October 8th William Arnold - Forster (Death)
     

 

 

 

 

The writer, artist, politician, Naval officer and Labour politician, William  (Will) Arnold – Forster (1886 – 1951) was married to Ka Cox (May 21st).  As described in the page about Ka Cox, the couple were instrumental in the founding of Gordonstoun School and Will was the first Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school.

Born into a military and political family, Arnold – Foster, inspired by his artistic mother, Mary Story-Maskeline, studied at the Slade School of Art (1905–1908) before moving to Tuscany to study painting.  He returned to England at the outbreak of World War I, joining the Royal Navy, and worked at the Admiralty where he met his future wife. 

They moved to Zennor, to the Eagle’s Nest, where he concentrated on his art and his gardening, and joined the St. Ives Group of Artists, becoming noted for his pastels and landscapes. 

Ka Cox died suddenly while he was on a peace mission to the USA and a year later, he married Ruth Leigh Mallory, the widow of the mountaineer, George Leigh Mallory, but she died of cancer four years later. 

An influential Labour party member, but never an MP, he wrote extensively on pacifism and disarmament, was involved in the formation of the ‘League of Nations’ and also wrote for Country Life magazine on horticulture.

 

 

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