This article by Arnold Burston first appeared in the Autumn 2006 issue of the Rollestonian.

Rev. the Honourable Lenard Francis Tyrwhitt, M.A., M.V.O., O.B.E., was Rector of Rolleston from 1907 to 1921. According to “Burke’s Knightage” he was born on 29th. October 1863, the son of Sir Henry Thomas Tyrwhitt, 3rd. Bt. and Emma Harriet Wilson Berners. He graduated from Magdalen College, Cambridge, and, before he came to Rolleston, he was the Vicar of Fenton in the Potteries, where his campaign against immorality and vice in the pot banks became a national issue. He was Chaplain to the King (1901 - 21) Canon of Windsor (1910 - 21) and Chaplain to the Forces (1914 - 21). Not surprisingly, the inscription on his memorial reads: "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

He was not the most modest of men: two portraits of him hang in our Vestry and he had another reproduced as a postcard to sell for the church. Ian, take note!

He was a controversial figure wherever he went and was not shy of publicity. Indeed, he seemed to revel in what the press called “public and painful notoriety”. Even the spelling of his Christian name varied: sometimes he used Lenard and sometimes Leonard. I have already serialised one of his letters to his parishioners in Rollestonian, and thought that his will might be of interest. I have tried to make it more legible and comprehensible by adding punctuation to the most interesting section.

“THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me LENARD FRANCIS TYRWHITT of Rolleston Rectory Burton on Trent in the County of Stafford made this first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty one I hereby revoke all wills made by me at any time heretofore I appoint the Reverend Thomas Read Davies Rector of Horton Slough Bucks to be my EXECUTOR and direct that all my debts and funeral expenses shall be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease I give and bequeath unto the Reverend Thomas Read Davies £100 (one hundred pounds), The Honble Hester Tyrwhitt my sister £200 (two hundred pounds), The Honble Rupert Tyrwhitt my brother £100 (one hundred pounds), The Honble Edward Knollys my nephew only son of Viscount Knollys one hundred pounds (£100), Lionel Tyrwhitt my nephew son of Major the Honble Rupert Tyrwhitt one hundred pounds (£100), Major Marcus Harry Milner DSO now residing at Knowsley Prescot Lancashire one hundred pounds (£100) and Mrs Deborah Griffiths now residing at Ritz Court Leicester Square London W 2 (and whose address can always be found at the Liverpool and Manchester Bank Fenton Stoke on Trent Staffordshire) one hundred pounds (£100) All the above legacies to be paid duty free 

To any servant who has been in my employment more than five years twenty five pounds (£25) 

To my dearest sister Ardyn Mary, Viscountess Knollys, I leave my large silver rose bowl on ebony stand and to my dearest sister Sibyl Grace, Mrs Wheeler of Bitterley Court, Ludlow, Salop I leave the two water colour pictures (one of Mount Vesuvius) hanging in the drawing room at the Cloisters Windsor Castle.

To my nephew Lionel Tyrwhitt R.N. I leave my gold watch and chain (the one I always wear) in the hope that he will wear the same. To Frank Collis (solicitor) of Town Hall Chambers, Stoke on Trent, I leave the silver cigarette box (large size) with my initials on the lid “L F T”. To my sister Honble Hester Tyrwhitt I leave all my Royal Autograph Photographs and the silver cigarette case with HMS Renown engraved on it given to me by King George Vth (when Prince of Wales) and also the enamel & pearl pin containing the hair of the late Duke of Clarence given me by H M Queen Alexandra. A large selection of my theological books I should like to be given to some Denstone College boy who is studying for Holy Orders, the boy to be selected by the Head Master of Denstone College 

All my other possessions whether at Rolleston Rectory, Burton on Trent, or at 8, The Cloisters, Windsor Castle, or elsewhere, I desire should be sold and, after payment of the above mentioned legacies, I desire all that all the residue of my estate should be given to my sister Hester Tyrwhitt, now of Mangreen Hall, Norwich 

- - LENARD FRANCIS TYRWHITT - - Signed by the said testator in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses _ _ BERNARD CHARLES SPENCER EVERETT Clerk in Holy Orders the Cloisters Windsor - - LANCELOT GEORGE REED Clerk in Holy Orders the Cloisters Windsor Castle March 1st 1921 - -“

On the 30th day of November 1931 Probate of this will was granted to The Reverend Thomas Read Davies the sole Executor.

Notes:

His sister Hester was born on 1st. February 1869 and died a spinster on 4th. March 1949. Mangreen Hall has changed somewhat: it now has a time-share swimming pool, as well as hosting VegFolk meetings and the Massage in Schools Programme!

His brother Rupert (1859 - 1940) gained the rank of Major in 1914. With the privilege of rank went the responsibility of leading his men from the front.

Our Rector’s nephew, Honourable Edward George William Tyrwhitt Knollys, was his sister Ardyn Mary’s son by Francis, 1st. Viscount Knollys (1837 - 1924). Edward was educated at Harrow and New College, Oxford. In the First World War, he served in the 16th. London Regiment and the Royal Flying Corps, being awarded the Croix de Guerre, the DFC and OBE. 

He became a successful diplomat (Governor of Bermuda from 1941 to 1943) and businessman (Chairman of Vickers). He died in 1966. There are two photographic portraits in the National Portrait Gallery.

His sister Sibyl Grace Wheeler also has a portrait photograph in the National Portrait Gallery. Bitterley Court still exists; it is open to the public by appointment. I shall investigate further.

Although Rolleston was not mentioned in his will, Canon Tyrwhitt left us a lasting legacy in the form of the Old Grammar School. After a long and bitter dispute about the ownership of the school building with Sir Oswald Mosley, both Churchwardens and many parishioners, the Rector bought it for £100 and put it into a Diocesan Trust for church use. Although I am one of the three Trustees, with Rev. Ian Whitehead and Mr. Deryck Barker, I can find no record of the Trust's ever having met! As I write, St. Mary's PCC is unveiling ambitious plans for reroofing and refurbishment at a cost of £10,000 and the building of a new kitchen, lavatory and store, at a cost of £50,000. Together with work on new paths, drainage and external lighting, this will again return the 15th. Century Grammar School to a central role in the life of the village.

Arnold Burston.

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Last updated: 31 August 2006