Dr. Frank Andrews - Founder

Dr Frank Andrews

In 1962, a group of like-minded historians met in our ancient town and Cinque Port to discuss the founding of a history society and, out of that meeting, The Sandwich Local History Society was born.

Over the intervening years, the Society has grown into, arguably, the most successful and well-supported society in Sandwich and, over the past 62 years, has helped to promote an interest in history to literally thousands of people. Just thinking about that fact is amazing. Just 62 years before the Society was founded, the 20th century had just started and Queen Victoria was on the throne! Moving on another 62 years, the death has just been announced of Dr Frank Andrews, the last member of that founding group of friends.

Frank was in his early nineties and, until very recently, had lived a fiercely independent, if somewhat reclusive, life in his own home.

Frank was definitely one of Sandwich’s ‘characters’, a fast-disappearing group, and many members will remember him striding across the Guildhall Forecourt in his very short shorts accompanied by an ever-faithful Corgi. Firstly ‘Beth’ and, when she passed on, ‘Holly’, doing their best on their short legs to keep up with ‘Master’. They both followed Frank everywhere, even climbing the flights of stairs up to the archives under the roof of the Guildhall. It has to be said that they often arrived a little while after Frank, scrambling and scrabbling up the wooden steps before trotting through the archives to Frank’s personal domain: the furthest room from the stairway — the Reference Library — where they would take up duties beneath Frank’s desk. As Holly aged, she would sometimes ‘go on strike’ and refuse to move, necessitating an annoyed Frank having to carry her down to the ground floor.

Frank was a very active member of the Society, holding the position of Lecture Secretary for very many years, and was an acknowledged expert on the history of Sandwich and helped with the training of our Town Guides, including me. He provided an excellent set of introductory notes for guiding which he expected prospective guides to study and use as a starting point from which to build knowledge. He was always available with help and advice, which he would dispense in a generous and efficient manner, either over the phone or face to face.

On one memorable occasion, when a speaker failed to materialise, Frank stepped into the breach and delivered a most memorable lecture covering not only the entire history of our town but also the layout and street plan and the reasons which had shaped the streets of Sandwich we know and love today.

As well as being a serious historian, Frank also had a sense of humour. On the door at the entrance to the library there was a picture of Frank standing with his hands clasped in front of him in an attitude of prayer, his head quizzically tilted to one side. Beneath this were written the words, ‘Pray what is the nature of your enquiry?’

As Frank aged, he became more withdrawn but remained fiercely independent, politely refusing all offers of assistance and looking after himself.

Now he is gone, and I, for one, will really miss his wisdom and his kindness.

John Hennessy
Honorary President, Sandwich History Society