Holmes, Mr S.
April 7th 1951
Peacefully at his home on the Sussex Downs, after a short congestion of the chest. Mr Holmes was born in 1854, to parents Sir Mortimer James and Lady Shirley Anne (nee. Montague). His elder brother, the late Mr Mycroft Holmes (OBE), served as a junior auditor for the British Government between 1880 and 1945.
While reading psychology at Cambridge University in 1873 Mr Holmes was a keen member of the amateur theatrical society, the boxing club, and played lead violin in the student orchestra. Having left college life in 1884 he enjoyed a brief career as a data entry clerk for the Metropolitan police, before taking up an apprenticeship as a morgue technician in Saint Bartholomew's Hospital.
Mr Holmes is perhaps best remembered for his years as a consulting detective, residing in Baker Street. Many of his cases have been followed by the British public thanks to their adaptations into popular short stories by his roommate and friend, the late Doctor John Watson. During this time Mr Holmes made quiet contributions to the improvement of living conditions, education and career prospects for destitute youth in London, the effects of which will continue to change lives for years to come.
After retiring to the country in his latter years, Mr Holmes lived a relatively quiet life, studying beekeeping and theology. His investigative mind remained inquisitive and opportunistic, and he briefly came out of retirement to perform undercover duties during the First World War. By and large, however, he preferred to content himself with simple pleasures, and the company only of those closest to him. It will therefore come as a great surprise to many readers and those who knew him in his younger life to learn that one day, having decided that 'it [was] not good that [he] should be alone', he enlisted the help and experience of Doctor Watson in securing a suitable 'helper', eventually settling on Miss Flora Elridge of Harridge Copse, east Sussex, to take to be his wife. The two were married on the 4th of October 1949.
Although only married for his final seventeen months, all who knew the couple were touched by their unusually well-matched and sincere bond, and how this transferred into the running of their house, hives, and the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation branch run by Mrs Holmes. In Mrs Holmes's words, Mr Holmes meticulously and methodically structured their homelife, while she 'roughed it up round the edges some, so as to seem welcoming and natural'.
Mr Holmes is survived by his wife, two nephews by marriage, four great nieces by marriage, two great nephews by marriage, three cousins and seven first cousins once removed. Although outwardly reclusive and reticent he was held in the mutual affections of almost all who knew him. He will be sorely missed within the community, and within the British Beekeeping Association.
In honour of Mr Holmes's contributions to the fields of criminal investigation and forensic pathology, the King has announced the creation of the Sherlock Holmes scholarship, enabling young people from troubled backgrounds to study choice subjects pertinent to criminal investigation at Cambridge University.
A celebration of life and burial service will be held at St John the Baptist's church, Clayton, at 11:00am on Tuesday the 10th of April. All welcome. Donations and/or flowers very welcome, especially violets and roses. Donations to be split equally between Barnardo's, the London Youth Orchestra, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.