Page 8 - Phonebox Magazine October 2012

Maurice Thomas Kitchener (1894-1969)
Olney Rugby Club player and Newport Pagnell Photographer
A BIOGRAPHY by Peter Kitchener
PART SIX: MAURICE’S CONNECTIONS WITH THOMAS WRIGHT
This is part 5 of a series of short articles written for the Phonebox of the biography Peter Kitchener is writing (together with Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre) of his grandfather, Maurice Kitchener.
Cowper’s House, now the Cowper & Newton Museum, which Thomas Wright was instrumental in founding in 1900. Thomas Wright wrote “The Romance of the Lace Pillow; being the history of lace-making”. The museum contains lace displays and an extensive lace collection. In about 1930 Maurice photographed 20 Buckinghamshire Lacemakers individually and then amalgamated the photographs into a single composite image, below.
Connections with Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright was a local historian, author and schoolmaster. He opened a private school, The Cowper School, in 1882 in Olney. He was instrumental in founding the Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney in 1900.
Thomas Wright owned 14 Midland Road which was rented to Maurice’s father, Joe. Apparently, on the first occasion Thomas Wright went to collect the rent he walked straight into the house without knocking at the door; “Joe put Mr Wright right!”
Maurice, and his older brother Ralph, both had tuition from Thomas Wright in writing and composition. Maurice wrote of Thomas Wright, “He was, in the opinion of the public, ‘a funny old stick’ but to me he was a second father. Never can I lose the pieces of wisdom he taught me during the hours I spent in his study. I still see it, as I think of those winter nights – that huge place with walls of books; a couple of short pithy proverbs in the case of small books above the fire, the iron safe which I knew to contain many old and interesting manuscripts of some worthy hymn-writer on whose biography my master was then engaged, two large tables strewn with books and papers with barely enough room for the small writing desk at which the grey haired and bearded teacher sat.
The only light was low and shaded, the window always open and the blind was never drawn. As I entered the teacher-student, for he was both, would rise, slightly lift the shade from his weak eyes, and scarcely looking at me to say ‘Good evening’, would give me a place at the desk. His very presence created an atmosphere wherein one could not be other than studious. How thorough was he! How systematic! As he read through my essay, not a word remained unturned, and not only did he point out my literary errors but also corrected my principles. I well remember on one occasion when I must have written rather severely in my criticism of the ways of the world, he said, ‘Do not be too harsh with the world. It is easy to condemn’.
Above: Buckinghamshire Lace Makers. Combined ages - 1600. Average age - 80 years. Copyright Photo - Kitchener, Newport Pagnell
Left:
This photo was taken by M T Kitchener; does any reader know the date, occasion or identity of any of the people standing in front of Cowper’s summer house?
Thomas Wright was the author of many books. He donated copies of some of these works to Maurice with inscriptions, such as, “To Maurice Kitchener from Thomas Wright (author) with kind wishes”. He used some of Maurice’s photographs to illustrate his books, although not all were acknowledged.
Thomas Wright wrote to Maurice during the First World War while he was in The Somme; Maurice wrote, in turn, to his brother, Ralph, “Thomas Wright tells me he has just finished another large work entitled ‘The Romance of the Lace Pillow’, being the history of Lacemaking as concerns principally the counties of Bucks, Beds and Northants.”
If any reader has any further information about any aspect of my grandfather’s life I would be very grateful if they would kindly forward it to me via Phonebox.
Peter Kitchener
Peter is hoping that some readers may be able to provide further information which may then be incorporated into the definitive joint publication with MKCDC.
If any reader has any further information about any aspect of his grandfather’s life he would be very grateful if they would kindly forward it to him via Phonebox.
8 Phonebox Magazine