Continuing our coverage of cemeteries in Norwich City, this week we focus on Earlham
One of the most well-known names in Earlham Cemetery's burial registers is that of Erminio William Louis Marchesi (19 January 1898 – 10 December 1968).
Born in Norfolk on 19 January 1898, Marchesi was named after his father, Swiss immigrant, Erminio Marchesi, but was known by his third forename of Louis. The young Louis grew up in Norwich, where his father had run the city's first Swiss restaurant in Prince of Wales Road since 1896. Louis' mother was of Irish heritage.
After serving in the First World War, Louis returned to life in Norwich. There he became a member of the Rotary Club. In 1926, after hearing a radio speech by the Prince of Wales urging young Britons to "sit round table (Round Table) adopt an idea, adapt it and improve it", Louis was inspired to found the Round Table movement, a club supporting younger businessmen.
In 1927, he developed this idea to establish the respected international fellowship and charitable organisation for young men that continues to this day. Marchesi married in Norfolk in 1934. He and his wife, Dolly, had one son, Peter.
During the Second World War, Marchesi served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Catering Corps.
Marchesi died, aged 70, at his Norwich home on 10 December 1968.
He was buried in Earlham Cemetery on 16 December 1968. A memorial service was held in Westminster Cathedral the following year, and he continues to be remembered in his home city by an eponymous pub at 17 Tombland.
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| Grave of Erminio William Louis Marchesi in Earlham Cemetery (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_grave_of_Louis_Marchesi.JPG) |
Born in Norfolk on 19 January 1898, Marchesi was named after his father, Swiss immigrant, Erminio Marchesi, but was known by his third forename of Louis. The young Louis grew up in Norwich, where his father had run the city's first Swiss restaurant in Prince of Wales Road since 1896. Louis' mother was of Irish heritage.
After serving in the First World War, Louis returned to life in Norwich. There he became a member of the Rotary Club. In 1926, after hearing a radio speech by the Prince of Wales urging young Britons to "sit round table (Round Table) adopt an idea, adapt it and improve it", Louis was inspired to found the Round Table movement, a club supporting younger businessmen.
In 1927, he developed this idea to establish the respected international fellowship and charitable organisation for young men that continues to this day. Marchesi married in Norfolk in 1934. He and his wife, Dolly, had one son, Peter.
During the Second World War, Marchesi served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Catering Corps.
Marchesi died, aged 70, at his Norwich home on 10 December 1968.
He was buried in Earlham Cemetery on 16 December 1968. A memorial service was held in Westminster Cathedral the following year, and he continues to be remembered in his home city by an eponymous pub at 17 Tombland.
Above is a close-up of the grave register entry for Erminio William Louis Marchesi, described as a "Rtd [retired] Caterer". He was buried with relatives in a family grave.
The inscription on his grave reads:
Sacred
to the memory of
Erminio William Louis Marchesi
(Mark)
who died 10 December 1968 aged 70 years
Founder of the Round Table Movement
"if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch."
- Rudyard Kipling
Also Dolly
darling wife of Louis and mother of Peter
who died 12 July 1965 aged 59 years
"A lovely flower for God's garden"
And of Erminio Giuseppe Marchesi
who died 23 February 1936 at Poschiavo
Switzerland aged 65 years
and Mary Jane his beloved wife
who died 11 April 1951 aged 77 years
also of Ada Kate Danaher
who died 12 April 1951 aged 74 years.
As usual, we love to hear from readers of this blog. Do you have a connection to the Round Table? Or perhaps you know of someone buried at Earlham?
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