John seeks to unravel 1862 Bible riddle
A collector of historical items is seeking help from Star readers in finding out more about the original Shropshire owner of an 1862 Bible which has pride of place on his desk.
According to a certificate within the pages the antique Bible was awarded as the "Shropshire Coal & Ironmasters' Prize" to Harry Harper of Madeley Wood Wesleyan National School, who was no doubt a pupil of that long-closed school.
John Arnesen of Great Malvern said: "I have been busy documenting the items I have collected over the years, to put them in order for when they are passed on, or rehomed at a museum or historical society that would appreciate them.
"I keep the Bible on a desk in my home in Great Malvern. I purchased it from a vintage junk shop, for want of a better name, some years ago. I have an affinity with historical items and value what they represent in the lives of the individuals concerned."
John says he has only recently started his researches into the Bible, and has come across two people called Private Harry Harper.
"One served with '6 Division, 16 Infantry Brigade, 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry' which sounds promising, but an entry on the Shropshire History website from 1914 specifies his age as 26, which would not tally with a Bible presented in 1863.
"The second Private Harry Harper served with the 6th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment and is listed to have died on September 30, 1916, but alas no date of birth appears to be available to ascertain his age to tie to the 1863 date of the Bible.
"Therefore I thought that as either of these gentlemen may not have been the original recipient of the Bible, I would try to contact anyone with knowledge of the Madeley Wood school or the local area."
Anyone who can help John with his researches can contact him at jpearnesen@gmail.com by email.
The Bible was printed in 1862, and the prize certificate in the pages is from 1863.
