Obituaries

OBITUARIES MAJOR FRANK TOMLINSON E.S.A. The many friends of Frank Tomlinson were saddened by the news of his death in July, 1963, for this energetic and forthright octogenarian had seemed to be immortal. He had been a member of the Society since 1936 and an honorary member since 1954. He was educated at Charterhouse and University Cohege, Oxford. He was a fine soccer player and had played for both Charterhouse and 'Univ.' XI, always as centre half, and has been described as a very neat and pohshed performer. At Oxford he was a contemporary of Major Teichman Dervihe, no mean footbaher, and their life-long friendship was a constant source of pleasure and stimulus to them both. Frank Tomlinson was commissioned in 1900 and posted to the 2nd Bn. The Buffs, then on active service in South Africa, where the Battahon was holding the Blockhouse Line from Waterval Onder to Krokodil Poort. After only three years' service, he was already a Captain and when the Boer War ended, the Battahon was posted to Dover, but he was soon on the Depot Staff at Canterbury. In 1905, his Battalion returned to South Africa, went on to Singapore, and Malaya, and in 1913 to Welhngton, Madras. The First World War brought them back to England, and soon they were in the thick of the fighting near Ypres. He was shot through the wrist and was never able to play the piano again. During his years as a prisoner of war, he took up heraldry and became quite expert at designing and painting coats of arms. He retired at the end of the war and was invited to join General Edmonds in compiling the official History of the War, a congenial task, for which, with his hterary ability, he was singularly equipped. He was a dehghtful host, and always an interesting and amusing companion, with a quick and hvely brain, and a nimble wit. He became an enthusiastic antiquary and for many years was a Member of Council. He was elected an F.S.A. and did invaluable work on the Canterbury excavations after the bombing in the last war. His enchanting medieval home, Ah Saints, at Canterbury was a centre of hospitality and fuh of artistic treasures, as well as of archseological interest. Here were displayed too his regimental prints which are now in the Buffs Museum at Canterbury. So much of his life was bound up 220 OBITUARIES with the Buffs and the Depot, and with his intense interest in regimental history, and his knowledge of likely sources, he was of the greatest help when the three volumes of the Buffs Regimental History came to be written. When he moved to Sandwich, he was elected a member of the Town Council and became the hard-working Chairman of the Sandwich Branch of the Past and Present Association. He used to lead the Branch at the March Past after the Remembrance Day Service until weh after his 80th year. He was capable of strong prejudices and dishkes which he could not conceal and he did not suffer fools gladly, but whatever he undertook, he did with his whole heart and brain, and his impetuosity became an endearing trait. Only two years ago, he was instrumental in founding the Sandwich Local History Society and his support was a great encouragement to the pioneer band of workers. His never failing help and his kindliness of heart will be greatly missed in many circles, for there are few left of his generation who had the opportunity and the ability to give so much of lasting value, with such outstanding success. A.R. MAJOR M. TEICHMAN DERVILLE O.B.E., D.L., J.P., M.A., F.S.A. 1876-1963 Major Teichman Dervihe's death on 11th May, 1963, at his home, The Red House, Littlestone, brought to a close a long, fuh and happy hfe devoted to the service of his beloved county of Kent. He was elected a member of the Society in 1932, and its President in 1939, an office he held for 20 years, a longer period than that of any other President in the history of the Society. His distinguished services were recognized in 1959 when he was presented with an address, ihuminated by Mr. Elhston-Erwood, recording the members gratitude for his devotion to the Society's well-being, and the furtherance of archaeology in Kent, and for his scholarship, his courtesy, his hospitahty and his constant helpfulness in ah the Society's affairs, and placing on permanent record the members' admiration and affection. Max Teichman Dervihe was born at Eltham in 1876. One of his early recohections was the famihar sound of the ehp-clop of horse's hooves as a hansom cab drew up at the house opposite, and his nursemaid hurrying to the window, exclaiming, 'There's Mr. Parnell come to see Mrs. O'Shea again!' His family moved to Sitka, Chislehurst, their new house built by Ernest Newton, set in picturesque grounds with 221 OBITUARIES weh-wooded slopes, and a lake for boating in summer and skating in winter. He was blessed with remarkable parents, outstanding personalities, who hved to bring happiness into other people's lives. He was educated at Repton and on the train talcing him to his first term at school, he was placed in the care of C. B. Fry, whose fag he became. He was at The Cross, Mr. A. E. Forman's house, and in later life, he frequently said how much he owed to the wise guidance and unexampled influence of Mr. and Mrs. Forman in their family circle. One of the young daughters, affectionately known to him as 'little Rosamund' is now Lady Fisher. At Trinity, Oxford, he rowed and played football for the first XI, and was a member of Vincents and the Gridiron. He took a second class in Mods and Greats and his M.A. in 1903. Meanwhile in 1900, he had been offered a scholarship at the British School of Archaeology at Athens, but he chose instead to spend a year with an Oxford friend doing 'The Grand Tour.' In the First World War, he served from 1914 to 1919, was mentioned in despatches, and awarded the O.B.E. (Mihtary Division). He was given the rank of Major in the Royal Army Reserve of Officers. From 1911 he had a house near the Embankment, where he moored his boat on the Thames, and he had a hohday home at Littlestone. The sea was a great attraction and in 1919 he came to live at Littlestone permanently, and kept one boat there, and another on the Rother. He had always enjoyed his father's punts and dinghies at his home, the summer terms on the river at Oxford, holidays on the Thames, and often recalled his memorable journey down the Danube, from Ulm to the Iron Gates, when ah sorts of hazards were encountered. He was a member of the Royal Cinque Port Yacht Club and the Royal Corinthian. In 1926, after serving as a Councillor for the Cinque Port Borough of New Romney, he was elected Mayor and held that office for 12 years consecutively. During this time, he exercised a great influence on the development of the town, and New Romney was the first Borough in Kent to adopt a Town Planning Scheme. He was equally tireless in safeguarding its ancient rights and privileges, in scheduling its ancient buhdings, and in taking steps to get its remarkable series of records catalogued and repaired, and the catalogue printed ah at his own expense. In 1938 New Romney honoured him by conferring on him the Freedom of the Borough. In 1936 he was elected a County Councillor for the Hythe and Romney Marsh Division, and 13 years later an Alderman, a position he held until his retirement in 1957 at the age of 81, when glowing tribute was paid to his invaluable service, his balanced counsel, and his wide judgement in County affairs. To his pubhc duties, and to his wide interests, he brought a breadth 222 OBITUARIES of scholarship, a zeal for justice and a refreshing sense of humour which endeared him to all with whom he worked. He sat on many educational bodies and was able to contribute much to the cause of education in the County. For over 30 years he was the indefatigable Chairman of the Governors of Southlands Grammar School, where the new Dervihe Hah will long be a memorial to his untiring interest, his inspiring leadership and his generosity to the school. His Chairmanship of the Kent County Library Sub-Committee from 1944 to 1957 was to a lover of books, one of his most congenial duties, for 'books had always been his stay, comfort and support' and his wide reading and scholarship enabled him to give conspicuous service to the pubhc. From 1950 onwards he pressed importunately for the re-establishment of the County Records Committee and the appointment of an experienced and enterprising archivist to ensure the proper care and preservation of Kent's magnificent archives. In 1952, this goal was achieved, and he was appointed the first Chairman. His work will long be remembered for he laid the solid foundation on which subsequent success has been built. Major Teichman Dervihe was an acknowledged authority on the history of the Cinque Ports and was Speaker of the Ports in 1931 and again in 1937, when he became a Coronation Baron of the Ports for New Romney. His valuable cohection of Cinque Port books and documents are to be deposited with the Cinque Port records. He was equahy devoted to the affairs of the 'Fifth Quarter', Romney Marsh, and was its famihar and much-loved Bailiff for over 20 years until his death. He was Lord of the Manors of Snave and Eastbridge and did much to uphold the ancient traditions of the Corporation, and not least by his painstaking labour in pubhshing The Level and Liberty of Romney Marsh and putting on record the laws and customs upon which the Corporation's survival rehes. At New Hah, Dymchurch, the many maps, historic documents, and museum exhibits are a reminder of his countless generous gifts. When the Land Drainage Act came into force in 1930, he was invited to be the first Chairman of the newly constituted Romney Marsh Catchment Board, and later, with the establishment of the centralized Kent Rivers Board, he was appointed Vice-Chairman. With his love of Romney Marsh, and his knowledge of the medieval problems of Land Drainage and Sea Defence, he was singularly equipped to deal with early Catchment Board schemes and the subsequent development of the River Boards. As an enthusiastic fisherman, he was appointed to the Pohution and Fisheries Committee. From 1938-1939 he was High Sheriff of Kent, a year that was to be the last of his lavish, carefree pre-war Shrievalties of prodigal hospi- 223 OBITUARIES tality. He was later appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent. But above ah and through all his various offices, there shone the simphcity and warmth of his character, a kindliness and thoughtfulness for others, for he was never happier than in making other people happy. There were many other facets to the happy and useful career of this 'puckish octogenarian' as he was once called. In the field of sport, a fine shot, even at the age of 85, walking up a covey of partridges, he got a right and a left, a keen angler, and one of the oldest coarse fishermen in Kent, he enjoyed winter days trolling for hungry pike, or in summer fishing the lochs of Sutherlandshire. He was equahy well-known as a pihar of Enghsh Figure Skating for half a century, and won the Hohand Bowl at St. Moritz in 1911, and took second place in the Championship on several occasions between 1912 and 1924. He was long recognized as one of the best Figure Skating judges. He played a good game of golf and was a lifelong member of St. Georges, Sandwich, Rye and Littlestone. With his distinguished looks, his white hair, his gentle courteous manners, and his gaiety of heart, he was an unforgettable figure, and he was unrivalled as a host, with his storehouse of knowledge and his fund of stories. His attitude to hfe was one of serenity and courage, and to the last morning of his life, he read a chapter of the Greek Testament and a few pages of Seneca. He was and did so much else besides and his example of loyalty and service will long be an inspiration and stimulus to ah who knew and loved him. Perhaps he was happiest of ah in the evening of his hfe when he had 'discarded the tinsel trappings of a busy hfe' and was able to enjoy quietly his books and his garden and his favourite pastime, writing verses to the dehght of his many friends. Poems to Archbishops were often in Greek, to his classical friends in Latin, to those in authority, a shght prod in whimsical verse produced the desired effect far better than an angry letter. To many, his death seems the end of an era in Romney Marsh, but he died, convinced, as he wrote at the age of 81 in a poem, 'Ave atque Vale', 'The last—the best of life hes further on, Hid from our eyes beyond the hills of time.' A.R. CYRIL STAPLEY CHETTOE, F.S.A. As we go to press we learn with great regret of the sudden death of Mr. C. S. Chettoe on 8th November, 1963. He was one of our oldest members having joined the Society in 1918, and had been a member of Council since 1956. His devoted work towards the care and preservation of Kent's heritage of natural and human history was weh known. We shah hope to pubhsh an obituary in our next volume. Editor. 224