Fry, Charles Burgess - R.I.P. at Repton

Charles Burgess Fry - the famous 'C. B.' - who was a pupil at Repton School

The original simple tablet grave in Repton churchyard where the ashes of Charles Burgess Fry were buried.

CHARLES BURGESS FRY was born at Croydon on 25 April 1872 and died at Hampstead on 7 September 1956 at the age of 84. Yet he had expressed a wish to be buried at Repton, and the grave which carries his ashes may be found there in the rear portion of the graveyard at St. Wystan's Church, close to the rear wall of the church itself.

Fry had been a pupil at Repton School from 1885 to 1891, a member of 'The Cross' house then known as 'Forman House'. Evidently his schooldays were happy ones, hence his choice of resting place.

He was an extraordinarily talented individual considered by many to be the finest all-round sportsman Britian has ever produced, although his achievements must be judged against the context of the times, for Fry was an 'amateur' of the old schoool type rather than a highly-paid professional.

He played for England at both football and cricket and while still a student he equalled the world long-jump record. He played rugby for Oxford University, Blackheath and Barbarians, and could turn his hand very ably to most sporting activities.

He had many other talents besides - what is known as a 'polymath' - although some might say 'clever dick'! He was an author, publisher, political and public figure, critic, scholar, naval captain, raconteur, and all-round 'good egg'. He was once offered the throne of Albania but declined the invitation because he was 'rather too busy'.

The grave proved very much more modest than the man himself, merely a simple flat tablet carrying his name and dates. Only a few years ago it had almost disappeared entirely beneath the grass which encroached it, but the grave was tidied after an article on Fry appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph. It was subsequently regularly tended and in 2008, rather out of the blue, a splendid new upright gravestone was added, the original tablet being incorporated into the design.

Yet still many visitors to the graveyard pass close to Fry's final resting place unaware that the ashes of 'the greatest sportsman of all time' lie just feet from the pathway.

This entry is part of the GRAVE MATTERS project which aims to record 'celebrity' or unusual graves to be found in Derbyshire. If you know of a suitable subject why not register for free and post your subject on this site to share with others?

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