A Story of Yoga, Singing, and Captain Edward Hain

Coming full circle at the EHC

Yesterday, 15th August, would have been Captain Edward ‘Teddy’ Hain’s 139th birthday. As most of you reading this know, the Edward Hain Memorial Hospital was founded in his name after he was killed in WW1. It now lives on in the Centre.

On his birthday yesterday I was thinking about his legacy, when I was struck by a lovely coincidence of timing. So I thought I’d share it today as a belated birthday story.

As happens when summer hols are in full swing, our range of activities is temporarily less than usual. At the moment, our two main offerings are a fabulous selection of 5 yoga classes – including 3 new ones that started two weeks ago – and our Shanty Kids project, starting this week.

Yoga and Singing. Both very nice, you might say— but what do either have to do with Captain Edward Hain?

1. The yoga connection

Edward had a nephew he never met: my dad, also named Edward. Pop followed in his uncle’s footsteps, first going to Winchester College (where both, incidentally, were keen cricketers) then going to university: Pop to Cambridge; his uncle at Oxford. Both were known as Teddy. Both, in their 20s, fought in the world war of their time. Both were captains; Teddy Snr. in the Army; Teddy Jr. as a glider pilot.

Born four years after his uncle’s death, Pop was 26 in 1945, at the end of WW2. Several years later he went to India to study yoga, after which he formed the Yoga Practice Society in London. At that time – the early 1950s – Yoga was so new and rare in England that the BBC even went along to the YPS to film a session!

This film turned up in the BBC archives shortly before we opened in 2023, and they sent me a copy. It came complete with a very clipped 1950’s narration, along with a tinny-sounding piece of the BBC’s idea of ‘Indian’ music. So although I’ve no idea whether it aired, it seems likely.

Sadly, copyright doesn’t allow me to share it publicly – but I took a few screen shots (shhh!): Pop doing a headstand; and helping my mother into a very enviable Lotus posture.

Pop sometimes shared his bendy tendencies with his older children and their friends. Below is a page from my sister Mim’s photo album, taken c. 1956. A snap from earlier shows him in India (he in the cricket sweater…), and lastly, one me in a relaxed half-Lotus, which I’d never again achieve…

2. The Singing Connection

Captain Edward’s sister, Kate (Pop’s mother; my grandmother), apparently had a beautiful singing voice. A close friend of hers told me in my 20s that she once sang for Queen Victoria, and wanted to pursue a career in singing. In those days, this was considered Not At All Prope, so her parents forbade her to follow her dream.

Her only son, however, did: he became a professional operatic singer. Not exactly singing shanties, like our Shanty Kids; but a few songs in his repertoire touched on the folky. The legacy of singing continued with two of his children.

Another Full Circle. . .

Granny later became one of the first trustees of the Edward Hain Memorial Hospital’s first trustees, a role in which she found meaning until the NHS took over the hospital in 1948. Now, later in my life, I’m proud to follow in her footsteps as one of the first trustees of the EHC.

I often think about how difficult is must have been for her to lose her brother, whom she adored. Her letters to him are deeply fond and expressive. But I like to imagine that both Edward the Elder and his sister waft over St Ives from time to time, and see how his legacy has come to life again. I hope these two connections of yoga and song would lift their hearts.

Perhaps Pop tags along, too— and I am sure that he, as their nephew and son respectively, would be thrilled!

Continuing the Legacy…

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