Sidney Burrard was born at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, where his father Revd Sir George Burrard (3rd baronet) was the rector. As the third son, his expectations of inheritance were limited, but the baronetcy did indeed pass through him and on to his son. He served in the Grenadier Guards, as had his grandfather, Lt…

Burgess was born in Chelmsford but at the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents in Kingston-upon-Thames. By 1939 he had moved to Southampton holding the post of Deputy Librarian since 1934. At the time he was the only professional librarian on the staff. He remained in the Library Service until…

Born in the Southampton Parish of Holy Rood, Bullar lived his whole life in the town. A schoolmaster for nearly four decades, he taught many of those who were to become the town’s civic leaders. As it was put in an obituary published in the Southampton Times “The life of Mr Bullar is in fact…

Born at Newport on the Isle of Wight, Brannon initially followed his father’s profession of printing and engraving. Moving to Southampton, in about 1845 he set up his own business. Subsequently, his interests widened to include architecture and engineering. Relocating to Shanklin in 1863, by the mid 1870s he was settled in London. Like many…

Max Dacre was a ‘Geordie’ who left school at 13 and was in Jarrow at the time of the ‘Jarrow March’ (1936).  This early experience fostered in him a fighting spirit which was evident throughout his life.

William Curtis was born in Alton, Hampshire one of ten children of William Curtis and Elizabeth (nee Heath). Privately educated, then apprenticed to his father, an apothecary/surgeon, he spent time in Edinburgh and London before joining his father’s practice.

Max Dacre was a ‘Geordie’ who left school at 13 and was in Jarrow at the time of the ‘Jarrow March’ (1936).  This early experience fostered in him a fighting spirit which was evident throughout his life.

William Curtis was born in Alton, Hampshire one of ten children of William Curtis and Elizabeth (nee Heath). Privately educated, then apprenticed to his father, an apothecary/surgeon, he spent time in Edinburgh and London before joining his father’s practice.

‘[With] the death of Mr. William Dale’ states the obituary notice in Volume 10 of the Proceedings, ‘the Hampshire Field Club lost one who served it faithfully and enthusiastically nearly from its foundation.’

Daniel Defoe was a prolific writer, producing more than 300 works on a range of subjects. He is famed for his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719) but, often at odds with authority, he also spent time in prison and the stocks! His life involved spells as a merchant, landowner, traveller, bankrupt and secret agent.  His finest…