Cyril Tolley

Major Cyril James Hastings Tolley MC (14 September 1895 – 18 May 1978) was a British amateur golf champion and briefly a Liberal Party politician.

Early life Tolley was the son of James T. Tolley and Christiana Mary Pascall. He was educated at University College, Oxford. He won the Military Cross at Ypres during the First World War for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in getting his Tank into action over very difficult ground. Walking in front of his Tank until close to his objectives, he then dispersed the crews of four separate machine guns and silenced them, one of which he captured himself, and thus materially assisted the infantry in the capture of a strong enemy redoubt which had held up the attack for some time." He was later captured, and spent thirteen months in a German prison camp.

Career Tolley was connected with the London Stock Exchange. He lived for a time in New York.

Tolly was also an excellent golfer. Tolley twice won The Amateur Championship in 1920 and 1929. In the 4th round in 1930 at St Andrews he lost to Bobby Jones on the 19th hole after Jones had laid a "horrid stymie" with Tolley within 4 feet of the hole. Jones eventually won the tournament. He won the French Open in 1924 and 1928 and was the Welsh Open Amateur Championship in 1921 and 1923.

In 1928, Tolley launched a libel action against J. S. Fry & Sons of Bristol, chocolate manufacturers. Frys had produced an advert in which Tolley was caricatured and which contained a limerick, published in two newspapers in June 1928. Tolley claimed that the advert suggested that he had made some financial gain and had been guilty of conduct unworthy of his status as an amateur golfer. In 1929, Tolley won £1,000 damages although this decision was set aside by the Court of Appeal. Tolley then took the case to the House of Lords where he was successful but it was decided that the damages were excessive. Eventually, in July 1931, he received £500 damages and costs.

In the Second World War, he commanded a company of the Royal Sussex Regiment and was a liaison officer with the United States Army. North Devon was a winnable seat, however, by 11 January 1950, he had been replaced as prospective candidate. Instead he became Liberal candidate for the less winnable Hendon South division of Middlesex for the 1950 General Election. However, he lost. He did not stand for parliament again. He continued his activity in the Liberal Party, serving as Honorary Treasurer of the London Liberal Party from 1950 to 1951. By the end of the decade he had left the Liberals and joined the Conservative Party. He was elected to Eastbourne Borough Council in 1958 and served for one 4-year term.