#15168, Sophie Tupper CAMERON

Sophie was the eldest of five daughters born to Emma Tupper and, then, Captain Donald Roderick Cameron. She was named after Emma’s sister, Sophy Almon Tupper who died young. From his letter to his ‘Second Sophy’ on her birth, Sophie’s grandfather, Sir Charles Tupper, immediately adopted her as his own.

Sophie’s family moved with her father, an Army Officer, when stationed in the Rockies, then Malta. In 1887 he was promoted to Major General, and became Commandant of the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Canada from 1888.

Sophie often travelled to visit her grandparents, Sir Charles & Lady Tupper in London and there she met Christian Gray, son of their friend Matthew Gray. In 1890, holidaying in Scotland with the Gray family, she accepted Christian’s surprise proposal of marriage. However her father refused his permission as she was still under age. Distressed, she was forced to return to Canada and under duress made to break off the engagement. Chris did not believe she meant it, so communicating through her grandparents, they planned to marry once she reached 21 years old. The marriage took place as planned but, as Sophie feared, her father was furious. He cut her off from any communication with her mother, her four sisters and her brother. This was very hard for Sophie to bear, especially when her sister, Lillie, became seriously ill.

After her marriage Sophie became a keen sportswoman. She went on bicycling expeditions with Chris and her friends round Kent. She had fencing lessons in their home with her sister-in-law, Bessie Gray and friends. She played tennis in full length skirts and brimmed hats! Both Chris and Sophie became keen golfers and in 1898 she set up a tournament for her lady friends, She invited them to come and practise on their lawn and told Bess that she and Chris often arrived home to find their friends with their golf clubs on the lawn, as if surprised to find them there! They also played in golf France at ‘La Boulie’ and ‘Chantilly’ when Chris visited the factory at Persan Beaumont.

In October 1909 in the early days of women’s golf, Chris and Sophie toured Canada and the USA with a Ladies Team of Sophie’s friends. She reported it all to Bess by letter fitted in between fixtures. Chris interspersed golfing with business meetings in New York and at Akron.

Family & anxiety about health were inextricably linked in the days before effective medication was available. It is easy to understand how anxious Sophie was when her sister Lillie had a suppurating wound requiring an operation in 1894. This all took place at a time when the mortality rate at operation was very high; hospitals were considered dangerous places. The idea that a change of air would be restorative prevailed at that time, so visits were frequently arranged to the sea side. Sir Charles & Lady Tupper took their grandchildren Marie (whose mother had died in childbirth), Sophie & her sister Mollie “to set themselves up” & “revive their spirits”. They stayed in hotels, took walks or rested, perhaps did some sketching, fishing or sea-bathing.

Sophie’s life continued to be one of relative luxury with Chris working hard and treating her well. Her family was always very important to her and in time she was able to communicate with her mother again. She lost Chris suddenly and unexpectedly when he died following a short illness at the age of seventy three. Despite his loss, she continued to travel widely with friends in the 1930s . However having always worn glasses and had concerns for her eyesight, she gradually became blind. By 1938 she had moved to live in Bath when she lived for the rest of her life supported by live-in staff and a secretary. Her niece Mary Gray, by then Mary Todd, was also living in Bath in the 1960s, and so on hand to help. She lived a long life and despite early traumas in her youth she developed a determined pioneering spirit for sport, golf in particular. She also maintained an abiding loyalty to her Canadian family.

Nicky Hibbin