The story of the Biglands could be likened to a boisterous river. The generations featured most prominently in this book spent much of their lives ‘messing about in boats’ on the Dee, the Severn, the Isis, the Thames and the Cam. Boats would certainly have played a part in the lives of their Viking ancestors. But there are many other aspects of life which have benefited from their committed leadership - Parliament, government, the Army, business, Scouting, craftsmanship and fashion. Their feeling of being a clan has preserved over the generations a strong sense of unity.
Bill Stallybrass has been married to Margo Bigland for over 40 years. His thorough and readable account of the wider family has insights which come from a total involvement in the clan, yet with an independence of observation. A mountaineer and oarsman in his earlier years, he has had wide experience of education in Europe and Africa, has been private tutor to an African Prince, was a lecturer in languages at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (1947 - 71) and the first Director of Studies of the Ghana Military Academy (1960 - 61). The Oxford Group and Moral Re-Armament are woven into parts of this story.
English
