Adam Fox

The ashes of the Reverend Adam Fox, Canon of Westminster from 1942 and Sub-Dean from 1959-1963, are buried in the south transept of Westminster Abbey, near George Grote's grave. He was born on 15th July 1888 a son of W.H. Fox, a sea captain. His twin sister was Eve. He was educated at Winchester and Oxford and was assistant master at Lancing College from 1906-1918. Then he was appointed Warden of Radley college until ill health forced him to resign in 1924 and go to South Africa to teach. In 1929 he returned to England to be Dean of Divinity at Oxford and was professor of poetry, being supported by C.S. Lewis. He wrote several books including a Life of Dean Inge, Plato for Pleasure and God is an artist. While at Westminster he also held the posts of treasurer and archdeacon and remained living in the precincts after retirement as he had a freehold. Apparently he liked to have some kippers at breakfast, lunch and tea and had a devoted housekeeper called Miss Barr. He died at a nursing home on 17th January 1977. He had wanted the inscription "A Fox gone to earth" on his stone but the actual inscription reads:

Adam Fox 1883-1977 scholar of Winchester, Warden of Radley 1918-24, Dean of Divinity, Magdalen College 1929-42, Professor of Poetry University of Oxford 1938-43, Master of the Skinners' Company 1947-48, Canon, archdeacon and Sub-Dean of Westminster 1942-63. Laetatus Sum

The stone is of Belgian fossil marble cut by Keith Bailey and given by the Skinners Company.