DEATH OF MR L E HORNE – Notable farmer in North Cotswolds
Mr Lionel Edward Horne, one of the North Cotswold’s foremost public men, died in Moreton-in-Marsh District Hospital on Monday. He was 74.
Until his retirement two years ago, Mr Horne farmed at Dunstall, Moreton-in-Marsh, but he had many connections with the Evesham district. He was apprenticed to market gardening in the Vale and worked his own holding at Badsey. He will be remembered as a notable cricketer for both Evesham and Moreton, and he was a lifelong friend of Mr C A Binyon, president of Littleton and Badsey Growers Ltd.
A man of liberal views, he was actively associated with the Liberal Party for many years before and during the First World War, but he later joined the Labour Party and acted as agent for two candidates for the Cirencester and Tewkesbury Division in Parliamentary elections. His concern for the less fortunate individual and a habit of plain speaking gained him a reputation in later years, and his name often figured prominently in the Press. But it was publicity that he never courted, and his work as a member of the Parish Council and Rural District Council has been greatly valued.
From 1922, Mr Horne served on Gloucestershire County Council for a short period as a Labour representative. When invited to stand again, later, he refused, although he continued to sit on the County Education Committee as a co-opted member until 1946. He was also a member of the County Agricultural Executive Committee.
For many years a member of the Moreton Board of Guardians, Mr Horne was at one time chairman of Moreton Parish Council, and was on Campden RDC until he became one of the original members and first vice-chairman of the North Cotswold RDC in 1935. He was a Justice of the Peace for the Moreton Division and was a Governor of Chipping Campden Grammar School.
Educated privately at Weston-super-Mare, Mr Horne was in the Vale of Evesham until 1919, when he took over Dunstall Farm. He played cricket for Evesham and was captain of Moreton CC for several years. At one time he also played association football – it is believed for Badsey Rangers.
Mr Horne leaves his wife, Mrs Hilda Horne, of 3 Worcester Road, Moreton, and three sons, Mr Bernard L Horne of Hounslow, Mr Vernon Horne who lives in Sussex, and Mr Frederick T Horne of London [sic - should say Frederic T Horne of Chorleywood, Hertfordshire]. There are also a brother and a sister, Mr E C Horne of Bath and Mrs R G Hanks of Shurdington.
Mr Horne was a member all his life of the Congregational Church at Moreton, and was a Past President of the North Costwold Free Church Federal Council.
The funeral took place at Moreton Congregational Church on Thursday afternoon.