“The Chain of Love – A Victorian Family History” by Jane Wynne-Willson (Garland Publications – 2007)

I do not intend to make a habit of using the Archive Corner to review books. However, the College Archives was lucky enough to be given a copy of the above book recently by the author and, having found it fascinating myself, I venture to think that it will be of interest to many Old Marlburians.

When the Rev. Llewelyn Davies married Mary Crompton in 1859 it was the start of what was to prove to be a very devoted and successful union. They were to be blessed with a daughter and six sons, all born by 1870 and all of whom grew up in a strongly supportive and happy family where they all came to respect the liberal, forward-thinking and intelligent views of their parents. The book`s title comes from Mary`s description of her family: “The Chain of Love”.

No less than five of the Llewelyn Davies brothers were sent to Marlborough College, all winning half-fees Foundation Scholarships which were available for the Sons of Clergy. All were members of C2 between 1872 and 1888 and all had successful careers at M.C., four of them becoming School Prefects and two being good enough at Rugby to be picked for the College XV. Equally, all went on to win Open Scholarships at Oxbridge (4 at Trinity College, Cambridge and the fifth at Balliol College, Oxford). The photograph shows two of the Llewelyn Davies brothers (Arthur aged 13 and Maurice 12) at Marlborough in the Autumn of 1876.

Marlborough College was founded in 1843 for the sons of clergy in the expectation that many of them would, in turn, go on to be clergymen themselves. In this respect only the Founders might have been disappointed for none of the five Llewelyn Davies boys took Holy Orders. However, they all went on to become prominent and influential in a range of professions: Charles and Theodore worked in the Treasury, the latter being Private Secretary to a Chancellor of the Exchequer, Arthur became a barrister and Crompton a solicitor, while Maurice made a good career in shipbuilding.

Since this year, 2008, sees the College marking the 40^th anniversary of the admission of its first girls, it is perhaps worth drawing attention to the fact that Maurice was also an early Chairman of the Girls` Public Day School Trust !

There are quite a few references to Marlborough in “The Chain of Love” but I was equally fascinated by the well-researched details of the lives of this large and talented extended family. Anyone who, like me, enjoys discovering surprising connections (eg with the founder of Girton College, with the inspiration for Peter Pan, with a “Punch” cartoonist or with the inventor of a vertical steam engine boiler) will relish reading this book. Surely, the Llewelyn Davies family

Typified one of the very best middle class family of late Victorian times ?

Anyone wanting to know a little more about “The Chain of Love” can read more at: www.garlandpublications.co.uk