Private Life
Lucy Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hemmant (1867–1939) was the daughter of William, a friend of Atkin's father from Brisbane. She had been born within 12 days and within 100 yards of Atkin. William also subsequently moved to London and was important in helping Atkin to establish his stock exchange contacts. Atkin married Lizzie Hemmant in 1893 after five years' engagement.
The couple had six daughters and two sons, the elder son being killed in World War I. Atkin's daughter Rosaline became a barrister of Gray's Inn. The fourth daughter, Nancy, to her father's delight, became an actress. Nancy made her debut in Liverpool and was discovered and brought to London by Charles Hawtrey and A. A. Milne. Atkin's grandson, by his daughter Lucy Atkin, was the politician and business leader Sir Toby Low, 1st Baron Aldington.
Atkin enjoyed the music hall and in particular the humour of George Robey and Marie Lloyd. He and his wife were fond of entertaining at their succession of town homes in Kensington with musical evenings. In 1912 Atkin realised his ambition of buying a house Craig-y-Don in Aberdovey and from that time, he spent every summer there with his family. At Aberdovey, Atkin enjoyed tennis, golf and bridge. He was an enthusiast for the literary works of Edgar Wallace. Atkin was President of the London Welsh Trust, which runs the London Welsh Centre, Gray's Inn Road, from 1938 until 1944. Atkin was popular with the community in Aberdovey and was paraded into the village on a hand-drawn cab on his appointment to the High Court. When possible, he sat as a Justice of the Peace in Towyn and Machynlleth, and eventually chaired Merionethshire Quarter Sessions.
He died of bronchitis in Aberdyfi where he was buried.
Descendants – James David Atkin, David Atkin, Gregory Atkin, Jennifer Atkin, William Atkin, Sophie Atkin, Lucy Atkin, Kate Atkin, Chris Atkin, Caroline Atkin, Richard Atkin, Tom Atkin, Nicky Atkin and Emily Atkin.
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“I do not remember anything which Confucius has said directly respecting man’s ‘origin, purpose, and destiny.’ He was more practical than that. He is full of wisdom applied to human relations,—to the private life,—the family,—government, etc. It is remarkable that, according to his own account, the sum and substance of his teaching is, as you know, to do as you would be done by.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)