26 March 2017

George Orwell in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire

'NEAR TO THIS PLACE LIE
THE MORTAL REMAINS OF
GEORGE ORWELL . WRITER
. ERIC ARTHUR BLAIR .
25 JUNE 1903 . 21 JANUARY 1950'

This plaque is on the south wall of All Saints's church, Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire.

'HERE LIES
ERIC ARTHUR BLAIR
BORN JUNE 25TH 1903
DIED JANUARY 21ST 1950'

Orwell wanted to be buried in a country graveyard, and he was. To the right is a rather rain-weathered copy of his Homage to Catalonia which an admirer has obviously left.
'DAVID
ASTOR
1912 – 2001'

David Astor was the editor of the Observer, an owner of estate in Sutton Courtenay, a friend (and employer) of Orwell's, also responsible for seeing that Orwell's wishes were carried out. He bought two graveyard plots in All Saint's', and is buried immediately behind Orwell's grave.

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