We have recently been notified of the death of one of our long-standing members. Reginald Brocklesby led an extraordinary and inspirational long life and we thought members would be interested to read this tribute to his grandfather written by his grandson, Andrew.

Born in Yorkshire in 1924, Reginald started down the pit at the age of 14 working there till he was 40. During that time he taught himself - without a formal education - Latin, Middle English and Anglo Saxon. The ability to read original scripts served as his entrance to university at age 40, where Phillip Larkin once told him to be quiet in the library! After graduating he secured the post of Assistant Archivist and then Senior Archivist at the Nottinghamshire Archives Office working there until his retirement in 1989. Reg was an elected fellow of the Royal History Society and a subscriber to many learned societies.

A voracious and passionate student, reader, seeker of knowledge, over his lifetime he amassed a massive collection of books, journals and documents. Only a few weeks ago he took delivery of some new books and was even picking out future titles from a Bennett & Kerr catalogue! However, it truly broke his heart that over these last six months, his advanced age deprived him of reading for long periods, a combination of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration and diminished concentration. Since his birthday last year, Reg was already telling people with pride that he was in his 100th year! His long life was a full life, an amazing journey from mining to mediaeval polymath, well lived and enjoyed. In 1997 he authored volume 85 for the publication series of the Canterbury & York Society, The Register of William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, IV.

In Thorne, where he lived from 1944, Reg was well known as a local “character” and often referred to as “Professor Brock”. He loved talking to people, curious about their background stories and offering explanations of their surname etymology. Many people will tell you of impromptu tutorials on manorial court rolls or Vermuyden’s engineering work in draining the marshland, when they had only nipped out to buy a newspaper! Over the years, his warm support, lively interest and many contributions and engagement in the activities and publications of his beloved Societies never dimmed or waned and brought much joy to him. Even down to the very last days of his life these Societies were a great motivator in his continuing interest in history. A new publication enlivened and energised him. He watched the post like a hawk anticipating the arrival of journals and annual publications. He was very keen to ensure that he did not miss any forthcoming publication; in some cases he had an unbroken series of Society volumes. He may well have been the only member, other than university and public libraries, with a complete run! One Society remembers him buying a copy of every single volume available and then had a monumental struggle to get the box to the Royal Mail to post it to him!

Reginald died on 17th July 2024, only four months short of receiving his 100th birthday message from the King! He always said work a third of your life, do good works a third of your life and holiday and do things you enjoy a third of your life. His passion was history and language.