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Wilfrid Tregenza was one of eight brothers. The family lived at Boslandew House in Paul near Penzance and later at Mousehole. After attending Truro College (now Truro School), Wilfrid secured a scholarship at Cambridge University; obtaining a Double First in Mathematics Tripos. He volunteered with the Friends Ambulance Unit operating in France in 1915.

A 24-year-old Cambridge graduate, Wilfrid鈥檚 personnel card shows he paid for his own kit and was qualified in resuscitation techniques 鈥� not surprising for the schoolboy who had shown athletic prowess winning swimming prizes and later representing Cambridge.

鈥淲ilfrid was recommended for a Red Cross medal but didn鈥檛 receive one. Pacifists were not regarded as eligible for medals. In 1916, when conscription was introduced Wilfrid appeared before a tribunal in Penzance where he was regarded as a deserter and given ten years hard labour service,鈥� explains Tony Fitt from Marazion Quaker House.

Wilfrid served part of that at Dartmoor Prison. He later got a job as a headmaster then a school inspector; helping to transform secondary education.

Wilfrid鈥檚 great niece and goddaughter, Vivienne Tregenza Reid, became a Quaker because of Wilfred鈥檚 story.

鈥淎 lot of people including myself didn鈥檛 really know about his glittering career because he was a very humble person and he was always interested in other people, always interested in our stories of what we were doing at school and what we were interested in. He always had time to listen and to have fun as well. He was a great believer in enjoying life that is what I remember about Wilfrid,鈥� reflects Vivienne.

After holding the role of HM Inspector of Schools, in the 1952 New Year Honours; Charles Wilfrid Tregenza received a CBE. He died in April 1974. aged 83 a respected member of the Marazion Friends Society.

鈥淐harles Wilfrid Tregenza led a life of integrity and distinction that one who knew him only in his retirement could only guess at. After his death, letters from the many people whose lives he鈥檇 helped shape during his long career in education indicated how widespread had been the influence this man had exerted with great humility鈥� 鈥� an extract from a testimony to C.W. Tregenza, Marazion Friends Society Meeting (13 July 1974).

The Quaker Houses at Penzance and Marazion want people to reflect on the white feathers and white poppies showing the work that Quakers do today to support peace.

Location: Boslandew House, Paul (near Penzance), Cornwall TR19 6UD
Image: Wilfrid at a family wedding (pictured on the far left). This was taken in the early 1950s when he was rewarded a CBE. Photograph courtesy of Vivienne Tregenza.

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