Richard Lawson Gales:
(1862-1927). Gales, later a priest, poet and folklorist, was the son of Richard Smith of Litlehampton in Sussex and matriculated at Lincoln College, Oxford in October 1884 at the quite advanced age of almost 22. Though his academic career was apparently undistinguished it was made notable by the fact that he won the Newdigate Prize in 1886. The rest of Gales’ life was quiet and uneventful: he took holy orders in 1887, spent some years as Vicar of Wanborough near Guildford, Surrey and in 1909 was appointed Vicar of Gedney where he spent the rest of his life. He never married and died the day before his 65th birthday on Boxing Day 1927.
March comes in with an adder’s head, and goes out with a peacock’s tail.
