Brian Chambre Townshend (5D29)
| Date of Birth: | 9 Apr 1874 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | dunm 18 Feb 1913 |
| Generation: | 7th |
| Residence: | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Father: | Chambre Corker Townshend [5D14] |
| Mother: | Gibson, Emily Caroline |
| Spouse: | Unmarried |
| Issue: | None |
| See Also: | Table VD ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Brian Chambre Townshend
Brian contracted cerebral meningitis as a child at the same time as his brother Geoff Townsend but managed to survive, unlike poor Geoff who died aged 2.
Brian was educated at Sedbergh School. Alexandra Gilbert, a local amateur historian voluntarily researching people buried in the Churchyard in Birchington, Kent, contacted the school archivist who wrote the following in January 2023.
"Our records state that Brian was a pupil here in School House (the boarding house led by the Headmaster) 1888 – 1892. In 1889 he was awarded his form prize (form II) for English and Set F Mathematics Prize. He was a member of the ‘Sedgwick Society’ – the school natural history society and in October 1890 he read a paper on ‘The Colours of Butterflies’. In 1890 he ran the school ten mile fell race, the ‘Wilson Run’ finishing in 6th place with a time of 1 hour 22 minutes 45 seconds. In 1891 he was awarded prizes in English literature, History, French and German. He also won the coveted ‘Open Prize for Literature’ in 1891. In his final year he played regularly in the school 2nd XV school rugby team with a few performances of the 1st team also. In his final year he was a school prefect and came second in the ten mile race, the ‘Wilson Run’ with a time of 1 hour 17 minutes 42 seconds.
Following his time at New College, Oxford, where he was awarded a First Class Honours degree, Brian enlisted in the City of London Volunteers as a mounted trooper and saw action at Jacobsdal, Paardederg, Poplar Grove, Zand River and Diamond Hill.
Correspondence (1) in 1903/04 between Brian and his cousin George Chambre Wilmot Townsend concerning the will of Brian's father shows that Brian was a partner with ‘Gibson, Pybus & Pybus’ Solicitors, 42 Mosley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne at the time.
Brian died of petit mal epilepsy.
(1) Derry Papers 5D29/1.