Don Collinson 2
Dart History - Don Collinson
Don Collinson from Kingswear is well-known locally as the author of The Chronicles of Dartmouth, the definitive history of the town between 1854 and 1954. Published by Richard Webb, the Dartmouth publisher, the book was originally published in 2000 as a community history to mark the millennium. A best-seller and a winner of the Devon Book of the Year, the book is about to be re-printed for the second time for release in early July (available from the Harbour Bookshop and other outlets in the town – see www.dartmouthbooks.co.uk).
The book was produced as an historical log of the town. When Don retired in 1981 to Kingswear, he realised the paucity of recorded history of Dartmouth’s golden years and the wealth of detail available in the minutes of the Royal Dart Yacht Club, Harbour Commission and the Dartmouth Chronicle records and was determined to rectify the situation as the book proves. His first book, Don was aged 81 when the book was published.
Don was born in 1919 to a theatrical family, within siren sound of the liners on the Manchester Ship Canal, so developing an early love of all things maritime. An indifferent scholar (his own admission), apprenticed early because of Chippendale aspirations, he was called to the colours as a territorial in August 1939 followed by seven years of soldiering, mainly abroad as Desert Rat in the REME, then 101 Infantry Tanks, 7th Armoured Division and the 8th Army.
During breaks in Rommel’s Libyan campaigns, he read Ruskin’s Seven Lamps in Architecture which rekindled his interest in architecture and which was further fuelled by brief encounters with Reniassance buildings in Sicily, Italy and northern Europe (a soldier’s grand tour).
In 1946, thirteen countries and three invasions later, he returned to studies at Manchester College of Technology (Manchester University) and re-entered the construction industry as agent, surveyor and manager. In 1951, he moved to Bristol for thirty happy years, married and had a lovely daughter, whilst acquiring an FCIOB and several directorships with a large public company with construction and shipping interests. His community work included twenty-seven years dedication to restoring the derelict 100 mile Kennet and Avon Canal, mainly as vice chairman and chief negotiator, becoming vice president and at the canal’s reopening in 1990 was presented to the Queen.
Despite being 90 years young, Don has an almost photographic memory and will easily relate the history of any significant house in Dartmouth or Kingswear or conspicuous event of this period. As he explains, “The Chronicle started in 1854 – and in those days, such newspapers reported everything in detail. So I kept driving to Kingsbridge two to three times a week and losing myself in a dungeon there taking copious notes. I built this archive of material, which I hadn’t originally planned to reproduce in a book but merely to get it recorded. But when Richard Webb saw what I was doing, he saw the potential as a book. So I continued for 15 years to chronicle the 100 years from 1854. I had certainly had the best years as the Chronicle during that time was the only source of record but, of course, that has changed in recent years. Phil Scoble, currently of the Chronicle, is now recording the latter 50 years to bring the history more up to date.
Don’s research has been comprehensive and conscientious. He recognises that there is still much he could add or refine to his history but as he admits “our knowledge of history is constantly evolving as we learn new facts and reinterpret our views”.
First published July 2009 By the Dart