I AM Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral and I seek any who may be related to a name on Chippenham War Memorial.
This is Arthur Herbert George Tavinor, who was a Private with the Royal West Kent regiment. He was killed east of Arras on August 8, 1918, and is remembered on the Vis en Artois Memorial, but has no known grave. His name is found not only on the Chippenham War Memorial but also in the memorial in St Paul’s Church, Chippenham, and on his father’s gravestone, in St Paul’s churchyard. He was an only child, and his parents were George and Emily Tavinor of 62 Marshfield Road. I am sure that Arthur Tavinor will be related to me – all my family, the Tavinors, come from Chippenham but I can find no clear line. Are there any in Chippenham today who may be related and know about Arthur and his story and would be prepared to share this with me?
I should like to make the pilgrimage to Vis en Artois next year, on August 8, the centenary of Arthur’s death and it may be that others would be interested in this too.
The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford
The Deanery
College Cloisters
Hereford HR1 2NG