Introduction & Dedication
This website is of course dedicated to the great man himself, Sir Harry Preston of Brighton… “the friend of Princes and the Prince of friends.”
The website is also dedicated to my late father, Ron Woodlands , who sadly passed away in 2017 aged 90. In his latter years, my father researched extensively our family history. During his research, he confirmed what had been hearsay for much of his life. The fact that his “secret grandfather”, whom he knew nothing of until his late twenties, was indeed Sir Harry Preston.
The following pages are the results of my father’s research into the life of Harry Preston (his grandfather, and my great-grandfather). They form part of a larger family history that my father wrote for my family over a period of several years, and completed around 2012.
The World Of Harry Preston
Contents
The Secret Grandfather >>
From hearsay to confirmation. The birth certificates and signatures that connect Sir Harry Preston to the Woodlands family
Harry Preston’s Early Days >>
From a middle-class upbringing, to teacher in Lewisham, shipping clerk in the City and London publican. The young sportsman develops his boxing skills, stages illegal boxing bouts at his London alehouses, meets his first wife, and heads to Bournemouth to begin a career in the hotel trade
Harry and Lily English >>
A new life in Bournemouth, a new business partner, and a mistress. The Woodlands family is born
Harry Preston of Brighton >>
Harry’s move to Brighton and his entrepreneurial activities bring him into contact with the famous celebrities and early motorists and aviators of the day. He helps put Brighton back on the map and through his philanthropic work becomes friends with royalty
Harry’s London >>
An insight into the London of Harry’s early career and later life. A look at the technological advances that were taking place and the underlying influencers of the time
The Real Harry? >>
How much do we know about the real Harry Preston? His books give little away about his private life or his views on the issues of the day, so we’re left to read between the lines
Sources
My father researched extensively into Harry’s life, with information coming from numerous sources, including:
- Verbally from my father’s cousins, Pam and Marion, the daughters of Winifred Preston (Harry’s daughter by Lily English)
- Brighton local newspaper articles and the records of the Royal Albion Hotel
- Harry Preston’s books, ‘Memories’ (M) published 1928, and ‘Leaves From My Unwritten Diary’ (L) published 1936
- Tony and Jean Preston. Tony is the grandson of Frank Preston, one of Harry Preston’s brothers
- His own further investigations
In addition, information on this website comes from various references and books.
If you’ve any information on inaccuracies, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me.
Find out more
Robin Woodlands is the great-grandson of Harry Preston and his mistress 
Ronald Philip Harry Woodlands (Ron) was the grandson of Harry Preston and his mistress 