The Society of Dorset Men is mourning the loss of Gordon Hine FRICS, who was their Secretary for 25 years, the longest serving in the society’s 110 year history. From his home in Shaftesbury, Gordon kept in touch with Dorsetmen throughout the UK and around the world.
“At our Christmas lunch in early December at the Crown Hotel, Blandford, all members present signed a Christmas card for Gordon,” says Society of Dorset Men spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins “We are very pleased he was able to read the heartfelt good wishes of his friends before he passed away.”
“Together with President Sir Anthony Jolliffe and Chairman Roy Adam, Gordon Hine kept the Society together during some difficult years,” says Michel Hooper-Immins. “They cleverly managed the transition between a Society being based in London serving Dorset expatriates- into the more successful and locally based organisation we now have.”
“Gordon Hine made an enormous contribution to The Society of Dorset Men,” continued Mr. Hooper-Immins, “as Secretary from 1979 to 2004, he was a towering figure in our organisation, laying the firm foundation for our modern Society. He had been a member of the committee since 1958.” On his retirement in 2004, Gordon was presented with a silver claret jug by Sir Anthony Jolliffe, then President of the Society.
Mr. Hine passed away last Monday [15 December] at a Gillingham nursing home and leaves his widow Jeanette, son Russell and three daughters Jillian, Jacqueline and Deborah.
Gordon Hine had many times entertained members of The Society of Dorset Men at his fascinating Hine Collection of Mechanical Music in New Road, Shaftesbury. Gordon Hine and his late father Edward collected dance, fairground and street organs for over 40 years. The oldest dates from 1901- the 89-key Gavioli fair organ built at Waldkirch in the Black Forest region of Germany. The late Edward Hine bought it in pieces in 1967 and restored the organ to full working order.
The late Gordon Hine was for three decades a popular county, district and town councillor. He was the North Dorset district councillor for Motcombe & Ham from 1987 until 2007. Faithful service was rewarded when Gordon was made an Alderman. Three times Mayor of Shaftesbury, he was an Honorary Freeman of both Gillingham and Shaftesbury.
The Funeral takes place at St. Mary’s Church, Gillingham on Thursday 15 January at 11am.
The Society of Dorset Men was founded 110 years ago on 7 July 1904. The Society has a long and rich history, beginning as The Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city. However, since the 1970s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset. Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The President is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL. He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL DSc DMus in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth and who still lives in Wyke Regis.
The four objects of The Society of Dorset Men are: “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the Society.”
Michel Hooper-Immins
