The Most Hon. the Marquess of Cholmondeley, GCVO

George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley (1883 – 1968). A direct descendant of Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. A well-known tennis and polo player. Cholmondeley fought in the Boer War, was Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of India, fought in the First World War and gained the rank of Captain in the 9th Lancers.  In 1920 he was promoted to the rank of Major. Converted to Italic late in life and through his own Italic success story and fascination with the history of the hand, sought to encourage others to adopt Italic as their handwriting style.

You can find examples of Cholmondeley's handwriting before and after he learnt the Italic hand in the Exemplars section.

Lord Cholmondeley, the Society's first President

The Dowager Marchioness of Cholmondeley, CBE

Sybil Rachel Betty Cecile Sassoon, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, CBE (1894 – 1989). Chief Staff Officer to Director WRNS, WRNS HQ Admiralty from 1939 – 1946. In 1945 she was appointed as Supt. of the Women’s Royal Naval Service and the following year made CBE.

Sir John Betjeman, CLit, CBE

Sir John Betjeman, CBE (1906 – 1984) poet, writer and broadcaster. A founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture (and Italic handwriting!)

Humphrey Lyttleton

Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttleton (1921 – 2008) also known as Humph, jazz musician and broadcaster, chairman of the BBC radio programme I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, and possessor of a fine Italic hand!