Sir Laming Worthington-Evans

On the south wall of St Margaret's church Westminster is a stone tablet in memory of politician Sir Laming Worthington-Evans. His coat of arms and crest are shown, together with shields of the Cities of Colchester and of Westminster.

The tablet is by M. Webb and the inscription reads:

In memory of the Right Hon. Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Bart. G.B.E. M.P. 1868-1931. For twenty two years a Member of Parliament and for ten years a Cabinet Minister, Secretary of State for War 1921-1922 and 1924-1929. He served his country in war and peace throughout his life and died serving. Glorious is the fruit of good labour and the root of wisdom shall never fall away.

His life

He was born in Broadstairs, Kent on 23rd August 1868, a son of Worthington Evans, a London solicitor, and his second wife Susanna (Laming). He came from a family in Montgomeryshire in Wales and his grandfather John Evans founded a drug firm. Educated at Eastbourne College Laming became a solicitor and later head of his firm. 

He married Gertrude Hale in 1898 and they had a son William Shirley, and a daughter. In 1916 he was created a baronet and added Worthington to his surname. In 1923 he was Postmaster General. He served as MP for Colchester and for Westminster. He died suddenly on 14th February 1931. His funeral was held at St Margaret's Church and he is buried at Limpsfield in Surrey.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

His papers are at the Bodleian Library in Oxford

Winston Churchill wrote an appreciation of him in The Times, 16th February 1931