CRASTER, Oswin Edmund TD (1916-2006)
colinp
The lifelong dedication of Oswin "Os" Craster, who has died aged 89, to his country's and his family's heritage was interrupted by distinguished wartime service with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) behind enemy lines in France and Burma.
Craster was born in Oxford, the son of the Bodleian librarian Sir Edmund, but the Crasters were of Northumberland stock and Oswin spent much of his later life in the fishing village of Craster. This was once mostly owned by his family and Craster Tower remains a landmark on the Northumberland coast [….]
After the war Craster, known for his dry wit and keen on forestry and gardening as well as his family's heritage, returned to the AMI. He worked mostly in southern England until he was made chief inspector for Wales; he retired as chief inspector for England in 1976.
The head of the family, Sir John Craster, who died that year, had sold the bulk of the estate in 1965. The residue was left to Oswin; but he and two other cousins combined in 1966 to buy back the 14th-century tower, which they divided into three dwellings. Oswin moved in permanently on retirement.
In 1944 he married Mary Molony, then serving in the Wrens. She survives him, as do their two daughters and one son.
Oswin Edmund Craster, ancient buildings inspector and SOE operative, born June 28 1916; died January 29 2006
Oswin Craster | | The Guardian
He was the son of Sir (Herbert Henry) Edmund CRASTER (Bodley's LIbrarian, University of Oxford) (1879-1959), scion of the gentry family Craster of Craster (BLG 1965) and (m 1912) Alice Ida BAKER_CRESSWELL, scion of the gentry family Baker-Cresswell f/o Cresswell (BLG 1965). He m 1944 (Edith) Mary MOLONY (1921-2015) and had a son Edmund John b 1946 and 2 daus Elizabeth Mary b 1949 and Bridget Anne b 1951
Sir John Montagu Craster actually died 8 December 1975