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R. P. Keigwin

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Keigwin (right) withA. E. J. CollinsatClifton College,about 1902

Richard Prescott Keigwin(/ˈkɛɡwɪn/KEG-win;[1]8 April 1883 – 26 November 1972) was an Englishschoolmaster,sportsman, translator, and author. He playedfirst-class cricketforCambridge University,theMarylebone Cricket Club,Essex,andGloucestershire,andhockeyforEssexandEngland.

After teaching at theRoyal Naval College, Osborne,he was a naval officer during the First World War, then a master atClifton College,and was notable for his translations from the work ofHans Christian Andersen.

Early life

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Keigwin was born inLexdeninEssexand educated at Clifton College,Bristol,in Watson's House. While there, he partneredA. E. J. Collinsin the schoolracquetspair and was also the school racquets captain. He also captained the school cricket XI of 1902, in which Collins also played.[2]

He then joinedPeterhouse, Cambridge, where in March 1903 he was runner-up at theCambridge University's Freshmen's Lawn Tennis Tournament, losing in the final in two straight sets to the future Wimbledon championTony Wildingwithout winning a game.[3]

He represented Cambridge University at cricket, rackets,soccer,and hockey, and also played for theMarylebone Cricket Club.

Keigwin's best bowling figures in first-class cricket were 8/79 againstSussexin 1903.[4]A year later, he scored his only first-class hundred, for Cambridge againstWarwickshire.[5]

In 1906 he graduated BA in the Classics and Modern LanguagesTripos,later promoted by seniority toMA.

After leaving Cambridge, Keigwin taught modern languages at theRoyal Naval College, Osborne.[2]

His brothers,Herbert KeigwinandHenry Keigwinboth also played first-class cricket.

First World War

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In 1914, Keigwin was commissioned as a Lieutenant into theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve.He served in theFirst World Waron thebattlecruiserHMSIndomitableand was stationed off theBelgiancoast. He was present at the surrender of theImperial German Navyfleet.

He was created a Chevalier ofBelgianOrder of Léopold,Knight of theOrder of the Dannebrogby HM KingChristian X of Denmarkand awarded King Christian X's medal for "Valuable assistance rendered to Denmark during the war."

Later career

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After the war, Keigwin returned to his old school, Clifton College, as an assistant master from 1919, and was House Tutor of Watson's House (his own old house) in 1919 and 1920. From then until 1935 he was thehousemasterof Dakyns' House.[2]

He was the editor ofThe Grantain 1919.

In the 1920s, Keigwin played hockey forEssexand England, cricket andtennisforGloucestershire.He also played for theFree Forestersagainst theNetherlandscricket XI, although he did not appear for Free Foresters atfirst-classlevel.

In 1935, Keigwin published his first translation from the work ofHans Christian Andersenand also became Warden ofWills Hallat theUniversity of Bristol,where he remained for ten years.[2]

In retirement, Keigwin spent some years living inDenmark,where as a result of his interest in Danish cricket the game picked up. English cricket teams began visiting Denmark more frequently, and these teams included theMarylebone Cricket Club,Leicestershire,Incogniti,Gentlemen ofWorcestershire,and SirJulien Cahn's XI.

He was President of the Old Cliftonian Society from 1957 to 1959, and also became a Governor of Clifton College.[6]

The grave of R. P. Keigwin in the churchyard of St Mary,Polstead,Suffolk

Keigwin died atPolstead,Suffolk,and is buried there in St Mary's churchyard.

Published works

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  • Lanyard Lyrics(1914)
  • Lyrics for Sport(1917)

Keigwin was a noted translator ofDanishintoEnglish:

  • Four Tales from Hans Andersen(1935)
  • Kaj Munk, Playwright, Priest and Patriot(1944)
  • The Jutland Wind(1944)
  • In Denmark I Was Born(1948)
  • Denmark, Land of Beauty(1950)
  • Fairy Talesby Hans Christian Andersen (3 volumes, 1950)
  • Tales the Moon Can Tellby Andersen (1955)
  • Heinemann's Illustrated Hans Andersen Series(1955)
  • Seven Tales from Hans Christian Andersen(1961)
  • Five Plays(1964)
  • The Ugly Ducklingby Andersen (1973)
  • The Snow Queen: A Story in Seven Partsby Andersen (1975)
  • 80 Fairy Talesby Andersen (1976)

Keigwin also contributed toCentenary Essays on Clifton College(1962).


References

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  1. ^G. M. Miller,BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names(Oxford University Press, 1971), p. 78.
  2. ^abcd"Keigwin, Richard Prescott" in J. A. O. Muirhead,Clifton College Register(Bristol; J.W. Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society, April, 1948), p. 213
  3. ^"Sport at the Varsities".Sheffield Evening Telegraph.British Newspaper Archive.19 March 1903.
  4. ^ "Sussex v Cambridge University in 1903".CricketArchive.Retrieved6 December2008.
  5. ^ "Warwickshire v Cambridge University in 1904".CricketArchive.Retrieved6 December2008.
  6. ^Clifton College Register (1862–1962)(Old Cliftonian Society, 1962)
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