Biography
A. A. Cumming OBE (b. Haslingden, Lancashire 1912 - d. 1988) was educated at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar Schools before going to Manchester University. He was appointed Assistant Curator of the City of Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery in 1937, the same year in which he married Miss Margaret Hobson, in his home parish of Haslingden. Cumming became its Curator in 1939 and retired in 1978. During the Second World War he served as a Captain in the Royal Artillery and was twice mentioned in despatches. While he was away on active service his responsibilities were taken on by the City Librarian, Mr F. C. P. Cole.
The Cummmings lived at Sir Francis Drake's old home at Buckland Abbey (now National Trust) and he is credited with the restoration of the Abbey and rescuing Drake's Drum from the bank vaults to be placed on permanent display there. heacquired many valuable pictures for the Plymouth City's gallery including a canvas commissioned from Stanley Spencer of the caretaker's garden on the Hoe. As a national authority on Drake Cumming travelled thousands of miles throughout the World ensuring the safe transportation of items from the City Museum to exhibitions. He was awarded an OBE in 1974, the year in which he was President of the Museums Association of Great Britain.