Cecil Davidge
Cecil Vere Davidge | |
|---|---|
 Cecil Davidge pictured at Abingdon School in the 1919 first IV rowing team | |
| Born | 14 February 1901 Kobe, Japan |
| Died | 27 January 1981 (aged 79) Little Houghton House, Little Houghton, Northamptonshire, England |
| Education | Abingdon School |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Barrister |
| Children | 4 (including Christopher Davidge) |
Cecil Vere Davidge DL (14 February 1901 – 27 January 1981) was a British lawyer and academic, who served as a Fellow and bursar of Keble College, Oxford, and as High Sheriff of Northamptonshire.
Life[]
Davidge was born on 14 February 1901.[1] His father, Cecil William Davidge, was Professor of English at Kobe University in Japan.[2] Davidge was educated at Abingdon School from September 1913 until 1919 [3] and rowed in the first four for the Abingdon School Boat Club before studying at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he obtained a second-class degree in Jurisprudence in 1923; he obtained the Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1925.
He was called to the bar (becoming a barrister) as a member of Inner Temple in 1927.[1] He was a lecturer in Jurisprudence at Keble College, Oxford, from 1927 to 1933, when he was appointed a Fellow and Tutor in Jurisprudence; he was regarded as a fine tutor and lecturer.[1][2] He remained a Fellow until 1968, when he retired. He also served as the college's bursar between 1945 and 1968, and as Sub-Warden from 1965 to 1968.[1] During his time as bursar, he purchased a number of farms for the college for investment purposes, and considerably strengthened the college's financial position.[2] On his retirement, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow. He was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1950.[4]
Davidge was a keen rower. Whilst at Pembroke, he rowed for the college boat club, and helped improve its position in Eights Week, the main inter-college races, raising them to high in the 1st Division of the races. He was later to become Treasurer of Oxford University Boat Club. He helped to attract rowers to Keble, making it a strong rowing college. He acquired a love of the country, particular horses and fox hunting, from his first wife, and became a keen follower of the Pytchley Hunt, in Northamptonshire. Davidge died in a hunting accident on 27 January 1981.[2]
Personal life[]
Davidge married his first wife, Ursula Catherine Smyth, daughter of Christopher Smyth and Emma Louisa, oldest daughter of Sir George William Gunning, 5th Baronet in 1928 and had issue:[1][5]
- Christopher Guy Vere Davidge (5 November 1929 - 22 November 2014), represented Britain on three occasions in rowing events at the Summer Olympics (in 1952, 1956 and 1960).[2]
- Anne Catherine Smyth (Born 19 September 1932)
Ursula Catherine Smyth died on 26 October 1948 and Davidge remarried Philippa Felicia Goldwyre Lester, daughter of Peter Frank Lester and Gertrude Mary Felicia Hewett (great-granddaughter of Sir George Hewett, 2nd Baronet), in 1961 and had issue:[5]
- Mary Philippa Rose Davidge (Born 25 August 1964)
- Peter Vere Davidge (7 October 1966)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e Drennan, Basil St G., ed. (1970). The Keble College Centenary Register 1870 – 1970. Keble College, Oxford. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-85033-048-9.
- ^ a b c d e "C. V. Davidge". The Times. 30 January 1981. p. 16.
- ^ "Register". Abingdon School.
- ^ "No. 38878". The London Gazette. 4 April 1950. p. 1666.
- ^ a b Townend, Peter (1965–1972). Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 18th edition. 3 volumes. London, England: Burke's Peerage Ltd. p. 141.
External links[]
Media related to Cecil Davidge at Wikimedia Commons
- 1901 births
- 1981 deaths
- Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford
- Fellows of Keble College, Oxford
- British barristers
- Members of the Inner Temple
- High Sheriffs of Northamptonshire
- Hunting accident deaths
- Legal scholars of the University of Oxford
- 20th-century British lawyers
- People educated at Abingdon School
- Accidental deaths in England