Home. All about best use of the Bishop's time without making it seemed rushed.
p.s "... noted your request for a medal for Reginald Jones"

Bishop does not wear a dalmatic
Arrival under a canopy, the Bishop observes, is both unusual and an innovation. Will go with whatever Fr Watkin thinks fit. (A favourite piece of music is "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba"!)

Confirming schedule for Visitation on Sunday 16 September 1979. "The bishop was glad to hear you are fulfilling all your civic obligations - but don't over do it." [Reference to Fr Watkins being Mayor of Beccles]

[Letter found in the Encyclical]
"Dear Fr Peacock, The dog cart will do very well. I shall arrive on Saturday at 4.30. I am willing to dine on Sat. at Mrs Sander's [?] if the dinner do [sic] not interfere with confession work. I will hear confessions on Sat. 8 to 9. I will say the first Mass on Sunday at 8.30. You need not erect a throne. Yr in J.C. +Arthur B of Npton"

Enquiring whether a parishioner could have a papal honour. How does the Bishop want his November visitation to be arranged? Leave from 22 July to 13 August.

Not sure what needs to be done on a visitation. Asks to talk it over with the Bishop.

Presbytery bedroom accommodation not ready to receive the bishop. Mr Bunbury happy to look after the Bishop at his house. Arrange for Mass at the convent - the nuns will be delighted. Fr Mason will be sending some of his parishioners for confirmation.