Henry Phythian-Adams

Henry Phythian-Adams, of Leamington Spa, who attended Queens’ College from 1959 to 1962, passed away on 24^th March 2026 aged 86. A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, godfather, friend… he will be dearly missed.

Born in Edinburgh on 31st March 1939, Henry grew up at 1, The Abbey, next to Carlisle Cathedral. After attending Lime House School and Rossall School, he continued his education at Queens’ College, where Henry was a member of the amateur dramatics group, Bats, and played Thomas Morton, Bishop of Ely in the 1961 May Week production of Richard III. Henry earned his Bachelor of Arts in History at Queens’ College, Cambridge, and later attained a Master’s degree in English Local History from Leicester University.

Henry’s teaching career began at Mattersey Hall and Clifton College Prep School. He later became Keeper of the Education Department at Warwick Museum where he formed an interactive junior museum club. From 1970 until his retirement, Henry taught at Emscote Lawn Prep School, Warwick, where he became the Head of History and School Librarian. A gifted educator, he brought history to life through the summer camp, an Elizabethan Fair, a Regency “living history” project, a Roman Carnival and a Medieval project amongst countless others —and memorable performances in school plays, perhaps most notably as the villain in “Hiss the Villain” and Fagan in “What The Dickens”.

In 1974, Henry married Margaret Ashby, whose family, as friends of the Phythian-Adams’, used to picnic with them when Henry was a boy. They had special permission for the service to be at Carlisle Cathedral, and the school choir from Emscote Lawn took part in the service. Their daughter was born in 1977, followed by their son in 1982.

Henry gave talks on heraldry, the Earls of Warwick, and the Beauchamp Chapel. He lectured for the National Trust, Durham University, Warwickshire College and bicentenary festivals at Aberaeron, Ceredigion and also at Southsea, Hampshire. He served as Honorary Secretary for the Warwickshire Local History Society for 26 years and was instrumental in the Kingmaker exhibition at Warwick Castle.

​His lifelong research into genealogy revealed ancestral ties to the Earls of Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire. He gave several free talks there to support its preservation and was an honorary “friend” of the Castle.

There was a private funeral in Warwick on the morning of 21^st April.

Written by Henry’s family.