Hugh Charles Cumberbatch left £300,000 to Trinity College, Oxford University and almost £200,000 of that bequest went to the taxman.
The Cumberbatch Buildings at Oxford University are named after him.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Hugh Charles Cumberbatch
MBE: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Civil
MBE Investiture at Buckingham Palace on 12 December 2006 for services to African and Caribbean People with Mental Health Problems in Tower Hamlets, London. More pictures here.
Congratulations Harry, very well deserved.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Harrington D Cumberbatch
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch starred in the film Amazing Grace in which he played William Pitt The Younger. Elected as Prime Minister at the age of 24, William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) is credited with encouraging Wilberforce to lead the abolitionist movement through political means. Pitt fell under the abolitionist movement. Wilberforce, however, disagreed and thought it beneficial to attempt peace with France. The pair reconciled within a few months and remained friends until Pitt's death in 1806, just one year before the slave trade was abolished.
Benedict's paternal ancestors were sugar plantation owners on Barbados. His ancestors are why all of us with black ancestors called Cumberbatch inherited this surname. Put simply Benedict's ancestors owned mine.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Benedict Cumberbatch
A physically small, eccentric woman. Engaged to be married for 20 years and who sued her fiance for breach of promise when he married someone else. She chain smoked, only wore navy blue and made her own clothes. She also wrote for the Middlesex Gazette, she started the Fisherman's Benevolent Fund for Cromer, Norfolk fishermen. She raised money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). She was Chairman of the West Middlesex Hospital, honorary member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators and was granted freedom of the City of London on 8 December 1960. She also created The Cumberbatch Trophy which is annually awarded for improvements in the safety of flying.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Alice Beatrice Martha Cumberbatch
"Mother of the Notting Hill Carnival"
A black civil rights activist and feminist who died penniless on 24th December 1964 in London, England and was almost forgotten by history.
She introduced the Notting Hill Carnival to England. Each year over a million people celebrate the Notting Hill Carnival and very few are aware of Claudia's part in its history.
Claudia was born in Trinidad and lived in America.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Claudia Vera Cumberbatch
The coveted Cumberbatch Trophy is awarded annually for oustanding contributions to flight safety. Qantas, the Australian Airline, is the only airline ever to have won this prize twice. The trophy was created by Alice Martha Beatrice Cumberbatch and is now awarded by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) and is considered to be one of the Guild's most precious possessions.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.org
Cleland Bulstrode Cumberlege 1875-1946 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1915 for "distinguished service in the field." Cleland was a career soldier and you can read about his career here.By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.org
Read more: Cleland Bulstrode Cumberlege
The Barbados Second Contingent were recruited specifically for the RAF and left Barbados in November 1940 to join the armed forces fighting World War 2.
The 12 men selected included Errol W. Barrow, who would survive the war, enter politics and eventually become Barbados' first Prime Minister (1966 - 1976).
It also included Grey Doyle Cumberbatch born 1921 in St Lucy, Barbados.
Read more: Barbados Second Contingent
We Will Remember Them
Six World War 2 graves at St Swithun's, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire, England. Immaculately maintained by Mr George Hamblet for many years.
This is especially touching as none of the men were from Long Bennington. Three of the men were from Canada, one from Barbados and two from England. Normally, and at the request of the families, the bodies were transported to the areas where their families lived.
One of the graves belongs to Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch born St Lucy, Barbados in 1921.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: War Graves St Swithuns
Barbados' Second Contingent - RAF
Greystone Grey Doyle Cumberbatch was killed when his Lancaster bomber crashed whilst attempting to land at an airfield in England during World War II.
Grey was born in St Lucy, Barbados on 2 June 1921 and was one of twelve of Barabdos' "Second Contingent".
He was the only son of Charles Wilkinson Cumberbatch and Octavia Cecily Clementina née Leacock.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch
George William Marhall published "Collections for a Genealogical Account of the Family of Comberbach" in 1866. This was the first study of the surname Comberbach. George's mother's maiden surname was Comberbach. Read his biography here.
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: George William Marshall
Claudia Jones' "Autobiographical History"
Read the autobiography of Claudia Vera Cumberbatch aka Claudia Jones. "Mother of the Notting Hill Carnival."
By Bob Cumberbatch www.cumberbatch.orgRead more: Claudia Cumberbatch Autobiography
History of Comberbach
COMBERBACH, a township in that part of the parish of Great Budworth which is in the hundred of Bucklow, county palatine of Chester, 3 miles (N. by W.) from Northwich, containing 226 inhabitants.
