5th May 2010

DORCHESTER: Dorset Society of Men honour founder members

MEMBERS of the Society of Dorset Men gathered in Dorchester cemetery to pay tribute to William Watkins, who founded the society in 1904, and to Sir Frederick Treves, who became the first president.

The Reverend Dr John Travell FRSA conducted a short service at the graves, which are adjacent to one another in the Weymouth Avenue cemetery, before wreathe were laid by Hayne Russell and Trevor Vacher-Dean.

Society Chaplain Dr Travell then said a prayer he had written specially for the occasion.

Dr Travell had earlier outlined the history of the two men.

William Watkins died in April 1925 and his burial was attended by Mr and Mrs Thomas Hardy.

The society’s flag, which had been used to drape the coffin of Sir Frederick Treves the year before, was used again to cover William Watkins’ coffin.

On the 85th anniversary of his death, the society honour both the men as the founders of the society and for their service to the county.

William Watkins was born in Welshpool and came to Dorchester as a boy.

Becoming a solicitor’s clerk, he was offered a similar job in London and moved to the capital in 1904.

Sir Frederick Treves was a Dorchester man, becoming famous as the surgeon who saved the life of King Edward VII by removing his appendix.

The two men knew each other in London and they decided to form the Society of Dorset Men in London.

William Watkins hosted the very first meeting of the society in July 1904 at his office in London Wall, at which a letter of support was read from Thomas Hardy.

William Watkins became the first secretary of the Society of Dorset Men and Sir Frederick Treves became the first president, until succeeded by Thomas Hardy OM in 1907.

During the First World War, Watkins directed the resources of this society to help all those from Dorset serving in the forces. Wounded men were met when they arrived in London and were visited in hospital. Every Dorset Post Office had a notice saying that if anyone had relatives coming into London wounded, the society would see them through.

Society of Dorset Men spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins said: “We thank The Reverem John Travell for organising this commemoration at short notice.

“Many of us would like this to be an annual gathering at the graves. It is important to remember these good people of Dorset, who did so much for our society and for Dorset, so many years ago.”

The Society of Dorset Men continues, 106 years after its foundation, although the focus in modern times is in Dorset, rather than in London. The president is Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL BSc, the only Dorset man to become the 655th Lord Mayor of London in 1982.

The secretary today is Hayne Russell, a retired Chief Superintendent of Dorset Police.

The objects of the Society are “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the society”.

PICTURE: Members of the Society of Dorset Men and two of their wives, stand between the graves of William Watkins and Sir Frederick Treves having just laid the floral wreaths

DORCHESTER: Dorset Society of Men honour founder members

DORCHESTER: Dorset Society of Men honour founder members

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