BESLEY, Francis William

1902 - 1984

Francis William Besley was born at Worcester on 20 March 1902, second child of Arthur Edward Besley (24 September 1872-9 November 1964), a draper's manager, and his wife Mary Ellen née Pope (14 January 1872-11 May 1967), who married at Northgate Wesleyan Church, Gloucester on 9 September 1897. In 1911, Francis was a 9-year-old, living at Barbourne Road, Worcester with his parents, 38-year-old Arthur and 39-year-old Mary with four siblings, Percy Arthur 10, Ida Gwendolen 7, Reginald George Payne 5 and Frederick Herbert 3, all born at Worcester. Francis was educated at Taunton School and in 1919 obtained his matriculation to the University of London. As Surgeon-Lieut. Besley of the Royal Navy, he married at Sliema, Malta in July 1930, Dorothy Margaret Bishop (16 May 1905-23 September 1977) of Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. A doctor MRCS and LRCP and a surgeon captain during the Second World War whilst his wife lived at 1 Quay Street, Halesworth, Suffolk. A member and exhibitor at the Norfolk & Norwich Art Circle 1938-1946 from Halesworth. Francis William Besley died at Longwood, Church Field, Walberswick, Suffolk on 12 July 1984. and buried at St Andrew's church, Walberswick, beside his wife Dorothy Margaret Besley.