Arthur Edwin Preston (1852-1942) was the

Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames is a ceremonial post held by a member of Abingdon-on-Thames Council, elected annually by the council. In 1556, Mary I of England granted a charter establishing a mayor, two bailiffs, twelve chief burgesses and ...

, Master of

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. The school was founded in 1552 and received its first royal charter in 1553 ...

and an antiquarian and historian.

Early years and education

Son of John (saddler, coach proprietor and tax collector) and Frances Preston (née Prince), he was born in Abingdon on 1 January 1852, at 13 High Street, next to the old Lion Hotel. He was educated at

John Roysse John Roysse (1500 or 1501–1571) was an English mercer and benefactor of Abingdon School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Personal life John Roysse was probably connected with the Roysse family of East Hagbourne but there are few records appertaining ...

's Free School in

Abingdon-on-Thames Abingdon-on-Thames ( ), commonly known as Abingdon, is a historic market town and civil parish in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames. Historic counties of England, Historically the ...

(now

Abingdon School Abingdon School is a day and boarding independent school for boys in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. The twentieth oldest independent British school, it celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2006. The school was described as "highly ...

) from 1861-1867. He gained a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree- ...

and became a fellow in 1882.

Career

Before he attended University he had started to train as an accountant and was employed as a clerk. After University he became a chartered accountant and later became Borough Accountant of Abingdon. In 1887 he was called to the Bar at

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...

. In 1891, he lived at the home of his widowed mother at Piccadilly House in Ock Street before marrying Lydia Jacobs of Burford in October 1895. He was the master of Abbey Lodge in 1893. The couple purchased Whitefield in 1896 (14 Albert Park) at the time. The property today is the used as a health and medical centre for Abingdon School. He continued his career as a Chartered Accountant and Barrister at Law and was a founder member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was the Borough Council accountant for twenty-two years. He became a governor of Abingdon School from 1902-1942 and was Chairman of the Governors from 1937-1939 and a life Governor of Christ's Hospital in 1909.

Public service

He retired in 1908 and devoted his later years to public service. He was elected to Berkshire County Council in 1895 and in 1909 served three years as Mayor of Abingdon. He was Chairman of the County Council Finance Committee and a county magistrate. He was an Alderman of both County and Borough councils and on the Thames Conservancy Board and was made an Honorary Freeman in 1932. In 1922, he financed a major archaeological project in regard to the demolished 1538 Abbey church and in 1928 helped securing Waste Court for Abingdon School, where he remained as a Governor for the rest of his life and was Chairman from 1937-1939. In 1935, he financed a major ceiling restoration in the St Helens' Lady Chapel.

Historian and author

He dedicated much of his time into researching the history of Abingdon and built up a large collection of documents and employing staff to transcribe and translate documents. He wrote several historical books including the St Nicholas Abingdon and Other Papers published in 1929, which covers the history of St Nicholas' Church, Abingdon School, and Fitzharris Manor. He continued to finance Abingdon projects including the refurbishment of the Guildhall and Roysse Room (the original schoolroom of Abingdon School). He also helped restore Albert Park and founded the Abingdon Bowling Club and was co-founder of the Frilford Heath Golf Club. He was also a President of the Old Abingdonian Club.

Death

Preston died in 1942 while still residing at Whitefield, his wife Lydia died one year later.

References