J F S ‘Marcus’ Stone worked at the Chemical Warfare Defence Experimental Station (Porton Down) from 1925 to 1957. His nickname derived from a well-known artist who illustrated many Dickens novels.

Geoffrey Stilwell, generally known as Holt, was one of seven children born to John Pakenham Stilwell and Georgina Stevens of Yateley, and the oldest of their three sons. The Stilwells were an old banking family, owners of the recognised Royal Navy bank (Stilwell & Sons of Great George Street, Westminster and later, 42 Pall Mall)…

Although White the naturalist is well documented, there is little on White the historian. His entry in ODNB notes that in recording his local parish he sought ‘pleasing information’ and ‘cheerful employment’, with a   requirement to ‘light upon ancient customs and manners … especially on those that were monastic’.  However, of course, his real contribution…

White was a Londoner, with his birth being registered in West Ham. Nothing has been discovered about his early years or details of his higher education. He was, however, well qualified securing a BSc (Econ) degree and a doctorate and was also a ‘barrister-at-law’. According to information on the dust jacket of the second edition…

William was born and bred in Sheffield. Aged 18, ‘he joined the late Mr Edward Baines of Leeds in the preparation of county histories and directories’. After about four years Baines retired and White took over the business. He moved it to Sheffield, with White’s Directories being formally established in 1822. The next step was…

After a career in publishing and journalism in London, William Whiteman and his wife Mimo came to live in Northfield Cottage, Church Road, Steep, a thatched house on the corner of Church Road and Mill Lane. This was probably in the 1960s, as he and Mimo had married in 1965 in Petersfield. It was perhaps…

Williams-Freeman was born at Hamble Cliff, Southampton, the youngest of three sons.  He attended Haileybury College and looked set to follow his eldest brother into the Army.  At Woolwich, however, he changed direction and opted for the medical profession, graduating from Durham in 1885 and obtaining the Gold Medal in his MD exam three years…

It is somewhat ironic that Willis was a leading genealogist, given that it proved quite a challenge to find reliable biographical information about him. This was mainly because he has a fairly common name and initially it was not clear if a quantity surveyor, who published a number of books on the subject, was the…

Samuel Winbolt was educated at Christ’s Hospital and read classics and history at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, obtaining a Masters in 1892.  He then returned to his alma mater and spent his entire working life (until 1926) teaching at the school.

Thomas was born in Leominster, Herefordshire. He undertook his higher education at St John’s College, Oxford, graduating with a second class BA in 1853. Taking holy orders in 1854,  there followed a succession of curacies at Ross (1854-56); Bishopstone, Herefordshire (1859-62); Millbrook, Southampton (1862-65); and Cusop, Herefordshire (1865-67). He then served as rector of Otterhampton…