Last Updated 3rd March 2001
[188 - Order of Service - Memorial Service for Robert Kenworthy Schofield interleaved]
Death of Kenworthy Schofield, Second Squire of the Morris Ring, on Wednesday 8th June 1960.
The news of the death of Robert Kenworthy Schofield, in hospital in Oxford, two days before the annual Thaxted Ring Meeting, and the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council of the Morris Ring, of which he was a member was given to Morris men as they arrived in Thaxted on the 10th and 11th June. As reported in the Log of this meeting, Douglas Kennedy and Father Jack, each at one of the two Feasts, spoke about Kenworthy.
The funeral service, at Mrs. Kenworthy’s wish a family matter, with a few close friends, was at Oxford crematorium on Tuesday 14th June, at 12a.m. Douglas Kennedy was with Mrs. Schofield; Denis Manners represented Kenworthy’s own morris club, the Oxford Morris Men. The Dean of Christ Church conducted the service, and spoke of Kenworthy’s life and work. The anthem, unaccompanied was sung by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw.
A memorial service was held at
[p189]
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on Saturday the fifteenth of October, 1960 at 11.30 a.m. It was attended by a large number of people, among them many morris men, both young and old. In the fifteen minutes before the service began, these tunes were played on the organ, with an interval between each: - Laudnum Bunches; Constant Billy; Princess Royal; and Dearest Dicky.
The service proceeded as in the service sheet inserted here. After reading from 1st Corinthians, Chap.1 v.5. "That in everything ye are enriched by him", the Rev. K. Loveless gave a short review of the life of Robert Kenworthy Schofield; that part as scientist which led to work and honours at universities, both in England and abroad, and to world recognition as one of its foremost soil scientists; and that part as dancer. The preacher spoke of Kenworthy’s early encouragement by Cecil Sharp and by other men in Cambridge; his meeting with traditional morris men in the Cotswolds; his collection of much that we now know and use; his
[p190 - Letter of thanks from Joan Schofield and obituaries interleaved]]
being one of the founders of the Morris Ring; his supreme skill with the pipe and tabor; his thirty years on the Executive committee of the E.F.D.S.S.; and his last twelve years as chairman of that body. Saying that Kenworthy had used all the gifts of God for the benefit of humanity, the speaker concluded by repeating in essence what he had said at the beginning of his address - that Kenworthy Schofield’s personality remains impressed on the minds of men who knew him.
The congregation, as it rose to leave slowly after this tribute to Kenworthy, heard the organist play Mr. Isaac’s Maggot.
[Signed]
Nibs Matthews
Squire
27.5.61
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