70 years after the death of one of Weymouth's most prominent citizens, Bill Macey shares information about the lifetime achievements of Mark Coker Frowde.

Mark Coker Frowde was a very prominent man in Weymouth from the late 19th century until his death on Christmas Eve in 1949. He was born in Devonport on November 10, 1870, the son of William Henry Frowde, saddler and harness maker, and his wife, Mary Grace Frowde.

Mark moved to Weymouth in 1890 to join Cosens & Company as a junior draughtsman. In October 1896, he married Miss Winifred Williams at All Saints Church in Lyme Regis, and the couple had one daughter: Kathleen Vaughn Frowde.

In 1893, Mark helped found Weymouth Football Club, alongside Jimmy Newport and Robert Bennett. While watching a kickabout on the sands, the trio agreed that a formal club should exist, and went about establishing a committee.

Mark had always been a keen sportsman, having played rugby at school in Exeter and football for Devon, as well as joining the football club at Charlton Oaks and playing for the St James team in Plymouth.

In Weymouth, he was a member of the rowing club and a keen swimmer, becoming involved in the town's football scene after attending a meeting of the Dorset County Football Association (DCFA). It was there that Mark introduced himself as the honourary secretary of the club which had just been formed in Weymouth, marking the start of a long association with the game.

Six years later, Mark was elected honourary secretary of the DCFA and in 1901, was selected to represent the association on the FA Council. In 1921, he became president of the DCFA and in 1922 was presented with a silver cup in honour of his 25 years of service.

Although grateful, Mark returned the cup to the club and expressed his wishes for it to be played for in competition by the schoolboys of the county. He also offered a cheque of £100 to be invested, stating that the interest should be used to pay for winning team medals.

The Mark Frowde Cup continues to be competed for, almost 100 years after it was first introduced. The present holders are the football team of Poole Grammar School.

1925 saw Mark travel to Australia with the English football team as manager; England played 25 games during that tour, winning every single one.

After Mark's death, another cup was presented in his memory, donated by friends and colleagues. This too continues to be competed for.

Mark spent more than 50 years with the engineering firm Cosens & Company, retiring in 1942 due to ill health. By that point, he was managing director of the firm, a genial man with great concern for employees and their families. He is remembered as a kind and good-natured individual, whose letter to an employee serving in Iceland with the Royal Army Service Corps epitomises his personality. It reads: "I was surprised to learn you are in Iceland. How long have you been there, and do you like it alright, or is it too cold? There are several Weymouth fellows attached to the R. E. Territorials who have been sent to Iceland, including several fellows from the Gas Company; one of them is young Banks, a nephew of Ethel at Stanton Court. I merely mention this in case you happen to run across any of them. In case you are ever again in Weymouth we shall always be delighted to see you."

The letter goes on to say that he will be retiring from Cosens after more than 50 years, after recently suffering a slight stroke.

It concludes: "Duncan, Price and Sam Bolt send their best wishes, and so do the office staff here at the Works. Mrs Frowde has asked me to remember her to you and to say, the time that you used to drive us about in the evenings seems more like a dream than anything else. Again every good wish."

Mark was also honourary secretary of Weymouth Lifeboat for 11 years, from 1904 to 1915.

When Mark passed away 70 years ago, people from all walks of life attended his funeral, including secretary of the Football Association, Sir Stanley F. Rous CBE. The service was held at St John's Church in Weymouth. Mark's involvement with football, both in Dorset and nationally, remains legendary.

With thanks to Bill for sharing this fascinating information about Mark's life and career.