James A. Hartopp
Born in 1869, James Hartopp was a wine merchant and lived in Quorn, where he owned the Manor Hotel. From newspaper reports he was a talented singer and violinist. He was obviously a versatile entertainer, the Melton Mowbray Mercury reported on a “Smoking Concert” in 1909 where Mr. Hartopp royally entertained the audience with “an imitation of Highland bagpipes”. In 1936 he received a long service award for 43 years in amateur music and drama.
He served as a major in the Leicestershire Yeomanry during World War 1.
He had a well deserved reputation for philanthropy around Leicestershire in support of the Royal Infirmary and numerous local causes.
As well as donating trophies for golf at Rothley Park there are also Hartopp Cups for tennis and bowls in the County.
It would seem that Mr. Hartopp was not one to court popularity, he donated trophies to both the Ladies and Men’s sections of the club whose format was the controversial “against bogey” format.
