Thomas Trotter BLOCKLEY (1864-1950)

Thomas Trotter Blockley (1864-1950) was Vicar of Old Basing, and it was in his household that Cyril Sladden was billeted for a short time in February 1915.

Thomas Blockley was born on 22nd May 1864 at Pinner, Middlesex, the only child of Thomas Blockley, a musical composer, and his wife, Ellen Catherine (née Robertson).  He was baptised at Pinner on 25th July 1864.

Thomas was educated at Harrow and at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he obtained BA in 1887 and MA in 1890.  He entered the priesthood and became Assistant Priest at St Albans Abbey.

Thomas Blockley married Ethel Hubback at St Albans in 1892.  They had three children:  Violet Alison (1894-1989), Nigel Robertson (1898-1963) and Sybil Rosemary (1910-1952).

In the mid 1890s, the Blockleys moved to 3 Northmoor Road, Oxford, as Thomas had been appointed Chaplain at his old college, Magdalen.  They were still living there at the time of the 1911 census.

In 1912, Reverend Blockley became Vicar of Old Basing.  Cyril Sladden stayed with the Blockley family at The Vicarage, Old Basing, in February 1915.  It transpired that Reverend Blockley was a friend of Reverend Allsebrook, Vicar of Badsey, and had been to Badsey and taken a service there one lent.  Cyril soon became a great favourite with Sybil, aged four, the baby of the family.

Reverend Blockley’s wife died at Oxford in 1921 and he died at 3 Northmoor Road, Oxford, on 2nd March 1950, aged 85.