I know that I have previously mentioned Captain Arnold Sandys-Winsch but I thought him important enough to talk about at more length.
I was prompted to mention the Captain by a visit to Eaton Park. On Monday of this week we were only allowed to go out for one form of exercise per day, were only allowed to travel small distances, were not allowed to meet with friends etc. Now, just three days later, we can play sport, speak at a distance with a friend, return to work, travel as far as we would like. It seems like a huge change in a short time whilst the virus is still very much with us. Only time will tell whether this sudden relaxation of the rules has been a good thing or whether it will lead to another peak.
On a personal level we will still be continuing to ration our car journeys and taking most of our exercise in and around Hethersett.
I was pleased to hear that tests will soon be made to establish whether people have had the virus. I felt quite ill around Christmas time but managed to keep going. It will be good to know whether this was coronavirus or just a seasonal cold.
Anyway back to the subject of this blog. Arnold Sandys-Winsch inhabits a special place in my heart as well as in the history of Norwich. For many years he lived in Brundall but, in his later years, lived in Station Lane in Hethersett. People still remember him as "a gentleman" and a friend who was born in Ketteringham and who has lived in Hethersett virtually all his life remembers "The Captain" was always keen to support local groups and "enjoy a pint in Hethersett Social Club.
"The Captain's Legacy" can be seen all around Norwich in many of the parks and open spaces. So here is my potted history of Captain Arnold Sandys-Winsch.
Captain Arnold Edward Sandys-Winsch (1888 – 1964) was born in Knutsford, Cheshire. He attended Cheshire Horticultural College, becoming a landscape architect, and was articled to the renowned landscape architect, Thomas Mawson. During the 1914-1918 world war he was first with the Royal Field Artillery, then attached to the Air Service as a pilot and was finally with the British Army of Occupation.
In 1919 he became Parks Superintendent in Norwich, a post he held for 34 years. In the early 1920s it was proposed that he use men unemployed after demobilisation to help construct some of the Norwich parks, a job he clearly carried out with dedication and meticulous attention to detail. At the time Norwich had very few open spaces (Chapelfield Gardens was one of them) but when he retired Norwich had about 600 acres of parks and open spaces.
Sandys-Winsch also created model allotments and organised the planting of some 20,000 trees in the parks and streets.
Because of his army career, he seems to have taken a rather military approach to the task of creating parks in Norwich but there is no doubt that, in his time as Parks Superintendent, he changed radically the appearance of Norwich and created green spaces on a huge scale for the future enjoyment of everyone. His work can today be seen in Norwich open spaces such as Eaton Park. He was also responsible for designing Norwich's Ring Road.
Arnold Sandys-Winsch was also a national authority on growing and judging daffodils and an active member of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society and Hethersett Horticultural Society. he lived for many years in Station Lane, Hethersett.
Sadly there was a notable tragedy in his life. His son Simon E. Sandys-Winsch (1926 – 18 June 1954), was killed at the Highlander event on the Isle of Man TT (Time Trial) races in June 1954. Simon was an English professional motorcycle racer, who became the 48th person to be killed on the Snaefell Mountain Course when he crashed on 18th June at the Highlander on the first lap of the Senior event. That season's time trial took place in heavy rain which may well have contributed to his losing control of his machine.
Simon was born in Brundall and in 1947 started a long-serving term with the RAF. While he was stationed in Germany he became a well-known competitor in continental competitions and finished fifth in the 1951 Junior Dutch TT at Assen. He also came joint 16th in the 1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season with two points, gained in the 350 cc section.
The start of the senior Isle of Man event in 1954 was delayed for at least an hour and a half due to bad weather and increasingly poor visibility. When the race finally started, Sandys-Winsch came off his 350 cc Junior class Velocette machine.
Despite his death the race was re-started and shortened to only four laps because of the weather and the fatal accident. Eight other people were seriously injured in this race.
Arnold and Simon are buried together in St Remigius Churchyard.