As some of you will be aware, Queen's College Oxford has very strong Cumbrian connections - especially Copeland. Bright Cumbrians were quite likely to find fame and fortune through St Bees, Westminster or Winchester, and Queen's. I've just come across this page, which may be of interest to you. http://makeashorterlink.com/?G1AC256D2 or http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~landc/bookplates/23_3_QueensCollege. htm Chris chris@dickinson.uk.net

Thanks Chris for this site. There is a stained glass window in the library of Queen's College, I believe, to the memory of Revd. Dr. John Fox (1774-1855) who was Provost from 1827 until his death in 1855. Dr. Fox was the son of Henry Fox, a Yeoman Farmer of St. Bees, and his wife Catherine (Robinson) . Although several of the family were at Queen's "The Provost" was naturally the prized luminary. He is commemorated at Pamber End, Berkshire where he is buried and notably in St. Bees Church, together with numerous other monuments to the Fox family who have had continuous occupation of High House farm in the parish since the 1500s at least. Dr. Fox had been educated, naturally, at St. Bees School and Queen's College. He returned to his native village on several occasions, one being in 1827 when he married his niece Catherine to Alexander Coulthard in the parish church. He is included in the section "Some Famous Old St. Beghians" in the book entitled "The Story of St. Bees" (school) 1583-1939. This section includes Edward Christian (born 1758), son of Charles Christian of Ewanrigg, Dearham and brother of Fletcher Christian (born 1764) of "Bounty Mutiny" fame. Edward entered St. John's, Cambridge gaining his BA in 1779 and MA in 1782 and became a Fellow, Professor of Law 1788. He was the first Downing Professor of Law in 1800. Fletcher himself does not feature in the book and I understand that, despite some assertions, there is no proof he ever attended the school, the only likelihood being in his brother's known attendance. I stand corrected if anyone knows better from admission registers or other evidence. It appears to be assumed that he did. There are about 110 brief biographical details of notable Old Boys and if anyone has cause to believe a relative might be amongst them I am very willing to look it up. They range through churchmen, military, artists, doctors, authors, colonial adminstrators and the like. Queen's College graduates provided the Headmasters for St. Bees School at least from 1630 - 1916 with two exceptions. Jonathan Banks, B.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge 1681-1686 and Rev. William Taylor Newbold, M.A. St. John's College, Cambridge 1879-1903. It is quite likely though that they also had local connections. The book also contains a long Roll of Honour of 184 Old St. Beghians, including four masters, who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. The book was published at the eve of the Second World War to coincide with the 350th Anniversary of the opening of the school. It then cost five shillings. I will append an interesting extract from the book as a separate post. Jill Coulthard