Michael Falcon

He was on holiday in Northern France in 1914 returned to England volunteered and in due course found himself back at Boulogne as a Captain with his Territorial Army Unit. They saw action at both Ypres and the Somme. In 1918 he was elected as M.P. for East Norfolk until 1923. Michael married Kathleen Isabel Frances Gascoigne 1900-1985 in 1920 at St George Hanover Square London. They must have remained in London for the first few years of marriage as their first three children Mary 1922, Sybil 1925 and Anne 1925 births were recorded in Chelsea District. Their only son Michael Gascoigne Falcon was born in 1928 at Havering at Bower near Romford Essex. The family had moved to Norfolk around 1930 where their last child Rachael was born in 1933. It would seem that they spent about five years living at Sprowston Hall with Michael s parents before moving to Burlingham House close to where Kathleen had been born at Bradestone near Brundall in 1900. Michael became part of the Norwich Union Group as his father had before him he was also to become a High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1943. In the later years of their lives Michael and Kathleen moved into Norwich where they resided at 10 Cathedral Close Michael passed away on 27 Feb 1976 followed by Kathleen on 26 Feb 1985. Michael Gascoigne Falcon C.B.E.1928-2013.Michael was born at Havering at Bower Essex on 28 Jan 1928. Three years later the family moved to Norfolk where he was to live and work for the remainder of his life. His education was at Aldeburgh Lodge Preparatory School Suffolk then at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire. After his National Service 1946-1948 in Germany where he was commissioned in the Royal Norfolk Regiment he studied malting and brewing at Heriot Watt College in Edinburgh. In 1952 he was with Morgan s brewery in Norwich he then became the youngest head brewer in England at Lacon and Co. of Great Yarmouth. Michael was married in 1954 to April Daphne Claire Lambert who was born in Yorkshire in 1934. Together they were to have three children Michael 1956, Andrew 1958 and Claire 1960. In 1968 Keswick Old Hall was purchased as the family home. As his father and grandfather before him he was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1979 and was also the High Steward of Great Yarmouth for almost 30 years. He was also involved with the Norwich Health Authority as well as the John Innes Foundation. Following in the families past involvement with Norwich Union he was a director for some 30 years and chairman of the company for 13 years. When he stood down in 1994 it ended an 89 year family association with the company. Other posts included governor at East Anglian Trustee Savings Bank and a board member of Lloyds Bank. Michael died on 18 Feb 2013 at the age of 85. Michael Falcon had an association with several cricket clubs over his long career that included Cambridge University C.C., Marylebone C.C. Harrow School, Free Foresters, Harrow Wanderers, and Norfolk C.C.C. He made his debut for Norfolk as a 16 year old on holiday from Harrow School, his career with the county lasted from 1907 to 1946, he was captain of the county from 1912-1946. During that time he played almost 250 games scored over 11,000 runs and took over 700 wickets by the time he retired to the County Committee. In his last season in 1946 when aged 58 he topped the batting averages. A career best innings of 250 runs was made against Hertfordshire in 1920. Although he never played first class county cricket he nevertheless managed to play some 89 first class matches mainly for Cambridge University and the Gentlemen. A right handed batsman and medium to fast bowler he was the complete all rounder. His finest game was probably in 1921 when playing for MacLaren s XI against the touring Australians at Eastbourne he took 6 wickets for 67 runs in the first innings which contributed to the first of the Australians only two defeats of the tour. Other notable bowling included 6 for 58 against the Players in 1913, 6 for 41 for