British engraver.
Born at 19 Waverley Road, Liverpool. Attended Liverpool High School from the age of 13 to 16. In 1896 she entered Froebel College in Birmingham run by Miss Bishop and Miss Last for Kindergarden training. In 1898 she and her family spent the summer holidays at Ballaigner in the Jura Mountains and met Lady Burne-Jones (Aunt of Rudyard Kipling). She was later asked by Lady Burne-Jones to spend a fortnight with her at North End House, Rottindean looking after Angela and Denis who were staying with her whilst their parents were away.
She met Mrs Kipling whilst staying with Lady Burne-Jones. Mrs Carrie Kipling asked her to look after her children, Elsie and John (aged 5 and 3) whilst their nurse as on holiday for a month. She was then asked to accompany the family to South Africa in December 1900.
After their return she worked partly for herself (embroidery) and travelled in the United States and Canada. She then spent 10 years working for Mr (later Sir) Robert Hudson and his daughter Dorothy in Westminster. This ended once Dorothy turned 21. Sylvia moved to the house she had bought in Hampstead Garden Suburbs. She lived on money she earned embroidering children's clothes, an annuity left by Sir Robert, and an allowance from her mother.
In 1916 she acted as Matron of a rest home for retired Army sisters and nurses near Monte Carlo.
An old friend of George Mallory's, whom he had known since the climbing days at Pen y Pass in Wales.
Mistress of Lord Byron, writing her own biographical accounts of him.
Matriculated from Magdalene College in 1909.
Joined the Colonial Service, but left for war service in 1914: Royal Flying Corps. Deputy Allied Commander on D-Day in 1944; Chief of the Air Staff, 1946-1950.
Made an Honorary Fellow in 1943.
Chancellor of the University (in succession to Field-Marshal Smuts), 1950-1967.
Arms in Hall glass, W1.
References:
Archives C/HUW/9/2;
'The Chancellor of the University' by H. Willink, College Magazine, No. 82 (1951), pp. 7-8
'In Memoriam', by H, Willink, College Magazine, No. 11 (1966-67)
Short paragraph in the College Magazine, No. 34 (1989-90) p. 36
‘Tedder’s letters from Magdalene: a selection, 1909-1913’ College Magazine, No. 45 (2000-01), pp. 100-110
College chef for 40 years.
British poet and public servant.
Businessman and philanthropist, born in Calcutta, Bengal, India, the second son of Rammani Tagore (1759–1833), police officer, and his first wife, Menaka, daughter of Ramakanta Roy of Jessore.
Appointed as cook in 1875 [MCGB/4/2/1] and was the last of the cooks to run the kitchens as an independent business. On his retirement in 1901 the College took the kitchens in-house (being the last College to do so). This decision as guided by the then Steward A.S. Ramsey. He purchased the cooking utensils and crockery owned by Swannell which was valued at £700.
1841 Census – his father, George Swannell’s occupation is listed as ’Cook’ and the family were living in King St
1851 Census - his father, George Swannell’s occupation is listed as ’Cook’ and the family were living in Fitzroy St
His father was George (aged 48), his mother was Mary Ann (aged 33)
William was 14 and listed as an errand boy
John (aged 13), Elizabeth Sarah (aged 11), Thomas (aged 7)
Rachel Hayles - servant
1861 Census – William’s occupation is listed as ‘Cook’ and he was married to Hannah and living on Histon Rd
1871 Census – same as the 1861 census but with the addition of children:
William G (aged 9), Elizabeth (aged 4)
William Hewson (nephew aged 18)
John A.W. Culpin (boarder aged 18)
1881 Census – Now living at 74 Castle St with his wife Hannah, his daughter Elizabeth and their domestic servant Emma Smith (aged 15)
1891 Census – Had moved to Huntingdon Road
Servant was now Eliza Beldam
1901 Census – Living at 6 Huntingdon Rd
Listed as ‘widow’
Occupation ‘Head College Cook’
Living on his own and two servants - Lucy Baker (aged 50) and Annie Adams (aged 23)
William died on 16 September 1902 at Carnarvonshire. He left to Elizabeth Hannah Sarah Robinson (his daughter and the wife of the Revd Henry Edwin Robinson) effects worth £14865 5s 4d
Napoleon’s niece. Secretly married Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart at a Catholic church near Rome in 1824.