Difference between revisions of "Robert Hutton"

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Robert Hutton born 16 May 1898 in Hutton, Essex (real name Horace Charles Forbes Cheston), was the author of 'Of Those Alone' published in 1958. Known as Forbes Cheston, he used the alias Robert Hutton for his autobiographical book charting many of his gay encounters. He was banished from his junior boarding school after he 'sexually interfered with a smaller boy' ^[1]. As a child he lived at a house called Hampton Lea, a substantial house in Langley Park Road, Sutton, Surrey. Age 16, he was studying Engineering and commuting from Sutton to London Victoria Station. It was at that railway station in 1914 that he describes, in 'Of Those Alone', an encounter with an older man which led to sex in a summerhouse in Belgrave Square. He joined the army early in 1915 having lied about his age ^[2]. By the summer of 1915 he states 'I was thoroughly bored with my life as a private, though not with my private life' ^[3]. He went absent without leave. A Major who is called George in the book then managed to get him a Commission although it was subsequently discovered he had obtained this while absent without leave! While aimlessly wandering the streets of the West End looking for someone ('like him') he was arrested by two plain clothed police officers and subsequently appeared at Marlborough Street Magistrates Court on a charge of soliciting for immoral purposes. He was sentenced to prison for three months ^[4].

Kathy Nichols wrote in 2017:

'He was very young when he joined up – in fact he was too young. Having been born in May 1898 he would still only have been seventeen when he was made temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Cheshire Regiment in October 1915. The minimum age for enlistment was nineteen at the time but many young men lied about their age. He relinquished his commission less than a year later in August 1916. A medal index card reveals that he served as a rifleman in the 5th London Rifles from July 1917 to January 1918 ^[5], and then with the 28th London Rifles (The Artists’ Rifles) from January 1918 to August 1918. After the war he spent time in the USA and is recorded as having no occupation on various passenger lists' ^[6].

Part of dust jacket notes 'Of Those Alone' (1958)

Later Hutton (Cheston) became an advocate for the progressive treatment of alcoholism. He felt that he had been rescued by Alcoholics Anonymous while he was in America and he encouraged the setting up of a British version. He also became the Secretary of the Interim Committee on Alcoholism.

By 1955 he had a business in London which offered interior decorating consultancy. On 13th February 1957 he featured on Woman’s Hour in the item “Forbes Cheston offers some thoughts on interior decoration”.

He wrote various pamphlets and items for magazines. He and his wife lived in the Norwich area in their later years. She died there in 1974 and Forbes followed in 1975' ^{[10] [11]}.

References

1. ↑ pp 28-29 Of Those Alone (1958)
2. ↑ op cit 34
3. ↑ op cit p 38
4. ↑ op cit pp43-49
5. ↑ In Of Those Alone he states he went to France in the summer of 1917 (p 51)
6. ↑ https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/the-story-of-hampton-lea-uncovering-hidden-histories/
7. ↑ p 59 Of Those Alone (1958)
8. ↑ op cit p60
9. ↑ The Tatler 19 August 1936 announced his engagement to Miss Mary Starr
10. ↑ The Story of Hampton Lea: Uncovering Hidden Histories https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/the-story-of-hampton-lea-uncovering-hidden-histories/ Accessed 3 July 2023
11. ↑ Of Those Alone – From Hampton Lea to NYC – The Forbes Cheston Story https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2023/07/20/of-those-alone-from-hampton-lea-to-nyc-the-forbes-cheston-story/ Accessed 21 July 2023