A Life Less Ordinary: B I L L
HODGES
I often read the obituaries in the Trusty Servant,
not because I’m morbid but because they often
offer fascinating insights into individuals’
experiences of pivotal events in the 20th
century, some of which are starting to pass
from living memory. Last November, I read an
obituary that seemed even more extraordinary
than most:
‘Cecil Herbert William (Bill) Hodges (Coll, 1935-40); died 14.11.2016
aged 95. Sen Cap Prae, VI, English Speech Prize and Kenneth Freeman
Prize, Scholarship to Oriel College, Oxford 1 Class Mod 1942. He was
commissioned into the Royal Artillery 1942 and landed in Normandy on
D-Day and later served in Holland and Germany. He was one of the first
British officers to enter Belsen and his letters home, full of the horror of that
place, are now held in the Imperial War Museum. Demobbed as a Captain
in 1945. He then started a successful career in the Treasury from 1947.
His most interesting job was as a Treasury Adviser to the UK Mission to
the UN in New York 1961-63. He was loaned to Department of Economic
Affairs 1966-68. He then went to the Cabinet Office 1972-74. He was
appointed CBE for his work in the Treasury. On retirement he moved to
the Cotswolds with his partner, Bernard Finn – their dinner parties were
renowned throughout the area. Bill and Bernard took advantage of new
legislation to form a Civil Partnership in 2003. Increasing infirmity persuaded
them to return to London. Despite deafness and deteriorating eyesight he
maintained his sense of humour and determined that the School should
benefit from his will. Having been known as Cecil but always wanting
to be Bill, he waited until the death of his mother aged 101 before he
changed his name.’
28 The Wykeham Journal 2018