P. H. B. Lyon
Encyclopedia
Percy Hugh Beverley Lyon MC
(1893–1986) was a 20th-century British poet and educator, a winner of the Newdigate Prize
and headmaster of Rugby School
from 1931 to 1948.
between 1910 and 1914.
He interrupted his studies during the First World War, serving as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry
and earning the Military Cross
. Taken prisoner, he was in Graudenz at the end of hostilities.
Upon returning to Oxford after the war, he won the Newdigate Prize in 1919 with his poem France, although he was better known for his peace poem, "Now to be Still and Rest". In 1919 he also had a number of poems accepted for publication in Oxford Poetry: "The Secret Playroom (Graudenz, 1918)", "The Song of Strength" and "The Deserted Garden".
He went on to publish poetry in periodicals that included the London Mercury
, The Oxford Magazine
, The Spectator
, and the Westminster Gazette
.
Lyon was father to three daughters, Jill,Barbara and Elinor Lyon
.
From 1931 to 1948 he was headmaster of Rugby School. While Headmaster, he was mentor and friend to John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
, author of the famous poem High Flight. Magee also fell in love with Lyon's daughter Elinor. After serving as headmaster, Lyon opened the Public Schools Appointment Bureau to find jobs for ex-public school boys.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1893–1986) was a 20th-century British poet and educator, a winner of the Newdigate Prize
Newdigate prize
Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize is awarded to students of the University of Oxford for Best Composition in English verse by an undergraduate who has been admitted to Oxford within the previous four years. It was founded by Sir Roger Newdigate, Bt in the 18th century...
and headmaster of Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
from 1931 to 1948.
Life
Lyon studied at Oriel College, Oxford, publishing a number of lyrics in Oxford PoetryOxford Poetry
Oxford Poetry is a literary magazine based in Oxford, England. It is currently edited by Hamid Khanbhai and Thomas A Richards.Founded in 1910 by Basil Blackwell, its editors have included Dorothy L...
between 1910 and 1914.
He interrupted his studies during the First World War, serving as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
and earning the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. Taken prisoner, he was in Graudenz at the end of hostilities.
Upon returning to Oxford after the war, he won the Newdigate Prize in 1919 with his poem France, although he was better known for his peace poem, "Now to be Still and Rest". In 1919 he also had a number of poems accepted for publication in Oxford Poetry: "The Secret Playroom (Graudenz, 1918)", "The Song of Strength" and "The Deserted Garden".
He went on to publish poetry in periodicals that included the London Mercury
London Mercury
The London Mercury was the name of several periodicals published in London from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries. The earliest was a newspaper that appeared during the Exclusion Bill crisis; it lasted only 56 issues...
, The Oxford Magazine
The Oxford Magazine
The Oxford Magazine is a review magazine and newspaper published in Oxford, England. It was established in 1883 and published weekly during Oxford University terms....
, The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, and the Westminster Gazette
Westminster Gazette
The Westminster Gazette was an influential Liberal newspaper based in London. It was known for publishing sketches and short stories, including early works by Raymond Chandler, Anthony Hope and Saki, and travel writing by Rupert Brooke. One of its editors was caricaturist and political cartoonist...
.
Lyon was father to three daughters, Jill,Barbara and Elinor Lyon
Elinor Lyon
Elinor Bruce Lyon was an English children's author.Lyon was born in Guisborough, Yorkshire and educated at Headington School, Oxford. Her father was P. H. B. Lyon. After living for a time in Switzerland, she returned to Oxford to read English at Lady Margaret Hall just as World War II began...
.
From 1931 to 1948 he was headmaster of Rugby School. While Headmaster, he was mentor and friend to John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was an American aviator and poet who died as a result of a mid-air collision over Lincolnshire during World War II. He was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which he joined before the United States officially entered the war. He is most famous for his poem "High...
, author of the famous poem High Flight. Magee also fell in love with Lyon's daughter Elinor. After serving as headmaster, Lyon opened the Public Schools Appointment Bureau to find jobs for ex-public school boys.
Collections
In 1918 he published a volume of poetry, Songs of Youth & War, and in 1923 Turn Fortune. In 1931 a selection of his verse was published as P. H. B. Lyon in the Augustan Books of Poetry series.Other publications
- The Shorter Herodotus, books I-V, selected and arranged, with brief notes by P.H.B. Lyon, in the series Bell's shorter classics (London: G. Bell, 1924).
- The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
, edited, with an introduction and notes, by P. H. B. Lyon, for the New Eversley Shakespeare series (London: Ernest BennErnest BennSir Ernest John Pickstone Benn, 2nd Baronet was a British publisher, writer and political publicist. His father, John Benn, was a politician, who had been made a baronet in 1914. He was an uncle of the Labour politician Tony Benn.-Biography:Benn was born in Oxted, Surrey...
, 1928; reprinted 1934, 1935). - The Discovery of Poetry (London: Edward ArnoldEdward Arnold (publisher)Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd is a British publishing house with its head office in London. The firm has been publishing books for over 100 years. It is a member of the Hodder Education group. Edward Arnold publishes books and journals for students, academics and professionals.-Bibliography:*...
, 1930; reprinted 1931, 1935, 1947), "Primarily intended for use in schools, in those forms and classes where the more careful study of literature is for the first time attempted." - Foreword to Aleksander KamińskiAleksander KaminskiAleksander Kamiński was a Polish school teacher, form tutor, author of Polish Cub Scout and Brownie method, writer, historian, Scoutmaster , and wartime resistance leader under the codenames: Kamyk, Dąbrowski, J...
's pseudonymous Stones for the Rampart: The Story of Two Lads in the Polish Underground Movement (London: Polish Boy Scouts' and Girl Guides' Association, 1945). - The Bible as Literature (London: Bible Reading Fellowship, 1947).
- Happy Ever After? (London: National Marriage Guidance CouncilRelateRelate is a charity providing relationship support throughout the United Kingdom. Services include counselling for couples, families, young people and individuals, sex therapy, mediation and training courses....
, 1949).
Anthologized
Poems by Lyon were anthologized in the following collections:- More Songs By the Fighting Men (Soldier Poets Second Series; London: Erskine MacDonald Ltd., 1917)
- Valour & Vision: Poems of the War (1920)
- Selections from Modern Poets, edited by J. C. SquireJ. C. SquireSir John Collings Squire was a British poet, writer, historian, and influential literary editor of the post-World War I period.- Biography :...
- Later English Poems, 1901-1922, edited by James Elgin Wetherell
- Up The Line To Death: The War Poets 1914-1918, edited by Brian Gardner (1964)
External links
- P. H. B. Lyon at the National Portrait Gallery (London).
- Index of contributors to Oxford PoetryOxford PoetryOxford Poetry is a literary magazine based in Oxford, England. It is currently edited by Hamid Khanbhai and Thomas A Richards.Founded in 1910 by Basil Blackwell, its editors have included Dorothy L...
- Now to Be Still and Rest at oldpoetry.com