A new biography, Some Trust in Chariots: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of JK Stanford, has been released by author Andrew Curtis, shedding long-overdue light on one of the 20th century’s most fascinating yet underappreciated figures - Rugbeian JK Stanford (SH 1905–1910).

Stanford arrived at Rugby School on a scholarship from Messrs TH and quickly distinguished himself both academically and within the school community. In 1906, he was awarded a Head Master’s Prize, and by the time he left in 1910, he had secured four copies in the prestigious Head Master's Classical Album. A gifted classicist, Stanford also earned a Classical Scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford, after sitting for the Oxford and Cambridge Entrance Examination in Latin, Greek, Scripture Knowledge, and History.

Beyond the classroom, Stanford was an active member of school life. He played rugby for his house team, contributed to the Debating Society in 1909 and 1910, and served as Head of School House. In the summer before university, he joined the School Mission Camp at New Romney, helping lead activities for children from the Notting Dale Rugby Home Mission - a reflection of the compassion and social awareness that would shape his later life.

Some Trust in Chariots draws on exclusive access to Stanford’s private archive and reveals a life of extraordinary breadth and complexity. A soldier who served in both World Wars, a colonial administrator in British Burma, a celebrated author of both fiction and non-fiction, and a leading figure in ornithology and conservation, Stanford was a true polymath. His writings, particularly his novels and observations of rural life, offer a witty, insightful portrait of British society in transition - while his contributions to bird conservation, especially his work on the iconic avocet, remain highly regarded today.

Author Andrew Curtis brings Stanford's work to the fore and tells the story of his life from an objective but sympathetic perspective.

Some Trust in Chariots: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of JK Stanford is now available to order here.