Faces and Places: Thomas Ewart Mitton [cont.]

Description:Ewart’s cousin was the later world-famous author J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien often visited Abbotsford; he went there with his friend Christopher Wiseman to play quoits, and spent holidays with the Mittons. [7] He was almost certainly thinking of the Mitton family when he described Sarehole, a mile away, “… on the edge of the prosperous bourgeoisie of Birmingham”. [8] He may have become a signals officer because his older cousin, Eric Mitton, had found success in the army in that role.

Some of Ewart’s poems [1] were selected for publication by his brother in 1918 after his death, for private circulation. Three had been published in the King Edward’s School Chronicle. The poems show that he shared the interests of his family. Several are about the worship of God; in others there is a strong sense of social responsibility. Many of them read like hymns.

It may be asked whether Ewart could have become a famous author like his cousin. He followed a similar path to Tolkien when at King Edward’s from 1911 to 1915. Both had material published in the school magazine. [9] Both were in the football [rugby] team. Both took part in school debates, and were Secretaries of the Debating Society. Ewart, in addition, was Captain of his house cricket team.

Comments on their football, and on their debating styles suggest some contrasts. When playing rugby Ewart was ‘very keen’ but ‘inclined to lose his head when he gets the ball.’ Chronicle March 1915. Tolkien, on the other hand: ‘possesses pace and dash, and is a good dribbler. His tackling is always reliable, and he follows up hard.’ Chronicle March 1911. When debating Tolkien was an ‘eccentric humorist’ who delighted in puns Chronicle April 1911, whereas Ewart was ‘too idealistic in his theories and too fond of quoting from Kipling.’ Chronicle June 1915. It was said of both that their speeches were not always clear; Ewart’s because of incoherence, Tolkien’s because of a ‘faulty delivery.’