Norman Gray Hill was one of four offspring born to Sir Norman and Lady Hill, and their only son. A younger sister, Rosalind, 14 years his junior, became a professor of medieval history at the University of London.

Although her birth was registered in Medway, Kent, Katherine came from an old Shropshire family of lawyers and military personnel. Census records indicate that in 1891 the family were living in Gillingham and in 1901 in Devonport. It is not known precisely when but shortly thereafter, her father Major-General Edward Ranulph Kenyon C.B., C.M.G, the…

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…

The Honourable Sir Henry Keppel GCB OM was a career naval officer who served in most corners of the world and rose to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet.  His autobiography, published in 1899, paints a vivid picture of a remarkable life.

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…

Edward King was born in Lymington, the son of Richard and Elizabeth King. He was educated at Amsterdam House, Christchurch, before joining the family business in the town, which was an offshoot of his grandfather’s printing business in Yeovil. One member of the family, Charles, had moved to Lymington in 1805, and his nephew, Richard…

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.  

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,…

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. 

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…