David Treffry
Encyclopedia
David Treffry, OBE, was a Cornish
colonial servant, international financier and High Sheriff of Cornwall
.
, was born at Porthpean in 1926. He was educated in Cornwall and at Marlborough College
, and then served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
,, transferring to the Indian Army
, where he was a captain in the Frontier Force Regiment
. In 1947 he returned to Britain and read History at Magdalen College, Oxford
.
in 1953, and served in Aden
until independence in 1967. He achieved senior posts, and as Cabinet Secretary
to the South Arabian Federation was involved in the independence negotiations.
While in Aden, Treffry supported the work of the Reilly Centre for the Blind, and for this work was appointed OBE in 1966.
, remaining there for 21 years.
in Fowey
in 1987, where he played a conspicuous part in Cornish public life, becoming High Sheriff
in 1991, president of the Royal Institution of Cornwall
in 1993, and oversaw the inauguration in 1994 by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh of the Royal Cornwall Museum
. He also worked for the Cornwall region of the National Trust
, and other local organizations.
He was a friend of the Cornish historian and poet A. L. Rowse
, and, on Rowse's death, became the legatee of a substantial sum - which he made over to the Royal Institution of Cornwall, the National Trust, and the Cornwall Heritage Trust.
In 1997 he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, but continued to play an active rôle in Cornish public and social life until his death at Truro
in 2000.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
colonial servant, international financier and High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
.
Early life
David Treffry, a member of the old Cornish family of TreffryTreffry
Treffry is an Cornish surname. The first record of the name Treffry was found in Cornwall where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor of Treffry, some say, at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086...
, was born at Porthpean in 1926. He was educated in Cornwall and at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, and then served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
,, transferring to the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, where he was a captain in the Frontier Force Regiment
Frontier Force Regiment
For Pakistan's Border Guard see: Frontier CorpsThe Frontier Force Regiment is one of six Infantry regiments in the Pakistan Army. At present, the regiment consists of 67 battalions and has its regimental depot at Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. For that reason Abbottabad is also known as Home of...
. In 1947 he returned to Britain and read History at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
.
Colonial servant
Treffry joined the Colonial ServiceColonial Service
The Colonial Service was the British government service which administered Britain's colonies and protectorates, under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Colonial Office in London....
in 1953, and served in Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
until independence in 1967. He achieved senior posts, and as Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
to the South Arabian Federation was involved in the independence negotiations.
While in Aden, Treffry supported the work of the Reilly Centre for the Blind, and for this work was appointed OBE in 1966.
International financier
David Treffry moved to Washington D. C. in 1968 to work for the International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, remaining there for 21 years.
Public servant and High Sheriff
Treffry retired to his ancestral home of PlacePlace House
Place House is a Grade One listed building located in Fowey, Cornwall, England.Home of the Treffry family since the thirteenth century, the original structure was a fifteenth century tower, which was defended against the French in 1475 by Dame Elizabeth Treffry...
in Fowey
Fowey
Fowey is a small town, civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,273.-Early history:...
in 1987, where he played a conspicuous part in Cornish public life, becoming High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
in 1991, president of the Royal Institution of Cornwall
Royal Institution of Cornwall
The Royal Institution of Cornwall was founded in Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom, in 1818 as the Cornwall Literary and Philosophical Institution. The Institution was one of the earliest of seven similar societies established in England and Wales. The RIC moved to its present site in River Street...
in 1993, and oversaw the inauguration in 1994 by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh of the Royal Cornwall Museum
Royal Cornwall Museum
The Royal Cornwall Museum is a museum in the city of Truro, Cornwall, England. It is the oldest museum in Cornwall and the leading museum of Cornish culture. Its exhibits include minerals, an unwrapped mummy and objects relating to Cornwall’s unique culture...
. He also worked for the Cornwall region of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, and other local organizations.
He was a friend of the Cornish historian and poet A. L. Rowse
A. L. Rowse
Alfred Leslie Rowse, CH, FBA , known professionally as A. L. Rowse and to friends and family as Leslie, was a British historian from Cornwall. He is perhaps best known for his work on Elizabethan England and his poetry about Cornwall. He was also a Shakespearean scholar and biographer...
, and, on Rowse's death, became the legatee of a substantial sum - which he made over to the Royal Institution of Cornwall, the National Trust, and the Cornwall Heritage Trust.
In 1997 he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, but continued to play an active rôle in Cornish public and social life until his death at Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
in 2000.