Editor Of “Debretts” To Retire

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29718, 11 January 1962, Page 7

Editor Of “Debretts” To Retire

[From the London Correspondent of "The Press")

LONDON, January 5. After 41 years' association with “Debretts,” the last 27 as editor, Mr C. F. J. Hankinson will retire shortly, though he will continue to help the publication in a consultative capacity. Possibly the world’s greatest authority on the Royal Family, the peerage, and other titled persons. Mr Hankinson is a gentle little man blessed with a sense of impish fun and whimsical humour. Reared in a literary atmosphere, Mr Hankinson accepted a position with “Debretts” in 1921. He said he then needed a job, and that he had no particular qualifications for the position. Since then, of course, he has acquired vast knowledge and his work has proved of absorbing interest. It has involved him in correspondence with people in many different countries. “I hope to keep up this friendly correspondence,” he said today, “for in this small way I might be able to provide evidence of the goodwill of people in this country towards those throughout the Commonwealth.”

He said that through the years he had had a great deal of correspondence with people living in New Zealand, and this had led to his meeting many charming people from the Dominion. “The interest of New Zealanders in the Royal Family and their knowledge of the members of it are extraordinary,” he said. “New Zealanders, too, take great pride in their British ancestry. “However,” he added, “as with so many others. New Zealanders are not always as helpful as they might be when seeking information about their ancestors. Sometimes they will send descriptions of themselves, even photographs, when here we require dates of birth, birth certificates of their forbears, the parts of this country in which their ancestors died, and so on. We simply must have a clue to help us in our investigations.” Feather from Turkey

As an illustration of the interest induced among New Zealanders by the Royal Family, Mr Hankinson mentioned that he had been sent a feather from the turkey selected for the Queen’s Christmas dinner during her visit to New Zealand. It had been forwarded to him by the management of the poultry farm where the bird had been specially selected. “I think I have that feather still,” he said. “Debrett’s Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage” is sometimes quaintly referred to as “Britain’s Book of Bluebloods” (by Americans), "Britain’s

Register of the Nobility,” and even (by Thackeray) "The Englishman’s Bible,” according to Mr Hankinson. “The latest edition is the one hundred and sixtieth,” he said. “The first was produced in 1302 by John Debrett, who, about 1770, joined an editorial office associated with the peerage." Mr Hankinson, who is a Hampshire man, was thrilled when this county won the English cricket championship last summer. And, as a membei of the county club, he will be attending the dinner to celebrate the success, at Hampton in March. As Clive Holland, Mr Hankinson’s father wrote about 60 books, including a biography of Thomas Hardy, with whom he had been friendly. For the goodwill engendered by his travel books Mr Hankinson, sen., who died a few years ago aged 94, was decorated by the Kings of Belgium and Denmark. Mr Hankinson, senior’s, mother had a cousin (now deceased) who emigrated to New Zealand. He was John Herbert McWilliam Finlayson who, according to Mr Hankinson, "married into ‘Debrett’.” His bride was Hilda Kathleen Eliza Benton, of Fendalton, Christchurch, embraced by “Debrett’s” by virtue of relationship with the Yelverton family, claimmants to the Viscountcy of Avonmore.