Falcon Family
Contents
The Three Michael Falcon’s
There is room for some confusion within this family as there were three generations that were all named Michael Falcon. As there was an overlap of these lives sometimes it is hard to determine exactly which person is concerned when searching through records. This has lead to some researchers making wrong conclusions with regard to the individuals concerned.
Michael Falcon 1859-1939
Michael Falcon 1859-1939. Was born in Workington Cumberland he was married in 1886 to Isabella Mordy 1862-1944, she was also a native of Workington. Michael had made the move to Norfolk by 1881 when at the age of 21 he was found living on the Horstead Hall estate owned by Edward Birkbeck, Michael`s occupation given as a land agent. After his marriage to Isabella they set up home in Horstead House where their four children were to be born, Isabella 1887, Michael 1888, William 1890 and Joseph 1892. In 1925 he was made High Sheriff of Norfolk a position that was later to bestowed on two of his sons in later years. On the business side he became involved with Norwich Union becoming a director and vice chairman of the company.
Resident at Sprowston Hall
At some time thought to be about 1930 there was a move to Sprowston Hall the place where Michael was to pass away on 5 April 1939. This left the Hall to be requisitioned by the army during WW2. His widow Isabella`s death was recorded in the Acle District in 1944 there is a strong possibility that she was at Burlingham House with her son Michael at that time.
Michael Falcon 1888-1976
Michael Falcon 1888-1976. Born at Horstead House on 21 July 1888 Michael was to lead an eventful life and is best remembered for his time in cricket as a Gentleman player, being strictly amateur. His early education found him at Suffield Park School near Cromer then on to Harrow School. After his time at Harrow he gained a place at Pembroke College Cambridge where he studied law. He graduated as BA and LLB in 1910 and was called to the Bar in 1911 at the Inner Temple.
First World War Duties and then MP
He was on holiday in Northern France in 1914 returned to England volunteered and in due course found himself back at Boulogne as a Captain with his Territorial Army Unit. They saw action at both Ypres and the Somme. In 1918 he was elected as M.P. for East Norfolk until 1923. Michael married Kathleen Isabel Frances Gascoigne 1900-1985 in 1920 at St George Hanover Square London. They must have remained in London for the first few years of marriage as their first three children Mary 1922, Sybil 1925 and Anne 1925 births were recorded in Chelsea District. Their only son Michael Gascoigne Falcon was born in 1928 at Havering at Bower near Romford Essex. The family had moved to Norfolk around 1930 where their last child Rachael was born in 1933. It would seem that they spent about five years living at Sprowston Hall with Michael`s parents before moving to Burlingham House close to where Kathleen had been born at Bradestone near Brundall in 1900. Michael became part of the Norwich Union Group as his father had before him he was also to become a High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1943. In the later years of their lives Michael and Kathleen moved into Norwich where they resided at 10 Cathedral Close Michael passed away on 27 Feb 1976 followed by Kathleen on 26 Feb 1985.
His various cricket exploits can be found in a separate article as a foot note to this.
Michael Gascoigne Falcon C.B.E.1928-2013
Michael Gascoigne Falcon C.B.E.1928-2013.Michael was born at Havering at Bower Essex on 28 Jan 1928. Three years later the family moved to Norfolk where he was to live and work for the remainder of his life. His education was at Aldeburgh Lodge Preparatory School Suffolk then at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.
National Service – Brewing in Norwich and Great Yarmouth
After his National Service 1946-1948 in Germany where he was commissioned in the Royal Norfolk Regiment he studied malting and brewing at Heriot Watt College in Edinburgh. In 1952 he was with Morgan`s brewery in Norwich he then became the youngest head brewer in England at Lacon and Co. of Great Yarmouth. Michael was married in 1954 to April Daphne Claire Lambert who was born in Yorkshire in 1934. Together they were to have three children Michael 1956, Andrew 1958 and Claire 1960. In 1968 Keswick Old Hall was purchased as the family home. As his father and grandfather before him he was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1979 and was also the High Steward of Great Yarmouth for almost 30 years. He was also involved with the Norwich Health Authority as well as the John Innes Foundation. Following in the families past involvement with Norwich Union he was a director for some 30 years and chairman of the company for 13 years. When he stood down in 1994 it ended an 89 year family association with the company. Other posts included governor at East Anglian Trustee Savings Bank and a board member of Lloyds Bank. Michael died on 18 Feb 2013 at the age of 85.
Cricketing career of Michael Falcon 1888-1976
Michael Falcon had an association with several cricket clubs over his long career that included Cambridge University C.C., Marylebone C.C. Harrow School, Free Foresters, Harrow Wanderers, and Norfolk C.C.C. He made his debut for Norfolk as a 16 year old on holiday from Harrow School, his career with the county lasted from 1907 to 1946, he was captain of the county from 1912-1946. During that time he played almost 250 games scored over 11,000 runs and took over 700 wickets by the time he retired to the County Committee. In his last season in 1946 when aged 58 he topped the batting averages. A career best innings of 250 runs was made against Hertfordshire in 1920. Although he never played first class county cricket he nevertheless managed to play some 89 first class matches mainly for Cambridge University and the Gentlemen. A right handed batsman and medium to fast bowler he was the complete all rounder. His finest game was probably in 1921 when playing for MacLaren`s XI against the touring Australians at Eastbourne he took 6 wickets for 67 runs in the first innings which contributed to the first of the Australians only two defeats of the tour. Other notable bowling included 6 for 58 against the Players in 1913, 6 for 41 for the Gentlemen against the Australian Forces in 1919 and 7 for 42 for the Minor Counties against the Australians in the opening game of the 1926 tour. Michael also found time to play in local club cricket this can seen from a photograph of Sprowston Cricket Club taken in 1931 at the Recreation Ground with him included in that team.
Michael Falcon.
Sprowston Hall by S. Gurney.
Sprowston Cricket Club team members. L to R standing Walter Richards, Richard Thacker, Harry Wright, Cecil Gowing, Mr. Harvey, Stanley Fowler, Lesley Gowing, kneeling Danny Fowler, Michael Falcon, Bob Guymer, Charlie Wegg and Jimmy Guymer.
