In Memoriam: Charles Lemon

Keighley News reports sad news today. The death of Charles Lemon, former editor of the Brontë Society Transactions and several Brontë-related books:

Tribute has been paid to a stalwart member of the Bronte Society who has died, aged 92.

Charles Lemon MBE, pictured, who lived in Keighley, joined the society in 1935 and was actively involved.

He was elected to its council several times and was a former chairman.

He edited Transactions - the society's academic journal - from 1964-1983 and served on the editorial board of its successor, Bronte Studies, up until his death. As bibliographical secretary, he frequently attended auctions on behalf of the Parsonage Museum, in Haworth, helping to buy letters and other Bronte memorabilia.

Mr Lemon was also behind several publications, including A Leaf from an Unopened Volume by Charlotte Brontë (1986), A Centenary History of the Brontë Society 1893-1993, Early Visitors to Haworth (1996) and Classics of Brontë Scholarship (1999).

Bronte Society chairman Richard Wilcocks said: "With the death of Charles Lemon we have lost an extraordinary member.

"Through his efforts and imagination he set an example for us all. He is one of the reasons the Bronte Society has survived and flourished since its founding in 1893, longer than most other literary societies."

Former chairman Bob Barnard added: "He was a gentle, scholarly man - enormously well read - who came over the years to represent all that is best in the society."

Mr Lemon was born in Croydon and worked in the City of London for a shipping company, the Union Castle Line.

He moved to Keighley in 1992, two years after the death of his wife, Rosaleen.

This week his daughter, Cathy Martins, who lives locally, said her father had a lifelong passion for literature.

"He loved reading as a boy and just fell in love with the works of the Brontes," she said.

"He used to travel up here from London and even cycled up when he was a young man."

Mr Lemon, who died last Thursday, was awarded the MBE in 1999.

He is survived by Cathy and two sons, Martin and Roger.

His funeral service is at St Anne's RC Church, North Street, Keighley on Friday at noon. (Alistair Shand)

EDIT:

More information on the Brontë Parsonage Blog.

Categories: Brontëites,Brontë Society, In the News