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Celebrating Hampshire Historians

Warren, Frank

26 February 1879 – 26 August 1956

Frank Warren was the second son of William Thorn Warren, an established Winchester printer and newspaper proprietor.  Educated at Westfields Preparatory School in the city, he won a scholarship to Sherborne.  By 1896, however, he had joined the family business and was soon put in charge of the newspaper section, becoming editor of the Hampshire Observer, a position he was to hold until 1953.  

Warren was an enthusiastic sportsman in his youth, playing hockey to county level and enjoying skating and rifle shooting.  He was also a keen mountaineer, visiting Switzerland and climbing the Matterhorn at a time when this was a unusual feat.

With the advent of WWI, Warren saw active service in France, reaching the rank of sergeant and twice being wounded.

Frank Warren was a member of the Hampshire Field Club for 54 years and became its joint Honorary Secretary in 1924, holding the post for three decades.  One of his first tasks was to see if the Local History Records Scheme being hatched in Berkshire could take root in his home county. This initiative, aimed at perpetuating ‘the old legends, traditions and interesting facts of local history…handed down round the fireside from one generation to another’ required local groups and societies to sign up and support the project.  Correspondence in the HRO shows that this was an uphill task and despite considerable effort the new Hon Sec only received positive replies from the Ramblers Association and the Winchester librarian, who was happy to take any material in, but couldn’t help beyond that!

Undaunted, Frank Warren went on to become one of the Field Club’s most valued officers, as was illustrated by the tributes and testimonials at his retirement and death.  On his retirement, the Society produced a special issue of Proceedings in his honour (Volume XX) and praised his ‘keenness, knowledge, experience, and personality [which] have always been a major factor in drawing together the many distinguished people who have been amongst its active members and helpers.’ The ‘whole character of the Society’ it was suggested, ‘has been moulded by his influence [and] without him, the Club could hardly have survived the war of 1939-1945.’

Among the obituaries it was noted that ‘The death of Frank Warren has deprived the Club of one of its outstanding personalities. The ceaseless watch which he maintained for many years over local antiquarian interests, his untiring capacity for work shewn in his organization of Field Meetings, and his learning in his own particular subject, Numismatics, made him an invaluable Club Secretary. His fame spread far outside of the County and won him the respect of many scholars, and of the ordinary man in the street; his reserve and modesty, and his sense of humour, endeared him to everyone.'

Well, perhaps not everyone!  Among his many public duties he was Chairman of the Winchester Bench, following a family tradition in upholding law and order in the city.

Sources

  • HRO 49M98W Family and Field Club correspondence

  • Proceedings of the HFC – many references

  • Hampshire Observer, July 1956

Portrait

Frank Warren

Contribution to county’s history

Frank Warren was an ideal Hon Secretary for the HFC, able to help organize its membership activities and excavation projects and bring them to a wider public through his role at the newspaper.  His own special interests in topographical prints and ancient coinage benefited these areas of study.

Relevant published works

Critical Comments

Other Comments

Contributor

Dave Allen, April 2024

Key Words

Hampshire Field Club, Hampshire Observer, ancient coinage

If you are able to add anything to this entry, please send your ideas to celebrating@hantsfieldclub.org.uk.

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