Edward Wyndham Tennant

Category: Male Poets
By W Lawrance

Updated: 03 Sep, 2007 - 13:48:26

Pamela Wyndham, a beautiful socialite, married Edward Priaulx Tennant on 11th July 1895. They were both members of the ‘Souls’, an elite group of late Victorian aristocrats and they came from similar backgrounds. However, this did not guarantee a happy marriage. Pamela had recently had a disastrous affair with another ‘Soul’, Harry Cust and Edward Tennant, twelve years her senior, was seen as something of a saviour. Two days after their first wedding anniversary, their first child was born - a daughter, named Clarissa. Within a year, their first son arrived and was named Edward Wyndham Tennant, although he was more familiarly known by his nickname - ‘Bim’.

From an early age, Bim became his mother’s favourite. She was a devoted mother to all of her children, but Bim always had a special place in her heart. He had an extremely happy childhood, enjoying the company of other children and adults alike. His considerate and charming nature shone through even in his infancy and his kindness to others, whether close family members, or complete strangers, was often remarked upon. Just before his second birthday, another son was born, named Christopher, followed by David in 1902. The family divided its time between their home at Wilton Crescent in Knightsbridge, their estate in Scotland and, from 1906 onwards, Wilsford Manor in Wiltshire. In April 1906, Pamela gave birth to her youngest son, Stephen.

Despite the arrival of his younger brothers, Bim continued to remain devoted to his mother and she returned the sentiment. Their close relationship did not seem to cause any sibling rivalry partly because Bim loved them all so much, but also because, unlike many mothers of her class, Pamela took a keen interest in all of her children, rather than leaving their upbringing solely in the hands of nannies and governesses. It was, therefore, a considerable wrench when, in 1907, Bim went away to school at West Downs in Winchester. Although clearly homesick, Bim soon settled into boarding school, becoming an excellent bowler in the cricket team and joint editor of the school magazine. He wrote frequent letters to both of his parents, who never failed to reply. Although his headmaster later recalled Bim as having ‘fits of gloom’, he remained loyal to his school and often revisited it as well as keeping in touch with fellow students, tutors and the headmaster.

In 1911, he left West Downs and went to Winchester, where he continued to play sport and write poetry - a hobby which he had begun even before he could write: he used to dictate poems and stories to his mother. He was not, however, traditionally academic, but he compensated for this with his charm and easy-going personality. He made friends easily and many of them were invited to Wilsford or Scotland during the school holidays. His parents were contemplating a career for him in the diplomatic service when the First World War broke out.

End of sample text taken from the biography of Edward Wyndham Tennant.