Maurice Alan Atherton
Nickname(s)The Gripper
Born(1926-10-09)9 October 1926
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Died15 July 2019(2019-07-15) (aged 92)
Barham, Kent
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1946–1981[1]
RankBrigadier
Service number365090
UnitEast Yorkshire Regiment
Commands held1st Battalion, Green Howards
Battles/warsMalayan Emergency
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
[2]

Brigadier Maurice Alan Atherton CBE (9 October 1926 – 15 July 2019) was a British Army officer who saw active service in the Far East and Middle East.[3] As a ceremonial officer, Atherton held the position of High Sheriff of Kent from 1983 to 1984.[4][5] He was also Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent from 2000 to 2002.[6][7]

Military career

Educated at St John's School, Leatherhead and the Staff College, Camberley.[8] Atherton was commissioned to the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1946 and later served in Egypt, Sudan, British Malaya, Austria and Germany.[9][10] He became military assistant to the Commander of British Forces Overseas Hong Kong, chief instructor of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Commanding Officer of the Green Howards, Commander of Shorncliffe garrison (1976 to 1981) and Deputy Constable of Dover Castle.[10]

Public service

Atherton was a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, a Dover Magistrate, County president of the Royal British Legion and was a former president of The Dover Society.[11] He was an honorary life member of the Cinque Ports Mayors' Association.[12][13]

Personal life

He was the son of Reverend Harold Atherton. His mother was Maria B Shaw.[14] He married Gwendolene Upton in Yorkshire during 1954.[15] They had two children. His wife Wendi played a pivotal role in entertaining the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when she was ordained as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1979.[10] He was chairman of the governing body of Canterbury Christ Church University from 1994 to 1999 and oversaw the institution's transition to University status. In 1996 he was awarded a doctorate in civil law.[16] Upon his death, a service was held at Canterbury Cathedral on 23 September 2019, with a eulogy given by the Dean of Canterbury, Robert Willis.[9][17]

References

  1. ↑ "Page 2667 | Supplement 37589, 31 May 1946 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Page 15118 | Issue 48807, 27 November 1981 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Recommendation for Award for Atherton, Maurice Alan Rank: Colonel". The National Archives. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "No. 48391". The London Gazette. 4 December 1980. p. 16826.
  5. ↑ "No. 49294". The London Gazette. 18 March 1983. p. 3830.
  6. ↑ "Page 10715 | Issue 55981, 26 September 2000 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Page 1623 | Issue 56476, 8 February 2002 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Maurice Atherton. Who's Who and Who was Who 2019. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U9804.
  9. 1 2 Brigadier Maurice Atherton CBE Obituary. Canterbury Festival. 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 Brigadier Maurice Atherton CBE Obituary (PDF). The Dover Society. 2019.
  11. ↑ "Instruments of Punishment – Brigadier Atherton unveils plaque". The Dover Society. 2000.
  12. ↑ "Life member – Brigadier Atherton". Cinque Ports Mayors' Association. 2023.
  13. ↑ "Former rotary member – Brigadier Atherton". The rotary club of Dover.
  14. ↑ "Harrold Atherton Entry on the Atherton One Name Study". atherton.one-name.net.
  15. ↑ "England & Wales, Marriage Registration Index, 1916–2005". Ancestry.com.
  16. ↑ "1999–2000 Honorary Doctorate in recognition of outstanding service in the fields of education or public life". Canterbury Christ Church University. 1996.
  17. ↑ Brigadier Maurice Atherton CBE Obituary. Legacy.com. 2019.
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