Born 24 Jan. 1914; m 1st, Ann Wilkinson; 2nd, Valerie Carruthers; two s; 3rd, Margaret Taylor; two d; died 23 Oct. 1993

owner of the largest antiquarian bookstore in England

Education

elementary sch.; Municipal Sch. (later Coll.) of Technology, Manchester Univ. (expelled)

Career

Born in London at 8 York Gate, Regent’s Park; advertised for adoption in Nursing Times, Feb. 1914; brought up in Rochdale, where became apprentice printer; became a tramp; in London, later helped found now defunct Domestic Workers Union; advised on start of Tribune newspaper; mem. of Labour Party for 40 yrs; Conscientious Objector, tried at Royal Courts of Justice, 1939; voluntarily joined London Rescue Squad for duration of War and helped Bomb Disposal Squad; started bookselling in Portobello Road when it was predominantly a fruit and vegetable market, 1945; bought Queen Victoria’s books from Kensington Palace (later in Victoria State Library, Australia); bought part or all of libraries of Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, Marie Stopes and R. H. Tawney; formed many important collections of books, incl. world’s largest collection of books on the atom (later in Texas Univ.). Pres., Private Libraries Assoc., 1989–92. Travelled in many parts of the world, incl. Alaska, India and African jungles; FRGS 1950

Publications

Marie Stopes: a bibliographical list of her books, 1977; History of Lilies, 1982; articles in trade jls

Recreations

Taking the dog for a walk, watching my wife play tennis

Club

Reform

Address

Lilies, Weedon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 4NS

Aylesbury (0296) 641393