Jack Thomas Arthur Howard-Drake (b 1919), worked as Assistant Inspector, Ministry of Health Insurance Department, 1937-1939 and 1946-1947. During World War II, he served in the Royal Artillery, 1939-1946, In 1947 he started work for the Colonial Office as Assistant Principal, 1947, then as Principal, 1949. He served as Private Secretary to the Secretary of State, 1956-1962, Assistant Secretary, 1962, Assistant Secretary, Cabinet Office, 1963-1965, Assistant secretary, Home Office, 1965-1972, and Assistant Under-Secretary of State, National Insurance Office, 1972-1974. In 1947 he married Joan Mary Crook, with whom he had one son and two daughters. He was chairman of the Oxfordshire Local History Association, 1984-1991 and the Wychwoods Local History Society, 1984-1992. He published Oxford church courts. depositions in six volumes - 1542-1550, 1570-1574, 1581-1586, 1589-1593, 1592-1596 and 1603-1606 (Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire County Council Leisure and Arts, 1991-1999).