Reg Earl

Authors: Michael Earl and Richard Earl

We were interested to read in Issue 154 of ‘The Oxford Freeman’ an article from the archives written by R.A.J. Earl, not least because it was received almost exactly a year after his death, at the age of 98, in October 2020. We thought, therefore, that it might be appropriate to write a few lines about a man who devoted a substantial portion of his life to the Oxford Freemen, and was perhaps the last surviving committee member from the 1950s.

Apart from service in the RAF during the Second World War, Reginald Arthur John Earl, lived his entire life in Oxford and could trace his family back to Thomas Earl, a dyer, who was admitted to the Freedom in 1678. Reg was himself admitted whilst on leave in January 1944, alongside a cousin who was serving with the Canadian Army. In 1954 he joined his father on the Freeman’s committee and in 1959 he founded ‘The Oxford Freeman’ and was its editor for the next 11 years.

He subsequently became Honorary Secretary to the committee in 1970, and during his tenure he proposed that the Freemen have their own crested tie, car badge (assisting in the designs) and motto- ‘libertas ad usum’. In 1977 he resigned as Secretary and was appointed as Honorary Archivist, a role which he carried out until 1994. In this role he represented the Freeman, and their history, in numerous engagements, and also in some BBC radio broadcasts.

Reg’s intense interest in the history of the Freemen is evident from the series of articles he wrote for the newsletter in his capacity as Editor. I have in my possession several early editions, including the typed draft of Issue 1, which covered a mere four sides of A5. Within a year the newsletter had doubled in size and contained lengthy articles on a variety of Freeman related topics. Of particular interest in the Spring 1962 Issue was the announcement of the winner of the children’s painting competition (8-11 years)… one Howard Crapper. I wonder if his painting of Oxford Castle still exists?

Outside of his association with the Freemen, Reg worked for British Telecom for 51 years where he founded the Post Office Telecommunications Museum, and still managed to find time to publish two books on vintage telephones, follow Oxford United, garden, and raise a family.

Reg was a staunch defender of the freedoms and rights of the Oxford Freemen, attending the Port Meadow Inspection well into his 80s, and it was gratifying to see such a large turnout at his funeral, despite the necessary Covid-19 restrictions. A proud Freeman, he maintained his interest and enthusiasm until the end, and was particularly pleased with the birth in 2017 of a great-grandson to carry on the tradition.