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    CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS

    Author - Cecil Albany Chard.

     
     

     

    		DON'T FORGET THE DIVER
    C.A. Chard 
    Publisher: Chambers1958  
    From eBay: An attractive and interesting old book about the author's working
    life as a diver. He started in WW1 and is still working during WW2 so there are
    lots of old tales about learning to dive, dangerous dives, old boats and fish. A
    lot of his dives are off Falmouth and Cornwall. Some decent black and white
    photos.  
    "Written by former mayor Arthur Chard of his exploits diving in the first and
    second world war around Falmouth and other locations in Cornwall." 
    Photo acknowledge: MB 

    PS comment: I have been advised by Mr Chard's grand-daughter than his full name was Cecil Albany Chard. The 'Arthur Chard' mentioned above was an
    extract from the book - but may have been transcribed incorrectly. If anyone has
    the book, please advise. 

    Further PS comment, April 2011: I've just received the following from Toby
    Chard who writes: "I'm the great great nephew of the Arthur Chard mentioned in
    the bit about Don't Forget The Diver by C.A. Chard.   I can confirm Arthur was
    Mayor of Falmouth for a few years and that he was not the author of the diving
    book - he was a marine surveyor and coal merchant.  I think C.A. Chard is a
    relative of mine also though and my Dad has a great photograph showing him
    with several other hard hat divers in Falmouth Harbour.  Would love to get a
    copy of the book if you ever come across one! I hope that's useful. 
    Kind regards, Toby

     
    SO, WHO DID WRITE THE BOOK?
    It does not take anything away from Mr Chard, but it is curious to know. PT in England has done further research and adds the following interesting information.

    CA Chard actually did write the book but he states "To the Memory of D Compton-James who helped me write this book".

    Have a look at the history of the Mayor of Falmouth on this web site
    http://www.falmouthtowncouncil.co.uk/web/the-mayor/mayors-of-falmouth-1900-1999/

    It says that Cecil Albany Chard was mayor for 1935-36 but if you look at 1912 to 1917 there was a mayor called Arthur William, presumably CA Chard's father? I think we can say though that (great-great-nephew) Toby is right, Arthur didn't write the book -  it was Cecil Albany.

    In "Don't Forget the Diver", the author states that he was born in 1887 in Falmouth.  He says his father was a Trinity House pilot and he also says that he was a time served as a shipwright and worked in Devonport dockyard, near Plymouth.  In the mid 1930's he was elected Mayor of Falmouth (Article in Wide World Magazine August 1953 - see below).  

    UK Census 1891: Cecil A Chard aged 4 living in Falmouth with parents, brother and 2 sisters - father is a Trinity House pilot

    UK Census1901: Cecil A Chard aged 14 at same address in Falmouth as 1901

    UK Census 1911: Cecil A Chard aged 24 boarding in Keyham near Devonport.  Employed in the dockyard as a Shipwright.

    From the Falmouth council records, there have been two mayors with the surname Chard:
    Arthur William Chard 1912 to 1917
    Cecil Albany Chard 1935 to 1936 - author of "Don't Forget the Diver"
     

     
    Link to PDF file for an excellent article by C.A.Chard in Wide World Magazine from August 1953. The article, named "V.G.I.' refers to the highest marking the Royal Navy gives to a graduate of the Admiralty Diving School. Guess who got one!

     
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