Cecil Davidge

Cecil Vere Davidge of Little Houghton House DL (14 February 1901 – 27 January 1981) was a British lawyer and academic, who served as a Fellow and bursar of Keble College, Oxford, and as High Sheriff of Northamptonshire. Life Davidge was born on 14 February 1901. His father, Cecil William Davidge, was Professor of English at Kobe University in Japan. His mother, Elsie Davidge née Hamer was of an old Lancashire family who settled at Hamer Hall in the 14th century. Davidge was educated at Abingdon School from September 1913 until 1919 and rowed in the first four for the Abingdon School Boat Club before studying at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he obtained a second-class degree in Jurisprudence in 1923; he obtained the Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1925. He was called to the bar (becoming a barrister) as a member of Inner Temple in 1927. He was a lecturer in jurisprudence at Keble College, Oxford, from 1927 to 1933, when he was appointed a Fellow and Tutor in Jurisprudence; he was regarded as a fine tutor and lecturer. He remained a Fellow until 1968, when he retired. He also served as the college's bursar between 1945 and 1968, and as Sub-Warden from 1965 to 1968. During his time as bursar, he purchased a number of farms for the college for investment purposes, and considerably strengthened the college's financial position. On his retirement, he was appointed an Honorary Fellow. He was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1950.