Obituary - A.C. Harrison, Esq.

OBITUARY A.C. HARRISON, ESQ., B.A., F.S.A. Arthur Harrison died suddenly in March 1998. Born in 1912, Arthur was educated at Marlborough College and won a scholarship to Pembroke College, Oxford, graduating with a first class B.A. Degree in Classical Moderations and a second in Litterae Humaniores. After a first teaching appointment at the Wirral Grammar School in Lancashire, he joined the army in 1940 and served in India and Ceylon as a captain on the staff of Earl Mountbatten. On his return from the Far East, Arthur was appointed to the staff of Ryde Grammar School, Isle of Wight, and eventually joined the staff of Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rochester, serving there as Senior Classics Master until his retirement. Arthur joined our Society in 1962 and, apart from membership of several committees, served as Hon. Treasurer, Hon. General Secretary and Vice-President. In recognition of his archaeological work, he was elected in 1969 a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Arthur Harrison carried out extensive excavations in Rochester, especially in the area of the Roman Eastgate; he also assisted with other excavations: at Snodland, with the late Peter Tester at Cuxton, Boxley Abbey and Leeds Priory, and with me at Funton Creek, Charing, Wye Racecourse and, of course, Eccles where he was my indispensable seond-in-command from 1963 to 1975, at weekends and during the annual training courses over a number of years. A lifelong gardener, Arthur was very handy with a spade, particularly in topsoiling trenches, and unsparing of himself in the interests of our work. I well remember, with great affection, Arthur's companionship at Eccles, in the field and during our lunch-breaks in the 'Red Bull' where he used to regale us, known by the locals as 'the Romans', with his tales from the Far East in wartime, and I am greatly indebted to him for much kindness and friendship over the years. With his passing, our Society has lost a very loyal servant; his many friends will no longer benefit from his help so cheerfully and unstintingly given over a long period. Ave atque vale! A.P.D. 381