Dom Hockey belonged to Quarr Abbey, a Catholic Benedictine monastery between Binstead and Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight. It is close to a quarry that in the middle ages supplied ‘Binstead stone’ for the Tower of London, Winchester Cathedral, Romsey Abbey and other churches.  It was almost depleted by the end of the middle…

Born in Buckinghamshire, Alec Holland was raised on the Exbury Estate, on the Solent shore, where his father was groom to the de Rothschilds.  His mother died when he was eleven and he was brought up by his father, elder brother and sister-in-law.  Financial help from the Rothschilds enabled him to attend grammar school in…

Rosalind Hill was born in the Wirral to Norman Hill, a prominent shipping lawyer, and his wife Mary.  After reading history at St Hilda’s, Oxford, she went on to gain a B Litt, researching ecclesiastical letter books of the 13th century.  She taught briefly at University College, Leicester before moving, in 1937, to Westfield College…

Rosalind Hill was born in the Wirral to Norman Hill, a prominent shipping lawyer, and his wife Mary.  After reading history at St Hilda’s, Oxford, she went on to gain a B Litt, researching ecclesiastical letter books of the 13th century.  She taught briefly at University College, Leicester before moving, in 1937, to Westfield College…

John Horrocks was born in Manchester. A graduate of London University, the title of his thesis for a Doctor of Literature degree was ‘Machiavelli in Tudor Political Opinion & Discussion’. He had a varied career, including a spell as ‘a reporter in the House of Commons’, before joining the staff of University College, Southampton in…

William Hope was born in Derby, the son of Rev William Hope and his wife Hester (neé Williams) and educated at Derby Grammar School before going up to Peterhouse, Cambridge.  He graduated with a BA in 1881, received his MA in 1884 and the following year became Assistant Secretary at the Society of Antiquaries. 

Samuel Gordon Hooper, born in Greenwich, was educated at Sherborne School, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and Wells Theological College. He married Dorothy Masters in 1924. From 1931 to 1949, he served as Vicar of All Saints’ Church, Milford-on-Sea, where he became deeply involved in the local community, contributing to Milford Hospital, the Boys’ Club, Toc H,…

His only publication, much-quoted, was Notes on the topography of Portsmouth, together with historical and statistical information, published in 1913. He was prompted to put his considerable knowledge of the city – acquired as a ‘conveyancing solicitor’ – into print after being asked by the journalist and historian W.G. Gates for help in compiling his…

William Hope was born in Derby, the son of Rev William Hope and his wife Hester (neé Williams) and educated at Derby Grammar School before going up to Peterhouse, Cambridge.  He graduated with a BA in 1881, received his MA in 1884 and the following year became Assistant Secretary at the Society of Antiquaries. 

Reginald Hooley was a wine merchant from Winchester with a passion for fossil collecting.  He was born in Southampton and began his paleontological career by searching out specimens on the Isle of Wight, eventually discovering a new species of dinosaur.