A Book about Lotherton and Bill Burlingham (The Chauffeur)

spirit_of_lotherton

A book about the twentieth century Gascoignes and their chauffeur, Bill Burlingham, was launched today at the local pub in Saxton, The Greyhound (worth a mention on its own, a small quiet country pub, virtually unchanged in a 100 years!). Bill who was the second chauffeur after Louis Hawkett (details here), is in his 95th year and still lives on the Lotherton Estate. If you would like a copy of the book by local historians Pauline Robson and Martin Tarpey, please contact Pauline here, it’s a snip at £5.00 and has 117 pages, making it only four pence per page!

3 comments

  1. So far 10 people have expressed an interest in Pauline and Martin’s book, I know that they have had 150 printed in the first edition so please do contact Pauline if you want a copy before they run out!

    Regards

    Brian

  2. Sadly Bill passed away on the night of Friday the 18th March 2011, his funeral was held at St Ricarius church in Aberford at 11:30am Monday 28th March. Following a moving service given by Rev. Bernard Fray, with some very interesting and entertaining anecdotes, provided by Bernard, Bill’s friend Cliff Render and Martin Tarpey, co-author of the book mentioned in this article. Bill was cremated at the York Crematorium.

    On a brighter note, the attendees at the service were invited to enjoy refreshments provided by the family at the Stables Café, Lotherton Hall, in memory of Bill’s long and eventful life.

    The Rev Bernard Fray recalled during his tribute that Bill’s parents had been married in the very same church in 1905, some 106 years previously, a staggering statistic. The number of attendees at both the service and later at Lotherton was considerable, perhaps in excess of 80 [my rough guess], demonstrating the high regard in which Bill was held, especially when you remember that due to his great age, Bill had outlived most of his contemporaries.

    Bill had always loved Lotherton and nature by special tribute presented the almond blossom [I think] on a couple of trees adjacent to the terrace at the Stables, which stood out in all its glory on a beautiful sunny day. A last note, Bill lay in the ancient twelfth century chapel at Lotherton on the night before the funeral, a fitting tribute to a dedicated employee of the Gascoigne family, R.I.P.

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