People

Martha Bennett

In Magazine 34, Susan Martin wrote about her research into her great great grandmother, Martha Bennett (1821-1888)

Oliver John Bevis

In Magazine 38 James Munden wrote about his great-grandmother’s brother, the artist O J Bevis (1865–1934)

Mavis Budd

Mavis Budd (1926–2004) was an author and an artist, remembered fondly by Griff Rhys Jones as his favourite teacher at Conifers School. In Magazine 38, Dawn Cansfield revealed more about this very talented talented woman.

Anne Cobden-Sanderson

Anne Cobden (1853–1926) was the fourth daughter of the radical Member of Parliament and free trade advocate Richard Cobden. In an article in Magazine 37, historian Frances Stenlake told us more about the life of this suffragette.

Reverend Joseph King Cummin

In Magazine 38, Andreya Cameron wrote about her research into the Reverend King Cummin (1841–1918) the vicar of Easebourne between 1892 and 1912.

The Cummin Sisters

Researcher Frances Stenlake produced an article on the Easebourne feminist activists Vinvela, Elsie and Louisa (Louie) Cummin, sisters and daughters of the Reverend King Cummin.  The first part of the story in Magazine 36 described their times as members of the suffragette movement and Frances completed the story in Magazine 37 by telling us what happened next.

Macdonald ‘Max’ Gill

Max Gill (1884–1947) was a Sussex artist who is mainly remembered for the beautiful maps that he developed, and in Magazine 38 Andrew Johnstone tells us about Gill’s life and other work, including the development of the font for Commonwealth War Graves.

Commander Norman Holbrook VC

In Magazine 40, Trevor Torkington, Deputy Editor of the Great War Group’s quarterly magazine Salient Points and leading expert on WW1 submarines wrote about the extraordinary events that led to Norman Holbrook becoming the first submariner to win the Victoria Cross.

Wing Commander Bernard Ingham DFC

Bernard Ingham (1920–1947) is buried in the Glaziers Lane cemetery in Easebourne.  In 1942 he won the Distinguished Flying Cross before being transferred to the Goodwood airfield (which was then known as RAF Westhampnett) escorting daylight bombing raids over Europe.  Military enthusiasts Phil Stringer and David Coxon explored the life of this Second World War hero in Magazine number 38.

Philip Jackson CVO DL

Philip Jackson is a world-renowned sculptor and President of the Midhurst Society.  Sue Balmforth wrote about a Midhurst Society visit to Philip and his wife Jean’s beautiful garden adorned with some of his wonderful work of art in Cocking in Magazine 34. Philip also very generously donated the extraordinary sculpture of the poet, writer and philosopher Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) at South Pond. The late Harvey Tordoff wrote about the story behind it in Magazine 38.

Charles Lyell

Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Baronet (1797–1875) was a Scottish geologist who studied at Midhurst Grammar School (allegedly because the waiting list at Winchester was too long!).  He is best known for his association with Charles Darwin.  Harvey Tordoff wrote an article on him for Magazine 39.

Charles Madgwick

Charles Madgwick (1804–1866) was born in Midhurst and in 1845 found himself transported to Tasmania on the prison hulk ship Theresa for stealing bushels of wheaten flour and a great coat.  His story was told by researcher Andreya Cameron in Magazine 38.

George Marshall

Cocking resident George Marshall (1855–1876) had spent the evening at a beer house in Midhurst drinking with his friend Thomas Woolford.  In Magazine 37 researcher David Earley told the tale of them falling out and Woolford being sentenced to 15 years in penal servitude for manslaughter.

Sir Weetman Pearson, First Viscount Cowdray

We were delighted to include an article in magazine 40 by Lord Michael Pearson, the Fourth Viscount Cowdray, about his local hero, his great grandfather Sir Weetman Pearson, the famous industrialist, politician and philanthropist.

Sheila Ryan KC CBE

In Magazine 37, Tina Litchfield had the pleasure of interviewing Sheila for an article on her career as a trailblazing barrister and locally as chair of the Midhurst Society and churchwarden of St Mary’s, Bepton.

Ian Serraillier

Ian Serraillier (1912-1994) was a much loved teacher at Midhurst Grammar School between 1946 and 1961 who also wrote and produced books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.  One of his most famous books was The Silver Sword (1956) which brought him national attention when it was adapted by the BBC for a six-part dramatisation.  Dawn Cansfield researched and wrote about Ian Serrallier in Magazine 39.

William Shorto

William Shorto was a land surveyor in Midhurst in the nineteenth century and left a notebook detailing what he knew about the people who lived in Midhurst in his time.  Shorto takes us on a journey in 1863 from house-to-house and street-to-street, letting us know who lived there and what he thought of them!  His notebook was published in two instalments, in Magazine 35 and Magazine 36.

John Smith

One of the most important photographic collections held at the West Sussex Record Office is the John Smith Photographic Collection. Spanning the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, it provides a fascinating insight in the life of the leisured middle classes, as well as an important visual record of parts of West Sussex and the lives of those who lived and worked there. In addition, it provides an insight into the development of the art and science of photography during the period. John Smith visited Midhurst in 1895 and in Magazine 40 we published a selection of his photographs of the town.

Charles St John

Charles St. John was educated at Midhurst Grammar School. In 1834 he married Ann Gibson, the daughter of a rich banker in Newcastle, and they moved to the Scottish Highlands where they raised their growing family.  He published a number of natural history books from his own observations and experiences in Scotland – but perhaps received inspiration originally during his schooldays in Midhurst.

Madge Turner

Madge Turner was a leading member of the Suffragette movement. In Chichester there is a blue plaque honouring her achievements and there is a statue in the pipeline, In Magazine 40, West Sussex Record Office archivist Nichola Court told us more about Madge and her links to Midhurst.

H G Wells

The world famous novelist H G Wells had an association with Midhurst that started in 1881 when he became an apprentice with the chemist Samual Cowap on Church Hill, a job that was to last for about three weeks.  He took some night classes with Horace Byatt, the new headmaster of Midhurst Grammar School, before officially joining the school as a pupil-teacher and living at Byatt's house at 6 South Street. In 1883, the 17-year-old Wells came back to Midhurst Grammar School as a student assistant, and in his autobiography, he tells of “lodging over a little sweetstuff shop” (The Olde Tea Shoppe) next door to the Angel Hotel.  Much has been written about H G Wells and a good source is the website of the official H G Wells Society.

John West

On the night of Monday 8th/9th January 1844, John West, aged 35, and his younger brother Robert, 22, were held in the two police cells under Midhurst Town Hall. They were being held in custody on the extremely serious charge of sheep stealing, a crime which was to see them transported to Tasmania for 15 years. Dr Gillian Grant wrote about her great-great grandfather in Magazine 40.

William Wills

Researcher Andreya Cameron wrote about Dr William Wills (1862–1924) who was a distinguished London physician before moving to Midhurst where he became a prominent member of the community.  In Magazine 39, Andreya told us about his impact on the district and on improving infant mortality.