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Archiver > NOTTSGEN > 1998-06 > 0896829698


From: "Brian Richerby" <>
Subject: Re: LESSONS - Nottm Forest FC
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:21:38 +0100


Hi folks

To all who supplied information - particularly Rod, Pete and Fred many
thanks!

Fred Lessons' daughter (my half aunt) still lives in Nottingham - she is 86
this year. When I gave her the photocopy of the announcement of his death
in The Times she was overwhelmed. The information supplied will give her
even more. In particular I did not have his date or place of birth (thanks
Pete!) though my aunt did suspect Stockport. His parents died of TB when he
was young, leaving him and his sister to be raised in an orphanage.

The announcement in the Times was on 23rd Sept 1918, p5 col6:
"The death has also occurred at the front of Fred Lessons, former leader of
Nottingham Forest football club"

I took "leader" to be captain - could it mean something else?

Through the web links supplied for Notts Forest I arrived by tortuous route
at Northampton Town. I have a 1914 program for Northampton v Cambridge
University with pictures of Fred among others. Also in the team is Walter
TULL - one of the first black soccer players and the first black English
Army Officer who commanded exceptional respect from his men. There is an
article extracted from The Guardian on the Northampton pages - like Fred he
was killed in the Great War and is to be honoured by a memorial garden in
Northampton. There is talk of a film being made - watch out for Fred!!

Once again fellahs - many thanks!

Just one last thing - Pete, do you have the ISBN for the Notts Forest Book?
I would like to buy a couple of copies.

Brian Richerby

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