John Ayscough (b. 1858 - d. 1928)
‘John Ayscough’ is the pen name of the Rt. Revd. Monsignor Francis Bickerstaffe-Drew, whose life is (for the first time) authoritatively told in the Introduction. As well as becoming a papal prelate and count, he was a very popular novelist in the early 20th century, and during the Great War he was a very courageous chaplain, twice mentioned in dispatches, awarded the Mons Medal and the CBE. It is hoped the book’s appearance will earn him a place in the online Oxford D.N.B. It is also hoped that publicity in the United States (where his popularity as a writer may well have exceeded that in Britain) might once again cause him to be recognised.
Christopher Jobson
‘Christopher Jobson’ graduated from Cardiff University and taught for many years in Adams’ Grammar School, Newport where he was also the school archivist. Before retirement he taught at Ellesmere College then he tutored local history courses for North Shropshire College. He has written and given talks on many aspects of the history of Ellesmere and the Welsh borderland. Among his publications are two volumes on the history of Ellesmere.