Grasemann, Cuthbert 1890 - 1961

Cuthbert Grasemann (aka 'Tabs' Grasemann), was born in 1890, the son of C. E. Grasemann, Chief Goods Manager of London & North Western Railway. He attended Rugby School and then Trinity College Cambridge. He worked for South Eastern & Chatham Railway between 1912 and 1914, and was Assistant District Superintendent by May 1914. Between 1914 and 1918 he was in the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers, and was demobilised at the rank of captain. He worked at Southern Railway as Assistant to the London East Division, and then as Assistant Divisional Superintendent at Exeter between 1925 and 1930. After this he became Public Relations and Advertising Officer for Southern Railway; during this time he founded its Film Division so that the company's advertising would reach a wider audience. Under Field-Marshall Slim, he assisted in forming Public Relations Department of British Rail, and continued to work as Public Relations & Publicity Officer for the Southern Region after nationalisation, retiring at the end of December 1950. During his retirement Grasemann gave lectures and wrote for publications on railway-related topics; a major hobby was yachting. He was made a freeman of the City of London, and acted as Master of the Fruiterers Company and Master of the Stationers and Newspaper Makers Company. He was awarded the Legion d'Honneur for services to tourism in 1938 and made Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Couronne for services as Chairman of the Anglo- Belgian Publicity Committee in 1947. Grasemann died on 23rd July 1961.