Sir George Mellor
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Research by Jacqueline Arundel
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Sir George Mellor was born in 1865 and died on 24 February 1947 in the St Annes on Sea War Memorial Hospital. His estate of £210,609 7s 11p went to his sister Sarah’s son, Alan Robert Hinnell, a licensed victualler. (Wallace, 2013)
It appears that Mellor’s family were Auctioneers, Valuers and Fire Loss Assessors. On 9 October 1928 it was reported in the London Gazette that a Partnership between Sir George, his brother, Ivor (Ivie) Mellor (1872-1934), and Robert Reuben Redford called, ‘Allen Mellor and Company’ of 21 Queen Street, Oldham, be dissolved by mutual consent and that the business would be continued by just Ivie Mellor and Robert Redford.
The King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital George Mellor JP was appointed his knighthood in 1921 for public and national services, particularly in connection with The King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital, Squires Gate, Blackpool, which had a specialist neurological section for officers. In October 1915 the army commandeered the Clifton Park Racecourse at Squires Gate (site of Blackpool Airport, 2014) and converted it to a 4,600-bed hospital to treat wounded soldiers. It was known as The King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital. There is a short video of this Red Cross Hospital being built in 1915 on the British Pathé website click here.
Sir George Mellor was Chairman of Central Funds at the hospital between 1915-1919. After the end of the war the hospital was converted into The King’s Lancashire Convalescent Centre, where Mellor was the chairperson of the County Fund. Here, they helped disabled soldiers return to civilian life. Mellor devoted himself to the development of hospital work, particularly in regard to ex-service men.
It appears that Mellor’s family were Auctioneers, Valuers and Fire Loss Assessors. On 9 October 1928 it was reported in the London Gazette that a Partnership between Sir George, his brother, Ivor (Ivie) Mellor (1872-1934), and Robert Reuben Redford called, ‘Allen Mellor and Company’ of 21 Queen Street, Oldham, be dissolved by mutual consent and that the business would be continued by just Ivie Mellor and Robert Redford.
The King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital George Mellor JP was appointed his knighthood in 1921 for public and national services, particularly in connection with The King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital, Squires Gate, Blackpool, which had a specialist neurological section for officers. In October 1915 the army commandeered the Clifton Park Racecourse at Squires Gate (site of Blackpool Airport, 2014) and converted it to a 4,600-bed hospital to treat wounded soldiers. It was known as The King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital. There is a short video of this Red Cross Hospital being built in 1915 on the British Pathé website click here.
Sir George Mellor was Chairman of Central Funds at the hospital between 1915-1919. After the end of the war the hospital was converted into The King’s Lancashire Convalescent Centre, where Mellor was the chairperson of the County Fund. Here, they helped disabled soldiers return to civilian life. Mellor devoted himself to the development of hospital work, particularly in regard to ex-service men.
The King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital
The hospital had its own publication (1916-1919) called ‘The Return - The Journal of the Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital’.
It was first issued 17 March 1916 and sold for one penny; all proceeds went to benefit the convalescent soldiers.
It was first issued 17 March 1916 and sold for one penny; all proceeds went to benefit the convalescent soldiers.
Issue No: 1 ‘The Return….’
Lancashire Archives have an issue on file
DDX 706/6/4 - Blackpool societies and other records
Scottish poet, Archibald Stodart-Walker (1870–1934), often wrote verses that appeared in the journal and which were later published in his book ‘Occasional Verse’ (1920). Two verses were dedicated to George Mellor, whom he must have met at the hospital during his five years of service in the First World War.
TO GEORGE MELLOR 116
Who makes a gift with pleasure giveth twice,
And he who gives as 'twere a privilege,
Need never protest make of sacrifice,
He has no native meanness to assuage;
You do not ask, for your unselfish zeal
In pouring forth the vintage of your grace.
TO GEORGE MELLOR 117
That Gratitude should follow at your heel,
Or bark its tribute in a public place;
You are content to know that some sad swain
Has proved a traitor to his discontent,
And made a tryst with kingly hope again,
The wiles of grim despair to circumvent;
That some poor broken straggler from the fight
Has seen your lamp of welcome in the night.
St Annes on the Sea War Memorial Hospital
TO GEORGE MELLOR 116
Who makes a gift with pleasure giveth twice,
And he who gives as 'twere a privilege,
Need never protest make of sacrifice,
He has no native meanness to assuage;
You do not ask, for your unselfish zeal
In pouring forth the vintage of your grace.
TO GEORGE MELLOR 117
That Gratitude should follow at your heel,
Or bark its tribute in a public place;
You are content to know that some sad swain
Has proved a traitor to his discontent,
And made a tryst with kingly hope again,
The wiles of grim despair to circumvent;
That some poor broken straggler from the fight
Has seen your lamp of welcome in the night.
St Annes on the Sea War Memorial Hospital
Sir George Mellor was president of the St Annes on Sea War Memorial Hospital, opened in May 1922 by Lord Derby. Lord Ashton had bestowed this, the former Bannister family home, upon the community to honour local war dead. Supported entirely by public subscription until 1948, it closed in 1991 and was demolished in 1996. Situated at the far end of St Annes Road East lies the 'remains' of the hospital where an English Heritage ‘blue plaque’ has been placed.
English Heritage ‘blue plaque’
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St Annes on Sea War Memorial Hospital, 1937
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RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution Sir George Mellor was appointed to Honorary Life Governor in July 1932 in recognition of the work he had done on their behalf. This is the highest award the Royal National Lifeboat Institution can bestow.
Following further research by Barry Cox, a RNLI Library Researcher, additional information has been provided from the RNLI Annual Reports:
1920 First appeared as Committee Member for the St Annes local branch (listed as G Mellor JP)
1921 Listed as Sir G Mellor JP
1922 Vice Chairman
1928 Chairman
1930 Vice Chairman of the combined Lytham St Annes Branch
1931 No longer appears
Following further research by Barry Cox, a RNLI Library Researcher, additional information has been provided from the RNLI Annual Reports:
1920 First appeared as Committee Member for the St Annes local branch (listed as G Mellor JP)
1921 Listed as Sir G Mellor JP
1922 Vice Chairman
1928 Chairman
1930 Vice Chairman of the combined Lytham St Annes Branch
1931 No longer appears
Sir George Mellor (right) and Carl Brisson, 1938
Above is an image of Sir George Mellor JP (right) chatting with the actor Carl Brisson (1893-1958) at the Grand Hotel, St Anne, in 1936. Mellor was a long-term guest at the Grand Hotel. Brisson regularly performed at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, in the 1920s whenthe theatre began to be used by top West End producers for British premieres. For forty years many plays and musicals were seen there ‘prior to London’.
Grand Hotel Letterhead, c.1930’s
Grand Theatre, Blackpool opened July 23, 1894 and is still used today
The Silver Iron, presented by John Talbot Clifton, 1892
Royal Lytham Golf Club This Silver Iron was presented in 1892 by John Talbot Clifton of Lytham Hall (1869-1928). He had been elected Honorary President of the ‘Royal Golf Club’ in 1890, taking over the position from his uncle, Wykeham Clifton. Talbot Clifton remained President of the Club until his death in 1928. It was in the 1920s that Talbot’s wife, Violet, a close confidante of Her Majesty Queen Mary, secured the designation of ‘Royal’ for the Club.
Detail of the Headpiece to the Silver Iron cabinet,
presented to Royal Lytham Golf Club, 1922
The Silver Iron is displayed in its own case in the Club Room; Sir George Mellor presented this wooden carved case in 1922. The ornate carving at the top of the case refers to the Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, as the Royal designation was ‘officially’ still some four years off. Inside the case are the signatures of all the winners of the event, beginning with the inaugural competition in 1892. Included are some very famous names such as H H Hilton and John Ball Junior, who won the trophy eight times and four times, respectively, in the 12 years between 1893 and 1904.
Scan of an article, Lytham St. Annes Express, 2002
'REX' Rolls Royce Silver Phantom 1924 (56RM)
This article was a plea for information about Sir George Mellor, his family and his motoring history in the Fylde. Sir George Mellor, resident of the Grand Hotel, was the first registered owner when it came off the production line in Derby in 1924. The new owners of 'Rex' were anxious to fill in the details of its history.
Further information has been discovered since. The car was actually ordered by Sir George’s brother, Ivie, on 15 April 1924. The chassis was built and tested, giving the car it’s official birthday of 9 May 1924. On 20 June 1924 the completed chassis was delivered to Messrs Joseph Cockshoot and Company, Manchester, who then built the body. This was completed and the tested car delivered on 16 September 1924 to Sir George Mellor, who had taken over his brother's order and became the car's first owner.
If you are interested in more about ‘Rex’, written by its owner in 2011, follow this link: http://c31.sitepreviewer.com/chessf.co.uk/rr/rrhist4.htm#DERBYNEWS.
‘Annie Mellor’ – 160 Seat Passenger Vessel
Sir George Mellor also had a passenger vessel, built in 1935 by Borwick & Company of Windermere, at 63.00 feet (19.21 metres) long with seating for 120 passengers and accommodation for 40 in the cabin, which was furnished in blue velvet with mahogany and brass fittings. She was launched on Lake Windermere and said to be named ‘Annie Mellor’ after his sister. She was restored in 2005, then totally rebuilt in 2008, and is currently based at Keswick in the Lake District, where she operates cruises on Derwentwater.
This article was a plea for information about Sir George Mellor, his family and his motoring history in the Fylde. Sir George Mellor, resident of the Grand Hotel, was the first registered owner when it came off the production line in Derby in 1924. The new owners of 'Rex' were anxious to fill in the details of its history.
Further information has been discovered since. The car was actually ordered by Sir George’s brother, Ivie, on 15 April 1924. The chassis was built and tested, giving the car it’s official birthday of 9 May 1924. On 20 June 1924 the completed chassis was delivered to Messrs Joseph Cockshoot and Company, Manchester, who then built the body. This was completed and the tested car delivered on 16 September 1924 to Sir George Mellor, who had taken over his brother's order and became the car's first owner.
If you are interested in more about ‘Rex’, written by its owner in 2011, follow this link: http://c31.sitepreviewer.com/chessf.co.uk/rr/rrhist4.htm#DERBYNEWS.
‘Annie Mellor’ – 160 Seat Passenger Vessel
Sir George Mellor also had a passenger vessel, built in 1935 by Borwick & Company of Windermere, at 63.00 feet (19.21 metres) long with seating for 120 passengers and accommodation for 40 in the cabin, which was furnished in blue velvet with mahogany and brass fittings. She was launched on Lake Windermere and said to be named ‘Annie Mellor’ after his sister. She was restored in 2005, then totally rebuilt in 2008, and is currently based at Keswick in the Lake District, where she operates cruises on Derwentwater.
‘
Annie Mellor’ 2014 on Derwentwater
Other Paintings Donated by Sir George Mellor
‘Chadderton Fold, Oldham, Lancashire’, by John Haughton Hague
In 1926 Sir George Mellor also gifted a painting to the Oldham Gallery Collection, an oil on canvas, 65 x 95 cms, by John Haughton Hague called Chadderton Fold, Oldham, Lancashire, painted 1881–1887.
REFERENCES
Baker, B & Milverton Associates Ltd (1995-2014)
The Long Trail, The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918, The Military Hospitals at Home
@ http://www.1914-1918.net/hospitals_uk.htm
Brisson, C, The Grand Theatre History, The Blackpool Citizen, article
@ http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/discover_blackpool/the_grand_theatre/the_grand_theatre_history/
British Pathé, Red Cross Hospital being built in 1915, Film ID: 1854.09, available online or at request
@ http://www.britishpathe.com/video/building-new-red-cross-hospital-at-blackpool
Day, Michael, (2002), Lytham St Annes Express Newspaper, 19 September 2002, (p6),‘Car Buffs on trail of discovery’
image @ http://c31.sitepreviewer.com/chessf.co.uk/rr/rex_express.htm
Lancashire Evening Post, 29 March 1938, online via genes reunited @ http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/searchbna/results?memberlastsub&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=adriane%20mellor&county=lancashire,%20england&from=1900&to=1949
Layton Cemetery, (2012), Memorials and our disappearing world @ http://stonechaser.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/layton-cemetery.html
Mellor, G, London Gazette, Supplement to 4 June 1921
@ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32346/supplement/4531/data.pdf
Mellor, G, name of deceased, London Gazette, 1947
@ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37960/page/2280/data.pdf
Hamer, G, (1995), Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, National Historic Ships, UK, Annie Mellor, passenger vessel history @ http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/371/annie-mellor
Mellor, A, sister @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-324000-522000/page/4
Mellor, G, Lancashire Evening Post, 4 June 1921, chairman of central funds, King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital
@ http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/searchbna/results?memberlastsub&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=adriane%20mellor&county=lancashire,%20england&from=1900&to=1949
Mellor, G, Who’s Who @ ‘MELLOR, Sir George’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014
online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014, http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U229186
Mellor, G, (1938), article, Lancashire Evening Post, 29 March 1938
@ http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/s
Mellor, I, (1872-1934), resided in Manchester @ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34084/page/5651/data.pdf
Mellor, I, (1928), business dissolved, London Gazette @ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33428/page/6524/data.pdf
Mellor, I, (1934), died Manchester, London Gazette @ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34084/page/5651/data.pdf
Nickson, E A, (1999), The Lytham Century & Beyond, Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Club (1886-2000), p50 & p74, privately published (2000), ISBN-10: 1869865 73 1
Rolls Royce @ http://trees.ancestryinstitution.com/tree/12091144/person/612641048/storyx/c7e11677-dafd-4119-b62d-9107bcc37e0b?src=search
Rex, (2011), 1924 Rolls Royce, Silver Ghost (54RM) @ http://c31.sitepreviewer.com/chessf.co.uk/rr/rrhist4.htm#DERBYNEWS
RNLI, Royal National Lifeboat Institution @ http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/RNLI-honours-Irish-volunteers-at-awards-ceremony-marking-190th-anniversary.aspx
Cox, B, (2014), RNLI Volunteer Library Researcher, Barry Cox, contact by email via RNLI Heritage Team, Karen, Heritage@rnli.org.uk,
tel: 01202 663511
Silver Iron and Cabinet, (2008), Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course, Heritage Committee
@ http://www.royallytham.org/competitions_-_scratch_competitions
Stodart-Walker, A, Occasional Verse, verses mostly issued in 'The Return’, Maclehose, Jackson & Co., Glasgow, publishers to the University of California,1920 @ https://archive.org/stream/occasionalverse00walkiala/occasionalverse00walkiala_djvu.txt
Wallace, K, (2013) @ http://trees.ancestryinstitution.com/tree/12091144/person/612641048/storyx/35e6bf75-4e31-4671-8e8a-a69ad71bf25e?src=search
Images
Grand Hotel, letterhead drawing online @ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/grand_hotel_1930s-60s.html
Grand Theatre online @ http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/discover_blackpool/the_grand_theatre/the_grand_theatre_history/
Hague, J, (1881), Chadderton Fold, Oldham, Accession number: 7.26, Lancashire online
@ http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/chadderton-fold-oldham-lancashire-1881-91034
King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital online
@ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/king%27s_lancashire_military_convalescent_hospital.html
King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Centre online
@ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/squire%27s_gate_convalescent_centre.html
Mellor, A, (2014), National Historic Ships, UK, image of Annie Mellor, online @
http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/img.php?o=jpg&p=watermark&f=/data/nrhv/vessels/371_ANNIEMELLOR_2.jpg
Mellor, G & Brisson, C, (1938), Outside Grand Hotel online @ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/grand_hotel_1930s-60s.html
Mellor, G, (1937), Images of Sir George & St Annes on Sea War Memorial Hospital from Official Programme, ‘Help our Hospital’ Fete
4 September 1937, Lytham Heritage Archives, Lytham Library, Location: H7, file L37
Milestone Society, (2011), St Annes War Memorial Hospital, image blue plaque online
@ http://roadmarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/st-annes-war-memorial-hospital.html
Return, The, (1916), Image of Issue No: 1 The Return: The Journal of the King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital online
@ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/the_return_-_the_journal_of_the_lancashire_military_convalescent_hospital_1916.html
Silver Iron Cabinet, (2008), Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course, Heritage Committee, Club Competitions online
@ http://www.royallytham.org/club_competitions_2
Silver Iron, (2008), Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course, Heritage Committee online
@ http://www.royallytham.org/competitions_-_scratch_competitions
Baker, B & Milverton Associates Ltd (1995-2014)
The Long Trail, The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918, The Military Hospitals at Home
@ http://www.1914-1918.net/hospitals_uk.htm
Brisson, C, The Grand Theatre History, The Blackpool Citizen, article
@ http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/discover_blackpool/the_grand_theatre/the_grand_theatre_history/
British Pathé, Red Cross Hospital being built in 1915, Film ID: 1854.09, available online or at request
@ http://www.britishpathe.com/video/building-new-red-cross-hospital-at-blackpool
Day, Michael, (2002), Lytham St Annes Express Newspaper, 19 September 2002, (p6),‘Car Buffs on trail of discovery’
image @ http://c31.sitepreviewer.com/chessf.co.uk/rr/rex_express.htm
Lancashire Evening Post, 29 March 1938, online via genes reunited @ http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/searchbna/results?memberlastsub&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=adriane%20mellor&county=lancashire,%20england&from=1900&to=1949
Layton Cemetery, (2012), Memorials and our disappearing world @ http://stonechaser.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/layton-cemetery.html
Mellor, G, London Gazette, Supplement to 4 June 1921
@ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32346/supplement/4531/data.pdf
Mellor, G, name of deceased, London Gazette, 1947
@ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37960/page/2280/data.pdf
Hamer, G, (1995), Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, National Historic Ships, UK, Annie Mellor, passenger vessel history @ http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/371/annie-mellor
Mellor, A, sister @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-324000-522000/page/4
Mellor, G, Lancashire Evening Post, 4 June 1921, chairman of central funds, King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital
@ http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/searchbna/results?memberlastsub&searchhistorykey=0&keywords=adriane%20mellor&county=lancashire,%20england&from=1900&to=1949
Mellor, G, Who’s Who @ ‘MELLOR, Sir George’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014
online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014, http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U229186
Mellor, G, (1938), article, Lancashire Evening Post, 29 March 1938
@ http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/s
Mellor, I, (1872-1934), resided in Manchester @ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34084/page/5651/data.pdf
Mellor, I, (1928), business dissolved, London Gazette @ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33428/page/6524/data.pdf
Mellor, I, (1934), died Manchester, London Gazette @ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34084/page/5651/data.pdf
Nickson, E A, (1999), The Lytham Century & Beyond, Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Club (1886-2000), p50 & p74, privately published (2000), ISBN-10: 1869865 73 1
Rolls Royce @ http://trees.ancestryinstitution.com/tree/12091144/person/612641048/storyx/c7e11677-dafd-4119-b62d-9107bcc37e0b?src=search
Rex, (2011), 1924 Rolls Royce, Silver Ghost (54RM) @ http://c31.sitepreviewer.com/chessf.co.uk/rr/rrhist4.htm#DERBYNEWS
RNLI, Royal National Lifeboat Institution @ http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/RNLI-honours-Irish-volunteers-at-awards-ceremony-marking-190th-anniversary.aspx
Cox, B, (2014), RNLI Volunteer Library Researcher, Barry Cox, contact by email via RNLI Heritage Team, Karen, Heritage@rnli.org.uk,
tel: 01202 663511
Silver Iron and Cabinet, (2008), Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course, Heritage Committee
@ http://www.royallytham.org/competitions_-_scratch_competitions
Stodart-Walker, A, Occasional Verse, verses mostly issued in 'The Return’, Maclehose, Jackson & Co., Glasgow, publishers to the University of California,1920 @ https://archive.org/stream/occasionalverse00walkiala/occasionalverse00walkiala_djvu.txt
Wallace, K, (2013) @ http://trees.ancestryinstitution.com/tree/12091144/person/612641048/storyx/35e6bf75-4e31-4671-8e8a-a69ad71bf25e?src=search
Images
Grand Hotel, letterhead drawing online @ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/grand_hotel_1930s-60s.html
Grand Theatre online @ http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/discover_blackpool/the_grand_theatre/the_grand_theatre_history/
Hague, J, (1881), Chadderton Fold, Oldham, Accession number: 7.26, Lancashire online
@ http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/chadderton-fold-oldham-lancashire-1881-91034
King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital online
@ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/king%27s_lancashire_military_convalescent_hospital.html
King's Lancashire Military Convalescent Centre online
@ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/squire%27s_gate_convalescent_centre.html
Mellor, A, (2014), National Historic Ships, UK, image of Annie Mellor, online @
http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/img.php?o=jpg&p=watermark&f=/data/nrhv/vessels/371_ANNIEMELLOR_2.jpg
Mellor, G & Brisson, C, (1938), Outside Grand Hotel online @ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/grand_hotel_1930s-60s.html
Mellor, G, (1937), Images of Sir George & St Annes on Sea War Memorial Hospital from Official Programme, ‘Help our Hospital’ Fete
4 September 1937, Lytham Heritage Archives, Lytham Library, Location: H7, file L37
Milestone Society, (2011), St Annes War Memorial Hospital, image blue plaque online
@ http://roadmarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/st-annes-war-memorial-hospital.html
Return, The, (1916), Image of Issue No: 1 The Return: The Journal of the King’s Lancashire Military Convalescent Hospital online
@ http://www.amounderness.co.uk/the_return_-_the_journal_of_the_lancashire_military_convalescent_hospital_1916.html
Silver Iron Cabinet, (2008), Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course, Heritage Committee, Club Competitions online
@ http://www.royallytham.org/club_competitions_2
Silver Iron, (2008), Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Course, Heritage Committee online
@ http://www.royallytham.org/competitions_-_scratch_competitions
