Wilfred Grenfell's Old School Tie

Michael Cannon (B2 1954-59), featured in June's Profile of the Month, recently reminded us of Wilfred Grenfell (C3 1879-1881) and his extraordinary work in Labrador. Michael visited Grenfell's house in St. Anthony, Newfoundland and took a picture of his dressing table complete with Old Marlburian tie taking pride of place.

Click on the picture to access Wilfred Grenfell profile from the Grenfell Family History Site

OM featured on a Postage Stamp!

How many Marlburians have had a postage stamp issued in their honour? Well, Sir Wilfred Grenfell (C3 1879-1881) for a start!

Wilfred Grenfell (born on 28^th February, 1865) was the son of a Cheshire vicar. He arrived at Marlborough as a Foundation Scholar in September 1879 and joined C3. In those days the College was very Spartan – creature comforts were few, privacy in short supply (his first dormitory, above the Adderley, contained 25 beds!) and older boys frequently beat their juniors with fives bats. But young Wilfred could look after himself physically and became known as “The Beast” owing to belligerent nature and his thick mop of long hair! He played rugby as a forward, representing C3 and was promoted onto the LX (ie. the College`s 3^rd rugby squad).

Illness (suspected “congestion of the lungs”) caused him to miss a term at MC in order to convalesce in the south of France and his father withdrew him from Marlborough in December 1881. After private tutoring, he decided to train as a doctor at the London Hospital, from which he eventually qualified in 1888. During this period he kept up his rugby by playing for Richmond and in a short spell at Queen`s College, Oxford he was awarded a blue in 1888.

With strong Christian convictions and a deep concern for the poor and deprived (no doubt enhanced by the extreme poverty he would have seen in London`s East End) he answered a call to investigate the medical needs of the fishermen working off the east coast of Canada. This was to lead to a life time of devotion to the needs of the fishing communities in that area from which he was to earn the nick-name of “The Labrador Doctor”. From 1892 he threw himself into building hospitals, nursing stations, schools and orphanages in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In due course he was knighted and served as Lord Rector of St Andrews University from 1929. He died on 10^th October, 1940 but is still honoured in Canada as the Canadian postage stamp illustrated here confirms.

And how many other OMs have featured on postage stamps? One thinks immediately of Mark Phillips (also C3!) but can anyone name others??

Terry Rogers
ter@marlboroughcollege.org

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