PHILEBUS

 

JAMES LESLIE BARFORD:
THE MAN WHO WAS ‘PHILEBUS’
BY
BARRY VAN-ASTEN

  

‘What shall it profit if my name be flung
Down the long centuries the great among?
I shall not heed, there shall be overpast
All vain ambition, and my lot be cast
In some new higher world.’

[‘Ambition’. Whimsies. London. Roberts & Newton. 1934]

 

 

SURGEONS AND SHOEMAKERS

 

I have idled away many a sweet hour in researching James (sometimes mistakenly written as John) Leslie Barford’s biographical details in an attempt to put a little flesh and blood back into the lifeless corpse of the mysterious poet-surgeon who wrote under the pseudonym of  ‘Philebus’; it is thanks to the author Timothy d’Arch Smith that we really know anything at all about him (1) and to a few loyal and industrious persons working within the shadows, who like Barford, wish or are compelled to remain anonymous.

James Leslie Barford’s father, James Gale Barford M.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.R.C.P. (Lond.), was born in 1833 at Hurst, near Wokingham in Berkshire, the son of a butcher named Richard Crompe Barford (1809-1871) and Letitia Gale (1810-1877) who were married in Dorset on 5^th February 1830. When Richard (who spent time in prison for forgery) deserted Letitia she and her two sons, Richard Gale Barford, born 1832 and Giles Crompe Barford, born 1835, opened a shoemakers shop in Market Place, Wokingham. Young James Gale, who was one of four children, became apprenticed to the surgeon and former Clinical Assistant at Westminster Hospital and Medical Officer of Wokingham Union, Edward Weight M.R.C.S.E. (1830), L.S.A. (1829), before becoming his medical assistant and succeeding to his practice in Wokingham. In 1852 he entered St. Bartholomew’s Hospital where he became Senior Scholar and House Surgeon and in 1857 he took his first diploma as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; he was also demonstrator of Chemistry. That same year, on Saturday 3^rd January in Weybridge, he had married Marian Elizabeth Morton Haines (1832-1873), eldest daughter of Samuel Haines, of Dorney House, Weybridge in Surrey. James and Marian moved into 14, Shute End, Wokingham, naming it ‘Barford House’ and from there James and his partner, Edward Weight, ran their Medical Practice. Two years later, in 1859, James (and his partner, Edward Weight) were appointed as Medical Officers to Wellington College, in which role he remained until 1884 (2); James, also studied at the School of Pharmacy and passed the Minor examination in 1866 and being keen on chemistry, particularly physiological chemistry, he was also Professor of Chemistry and delivered an annual course of lectures on the subject to the Wellington College students where he remained for twenty-four years fighting for better hygienic conditions; he was later made a Fellow of the Chemical Society. James and his wife, Marian, had eight children: (a) Bernard Weight Barford (1861-1936), educated at Wellington College from 1875 as a 13 year old Day Boy; he went up to Exeter College, Oxford on 14^th June 1880 aged 18, (BA 1888, MA 1895). From Oxford he went to Cuddesdon Theological College in 1889 and was ordained Deacon the same year, and Priest the following year at Lichfield while working in those roles at All Saint’s, Shrewsbury from 1889-91; he was curate of Cuddesdon 1891-95, curate of Caversham 1895-97, curate of Chipping Norton 1897-1911 and curate of St. George the Martyr, Wolverton from 1911 until his death in Northamptonshire, aged 73, on 8^th January 1936. (b) Francis Haines Barford (1863-1929), born 7^th June 1863 in Crowthorne, Berkshire, he was educated at Wellington College from 1877-1880 as a 14 year old Day Boy; he went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge as a pensioner on 3^rd October 1881, (BA 1885, MA 1891) and became a Master at a private school in 1926; in Sussex in 1895, he married the Philadelphia-born schoolmistress, Mary Ada Florence Isabella Russell-Howland, daughter of Henry Franklin Shearman (3) in Frittleworth, Sussex on 16^th September 1895 and they had two children: Constance Maud Virginia Barford (1896-1970) and Francis Edward Mackay Barford (1898-1936). Francis Haines Barford died on 3^rd June 1929. (c) Edward Walter Barford (1864-1922), born 25^th June 1864 in Wokingham, Surrey, he was educated at Wellington College from 1877-1882 as a 13 year old Day Boy and went up to Cambridge as a non-collegiate from Cavendish Hall in the Michaelmas Term of 1883 and entered Emmanuel College on 8^th October 1884 (BA 1886, MA 1891); he married the sister of his brother, Francis’s wife, Janey Hathaway Alice Maud Russell-Howland (1875-1951) in Atlanta, Georgia on 20^th January 1897 and they lived in South Africa where their three children were born: Marian Florence Haines Barford (1903-1973), Leila Ada Elizabeth Morton Barford (1905-1991) and Dorothy Ellen Gale Barford (1912-1999). In South Africa Edward became Headmaster of Maraisburg School, Cape Colony, and was also Assistant Master at Dales College in 1912; he died at Potchefstroom, South Africa on 30^th August 1922. (d) Arthur Morton Barford (1865-1943), born Wokingham, Surrey, Arthur became a Doctor of Medicine like his father, M.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.R.C.P. (Lond.), F.R.C.S., and police surgeon (Chichester Division). He died in Chichester on 21^st June 1943. (e) Marian Elizabeth Barford (1867-1934), born in Easthampton, Berkshire, Marian never married and she died on 22^nd January 1934. (f) Percy Crompe Barford (1869-1960), born Crowthorne, Berkshire and educated at Wellington College, from 1881-1884 as a 12 year old Day Boy, Percy entered the Medical Profession, M.R.C.S. (Eng.) 1895, L.R.C.P. (Lond.) 1896, M.B.U. (Lond.) 1897 at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London and House Surgeon at Bridgewater Infirmary; surgeon at the Throat, Nose and Ear Department, Portsmouth and South Hants Eye and Ear Infections Department. He married Eugenie Clotilda Clare at St. Giles, London in 1903 and had two children: Beatrice Clare Barford, born 1904, and Edward Morton Barford (1915-2007). Percy lived and worked at Selsey-on-Sea, Sussex and died on 23^rd February 1960. (g) Charles Herbert Barford (1870-1888) born Easthampstead and educated at Wellington College from 1882-84 as a 12 year old Day Boy and went up to Cambridge where he ‘commenced his studies as a non-collegiate student, October last’ in the Michaelmas Term of 1888 but unfortunately soon after, he died aged 18 through ‘over exertion whilst boating’ in Cambridge on Wednesday 5^th December 1888 (4), and (h) Florence Ellen Barford (1872-1941) was born on 2^nd February 1872 in Easthampton, Berkshire, and she became a teacher at Leeds Girls’ High School in Yorkshire; she remained unmarried and died in Chichester on Saturday 7^th June 1941.

James became Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1868 and some of his published papers are: ‘Deodorising Properties of Carbon’, ‘Articles and Complexities of Specific Fevers’, and on education: ‘Over-Pressure in Schools’ published in The Lancet (1881). James Barford’s father, Richard died in 1871 and two years later, on Saturday 14^th June at St. Jude’s, St. Pancras, his mother, Letitia, married Barford’s friend and associate, Dr. Edward Weight, making Edward, James’s step-father; Edward was a widow, his wife Frances Anna Weight had died in Wokingham in 1872 aged 78 (5). Edward Weight lived a further six years and died in October 1879 and his wife, Letitia, died in Wokingham two years prior, aged 76, on Monday 5^th March 1877, ‘after a long and painful illness’ (6).

After the death of his first wife Marian in Wokingham on Sunday 27^th April 1873, James, who during the 1860’s had been visiting doctor at Broadmoor Prison in Berkshire, married once more in 1875 – Mary Harriet West, and together they had seven children: (a) Vernon West Barford (1876-1963), born 10^th September 1876, Vernon moved to Canada in 1895 and became a well-known photographer, pianist, organist, composer, conductor and music teacher. He married Agnes Margaret Lynch (1880-1955) in Ontario, Canada on 11^th August 1904 and had several children: Marjorie West Barford (1905-1992), Cuthbert Allen Lynch Barford (1907-1998) and John Crawford Barford (1908-1993). Vernon died in Alberta, Canada on 22^nd April 1963. (b) Claudine Margaret Barford (1878-1955), born Easthampstead, Berkshire, she worked as a domestic servant as a nurse [in Godalming, Surrey in 1911] and she remained unmarried and died on 24^th June 1955. (c) Notley French Barford, D.S.C. (1879-1928), he joined the Armed services during the First World War, 12^th October 1914, 2^nd Lieutenant (1915) and later Captain (22^nd May 1918), 9^th (cyclist) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment and later the Indian Army; he was released from service in 1922. Notley married Gertrude Morton on 14^th November 1908 at villa del Cerro, Montivideo, Uraguay; he married again in Paddington in 1928, Marjorie Laura O. Brown and he died in Surrey on 29^th May 1951. (d) Luther Holden Barford (1880-1965), worked as a Diplomat for the Foreign Office and was temporary Vice-Consul at Genoa on 22^nd March 1917 until terminated in July; he married Mary Sheila Naylor Todd in 1919 at St. George’s, Hanover Square, London and he died 27^th March 1965. (e) Lettice Agnes Wickham Barford (1881-1951), born Easthampton, Berkshire, she remained unmarried and died in Devon on 29^th May 1951. (f) James Leslie Barford (1883-1950), surgeon and poet, and (g) Constance Mary Katherine Barford (1887-1972), born 22^nd July 1887 in Wokingham, Berkshire, she married Steriker Finnis (1885-1960) a paymaster Commander in the Royal Navy in 1918; they had a daughter named Valerie Margaret Steriker Finnis born 31^st October 1924 who became a celebrated gardener and photographer [45 year old Valerie married 83 year old Sir David John Montague Douglas Scott (1887-1986) on Friday 31^st July 1970 in Weekly, Northamptonshire and became Lady Montague Douglas Scott; Valerie died on 17^th October 2006]; Constance Steriker died in Sunday 1^st October 1972.

There is a charming little dog tale connected with the Barfords’ which was printed in the Spectator on 18^th January 1890 (p. 88) as a letter to the editor by Alys M. Wood under the heading: ‘A Dog obeying a Summons’ in which Dr. Barford’s dog was ‘put into a muzzle; he objected to it, took it off, and hid it somewhere, no one knows where. Policeman saw him, summoned Dr. B; case was to come off one Saturday. The children told dog how wicked he’d been: Dr. B. would have to appear at the Court, and he too, as it was his doing; he’d lost the muzzle. Case was postponed (I think policeman witness had influenza). Dr. B. was told of postponement by letter; forgot to tell children or dog. At Saturday’s Bench, Magistrates much astonished by the dog appearing in Court and sitting solemnly opposite them.’ Soon after, in the same newspaper, on 1^st February 1890 (p. 167), Dr. Barford’s wife, Marian H. Barford under the heading ‘A Pug’s Intelligence’, confirmed this story and corrected some details, such as the ‘policeman was away for his holiday instead of having influenza, and the case came off on Tuesday instead of Saturday.’ She then goes on to say that ‘my dog is a pug’ named Sam Weller, which was given to her by ‘the late Dr. Wakley, editor of the Lancet, who was a great connoisseur of dogs.’ Marian then shows how intelligent little Sammy is and how ‘devotedly attached’ he is to her ‘baby, and always accompanies’ Marian when she visits the nursery in the morning.

Around 1891, James Gale Barford suffered a severe attack of influenza followed by nervous depression; in June 1892 he suffered an apoplectic seizure (stroke) and had to give up work for several months (7). James Gale Barford, as well as being a collector of oil paintings, especially of Landseer’s engravings, (8) was also a keen follower of hounds and on Wednesday 8^th November 1893, he rode to a meet of the hounds and on that evening he suffered another apoplectic attack and fell into unconsciousness (he had curiously predicted this outcome to his son). The following day, Thursday 9^th November 1893, James Gale Barford died, leaving a widow and fourteen children. He was buried in the family vault at St. Paul’s parish churchyard. His wife, Mary Harriet Barford died on Saturday 11^th September 1937 in Surrey, aged 83.

 

 

PHILEBUS

 

‘To Heav’n I prayed but, praying, kissed his hair,

Nor hoped an answer to my faithless prayer.

 

To Heav’n I vowed but, vowing, doubted how

Mine honour, sin-besmirched, could keep the vow.’

 

[Remorse. Ladslove Lyrics, p. 26]

 

James Leslie Barford was born at The Firs, Wellington College, Berkshire on Friday 26th January 1883 (The Reading Observer, Births, Saturday 3rd February 1883, p. 8). Young James was ten years old when his father died in November 1893, and three years later, in 1896 at the age of thirteen, James Leslie entered Epsom College (Propert House). His widowed mother, Mary Barford, was living at 4, Esmond Road, Bedford Park, West London. At Epsom College, James became a Sub-Prefect and a member of the 2^nd XV from 1900-1901 (9). After leaving Epsom College in 1901, like his father and several of his step-brothers had done, he studied medicine and trained at King’s College Hospital (L.R.C.P. Lond. 1905) becoming House Surgeon to Dr. Benjamin Barrow, F.R.C.S., (1814-1901), who was later Consulting Surgeon to the Royal Isle of Wight Infirmary, and Barford was also elected House Physician in 1906 in the place of Dr. Henry J. Cardew, M.A., M.B. (Camb.) M.R.C.S., (1874-1956) of Clare College, Cambridge, later Senior Medical Officer and House Surgeon of the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital (10). He had several medical-related works published: ‘A Case of Extensive Rupture of the Trachea with Complete Detachment of the Left Bronchus without External Injury’ in the Lancet (volume 168, issue 4344, 1^st December 1906, p. 1509), ‘Device for Washing Contaminated Eyes’ in the British Medical Journal, (1941, 2, p. 480) and ‘Rocking Device for Stretcher’ also in the BMJ, (1943, 2, p. 581). (11)

In November 1906, James Leslie Barford joined the Royal Navy and received a course of instruction on H.M.S. Victory, at Haslar Hospital (12); the following year, he was appointed as surgeon onboard H.M.S. Diadem on Tuesday 14^th May 1907, then on Thursday 4^th July to H.M.S. King Alfred (China, 1908); in October 1907 he was ship’s surgeon on H.M.S. Snipe and on Saturday 11^th June 1910, appointed to H.M.S. Impregnable. About August 1912 he returned to the Victory before being temporarily lent to H.M.S. Monarch on Sunday 17^th November 1912.

In August 1913 Barford was serving as surgeon aboard HM Astraea which had docked, along with the Royal Naval Hospital ship, Hyacinth, at Simon’s Town, South Africa. Members of the medical staff from both ships took part in a charity entertainment concert at the beginning of September at the Drill Hall in Simon’s Town, although what part Barford played in the ‘Doctors as Entertainers’ is not known (13).

During the First World War, staff-surgeon, (he was promoted from surgeon to staff-surgeon in May 1914) J. L. Barford saw active service in the Royal Navy and after arriving in Plymouth on Wednesday 19^th January 1916 was appointed as surgeon aboard H.M.S. Victory on Sunday 12^th March 1916 and upon his removal from the Royal Navy list in April 1922 he had attained the rank of Surgeon-Commander.

After the war he joined the Merchant Navy and served on various lines, including P and O, and also engaged in psychiatry work in various parts of the country, including Medical Officer to the Royal Earlswood Institution (asylum) in Redhill.

In 1918, Barford’s first volume of poetry, Ladslove Lyrics, was privately published under his pseudonym ‘Philebus’, by the Theo Book Shop, Edinburgh in 250 copies. The volume was a joyous celebration of boyhood – ‘Too late! Their limbs allure me madly, madly, / As slothfully they stretch them in the sun, / Toss up their towzled heads and then go gladly / Towards the welcome of the wavelets run.’ (p. 12); Barford confronts his own painful desires and battles feelings of guilt in his poem, ‘Remorse’ (p. 26) – ‘Trusted and Loved, with sensuous self I strove / That at the dawn I might deserve his love.’ And he concludes with an almost Wildean acceptance – ‘God! How I wished the cup might pass from me! / But, wishing, drained the dregs … It had to be!’

His second volume, Young Things, was published ‘for the author’ three years later in 1921 by the Theo Book Shop of Edinburgh and privately printed by Turnbull & Spears of Edinburgh; he dedicated the collection to his friend and fellow poet, John Gambril Nicholson (1866-1931) (14) and the book also contained an appendix: ‘”St. Philebus”: A Prose Critique of Ladslove Lyrics’ in which Barford (writing anonymously) delights in the autobiographical details of his young loves. The volume contains some fine poems by Barford as he once again questions his sensuous desires – ‘Is it unnat’ral that I should joy / To join you in the heart of natural things? / To run and swim and ride with you my boy? / To feel the thrill that sweating effort brings? / To watch with envious love your limbs’ display?’ (p. 8)

His third collection, Fantasies, ‘by Philebus’ was privately printed in London by the poet and publisher Francis Edwin Murray (1854-1932) (15) in 1923 and saw Barford wistfully gazing at Gainsborough’s painting, Blue Boy, and feverishly imagining the life of the young boy, asking himself if those eyes were ‘ever with laughter o’erbrimming?’ or if the lad ‘e’re strip to the winds and go swimming?’ or ever ran ‘on the seashore exultingly bare?’ (pp. 5-7)

Barford’s final book of verse under the pseudonym ‘Philebus’ was Whimsies, published in London in 1934 (300 copies) by Roberts & Newton, a publishing firm set up by J. G. Nicholson.

During the Second World War, Barford undertook Civil Defence work for the Surrey County Council and was attached to County Hall, Kingston and later Guildford. As Assistant County Medical Officer, Barford gave a series of talks, such as ‘Efficiency with Speed’ which he gave to the County Tech College, in Guildford with the Mayor in attendance on Friday 19^th February 1943 and a second lecture on ‘First Aid’ (his first lecture had been on ‘Shock’) at the Village Hall in Normandy on Wednesday 24^th February 1943, and around 200 had gathered to hear each talk. Another lecture was titled ‘First Aid and Shock’ which he gave to members of the Civil Defence and the Home Guard, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday 20^th April 1943 at the Memorial Hall, Worplesden, and another on the ‘importance of labelling air raid casualties’ on the evening of Wednesday 10^th November 1943 to Civil Defence Wardens and the Home Guard at Normandy Village Hall. (16) Also in November 1943, J. L. Barford was Medical Officer for the Surrey County Rescue School in Leatherhead (Captain Lovesy, Officer in charge) which held the Surrey County Civil Defence Competition. Godstone District won (they had won the semi-final against Reigate, Hambledon and Godalming and went to the finals held on Sunday 14^th November with Leatherhead and Woking) and were presented with a silver challenge cup for the second time running; Leatherhead came second and Woking third. On Friday 19^th November 1943, Princess Marie Louise, aunt to the King, visited the Rescue School. (17)

In 1946 he spent several months acting as surgeon on the first whaling expedition to the Antarctic on-board the British factory-whaling ship SS Balaena. The expedition was organised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to ascertain whether whale meat could become a viable food source for Britain suffering meat shortages due to war rationing. The Balaena was built in Belfast and was the first whaling ship to carry and aircraft, the ‘Walrus’ which was used for whale spotting. Among the crew was a flight commodore, two flight captains, a navigating flying officer and flight engineer as well as a catapult engineer with flight wireless operators; a ship’s surgeon (Barford), and a chemist, Dr. P. C. B. Jornsgaard. The Balaena sailed from Norway where she picked up Norwegian sailors and docked at Southampton before setting sail on Thursday 10^th October 1946 to stop off at Cape Town, South Africa. Leaving Table Bay on Monday 11^th November, they sailed on to the Antarctic. The expedition proved successful and whale meat was indeed fit for human consumption. On the return voyage, the ship left Cape Town on Wednesday 23^rd April 1947 and docked at Southampton on Sunday 11^th May 1947, having spent six months in Antarctica.

Prior to his death in November 1950, Barford was acting as Medical Officer on the H.M. cable ship Monarch, up until a few weeks before his death when he had returned home on leave.

James Leslie Barford M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.P.M., of 2, Earleswood Road, Redhill, in Surrey, died on Wednesday 29^th November 1950 at the County Hospital in Redhill, aged 67. He had left £4613 gross £4510 net value and he desired that his body be used for scientific research (18); however, his funeral took place at 11 a.m. on Saturday 2^nd December 1950 at St. George’s Chapel, the Northover Funeral Home, in Reigate, Redhill with the Rev L. P. Bowles officiating, and Mr. Harding playing the organ. The service included Psalm XXIII and the hymns ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’ and ‘Fight the good fight’. The principle mourners were: Commander Steriker and Mrs. Constance Finnis (his brother in law and his sister), Mr. and Mrs. Notley Barford (his brother and sister in law), Mr. Holden Barford (his brother, representing Miss Lettice Barford and Miss Pearl Barford), Mrs. Allenby and Miss Valerie Finnis (his niece), Dr. and Mrs. Curtis, Mr. Peter Barford, Mr. Jack Barford and Mrs. Inez Brewton (his nephews and nieces). The service was followed by a private cremation at Streatham Park (19).

 

‘And, as o’ nights your stripling limbs you spread,

Did he perchance come softly to your bed,

And did you feel beneath the shadowy vine

Cool lips on thine?’

 

[Whom Jesus Loved. Ladslove Lyrics, pp. 34-35]

 

 

Notes:

 

1. There is a rather fine portrait photograph of Barford looking quite boyishly  handsome with a wistful look in his eyes, handkerchief on display and his hands in his pockets (plate 17) between pages 136-137 of d’Arch Smith’s volume ‘Love in Earnest’ (1970). Perhaps one can see traces of the secret uranian in his slightly unorthodox, relaxed posture and his off-set tie and his lips, withholding unspoken passions, seemingly on the verge of spilling everything and those mournful eyes, drawn to the beauty of boyhood.
2. see The Making of Wellington College, being an account of the first sixteen years of its existence. Joseph Louis Bevir. London. E. Arnold. 1920, and A History of Wellington College, 1859-1959. David Newsome. London. John Murray. 1984. Some information has been taken from his obituary in The Chemist and Druggist, 18^th November 1893, p. 731.
3. Henry Franklin Shearman (1842-1922), in 1872, ‘removed to England, which has since been the home of the family; he became a naturalized English subject and changed his surname to Russell-Howland.’ He married Mary Emma Ada Mackay (1848-1913) on 16^th November 1865 and they had several children, including: Mary Ada Florence Isabella, born 5^th June 1872 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Janey Hathaway Alice Maud, born 17^th December 1875 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. See: The Howland Heirs; being the story of a family and a fortune and the inheritance of a trust established for Mrs. Hetty H. R. Green. William Morrell Emery. New Bedford, Mass., E. Anthony and Sons, inc. 1919. p. 410. for further information on Mary and her marriage to Francis Haines Barford, M.A. (Cantab.) see p. 416, and for Janey and her marriage to Edward Walter Barford, M.A. (Cantab.) see p. 417; both brothers and their sister-wives were residing at Walton-on-Thames at the time of publication (1919) [Mary and Francis are also living there in the 1911 census]
4. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal. Friday 14^th December 1888, p. 8.
5. Berkshire Chronicle. Saturday 21^st June 1873, p. 8.
6. Berkshire Chronicle. Saturday 10^th March 1877, p. 8.
7. ‘Mr. Barford had for some time back been ailing from the effects of a slight apoplectic seizure, which he suffered while driving in his carriage during the hot summer months. He had, however, under the care of the late Sir Andrew Clark, almost completely recovered, and had gained the power of expressing himself fluently and intelligently…’ [The Lancet. Medical News. 11^th November 1893, p. 1228] other biographical information is also taken from his Obituary in The Lancet, 25^th November 1893, p. 1356.
8. James also collected engravings by Sir Robert Strange and he lent some of them to the fine art exhibition which was held at Wokingham Town Hall, opened by Mr. Walter, M.P. on Wednesday 18^th July 1877. The Art Journal, volume 39, 1877, p. 313. It is also worth noting that there is a portrait of the Prince of Denmark on display at Wokingham Town Hall which was ‘purchased by one Mrs. Barford at a sale at the Rose Inn on Market Place. At the time the portrait’ (which Mrs. Barford took for being a woman) ‘was said to have reminded Mrs. Barford of her daughter. When Mrs. Barford died her son Dr. Barford sent the portrait away to be cleaned. It was then that the royal subject matter was discovered and Dr. Barford donated it to the Town Hall.’ Wokingham Times, Thursday 11^th September 1997, p. 12.
9. Epsom College Register October 1855 – July 1905, p. 224.
10. Hampshire Advertiser. Saturday 10^th November 1906, p. 12.
11. J. L. Barford also wrote the Foreword to Edward Akester’s ‘Practical Wound Treatment: A First Aid book illustrating the use of the “pad and bandage” as issued to all services.’ Aldershot, Gale and Polden, Ltd. 1944. Akester, like Barford, taught first aid at the Surrey County Council Rescue School in Leatherhead.
12. Naval & Military Record and Royal Dockyard Gazette. Thursday 29^th November 1906, p. 6.
13. Naval & Military Record and Royal Dockyard Gazette. Wednesday 10^th September 1913, p. 11.
14. John Gambril Nicholson (1866-1931) was a school teacher at various boys’ boarding schools and published several collections of ‘uranian’ poetry: Love in Earnest (1892), A Chaplet of Southernwood (1896) and A Garland of Ladslove (1911).
15. Francis Edwin Murray (1854-1932), was a ‘uranian’ poet and publisher; his collection of poems, Rondeaux of Boyhood (1923) was published under Murray’s pseudonym ‘A. Newman’ and a further collection, From a Lover’s Garden: More Rondeaux and Other Verses of Boyhood, was published in 1924.
16. Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 27^th February 1943, p. 4; Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 27^th February 1943, p. 3; Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 17^th April 1943, p. 3 and the Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 6^th November 1943, p. 6, respectively.
17. Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 20^th November 1943, p. 4.
18. Surrey Mirror. Friday 16^th March 1951, p. 5.
19. Obituary: Surrey Mirror. Friday 8^th December 1950, p. 5, and Death notice: Surrey Mirror. Friday 1^st December 1950, p. 1.