Historical Figures
Important people from history.
Beatrice Webb - Early Socialist
Beatrice Webb - Early Socialist
Capel Bond
Capel Bond (1730 - 1790) was an organist and composer.
Charles Wheatstone - Scientist (1802-1875)
Charles Wheatstone - Scientist (1802-1875)
George Whitefield (1714-1770) - the True Founder of Methodism
George Whitefield - the True Founder of Methodism
Home grown religious leader, and apparently the true founder of Methodism.
Henry Dene (c1430-1503)
Henry Dene
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Built St Mary De Crypt in it's current form.
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Ivor Gurney
Ivor Gurney
Gloucester classical composer and poet. 1890-1937.
Audio by Ian Partridge,Tenor and taken from Ivor Gurney - Author, Composer, Soldier-of-a-sort
The Silent One
Who died on the wires, and hung there, one of two -
Who for his hours of life had chattered through
Infinite lovely chatter of Bucks accent:
Yet faced unbroken wires; stepped over, and went
A noble fool, faithful to his stripes - and ended.
But I weak, hungry, and willing only for the chance
Of line - to fight in the line, lay down under unbroken
Wires, and saw the flashes and kept unshaken,
Till the politest voice - a finicking accent, said:
‘Do you think you might crawl through there: there's a hole.'
Darkness, shot at: I smiled, as politely replied -
‘I'm afraid not, Sir.' There was no hole no way to be seen
Nothing but chance of death, after tearing of clothes.
Kept flat, and watched the darkness, hearing bullets whizzing -
And thought of music - and swore deep heart's oaths
(Polite to God) and retreated and came on again,
Again retreated - a second time faced the screen.
More of his WW1 poems (from the 120 war Poems site)
To England - A Note
To His Love
Ivor Gurney has a window dedicated to him in St Mary de Lode Church, and his headstone is in Twigworth Church.
Wikkipedia page
Ivor Gurney Society
EVENT - Ivor Gurney conference in September 2007
We would be interested in doing a feature on Ivor Gurney. If you are organising, or know about, any events featuring Ivor Gurney's music or poetry, please let us know.
Ivor Gurney - Slow Movement for Violin and Piano
The world premiere of the Slow Movement for Violin and Piano of 1924, performed by Chamber Domaine at Gresham College, 26th September 2007.
The Target
The Target
I shot him,and it had to be
One of us "Twas him or me.
'Coulnt be helped' and none can blame
Me,for you would do the same
My mother, she cant sleep for fear
Of what might be a-happening here
To me. Perhaps it might be best
To die, and set her fears at rest
For worst is worst, and worry's done.
Perhaps he was the only son. . .
Yet God keeps still, and does not say
A word of guidance anyway.
Well, if they get me, first I'll find
That boy, and tell him all my mind,
And see who felt the bullet worst,
And his pardon,if I durst.
All's a tangle. Here's my job.
A man might rave, or shout, or sob;
And God He takes takes no sort of heed.
This is a bloody mess indeed
James "Jemmy" Wood (1756-1836) - inspiration for Dickens
James "Jemmy" Wood (1756-1836) - inspiration for Dickens
Banker famous for his meanness, wealth and eccentricity, and, when he died, said to be the richest commoner in the land, worth over £1,000,000, which would today be worth around THREE BILLION POUNDS* (Enough even for a flat in Cheltenham).
He left a Will that was unclear and provided a feeding trough for lawyers.
He is said to have been the model for Scrooge and the Bleak House court case. (The dates fit).
* www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/ taking GDP as we want to measure his status as a powerful man, not the price of bread.
John (d1529) and Joanne Cooke (d1545)
John and Joanne Cooke
Founder of Crypt School (1539).
The rent for the land was set at "one red rose", and this is still paid annually to the Rector of St Mary De Crypt.
John Biddle - "Father of English Unitarianism" (1615-1662)
John Biddle
Our very own founder of a global sect - Unitarians - a dangerous radical in his day. (He was sentanced to death but Cromwell spared him. Even so, he lost his job and spent time in prison and exile).
John Stafford Smith
John Stafford Smith
Who would have guessed that a local boy wrote the American National Anthem!
To be precise - he wrote the tune that later had the words "The Star Spangled Banner" set to it by the American Francis Scott Key.
Oh! say, can you see,by the dawns early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last Gleamings
Whose broad Stripes and bright Stars,thro' the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming
and the rockets red glare,the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh! say, does the star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stafford_Smith
Star Spangled Banner
A variety of renditions of the US National Anthem.
And what has this got to do with Gloucester? Your answer, it was a Gloucester man - John Stafford Smith - who wrote it, well the tune anyway. A Yank wrote the words some time later.
We should ask them for royalties....
Whitney Houston
Hendrix
Rachmaninoff (the man himself, from 1919!)
John Taylor "The Water Poet"
John Taylor - The Water Poet
The Water Poet pub - Eastgate St is named in his honour.
Michael Hurd (1928-2006)
Composer and musician
Jonah-man Jazz
Jonah-man Jazz - written in 1966
Rooster Rag
Rooster Rag - Michael Hurd wrote a series of cantatas for children, this one in 1975
Richard (Dick) Whittington
Richard (Dick) Whittington
Robert Raikes (1736-1811) - Founder of the Sunday School Movement
Robert Raikes (1736-1811) - Founder of the Sunday School Movement
Originally the aim was to teach the children of the poor to read and write. They were not religious as such. (Back then children worked 6 days a week in factories etc. Think about that next time you whinge about homework or chores.
Not to be confused with his father - Robert Raikes who founded The Citizen, or his brother Thomas Raikes who became Governor of the Bank of England.
Robert Raikes - Founder of The Citizen (1690-1757)
Robert Raikes - Founder of The Citizen (1690-1757)
Founded The Citizen.
Sons included Robert Raikes who founded Sunday Schools and Thomas Raikes who became Governor of the Bank of England.
Thomas Raikes - Governor of the Bank of England. (1741-1813)
Thomas Raikes - Governor of the Bank of England. (1741-1813)
Brother of Robert Raikes (of Sunday School fame) and son of Robert Raikes (founder of The Citizen).