there are no words to match my gratitude, above all else ...oldeds.co.uk/staffordian09.pdf · there...

Issue No. 155 2009

Contact names and telephone numbers:

President: SimonButton 01785604877 [email protected]

VicePresident ChrisAndrews 01785213027 [email protected]

Secretary RobinBelcher 01785604487 [email protected]

Treasurer MarkAshton 01952820937 [email protected]

19StationCourt,Newport,ShropshireTF107RZ

MembershipSecretary JohnWood 01785214481 [email protected]

57GardenStreet,Stafford,StaffsST174DD

TheStaffordian TrevorAshton 01785824497 [email protected]

WharfView,WharfRoad,Gnosall,Stafford,StaffsST200DA

ChrisAndrews 01785213027 [email protected]

ChrisMarshall(Obituaries) 01785851329 [email protected]

AnnualDinner AlanSmith 01785244169

SimonButton 01785604877 [email protected]

RecordsSecretary EddieDobson 01785258756

Auditor DennisPress 01785252528

CannockLiaison KenHandley 01543506503

PressSecretary ChrisAndrews 01785213027 [email protected]

Golf MikeWinkle 01785600997 [email protected]

Skittles DennisPress 01785252528

Bowls EdDobson 01785258756

There are no words to match my gratitude,However much like Shakespeare I might write.Above all else, you’ve shaped my attitude,Nurturing me with discipline and light.Knowledge is the least of what you taught,Yet that least at least prepared my head.Out of your heart I’ve learned the things I ought,Underscoring words you never said.

©Nicholas Gordon

PhotographsDudleyPrestedge 7JohnWeaver 8ColinCooperGig 10StLeonard’sPrimarySchool 11SeniorCross-CountryRunners1946 12RonChallenerwith‘Jessamine’ 13Bampton’sBoffins 14TheTillFamily 15SkittlesNight 16LadiesDinner 16TheChemistryLaboratoryCirca1950 18DevelopingStafford 21OliveAshton 23EMForster 25

StaffordBowlingClub 26TheSchoolCanteencirca1950 28ChrisAndrews,SchoolinSingapore 32HairyBikers 33WarMemorial/AlanSmith 35TerryMarriot 36MrGMJDavies1959 36AdvertisersAnnualDinner2009 3Tuneintoalittlesurfing 6StaffordGrammarSchool 12JohnWood’sFlowerCentre 22NowellMeller,Solicitors 37RobertNicholls 40

ContentsEDITORIAL 3

ANNUALDINNER2010 3

LOOKINGBACKATPREVIOUSEDITIONS 4

OLDEDWARDIANS’ASSOCIATIONTIES 4

HONORARYLIFEMEMBERS 4

PRESIDENT’SPAGE 5 SimonButton(1972-75)

ANNUALDINNERFRIDAY30JANUARY2009 6 MarkAshton(1969-76) ANEVACUEEINSTAFFORD 7 DHPrestedge(1937-42)

CONGRATULATIONSJOHN! 8

ARTHURHOPCRAFT-THEFOOTBALLMAN 9 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)

MEMORIALGIG-COLINCOOPER 10 ChrisAndrews(1971-73)

NORTHVSOUTH 11 KenAckland(1943-48)

POEMOFPOEMS 12 Robert‘Taffy’Owen(1944-53)

FROMCRUISERTOSTEAMCAR 13 RonChallener1942-1947

OLDEDSQUIZNIGHT 14 ChrisAndrews(1971-73)

FROMTHEN‘TILL’NOW 15 Wes&AlanTill(1969-71)(1945-50)

SKITTLESNIGHTATTHECONSCLUB 16 DennisPress(1942-47)

LADIESNIGHT 16

SECONDARYSCHOOLYEARSPart3 17 DerekJHarrison(1945-50)

ACASEOF‘CLOTHESNOTMAKINGTHEMAN’ 19 PaulFJCraig(1947-53)

PAULBUTTERSGOLFCOMPETITION 20 MikeWinkle1963-70

DEVELOPINGSTAFFORD 21 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)

REMEMBRANCESERVICE 22

WHODOYOUTHINKYOUARE? 23 PeterMJones(1949-55)

AFEWWORDSONCOMPUTERS 24 Anon.

NOWITCANBETOLD 25 Robert‘Taffy’Owen(1944-53)

BOWLS-THEALANBAlMFORTHSALVER 26 EddieDobson(1940-49)

MYGRANDPAWORKEDWITHBUFFALOBILL 27 RonJakes(1955-62)

WARWORK 29 JohnLWeaver(1931-36)

SINGAPORE 31 ChrisAndrews(1971-73)

HAIRYBIKERSATTHEMOATHOUSE 33 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)

PETERSTEAD-ANENTHUSIATICTRAINSPOTTER 34 TedTalbot(1946-52)

WARMEMORIALAPPEAL 35

LETTERS 36

THEBEAUTYOFMATHEMATICS 38

SUDOKU 38

OBITUARIES 39 ChrisMarshall(1970-77)

SOLUTIONTOSUDOKU 40

The magazine of Stafford Old Edwardians’ Association

Issue 155

December 2009

EditorialThisyear’smagazineistheresultofanewteamandalreadyitshowssignsofanewdirection.Ofcoursewestillhaveanchorsinthememoriesofourpre-WorldWarIIpupilsandastrongbiasfromthemanyactiveOldEdswhogrewupinthoseausterebutexcitingtimesduringtheWar.ItisparticularlyinterestingandenjoyabletohearfromoneofourChathamHouseevacueesthisyear.Thisislongoverdueandperhapsmayhelptorestoresomesortoflinkwiththeirschooloroldboys’association.

Theyoungermembersofoureditorialteamareleadingthewaytosomenewstoriesfromamorerecenterasowearenowexpectingagreatercontributionfromthe1960s,againthesewouldbemostwelcome.Welookforwardtosomeyarnsofthemastersofthattime,aswellasthedevelopmentofcareersfromKESSOldBoys.

ThisyearinrecessionhasbeenamostdifficultoneformanyfamiliesbutitservestoremindmanyofusinasmallwayofwhatweenduredduringtheWar.Not,thankfully,intermsofgeneralpovertyorwelfarebuthowsuchattritioncanresultinalevelofcomradeshipresultingfromfacingcommonadversity.

LastyeartherewasgreatexpectancyinStaffordashugeswathesofSouthWallshavebeenrazedinpreparationofalargenewbuildingproject.UnfortunatelytheprojecthasbeenavictimofthetimesbutatleastweshouldhaveawonderfullargeandusefulcarparkthisChristmas.

Weareagaingratefultoallthevolunteerswhodonatetheirtimetoproducingthisannualmagazineandorganisetheeventsduringtheyear.Particularlyweareindebtedtothecontributorswhogivetheirtimetowritetheirstoriesandsendthemtoustoprint,allarementionedbynameinsidethisissue.Thankyoualsototheproof-readers,Peter,Mike,MeganandDorothy.

All that remains is to extend our very best wishes to all Old Eds and their families and hope that you have a very good Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Trevor, Chris and Chris

ANNUALDINNERThe Old School Hall, Newport Road

Friday 29 January 2010 6.45 pm for 7.30 pmYes!thisyearweareintheoctagonalhallofouroldschool.OurPresidenthasworkedhardtoorganiseitallandmakeithappen.Weallowehimahugevoteofthanks.

AstobeexpectedtheeventwillincuranadditionalexpensesoapartfromtheAssociationsubsidytheticketpriceisincreasedslightly.AnnualsubscriptiontotheOldEdwardians’Associationof£6willbeincludedintheprice.

£30Includingsubscriptionandgratuities-Members;£24Includinggratuities-HonLife&Non-members

Ticketsfrom:

AlanSmith:8Highlands,StaffordST179RETel.01785244169

SimonButton:10BurtonHouseGardens,MossPit,StaffordST179WDTel:01785604877

Payment must accompany request for tickets with SAE please - Cheques payable to ‘Stafford Old Edwardians’ Association’

CarparkingisavailableintheschoolplaygroundwithentranceviaFriarsRoad.ATravelodgehasrecentlyopenedinStaffordonLichfieldRoadoppositeRiverwayPhone08719848484On-linetravelodge.co.uk

LaurenceBampton(1961-82)KeithEvans(1975-88)JohnBeech1940-44OwenBennion1939-44TonyBloor1930-37NevilleBramhall1937-44WilfBurley1929-34RegBurton1929-35EricCartwright1938-44PeterClewlow1936-41JohnCurry1939-44TedDickenson1930-36JohnElliott1935-40JackEllsmoor1927-32StanleyGibbons1937-45TonyGiles1939-44RichardGlass1936-42ReginaldHall1937-44BasilHarris1934-39JohnHughes1931-37Dr.AlfJohnson1933-38

JohnJohnson1936-41AlanJutton1941-45JohnLycett1935-43GeorgeMaddick1934-38BenMilner1938-45JohnMorgan1937-43LionelMorris1937-43LenMould1936-42JackNetherwood1928-34BillOsborne1931-37RoyParker1937-40StuartPeatfield1938-44PhillipPenson1937-45JimPhillips1936-42PeterStevenson1938-45Revd.BillTavernor1927-30FrancisTrawford1930-40DennisWall1939-46JohnWeaver1931-36BrianWebb1925-32DennisWoodhouse1936-41

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS

OLD EDWARDIANS’ ASSOCIATION TIES

TiesmustbewornattheAnnualDinnerandotherofficialfunctions.JustareminderherethatAssociationtiesareavailablefromPeterSmith,Tel:01785812667.TheywillbeavailableonthenightofTheDinnerfromPeterataspecialpriceof£7.50.

LOOKING BACK AT PREVIOUS EDITIONSNEWSLETTER1977(TheStaffordianwasnotresurrecteduntil1982-Ed.)

I had not been long at the school when Mr Powell retired and his place was taken by Major F T Nott MA. We wondered what had struck us! The change was immediate and drastic and traumatic for all of us - boys and staff. From the gentle nurturing of John Powell to the harsh realities of the parade ground overnight! Rules and regulations appeared like a rash. Prefects and House Prefects were appointed and issued with notebooks in which to report offenders and defaulters. One-way traffic was instituted and most things were done at the double. Queues of offenders could be seen every morning lined up outside the headmaster’s study for summary justice to be meted out. Not the solemn and rare occasion of a caning by John for some enormous sin, (and behind closed curtains at that). Oh no, it was a production line effort, six of the best and “Next please.”’ It was well nigh impossible to live through a day without contravening a dozen regulations. It was not long before the head had earned himself a nickname which stuck throughout his term of office. I think it was Tweedy (Pleck) Harris who first christened him Crippen - Crip for short.

In retrospect, no doubt the school was due for a shake-up. Previously there had been very few rules and regulations, but a magnificent esprit-de-corps prevailed. Discipline, although hardly evident, was there, and the senior boys took it upon themselves to see that it was observed, and defaulters were severely dealt with by their peers. To suffer a ducking under the stand-pipe in the yard was an experience not easily forgotten, but this was only executed when the conduct of the offender was likely to place the rest of the community in jeopardy or disgrace. Masters rarely, if ever, intervened, and by and large a very high standard of moral integrity prevailed. I do not remember having seen or experienced an incident of bullying during the whole of my school life.

H BISHOP (1922-1929)

Well,hereweareagain!YetanotheryearseemstohaveflownbysincethelastStaffordianwaspublished.AtfirstIwonderwhereitcouldhavegonesoquickly,butthenasIquietlysitandreflectonallthathashappenedinthelastyearasanOldEdwardianIamabletoappreciateexactlyhowmuchwehavemanagedtoachieveandenjoyinthelasttwelvemonths.

ThisismyfirstopportunitytoaddressyouallfromthePresident’sPageofourexcellentannualmagazineandindoingsoIwouldfirstofallliketothankthededicatedandhardworkingmembersoftheAssociationcommitteewhoensurethatthemanysocialarrangementsandadministrativefunctionsareorganisedsoeffectivelyandrunsosmoothly.

LastyearTheStaffordianreceivedmanyplauditsforthequalityofitscontentandIamsurethatthisyear’smagazinewillbesimilarlyreceived.IwouldliketopersonallythankTrevorAshtonourmagazineeditor,ChrisAndrewsandChrisMarshallforputtingitalltogetherforus.

Thefulllistofeventsthroughouttheyearwaspublishedwithmymid-termletterandisalsoavailableonourwebsitewww.oldeds.co.uk.Pleasecontinuetorevisitthesiteforpost-eventreportsandanyotherupdatesyoumayrequire.Iwouldliketostressthatthesocialeventsthatarearrangedthroughouttheyeararenotforcommitteemembersonly.AllAssociationmembersarewelcometoattendthefunctions,sopleasemakecontactwiththeorganisersandcomealong!

Followingseveralrequestsweareplanningtopublishindividualemailaddressesonthewebsitetoenablememberstocontactoneanotherdirectly.Ifyoudon’twantyouremailaddresstobepublishedonthewebpagepleaseletTrevorAshtonknowat‘[email protected]’.

TheAnnualDinneratTillingtonHallwas,onceagain,ahugesuccess.Thespeakerseemedtoappreciatehisaudience,andinsodoingtheaudiencewasabletoappreciatethespeaker.Manyoldfriendswerereunitedforashorttime,nostalgiawasallowedtoflow,andtheusualsing-songroundedoffthenight.

InAugustweintroducedaneweventintoourcalendarwiththeinauguralQuiznightattheCountyStaffClub.Itwassuchasuccessfuleveningthatweareplanningtorepeatit(butwithdifferentquestions!)onTuesday9February2010.Thiswillbeapopulareventsobookearlytoavoiddisappointment.ThecontactforthiseventisChrisAndrews.ItseemedfittingthatthewinningteaminAugustwascalledBampton’sBoffins.

AsyouareallawarewedecidedtoaskourmembershiptomakeadonationtotheWarMemorialfundthisyear.IthinkitistestamenttothecollectivecharacteroftheOldEdsmembersthatthefundsweneededtocompletetherefurbishmentofthememorialandtohavethetwomissingnamesaddedwereraisedsoquickly.OnbehalfofmyselfandtheAssociationcommittee,thankyou.

Now,intruemusichalltraditionIfinallycometothemajorannouncementofthisopenletter(justtomakesureyouarestillpayingattention).

The Annual Dinner on Friday 29 January 2010 will be at a new venue! Wehavemanagedtosecurearoomatavenuethatyouwillallbefamiliarwith.

OverthelastcoupleofyearstheCountyCouncilhave(withacertainamountofpromptingfromourAssociation)refurbishedouroldschoolhall.Itisnowlookingverygoodanditseemedaparticularlygoodideatoreturntoourroots.SoIamparticularlypleasedtoannouncethatournextAnnualDinnerwillbeaschooldinner!

Aswithallthingsnowadaysthereisacostimplication,andalthougharrangementsarestillbeingmadeasIwritethis,IdoexpecttheretobeanincreaseinthecostoftheAnnualDinnerticketsthisyear.However,thiswillbethefirstriseinoversevenyearsandyourcommitteewillkeepthepriceaslowaswepossiblycan.

Ihopethatthenewvenuewillgeneratesomedegreeofexcitementamongstourmembers.Itcertainlyhasamongstthecommittee!IfyouwishtoattendIwouldadviseyoutocontacteitherAlanSmithormeassoonaspossibleasthereisanupperlimitonnumbersallowedintheroomandwecanonlyfairlydealwiththenumbersona“firstcome”basis.

Toend,AnnandIwishyouandthosedeartoyouaveryhappyChristmasandNewYear,andwelookforwardtoseeingmanyofyouagainsoon.Inthemeantime,enjoythemagazine!

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Sincerely Yours,

Simon Button (1972-75)P.S.Ifyoudidn’tattendthelastDinnerandsohavenotyetpaidyoursubscriptionforthecurrentyear,youcanofcoursewritetoourMembershipSecretary,JohnWood,57GardenStreet,Stafford.ST174DDenclosingachequeforsixpoundsmadepayabletoS.O.E.A.

OrpaydirecttoLloydsTSB,Stafford,SortCode30-98-00,a/cNo.01634667

OverseasIBAN-GB78Loyd30980001634667orviaourwebsitehttp:/www.oldeds.co.uk(PayPal)

TUNE IN TO A LITTLE SURFING

http://www.oldeds.co.ukKeepuptodatewitheverythingthatgoesonduringtheyearbywatchingthewebsite.

Contents:

Namesandaddressesofcommitteemembers.

Payyoursubscription.

Historyoftheschool(morehelpneeded)

CalendarofEvents.

PreviousissuesofTheStaffordian.

Keepintouchbypostingyourownblogandgetnewsasithappens.

Listofattendees:-TotalOldEds122;TotalGuests10

Mark Ashton (1969-76)

ANNUAL DINNER FRIDAY 30 JANUARY 2009

Michael Acocks 1951- 1958Brian Adams 1947- 1953Ron Adams 1947- 1953Chris Andrews 1971 1973Mike Ashley 1956 1963Tony Ashton 1948 1955Mark Ashton 1969 1976Nick Balmforth 1951 1956Geoff Barnett 1944 1949Robert Belcher 1948 1954Nigel Bennett 1965 1972Philip Bennett 1969 1977Albert Betts 1946 1949David Bishop 1965 1972Keith Boardman 1951 1956Ray Briggs 1944 1949Bill Brown 1942 1947John Bucknall 1948 1953Simon Button 1972 1976Mike Caddy 1965 1972Neil Cameron 1974 1979Graeme Card 1969 1976Barrie Chackett 1951 1956Peter Challinor 1953 1958Alan Chatfield 1968 1973John Cole 1947 1953Paul Craig 1947 1953Peter Dawson 1964 1971Tony Deakin 1970 1977Jon Derry 1970 1977Eddie Dobson 1940 1949Brian Ecclestone1950 1955Bruce Edensor 1956 1961Derek Edensor 1942 1949Stan Elsmore 1942 1947Keith Elsworth 1942 1952Peter Emberton 1948 1954David Everitt 1953 1960

Ernest Fenn 1943 1953John Fowlie 1952 1958David Fussell 1942 1949Ian Gilbert 1965 1971Mark Godridge 1968 1972David Griffin 1951 1956Peter Griffiths 1969 1972Warren Griffiths 1957 1964Ken Hackett 1949 1954Dean Hammond 1970 1977Ken Handley 1945 1952Ken Harding 1944 1948Peter Harris 1945 1950Alan Hartley 1944 1949Harold Haywood 1946 1952Mike Heenan 1964 1969Andrew Hepworth 1957 1964Richard Hinton 1962 1964David Hislop 1960 1965John Hodgens 1942 1952John Holford 1958 1965Reg Horne 1952 1958Ron Jakes 1957 1962Robert Jasper 1957 1964Alan Johnson 1943 1949Peter Jones 1949 1955Brian Judson 1958 1962Robin Kelly 1969 1976Paul Kehoe 1968 1973Ralph Lawford 1946 1951John Leighton 1951 1956Ivor Lewis 1965 1972Mike Lewis 1955 1960Roger Lycett 1957 1963Chris Marshall 1970 1977Brian Mason 1946 1951Sam McCarthy 1955 1960Roger McLaren 1955 1961

Lionel Morris 1937 1943Peter Morris 1958 1965Bryan Moss 1946 1950Bob Mudway 1953 1955Mike Murphy 1958 1963Ian Ormiston 1969 1977Robert Owen 1945 1953Clive Paddison 1959 1964David Parkes 1955 1962Don Perkin 1954 1962Cedric Pickin 1957 1962Sam Pickstock 1945 1950George Pickup 1956 1961Dennis Press 1942 1947Geoff Pursehouse1944-1950Derek Randles 1949 1954Derek Robbins 1940 1947Roger Roberts 1946 1952Ken Rogers 1954 1959Charles Russell 1966 1973Peter Russell 1963 1970Rob Salmon 1965 1972Doug Scholes 1942 1947Paul Schroeder 1949 1958Tom Shanley 1968 1973Don Sharkey 1943 1948Dave Shelley 1968 1975Robert Simpson 1975 1982Alan Smith 1944 1949Peter Smith 1949 1954Martin Sullivan 1969 1976Paul Telford 1958 1965James Terry-Short1942 1947Alan Till 1945 1951Wes Till 1969 1971David Townsend 1971 1978Gordon Turner 1942 1947Dennis Wall 1939 1946

Paul Watton 1967 1974Glyne Wetton 1946 1953LaurenceWilliams 1960 1965Philip Williams 1958 1965John Wood 1944 1952Roger Wood 1953 1961Clive Woodcock 1946 1956Eddy Wright 1962 1969

Total O.E.122

NeilBannister-Smith Guest Mike Bird Guest Brian Chandler GuestMike Darley GuestKeith Evans GuestPeter Faulkner GuestDavid Stott GuestGraham Williams GuestLee Wilson SpkrDavid Worrall Guest

Total Guests 10

An evacuee in Chatham

House Stafford

Dudley H Prestedge (1937-42)With the outbreak of war, tighter security measures gradually came into force around Ramsgate but they were not the draconian measures that were later to be enforced. ItwasstillpossibletowatchwhatwasgoingonatManstonbutitwasDunkirkthatalteredeverything.Roadswereclosedtothepublicaroundtheairfieldandtherewastalkofevacuation.IstillhadacouplemoreyearsofeducationtocomeandsoIwascaughtupinthisoperation.

EventuallyIwasevacuatedtoStaffordwiththerestofmyschooltotheschoolwhichwesharedwiththeKingEdwardVIGrammarSchool.ChathamHousewascreatedasaschoolwithinaschoolfortheevacuees,retainingitsseparateidentityasmuchaspossible.Therewasnoattemptatintegratingthetwoschoolsotherthansharingfacilities.MySchoolHousewasNorman’sandin1937asfarasIcanremembertherewasnoJuniorHouseassuch.Theotherhouseswere:Mann’s,Coleman’s,Thornton’s,Thomas’s,Searle’s,Simmond’sandLarkin’s.There’sapossibilitythatLarkin’swasthenamegiventothejuniorelementoftheSchoolthatwenttoUttoxeterunderamasterknownas“Eggy”Neville.

Lifeproceededfairlynormallybut,inthemain,withoutparentsandsomefriendswhohadbeensenttootherareas.Therewasabonusformeinthatmypocketmoneywasincreasedandthatenabledmetospendmoreonaeronauticalbooksandmodelmaking.

IwasinitiallybilletedinStaffordwithanelderlycouplelivinginTixallRoadtogetherwithafriend,VernonWhitling,wherewewerenotmadeparticularlywelcome.Ieventuallymanagedtomovetoanotherfamilythathadbefriendedmelivingat160TixallRoad,Major&MrsParkeranddaughterMuriel,whereIhadaveryhappytime.

IaminfrequenttouchwithandexchangevisitswithMuriel(nowLakin)whoisstilllivinginStafford.IhavearecollectionofaStaffordfriend,can’trememberhisname,whosefatherwasapolicemenwhichgaveusladsaccesstoanunusual“crown”bowlinggreensomewhereneartheoldGaol.

MydiscoveryofamodelaircraftshopinNorthWallsatStaffordwasanimportantevent.ItwasasmallshopwithinthereceptionareaofBagnall’sCoachWorksandrunbythesonofthefamilybusiness.Itbecamealmostanafterschoolclubasweusedtogathertheretoswapinformationandbuymaterials.

IhadmanyinterestswhilstanevacueeinStafford.DuringmyevacuationyearsathleticswasalwaysastrongactivityasIenjoyeditsomuch.Thehalfmilebeingmybestdistance.RepresentingtheschoolwasoneofthehighlightsandmissingtheVictorLudorumTrophybyonepointtomygreatrival,Keegan,agreatdisappointment.

AsamatterofcourseIjoinedtheschoolA.T.CSquadronwhenitwasformed,alongwithmanyotherladsandwaslostinthegeneralmembershipofthatorganisation.IdidnotserveinthesquadronforverylongandmymemoriesofitareverysparseandsoImustassumethatitdidnothaveagreatimpactonmyaeronauticalactivitiesandIdidnotachievetheproficiencyaward.

Muchmorememorablearemydays,andnights,withtheA.F.S.(AuxiliaryFireService)whichIjoinedasamessengerassoonasIbecameofage.Ibelievetheentryagewas15years,butIwascertainlyintheservicelongenoughtobuildupa alogofmemories.MyhomestationwasasubunitbasedintheoldbarninTitheBarnRoadandIhadtospendonenightperiodicallyonnightdutywhichconsistedofsleepingatthestationovernight(fully

clothed)andreadytogooutwiththepumpsiftheywerecalledout.Thereweretwopumps,bothtrailertypesCoventryClimax,onebeinglargerandmorepowerfulthanthe

Dudley wearing his AFS badge

other,bothbeingpulledintoactionbehindprivatecars.

MymemoriesincludesuchthingsasStandpipeDrill(usuallyheldatthemainFireStation),wetdrillswhichmeantthatwetookapumptothewatermeadowalongsidetheriver,primedthepump,andthentriedtopumpwaterfromtheriver:thiswasonlysuccessfulifa

filterbasketwasfitted,otherwisethepumpsoonbecamecloggedwithweed.Ononeoccasionwehadthreehosesinoperation(withusuallytwopersonstoeach)whenoneofthebranches(nozzles)wasdropped.Itsnakedbackandforthacrossthemeadow,soakingallandsundry,andleadingtogreathilaritybutitwasanextremelydangeroustimeasitcouldeasilyhavebrokensomeone’slegorcausedotherinjury.

Onceonnightduty,wehada“yellow”comethroughfollowedbya“red”thatwasthesignaltobeonstandbyforimmediateaction.WiththesignalcameamessagethatweweretobepreparedtogotoCoventrytohelpoutwithfightingthefirescausedbyaBaedekerRaid.Thiswasnohoax,outsidewecouldseethereflectionofthefiresintheskybutluckilywewerenotcalledupontogointoaction.

WhenmydaysinStaffordcametoanendIreturnedtoaverydifferentThanet.Itwasnowafrontlineareawithrestrictedentry.Therewerepillboxesinmanyplaces,cunninglydisguisedashutsandshedsorsometimesinthemiddleofafieldoraroundablindbendintheroad—

obviouslydesignedtocausethegreatesttroubletoanyinvadingforce.Themilitaryhadtakenovermuchoftheabandonedpropertyandthewholeareawasheavilydefended.

Manstonwas,asalways,myprimeareaofinterestbutalas,itwasnowsoheavilydefendedthatonecouldn’tgetnearitunlessonofficialbusiness.

♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚

Some of Dudley’s clippings saved from that era.

Congratulations, John!JohnWeavercelebratedhis90thBirthdayonSept112009.JohnwasapupilatKESSfrom1931to1935.HewasatEnglishElectricanditssuccessorsallhislifeandisahighlyrespectedElectricalEngineer.

JohnhascontributedregularlytotheStaffordiansoourreaderswillbeawareofhismanyexploitsbothatworkandoutsideofit.(seep29)

Inspiteofrecentproblematichealthheis,asarecentphotographshows,currentlyveryactive.HeisseenproudlysportinganOldEdstieathis90thbirthdayparty.

♚ ♚ ♚ ♚

Amanwakesuponemorningtofindagorillaonhisroof.Sohelooksintheyellowpagesandsureenough,there’sanadfor“GorillaRemovers”.Hecallsthenumber,andthegorillaremoversayshe’llbeoverin30minutes.

Thegorillaremoverarrives,andgetsoutofhisvan.He’sgotaladder,abaseballbat,ashotgunandameanoldpitbull.

“Whatareyougoingtodo?”thehomeownerasks.

“I’mgoingtoputthisladderupagainsttheroof,thenI’mgoingtogoupthereandknockthegorillaofftheroofwiththisbaseballbat.Whenthegorillafallsoff,thepitbullistrainedtograbhistesticlesandnotletgo.Thegorillawillthenbesubduedenoughformetoputhiminthecageinthebackofthevan.”

Sotheguyputstheladderup,getsthebatandtheshotgunandwalkstowardstheladder.Ashegetstothebaseoftheladder,hehandstheshotguntothehomeowner.

“What’stheshotgunfor?”asksthehomeowner.

“Ifthegorillaknocksmeofftheroof,shootthedog!”

GORILLA REMOVER

Obituary To Arthur Hopcraft (1943-48) From The Times, The Guardian And The Independent

........one speech day, he was introduced as “the author of The Football Fan - one for our younger readers”. ,..........

Among the wealth of words and images created by Arthur Hopcraft, who died aged 71, two achievements stand out: his adaptation of John Le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) into one of the most successful serials ever made by BBC television, and his masterpiece among sports books, The Football Man, People And Passions In Soccer, published in 1968.

HewasborninShoeburyness,Essex,andbroughtupintheBlackCountryaroundCannock;hisfirstfootballlovewastheWolvesofStanCullis,theteamofRoySwinbourneandBillyWright.Hisfatherownedagroceryshop,andwhenthebusinessfailedduringtheDepressionhisfamilymovedtoCannockinStaffordshire.ArthurwaseducatedatKingEdwardVIGrammarSchool,andwhenheleftat15hewenttoworkontheStaffordNewsletter.Hewas

afootballwriterforyears,writingunderthename“Linesman”foreveningpapersintheStaffordshireareaandtheNorthofEngland.

HisbackgroundwasMethodism;hewroteaboutitinTheGreatAppleRaid(1970),subtitled“MemoirsofaTinChapelTyro”.

KingEdwardVISchoolplayedonlyrugby,butlikemanyothers,Arthurhaddevelopedapassionateloveoffootball.AfteraloathedspellofNationalService,heworkedfortheBarnsleyChronicleandlocalpapersinSunderland,NewcastleandSouthShieldsbeforejoiningfirsttheDailyMirror,thentheGuardian,inManchester.In1964,aftergoingfreelance,hebecameacontributortotheObserver,forwhichhereportedontwoWorldCups.InsubsequentyearshewroteforTheSundayTimes,TheObserverandTheSun,aswellasprovidingacolumninthemagazineNova.

TwoyearsafterEngland’striumphintheWorldCup,hesoughttoexplainthehistorical,politicalandpersonalvalueofthesporttotheBritishIsles.“Football”,hewrote,“isbuiltintotheurbanpsyche,asmuchacommonexperiencetoourchildrenasareunclesandschool.Thewayweplaythegame,organiseitandrewarditreflectsthekindofcommunityweare.”

LongbeforeNickHornbywroteabouthisobsessionwithArsenalinFeverPitch,ArthurHopcrafthadevaluated,inaprosebyturnslyricalandforensic,the

importanceofthebeautifulgametotheBritishmind.ManyconsiderhisworkTheFootballMan(1968)thebestbookaboutthesport.Healsohadfourotherbookspublished,includinganautobiographicalaccountofhischildhood—’TheGreatAppleRaid’,andwrotethescreenplayforthefilmHostage.HopcraftwontheBaftawriter’sawardin1985.

Arthurwasoneofthegreatscriptwritersofhisday,his1971televisionplayTheMosedaleHorseshoe,whichalsohelpedlaunchthecareerofthedirectorMichaelApted,propelledhimfromthebonhomieoftheObserversportsdesktoasolitarycommunionwiththetypewriterwhichresultedinastringofsingleplaysandserialssuchasTheReporters(1972)andTheNearlyMan(1974).TheseestablishedhimalongsideDennisPotterandJackRosenthalasoneofthegreatsofthatdecade’stelevisiondramaevenbeforehebroughthisunusualcombinationofintellectandsensibilitytotheadaptationin1979ofJohnleCarré’sTinker,Tailor,Soldier,Spy.JonathanPowell,BBCHeadofDramaduringthatperiod,saidofhiswork,“Itwasoneofthosethingsthatwentbrilliantlyfromstarttofinish.Hewroteareallybrilliantscript,crystalclear.IknowthebookhadafantasticreputationbutifAlecGuinnesshadn’tlikedArthur’sscripthewouldneverhavetouchedit.”

TheadaptationofleCarré’selegant,wittyandlabyrinthinenarrativewascalled“atextbookexample”ofhowtoadaptanovelforthescreen.Twootheradaptationsfortelevision,HardTimes(1976)andBleakHouse(1985),werefurthertestamentstohisskill.HealsowrotethescreenplaysforRebecca(1996)andAgatha(1979)andin1985receivedtheBaftawriters’award.

Fastidious,setinhiswaysandprematurelybalding,Hopcrafthadanairofthevaletudinarianbachelorabouthimfrom

Arthur Hopcraft -The Football Man

Trevor C Ashton (1945-50)

arelativelyearlyage.Hewasgloomy,introspective,intense,dogged,tender,subtle,compassionate,deliciouslycattyandsometimescantankerous,butnevercoarseorcrude.

HetookamordantdelightinrecountingthatwhenhereturnedtohisschooltogiveawayprizesoneSpeechDay,hewasintroducedas“theauthorofTheFootballFan-oneforouryoungerreaders”.ArthurHopcraft,writer,wasbornonNovember30,1932.HediedonNovember22,2004,aged71.

(Editor’sNote:IthasonlyrecentlybeenbroughttoournoticethatArthurwasaformerpupilatKESS.Weapologisefornotprintingthisobituaryinearliereditions.SorryIcouldnotfindhisphotographanywhere.)

✍ ✍ ✍ ✍ ✍ ✍ ✍ ✍ Chris Andrews (1971-73)

Colin CooperMemorial Concert

OnThursday16April2009localmusicentrepreneurEricFurzestagedaconcertinmemoryofoneofStafford’smostfamousmusicalsons,ColinCooper.Colin,forthosereaderswhoareunaware,wasaformerpupilatKingEdwardSixthSchool,Stafford,attendingtheschoolintheearlyfifties.Sadly,Colindiedofcanceron3July2008buthewasgiggingonlyweekspriortohisuntimelydeath.ProceedsfromtheticketsalesweresharedbetweenMacmillanNursesandprostatecancerresearch.

WhilstnotbeingaparticularfanofColin’smostfamousgroup,TheClimaxBluesBand,anearlierincarnationofwhich(ClimaxChicagoBluesBand)IhadseenplayattheStaffordshirePolytechnic(nowUniversity)in

1972,IdecidedtoattendthememorialconcertattheGatehouseTheatretopaymyrespectstoamanwho,morethanmost,hadstrivedtoputStaffordonthemusicalmap.

TheshowwascomperedbyaRogerWhittakerlook-a-likewhoturnedouttobeDavid‘Des’Parton,aStokeonTrentmusicianwhohadhadareasonablesizedhitinthemid70’swithacoverofStevieWonder’s‘Isn’tshelovely?’Destoldthe600pluscrowdhowhehadfirstencounteredColinCooperinthelatesixtieswhenheregularlyplayedattheGeorgeHotelinBurslem.ColinhadreturnedtoStaffordshirefollowingasuccessfulfewyearsinthemidsixtiesplayingwithabluesbandinLondonwheretheyhadaresidencyatthefamousFlamingoClub.

Proceedingscommencedwithalocalsinger-songwritercalledNeilPenningtonperforminganumberofhisownmodestcompositionspriortoclosinghisactwithaNeilYoungsong,‘IntotheBlack’.Hegavethisfinalnumberabitofabuildupquotingtheline,“...it’sbettertoburnout,thentofadeaway...”andsayingitwasappropriatetoColin,butthenproceededtofluffhislinesduringhisrendition!IhavetosayIfeltreallysorryforhimbuthepluckilychuckled,“Keepmusiclive!”andcarriedonwiththesong.

NextonthebillwerelocalsaxophonistChrisGumbleyandhisband,ajazzcombo.Imustsayjazzain’tmybag,man,buttheywereallveryaccomplishedplayersandatleastplayedwhatIwouldtermtradjazzratherthanthemoreweirdandwonderfulfusionstufforwhateverthemcatscallit.

TheClimaxBluesBandthentookthestageandwerejoinedbyanumberof‘starguests’includingSteveGibbons,RoyWoodandStatusQuo’srhythmsection,John‘Rhino’Edwards(bass)andJeffRich(drums).ColinCooper’sreplacementassaxophonistandleadsingerJohnPughreallyimpressedme.Hehasagreatbluesyvoiceandhissaxplayingwasexcellent.Amusingly,Ifeltthathis‘livedin’lookshadmethinkingofalong-hairedTommyCooper!

IparticularlyenjoyedRoyWooddoingtwooldsongsbyTheMove,theBirminghambandthathehadformedinthemidsixtieswithJeffLynnewholaterformedTheElectricLightOrchestra.Thehairybespectacledoneopenedwith‘BlackberryWay’andfinishedwithaverylivelyversionofoneofTheMove’slasthits‘CaliforniaMan’.

Theband,andguests,ranthroughanumberofthecrowd’sfavouritesongsculminatingwithalltheevening’sartistsreturningtothestagetoperformClimaxBluesBand’sbiggesthit,‘Couldn’tGetitRight’.Anamusingtouchwasaddedwithalltheartistsplayingtheirowncowbelltorecreatethefamiliarintrotothe1976hit.

FollowingthelastnumberColin’ssonBencameonstagetothanktheartists,organisersandcrowdwhohadallcontributedtoafittingtributetohisfather.

........having reached the limit of detention time, I had completed only three quarters of a page..........

On my second day at school as a third former 1 attended my first maths lesson and encountered the master namely Corker Cocks who was a cricketer of county standard and was what one would call a “posh county type” in that his favourite saying was “consider yourself kicked”.

UnfortunatelyatthebeginningofthelessonIdidnothearsomethingthathehadsaidsoturnedtoaskmyneighbourfortheinformation,onlytohearthewords“onepage”issuedinmydirection.InmyignoranceIthenaskedmyneighbourwhatthatmeant,onlytohearamodificationto”threepages”.AtthisstagethesituationhadfinallydawnedonmeandIkeptquietandwastoldtoseeMrCocksafterwardstogetherwithanothermiscreant.

AtthismeetingIwas,rathersurprisingly,askedwhichschoolIhadattendedpreviouslyandItoldhimthatitwasCorporationStreetwhichplacedmeinNorthHousewhichshouldhavebeenobviousfrommyblazerbadge.IwasthentoldthatIshouldknowbetterandthethreepagesstillheld.TheotherwrongdoerwasthenaskedthesamequestionandquotedStLeonardswhichofcoursewasastrongholdofthesouthofthetown.Inexplicablyhisthreepagedetentionwas

reducedtoonepage!SomewhataggrievedIattendeddetentionclassafterschoolandthiswastakenbyClaudewhowasalsoawellknowncricketerofcountystandardinadditiontohavingbeenaleaguefootballerinhisyouth,buthecouldnotbedescribedasa“county”type.

Afterthreequartersofanhour,havingreachedthelimitofdetentiontime,Ihadcompletedonlythreequartersofapage,asIhadusedCorporationStreetSchoolcopperplatewriting.ItookituptoClaudeforsignatureandIwasdelightedwhenhetoldmethatIwouldnothavetocompletethethreepagesasIhaddoneenough.ThenextdayCorkeracceptedmydiminishedeffort.InmymindIamconvincedthatClaudehadspokentoCorkeralongthelinesthatenoughwasenoughforathirdformer’sfirstfewdays.

WhentheEducationActbecamelawandtheschoolwasnolongerfeepayingCorkerwasreputedtohavetransferredtoDulwichcollegeasMathsmasterandcricketcoach.Somehow

IneverhadtheenthusiasmformathsafterthatbutofcourseChipsCarpentermayhavehadsomethingtodowiththat(WhydidtheAformnothaveTobyBeck?).

ThankstoClaudehoweverIdidhavesomeenthusiasmforgeographyandfouryearslaterwhentheSchoolCertificateresultsshowedthatIhadmissedaDistinctionbyonemarkthefirstthingClaudesaidtomewas,“Whathappenedtoyou,Mister?”.Itwasofcoursehisbluffwayofsayingwelldoneand,alongwithmanyothers,IamsurethatClaudeunderstoodusmuchbetterthanwerealised.Hedidofcoursehaveasonofhisown.

ShortlyafterwardsNorthandSouthHousescoloursbecamePowellandWorswickwhichhadnogeographicalbearingandinitiallycouldhavefoxedCorkerallthoseyearsago,asfromtheblazerhewouldnothaveknownthatIcamefromthewrongsideofthetown!

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St Leonards School as it is now - still a Primary School

North v South Wrong side of town?

Amanabsolutelyhatedhiswife’scatanddecidedtogetridofhimonedaybydrivinghim20blocksfromhishomeandleavinghimatthepark.Ashearrivedhome,thecatwaswalkingupthedriveway.

Thenextdayhedecidedtodrivethecat40blocksaway.Heputthebeastoutandheadedhome.Drivingbackuphisdriveway,therewasthecat!

Hekepttakingthecatfurtherandfurther,andthecatwouldalwaysbeathimhome.Atlasthedecidedtodriveafewmilesaway,turnright,thenleft,pastthebridge,thenrightagainandanotherrightuntilhereachedwhathethoughtwasasafedistancefromhishomeandleftthecatthere.

Hourslaterthemancallshometohiswife:“Jen,isthecatthere?”

“Yes”,thewifeanswers,“whydoyouask?”

Frustrated,themananswered,“Putthelittleblighteronthephone,I’mlostandneeddirections.”

Ken Ackland (1943-48)

A WIFE’S CAT

Senior Cross Country Competitors - March 1946Photograph courtesy of Evening Sentinel, contributed by S W Gibbons (1937-46)

POEM OF POEMSThe boy stood on the burning deck, He stood upon his head, Because his arms and legs were off, So he waved his sword and said, "My name is Norvil." On the Grampian Hills, The village smithy stands, The smith , a mighty man, was wrecked On the pitiless Goodwin Sands, And by him sported on the green, His little grandchild, Wilhelmine. "Then fire the signal rockets," he cried, And the good abbot of Aberbrothock, Plunged headlong into the tide. I with two more to help me, Will keep the foe at bay, For I'm to be Queen of the May, Mother, I'm to be Queen of the May.

Ilearnedthispoem"atmyfather'sknee".Itmusthavebeenwrittensomewhere,butIcannotremember...justthepoem.Someofthequotations,Irecognise.Somemayhavebeenrememberedwrongly,overtheyears.Anyfurthereruditionontheoriginsofthequoteswillbegratefullyreceivedandacknowledged,settingmymindatrest.(Tel:01785220430)

Robert ‘Taffy’ Owen. (1944-53)

Ron Challener 1942-1947When chatting to your membership secretary (my brother-in-law) some months ago, he was fascinated by the fact that I had recently completed the building of a steam car which was the latest of a number of mechanical projects completed over the years in my hobby as a Model/miniature Engineer and he finally persuaded me to write about the lead up from my days at KESS to the present day. Readers who get to the halfway point are allowed to relieve the boredom by pouring themselves a large scotch, my recommendation would be a single malt.

ThinkingbacktomydaysgoingthroughschoolIstillrememberClaudeWoodger(ouch-that-ruler!),BobArrowsmith(boring),MrsBatten(hmmm),Mr.Peglar(goodman-hegavemeadistinctioninwoodworkinSC!),LangdonDavies,wasitJake?(Interesting&greatfunatschoolcampinIlminster),CorkerCox(hewasaccuratetoaninchwhenhethrewthechalk),andtherewereothersofwhommymemorieshavefadedwiththemistsoftime.

Havingrisen,falteringly,tothedizzyheightsofUpperVB,ratherthanjointheacademicsintheSixthFormIoptedforanapprenticeshipatEnglishElectric(whereelse?)togetherwiththemandatorydayreleaseandtwonightsatwhatwasthenStaffordTech.Thiswasamostenjoyabletimeforme,notonlywasIabletohonemyinheritedpracticalskillsbutIwasamongsthugemachineryandtherewasalsoasourceofanunlimitedvarietyofrawmaterials,mostlyunofficialbutdon’ttellanyone,fortheprojectswhichIwasnowmakinginmyworkshop.BythistimeIwasinstalledinoneofmyfather’sshedsandhadgonethroughthestageofbuildingJohnnyBagnalls’war-time(non-balsa)modelaircraftkitsatschoolandwasnowintomechanicalprojectsinvolvinginternalcombustionenginesandminiaturesteamlocomotives.

AftercompletingmyapprenticeshipImovedintoMainTestatEE.Thiswasheaven,testingnewlymanufacturedelectricalmachinestothelimittoseeiftheyblewup,whichsometimestheydid.However,afterayearorso,HMGovernmentcaughtupwithmeandIwascalledintotheserviceofHMQueenElizabethIIandservedmytimeaboardHMSBermuda(ColonialClassCruiser)makingcourtesyvisitstoportsfromScandinaviatotheMediterranean.Whatagreattimethatwas!Inbetweenportsofcalltherewasampletimeformetoindulgeinmodelmaking,includingsolidmodelaircraft,andaminiaturelivesteamrailwayengine.

DuringmytimeatEnglishElectricIseriouslydiscoveredthefemalesexandgotmyselfmarriedoffwhilstonleavefromthe

RN,whichmeantthatwhenmyNationalServicetimewasupIwouldhavetofindmyselfajob.(IshouldhavestayedintheNavy).IgotmyselfsettleddowneventuallywithasmallbungalowandtheinevitablewifeandtwokidsandajobneartoLondonbutsaltfromthetimeIwasatseahadgotintomybloodandIwashankeringafterasmallfastboatofmyown,butwithverylittlesparecapitalitwouldhavetobeaDIYaffair.Whatdidn’thelptosuppressthisdesirewasthatIwasgiventhejobofsupervisingthebuild,onbehalfofthethencompanyChairman,ofa57ft.luxurycruiserwhichwastobebuiltonwhatwasatthattimethelargestglassreinforcedplastic(knownthenasfibreglass)hulleverbuilt.Asfarasmyownmodestrequirementwent,ImanagedtosourceasuitablebarewoodenhullwhichIfittedoutandinstalledaMercedesBenz190SLsportscarenginewhichI‘borrowed’asIwasworkingforMercedesinGBatthattime.IracedthisboataroundthegravelpitsquitesuccessfullyandbecameInboardChampionDriverinmysecondseasonattheLondonMotorBoatRacingclub,IalsodroveforotherpeopleinlongdurationracesinParis,RouenandBerlin.Mydayjobwas

From Cruiser to Steam Car

A Story of Ron’s Hobbies

managingtheMarineEngineDivisionofMercedesBenzGreatBritainandthereforeIhadlotsofcontactsintheboatingworldwhichledmetoprogressingintooffshorepowerboatracing.ThisIdidformanyyearsandincludedanumberofthewellknownCowes-Torquay-CowesracesandthetwoRoundBritainracesof1969and1984.AstimeprogressedandtookitsinevitabletollIbecamemoreinvolvedintheorganisationalaspectandformanyyearswastheChiefScrutineerfortheOffshorePowerboatRacingdivisionoftheRoyalYachtingAssociation.IalsospenttimeintheMiddleEastCountries,mainlyinDubai,advisingonthetechnicalaspectsofpowerboatracing.ThefactthattheSheiks’racingteamwontheClassIWorldChampionshipinthethirdYearafterstartingfromscratchconvincedmethatwhatItoldthemperhapswasn’tallflannel.

Duringthemid-seventiesIchangedmyworkinglifefrompurelymarineactivitytodesigninganti-pollutionsystemswiththeemphasisonoil.Althoughitisonlynewsifthereisatankerdisasteratsea,pollutionparticularlyfromoil,takesplaceinindustryonadailybasis.IwaskeptbusywiththisworkuntilIretiredtotallyin1999.IhadalsogivenupmyinvolvementinOffshorePowerboatRacingin1997,mainlybecauseofthepoliticsatthattimebutalsobecausemysecondwifesadlydiedinearly1997andIfeltIwouldlikeacompletechange.ItwasthenthatIdecidedtogetseriouswithModelEngineeringandsteamagainasIhadretainedallmyworkshopequipment.

DuringthelatterhalfoftheseventiesandthroughtheeightiesIownedafastoffshorecruiserbutin1991Itooktothecanalsatthreemphincompletecontrasttomypreviousmarineactivityandhaveenjoyedexploringthecountrysidefromadifferentaspect.ThelastexperienceinSeptember2008wasbeingontheScottishcanalswhichincludedatransitthroughtheFalkirkWheelwhichliftsboatsthrough15.5metres(50ft.inoldmoney!)andisamoderniconoftheInlandWaterwayscompletedin2002.

Inowhaveafive-inchgaugeminiaturelivesteamlocomotivewhichwasatotalrestorationproject,aheavyfreightdieselelectriclocomotivewhichIbuiltfromscratchusingphotosandmeasurementstakenfromthefullsizeprototype,and1/12scalereplicaofa191027ft.steamlaunchcompletewithworkingsteamboilerandengineallofwhichisradiocontrolled.

Mylatestprojectwhichhasonlyrecentlybeencompletedisafullsizereplicaofa1902Locomobilesteamcar.ThiswasbuiltfromakitReplica1902steamcarwhichthemanufacturerssaid‘onlyspannersandascrewdriverwillbeneeded’todotheassembly.Howwrongcouldtheybe,mostpartshadtobeseverelyfettledsometimesreshaped,sometimesre-engineered,sometimesreplaced,howeveritkeptmeoccupiedandisnowgreatfuntodrivearoundtheroadsasitcreatesgreatinterestwhereveritgoes.IthasalsobeentomanysteamralliesaroundthesouthofEngland.

WhatshaltIbuildnext?

OLD EDS QUIZ NIGHT11 AUGUST 2009

Chris Andrews (1971-73)

Thisinaugural‘QuizNight’washeldonTuesday11AugustatCountyStaffClub,Stafford

Nineteamswerearranged:Averill,Walton,Chetwynd,Worswick,Hales,Bampton’sBoffins,Powell,Tank’sToppers,Eddie’sorHigh?Afterallarrivedat7.30andsetupwiththeirdrinksthequizbeganpromptlyat8.00pmandaverynicebuffetsupperwasservedathalftime.

WinningteamwasBampton’s Boffinsamassinganamazing84points,(wasthisafairgame?–thisteamcontainedboththePresidentandVicePresident!).TheotherteammemberswereAnnButton,GeoffFairbanksandMairFairbanks.Theirprizewasabottleofwineeach.The‘RaffleQuestion’prizeof£40waswonbyDerrickRobbinswhoverykindlydonatedhisprizetotheMemorialFund.The2‘Connect5’prizeswerewonbyWaltonteamandPowellteam.

Aseparaterafflewasheldand£50wasraisedtosupporttheMemorialFund.FirstprizewasabottleofwinewonbyPatJones,andthe2ndprizeofaboxofchocolateswaswonbyDaveTownsend.

AbigthankyoumustgotoTimAlcockofTheCountyStaffClub,whowasourQuizmasterforthenight.

Therewere53OldEds,partnersandfriendswhoparticipated,twopeopleforgot,buttheymissedaverygoodsocialeventwhichweintendtorepeatintheNewYear.Keepyoureyeonthewebsite(http://www.oldeds.co.uk)orlocalpressforadvancewarning.

Theprofitof£59.74fromtheeveningwasdonatedtotheMemorialFund.

ThanksareduetoChrisandJulieAndrewsfororganizingthisextraopportunitytosocialisewithourfellowOldEds.

Bampton’s Boffins

Alan Till (1945-50) & Wes Till (1969-71)The small annual booklets listing the KESS school roll show numerous surnames which are found repeating throughout the years.Someofthepupilsconcernedaresiblings;somecousinsordistantrelations;whilstotherswerenotknowinglyrelatedtoeachother.OnesuchsurnameisTILL.Forthepastfiveyearsthebrothers,fromdifferenteras,haveattendedtheAnnualDinner.AlanattendedKESSfrom1945to1950,withyoungerbrotherWesfollowing20yearslater.Anotherbrother,Michael(agoodfriendofNickBalmforth),followedAlaninattendingKESSbetween1950and1955.

AlthoughtheylivedvirtuallyoppositeStJohn’sPrimarySchoolonWestonRoad,itwastoStLeonard’sPrimarySchooltheyweresent.ManypupilsfromtheremoveduptoKESSataged11.

ALAN’S STORY: Inthesummerof1950IleftKESStotakeupanapprenticeshipatWHDorman’sasatoolmaker.ImissedKESS,buttheattractionoflearningatradecalledme.IservedmytimeandstayedatWHDuntilIwas23.Thentheinevitablehappened(NationalService).Onemorningin1958aletterarrivedtosaythatIshouldattendBethesdaStreetSchoolsinHanleyforamedical.IaskedtojointheREME(Royal,ElectricalandMechanicalEngineers)butIwasactuallyplacedinTheRoyalArmyMedicalCorps(nrAldershot).Itwasnotabadlifeinthearmyexceptforthemoney.Istartedon£1-5saweek(£1.25p)forwhichIhadtobuyeverythingIneededincludingbootpolish,metalpolishandBlanco.

DuringmyarmydaysImetIris,thegirlwhowastobecome(andstillis)mywife.SowhenIgotdemobbedin1960IstayedinLondonandinitiallyfoundajobasadrivinginstructorinPutney.In1961wegotmarriedandIeventuallyreturnedtoengineering.Ispentthenext35yearsmainlyintheaerospaceandarmamentsindustry,andIworkedonthe

designandmanufactureofmanyofthecomponentsforConcorde,Exocetmissiles(remembertheFalklands?),andtheAmericandesigned‘Goalkeeper’whichwasaverysophisticatedupdateoftheGatlingMachineGun.‘Goalkeeper’couldinterceptmissileswhenallelsefailedhencethename.

IhavealwaysbeeninvolvedwithlocalpoliticsinTheLondonBoroughofLewisham(whereIlive),andhavebeenonthecouncilasamemberformywardsince1992.Ifindbeingacouncillorveryrewardingbothinthedecisionstobemadeandbeingabletohelpmanypeoplewiththeirneeds,especiallyinhousingissues.IwasveryhonouredtospendtimeintheMayoraltyofLewisham,beingDeputyMayor1994-95,Mayor1995-96,andthenDeputyagain1996-97.

Oneofmyfirstbriefsasacouncillorwasworkingwithourbereavementservicestoseeiftheycouldbe

improved.Ihavemetmanylikemindedpeoplefromalloverthecountrywhowerethemselvesconcernedaboutimprovingandsolvingtheproblemsinthisfield.FifteenyearsagoweformedtheConfederationofBurialAuthorities(CBA)whichbecameanationalorganisation.TwoyearsagoweamalgamatedwiththeInstituteofCemeteryandCrematoriumManagement(ICCM)ofwhichIamcurrentlyadirector(unpaidImayadd!).

SinceretiringfromengineeringIstillworkparttimeinahostelforpeoplewithdrug,alcoholandmentalhealthproblems.Thisgivesmegreatjobsatisfactionbecausequiteoftenithasnotbeentheirfaultthatlifehaskickedthemintheteeth.‘ButforthegraceofGodtheregoesanyoneofus’.

WES’S STORY: Havingsomehowfailedthe11Plus,IwenttoKingstonSecondaryModerninDartmouthStreet,butthentransferredtoKESSfortheSixthFormin1969.IlookedforwardtogoingontheinductionweeksatKESSaftertakingmy‘O’levels,asIwouldthenmeetandcatchupwithfriendsfromStLeonards.OnesuchpersonwasRobDickensonwhoIbumpedintoonmyfirstday,andIwasinterestedthatRobwasplanningtotakethecraftsubjectsfor‘A’level.RobtookmetomeetMrHarris(betterknownas‘Nash’ofcourse),whoonbeingtoldbyRobthatIwasinterestedintakingwoodworketc.then

From Then ‘TILL’ Now A Family tradition

1977 brothers Gil, Michael, Wes and Alan together with Father Eric. Eric worked all of his life at Bagnall's and then Dorman Diesels,

exclaimed,“SoTill…youwanttobeacraftteacherthen?”ThatclearlywasanimportantmomentinmylifeasIamnowinmythirty-fifthyearofteaching!Nashtheninstructedmeto“tellyourbrothertobringhisbooksback!”.AsMichaelhadleftabout15yearspreviouslyIwassomewhatamazedbyNash’smemory…butitlaterturnedoutthattheTillallegedtohavethemissingbookswasRogerTillfromWeston.

I’vegotalotofveryfondmemoriesoflifeinthewoodworkroom,andImetagreatbunchoffolk.KESShadatraditionofproducing‘craft’teachertrainingstudentsandothersincludedChrisClay,BarryStampandWayneMoore(bothofwhomIfollowedtoStPeter’sinSaltley,Birmingham),RobDickenson,RobJinks,andPhilRobinson(whosadlydiedtwoyearsago).AnotherKingstonandKESSexpupilwhowentintocraftteachingwasAdrianDarrant,whotaughtmeatKingston.Adrianwasagreatinspirationandrolemodelforme,andcoincidentlywetaughttogetherinRugeleywhenIfinishedcollege.

WhenwalkingordrivingdownTheFriarsIalwaysgiveafondglanceovertothewoodworkroom,andIoftenrecalltheconvenienceofthesashwindowinthereasitprovidedaquickexitfromschool,particularlyatbreaktimewhendashingtoTaylorsfora6dicedbun.Whatmemories!

⌛⌛ ⌛ ⌛ ⌛Dennis Press (1943-48) SKITTLES AT THE CONS CLUB

NinePinSkittlesattheConstitutionalClubLloydStreet,Stafford,Thursday17September2009ThisonceagainprovedaverypopulareventsharedbyOldEdsandtheirpartners.ThewinnersweretheteamofMarkAshton,SimonButton(Howdoeshedoitwiththatchainaroundhisneck?),TonyHagget,Beverly,CynthiaHaggetandJudyBishop.MeganSmithwontheindividualprizewithsomesuperblyconsistentbowling.

The Winners - ‘Must’ve been to Specsavers’

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Thursday 1 October at Brocton Hall Golf Club

Aformaldressnightatwhichwetreatedtheladiesfortheirsupportduringtheyear.WereturnedtoBroctonHallGolfClubforanexcel-lentmealinsuperbsurroundings.

Left:KenHandleyexplainstoBrianMasonhowhetookhisrifletobedandhowhewastrainedasa‘Killer’duringhisNationalService.

Mark AshtonLADIES DINNER 2009

Derek J Harrison (1945-50)We went on field trips as part of our History and Geography studies and I best remember a visit to Uriconium at Wroxeter here in Shropshire, which hasn’t changed at all in the fifty intervening years.

AlsoincludedonthatvisitwasBuildwasAbbey,andagainIwasdelightedtore-discoveritduringadrivetoIronbridgealltheseyearslater.Weweretaken‘enmasse’tothecinematosee‘HenryV’,andwerestirredbyLaurenceOlivier’s‘St.Crispin’sDay’speech,andthrilledwhenPeterScott-sonof‘ScottoftheAntarctic’-visitedtheschooltotalktous.Ourbikesbecameverymuchanextensionofourselves,andoncethreeofusrodefromCannocktoTheWrekin,climbedtothetopandcycledhomethatday.Sincethiswasadistanceofsomesixtymiles-notincludingtheclimbwefeltquitepleasedwithourselves.Occasionally,Iwouldcycletoschool,revellingintheindependencefromtheschoolbus,buthavingmixedfeelingsasIpantedmywayupyetanotherhill,andthenseeingthebuswithitsjeeringpassengers,overtakemeonthewayhome.OurmostremarkablecycleridetookplaceinAugustof1949when,againwithtwofriends,IrodeallthewaytoYork.OurGeographyandChemistrymastersarrangedafour-weekcampeachsummer,anditwastojointhiscampthatwemadethegreatadventure.

Asthethreeofusrodeoffintotheunknown,IrememberthelastadvicefromGeoffPursehouse’sMumbeingalittletrivial.Sheasked,‘Haveyougotacleanhandkerchief.‘Wecycledfortwodays,stoppingovernightataYouthHostelafteranexhaustingeveningclimbinthePeakDistrict.ThefollowingmorningbeganwithanexhilaratingdownhillrushintoSheffield,whereoneofusgotawheelstuckinthetramlinesandstillfranticallysignallingleft,carriedstraightontoendignominiouslyinaheap.WefinallyarrivedatBarton-le-WillowsnearMalton,saddle-soreandexhausted,tofindourgroupintentsbythesideofacoolriver,theDerwent.WritinghometoMumandDad,Iaskedthemtobookmereturntrainticketsformybikeandmyself.

PartoftheobjectofthecampwastoarrangefortheboyswhotookparttoworkonlocalfarmsunderthepatronageofTheMinistryofAgriculture.Littlemorethanslavelabour,weweretakenbylorryearlyeachmorning,anddroppedinsmallgroupsatfarmsalongtheway,andthereweharvestedalldaywithblisteredfingersinthehotsun‘stooking’sheavesofcorn,loadingandunloadingcarts,and‘pulling’flax.Thefarmer’swifewouldarriveatthefieldatmid-daywithfoodwrappedinclothsandadrink,andIrememberthankfullysittingintheshadeenjoying‘aman’sdinner’.Occasionallyweweregivenarespitewiththechancetoleadthehorseanditsfullcartbacktothestack-yard,andononeunforgettableoccasionIwastoldto‘drive’thehorseandemptycartbacktothefield.Sittinghighonthefrontofthecart,holdingthereinsandmakingprofessional‘gee-up’noises,IwasinmyelementandlostinareverieinwhichIdroveacoveredwagonacrossthewidewesternprairies.Suddenlythehorsebolted,andtogreatmirth,Iarrivedbackinthefieldinthebottomofthecartwithmylegsintheair,andonegate-postdemolishedontheway.

Itwasmyfirstexperience‘awayfromhome’andIwasveryhome-sick.Imissedeveryone,foundtheworkveryhard,andnotablymissedevenseeingapianoforawholemonth.Bythistime,Imusthavebeenplayingquitealot.SometimesIwouldfeelquitedisconsolateasItoiledinthefields,andeventodayIcannothearthemelancholycooingofawoodpigeonwithoutrememberingthosedays.

Secondary School Years

The final episode of Derek’s trilogy

Inourtimeoffwewouldswimintheriver,helpwiththecookingandcarryoutchoresroundthecamp.Oneevening,whenplayinginarough‘home-made’boatwhichregularlysank,Istoodonanailwhichpiercedmyshoeandenteredmyfoot.Thefollowingmorningitwasveryswollenandbloodpoisoninghadobviouslysetin.Inpain,andwithafewdaysoffwork,thetimeseemedtogoevenslower.Icouldn’twaitfortheendofthemonthandthetimetogohome,andwonderedwhetherIwouldbeabletorememberhowtoplaythepiano.Iclearlyrecallthatmomentofsittinginfrontofthekeyboardonceagain,andforamomentnotknowingquitewheretoputmyfingerstomakeastart.Thisfeelingreturnedonlyoncemoreinmymusicalexperiencewhen,yearslater,IfoolishlyacceptedtoomanydrinkswhileplayinginanOfficer’sMessintheArmy,andhaddifficultyindistinguishingthewhitekeysfromtheblack.IreturnedfromtheYorkcamptheeasyway-onthetrain,withmybikeintheguard’svan-andhadthethrillingexperienceofsharingacarriagewithBrianClose,FreddieTruemanandtherestoftheYorkshirecricketteam.

InthefinalyearorsoatKingEdwardVISchool,someofustooktogoingoutatlunchtimestothelocalBilliardsHall,andtryingourhandatSnooker.Ineverseemedtogetthehangofitcomparedwithsome,andwhenIwastoldit’sallamatterofmathematicsandinparticular,theanglesinvolvedinGeometry,Igaveitupimmediately.Instead,incompanywithotherfriendssufferingfromhormonedevelopment,ItooktosaunteringalongRiverside,andinparticularthestretchwhichborderedthefencesurrounding-StaffordGirls’HighSchool.Consortingwiththegirlsontheschoolbushadlongsurpassedthejoysofgettingone’shomeworkdone,andmyinterestwascentredinparticularonanattractivefemalewithgenerouslips(inmorewaysthanone)whosenamewasMargaret.WhenMumlearnedofmyalliance,shemadedisapprovingnoises,andwhenIaskedwhyshesagelyrepliedthatMargarethad‘areputation’.This,ofcourse,mademeallthemoreeagertofindoutwhatthis‘reputation’couldpossiblybe,andperhapsit’snottooindelicatetoreportthat,asalways,Motherknewbest,andthatthereputationwasrichlydeserved.

MytimeatKingEdwardVISchoolfinishedinablazeofglory.AttheannualSportsDayinMarch1950,1wontheOneMileOpen-admittedlyinthefairlyunremarkabletimeofsomethinglike4minutes50seconds-butforthatIreceivedaCertificatesignedbyDJDSmithandaCuptoholdforayear.IsatmySchoolCertificateinMayandJuneofthesameyearandceasingtobeascholar,grewupalmostovernighttobecomea‘worker’.Thefirstsixteenyearsofmylifehadbeeneventfulandfullofmemories,andnowthefuturebeckonedwiththatdisturbinglyuncertainfinger.

LeavingKESSin1950–withminimalqualifications(whichwillcomeasnosurprise)IbeganaprintingapprenticeshipatWHSmith&Son–Stafford.Thiswasinterrupted,atmyrequest,bytwoyearsnationalservicewiththeRoyalArtillery–mainlyinEgypt–andupondemob,Idecidedtotrytobecomeateacher!

Andso,fiveyearsafterleavingschool,ImetupwithDJDSmithonceagain.Istoodonfamiliargroundoutsidehisofficeinthehopeofgettingareference.Heregardedmequizzicallyandremindedmethat,onthewhole,Ihadestablishedarelativelyundistinguishedcareeratschool,andaddedthatIhadn’tappearedveryenthusiasticaboutschoollife,(whichwasn’tquitetrue).HewassomewhatsurprisedtohearthatIwantedtojointheteachingprofession!

WhatheimpliedandwhathewrotetothePrincipalofDudleyTeacherTrainingCollegemusthavevaried,forIwasofferedaninterviewandwassuccessfulingainingaplace–whichradicallychangedthecourseofmylife.

THE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY CIRCA 1950

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Paul F J Craig (1947-53)

.......The day finally arrived when we were due to play ..........

A CASE OF ‘CLOTHES NOT MAKING THE

MAN’When I first joined the County Surveyors Department, I came across the same gentleman who had umpired all the cricket matches that I had played in previously, ( See part One of this article in last year’s magazine). Apparently he had played to a decent level in club cricket for several years and he welcomed me to the Department and stated that he had informed the cricket captain of my ‘prowess as a bowler’ with my previous Department and how close we had been to winning the Inter Departmental Competition at The Hough. ( No pressure there then ! )

WhenImetthecricketcaptainhenaturallyaskedmewhattypeofbowlerandwasIanygoodwithabat.WhenIinformedhimthatIhonestlywasn’tsurewhattypeofbowlerIwasandthatIwasnotverygoodwithabathestatedthattohavetakenasmanywicketsasIhaddoneformyoldDepartmentwasenoughforhimtoincludemeintheteam.

Thecaptain,whoplayedclubcrickettoaprettyhighlevel,asdidmypreviouscaptainPeterFern,wasverykeentowinthattrophy,asapparentlytheyhadbeenunsuccessfulinthepastandnowtheyhadthis‘star bowler’toplayforthemtheirchancesweregreatlyenhanced.SokeenwasmynewcaptaintoattainthatgoalthathearrangedtoplayamatchagainstaDepartmentofWolverhamptonBoroughCouncilinWolverhampton.Thiswasthefirstopportunityformetowearthenewlyacquiredcricketclothesofwhitetrousers,whitesweaterandofcoursethewhitespikedshoes,whichIhadduly‘blancoed’fortheoccasion.Althoughthematchwasbilledasa‘friendly’ouropponentsseemedextrakeentowinandwhenwebattedfirstitseemednotimeatallbeforeIwasstridingtothewickettofacemyfirstballinmynewclothes.Thebowlerhadalreadyseveralwicketsandincricketingparlance‘histailwasup’andbeforeItookguardIglancedaroundthefield,asI’dseenotherbatsmandopreviously,thenItookmyguard.WhenIsawthelengthofthebowlersrun-upIliterally‘quakedinmyshoes’.ThepitchwasrockhardandthefirstballwasextremelyfastandIdidnothavetimetoevenraisemybatbeforeitthuddedintothewicketkeepers’gloves.Thesecondballwentextremelyclosetomyheadand,pleaserememberfellowOldEds,thattherewerenohelmetsatthatlevelofcricketinthe1960sandthethirdballsawmecleanbowledforaduck.WhenitcametoourturntobowlImanagedtotaketheoddwicket,butIconcededquiteafewrunsintheprocess.Iwasreasonablysatisfiedwithmybowling,butIwasstilluselesswithabat.WelostthematchbutI,likemyteammates,waslookingforwardtotheforthcomingInterDepartmentalCompetition.

ThedayfinallyarrivedwhenwewereduetoplayourfirstmatchinthecompetitionandIwasnaturallykeendoaswellasIhadatmypreviousDepartment.Theoppositionbattedfirstandafterthefirstoverthecaptainthrewballtometobowlthesecondoverand,afterIhadhelptosetmyfieldbythecaptain,thebatsmanthumpedmyfirstball,which,Irememberwasagoodlengthtotheboundaryandhedidthesamewithtwolaterdeliveriesinthatover,whichwasabitofshocktothesystem.Ibowledabouttwoorthreemoreovers,withoutsuccess,mainlyagainstthatsamebatsman,beforethecaptaindecidedtouseanotherbowler.Ithentookupmyusualfieldingpositionfortherestofthematch.Weeventually

Part two

lostthematch,whichmeantthatwewereoutofthecompetition,whichwasahugedisappointmenttotheteamandtomepersonally.ThenextdayIfoundithardtobelievethatIhadseeminglynottroubledthebatsmenwhofacedmeinthismatch,when,playingformypreviousDepartmentIhadtakensomanywickets.BythetimetheInterDepartmentalCompetitioncamearoundagaintheDepartmenthadappointedquiteafewfityounggraduates(Iwastwentysevenortwentyeightatthetime)andIdecidedtostepdown.

AcoupleofyearslaterIrejoinedtheCountyPlanningandDevelopmentDepartmentandalthoughtherehadonlybeenathreeyeargapagreatdealofpersonnelhadchangedandhardlyanyone,apartofcoursefromPeterFern,wasawareofmyprevioussuccess.TheyhadsomegoodbowlersandIfoundmyselfinmyusualpositionontheboundary.Iplayedonlyonematchandeventuallytheteamreachedthefinal,whichwasplayedatTheHoughandIjoinedthespectatorsinfrontofthepaviliontocheermyteamon.Unfortunatelytheylostthematch,aswehadpreviously,andIcommiseratedwiththeplayers..

AndyWarholalwaysmaintainedthateveryonewillhavetheirfifteenminutesoffameandIcertainlydid—onthelocalcricketpitches.WhenIstoppedplayingIkeptthecricketgearforafewyearsuntilthemothsgotintothetrousersandsweaterandIgaveawaythebootstoayoungmanwhohadjuststartedtoplaythegame.

AboutacoupleofyearsagoIwasinStaffordwhenachapcameuptome,whoIvaguelyrecognisedafterallthattime(nearlyfiftyyears)andremindedmeofthefinalofthatcompetitionandthewicketsthatItookonthatunforgettablenight.HealsorememberedthatIwasnotwearingtheusual‘cricketingwhites’ofmycolleagues.Asweweretalkingitoccurredtomethat,maybe,thereasonthatIhadbeensosuccessfulthatoneseasonwasbecauseIjustdidn’tlooklikeacricketertotheopposingbatsman.

SincethatconversationI’veoftenwondered,ifmywearingofthepropercricketgear,afterthatexcitingfinal,wasthereasonthatIcouldn’trecapturemyformersuccess.

Asthetitleofthiscontributionsuggestsmaybe,justmaybe,thiscouldbeaclassiccaseof‘Clothesnotmakingtheman’.

♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚

Paul Butters Golf Competition Friday 3 July 2009

Mike Winkle 1963-70

GREAT TRUTHS ADULTS HAVE LEARNED1 Raisingteenagersislikenailingjellytoatree.2 Wrinklesdon’thurt.3 Familiesarelikefudge.....mostlysweet,withafewnuts.4 Today’smightyoakisjustyesterday’snutthathelditsground.5 Laughingisgoodexercise.It’slikejoggingontheinside.

6 Middleageiswhenyouchooseyourcerealforthefibre,notthetoy.

AdozenintrepidgolferstookpartinourAnnualStablefordGolfCompetitionatStaffordCastleGolfClub.It’ssaidthatgolfisaseriesoftragediesobscuredbyanoccasionalmiracle.Unfortunatelynomiracleswerereportedandreturninggolferscertainlylookedtragic.

TheWinnerthisyearwasMikePeck,whohasaddedhisnametothelistofpastwinners,withascoreof34points(backnine–19),followedbySteveHawkins,alsoon34points(backnine-17).DaveBishopwonnearesttothepinonthe18th.AlanHoldcroftwontheguestprize.

Intheeveningourwives,partnersandfriendsjoinedusforanenjoyablemealandgoodcompanyintheClubhouse.ThankstothestaffofStaffordCastleGolfClub.

NextyearourcompetitionwillbeonFriday2July.PleasecontactMikeWinkleon01785600997,atleasttwoweeksinadvance,ifyouwouldliketotakepart.

Trevor Ashton(1945-50)

Developing Stafford

Above:ThePaddlingPoolatVicto-raiParkwiththethatchedchangingrooms

Aboveright:MillBankshowingPickup’sshop,oppositewhatwastheMidlandRedGarage

Above:ApedestrianisedGaolgateStreetlookingtowardsGaolSquarefromMarks&Spencer

Right:ThenewLawCourtswhichstandonthesiteoftheoldSmithfieldMarket

Above:ClearingSouthWallsexposesarareviewofStafford.Wastobeanewshoppingcomplexbutduetothereces-sionisamuchneededcarpark

John Wood’sFlower Centre01785 258173

3A Salter StreetStaffordST16 2JH

Stafford’s INTERFLORA florist with localdeliveries within 30 miles radius

OLD EDS REMEMBRANCE SERVICE AT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL MEMORIAL

ATTENDEES OLD EDWARDIANS

MichaelAcocks 1951-58Tom Anderson ?Chris Andrews 1971-73Mark Ashton 1969-76John Baker 1943-50John Baker 1943-50Rob Belcher 1975-82Philip Bennett 1969-77Ray Briggs 1944-49Simon Button 1972-76Barrie Chackett 1951-56John Cole 1947-53Eric Corfield 1941-47Terry Dingley 1945-47Eddie Dobson 1940-49MauriceDownes 1946-51Jack Ellsmoor 1927-32Ken Handley 1945-52Alan Hartley 1944-49Richard Hinton 1962-64Peter Jones 1949-55

Brian Lambert 1942-48Len Mould 1936-42George Maddick 1934-38Chris Marshall 1970-77George Marston 1946-51(StandardBearer) Jack Netherwood 1928-34Robert Owen 1945-53David Podmore 1951-58Derek Randles 1949-54Colin Riley 1946-53Derek Robbins 1940-47Don Sharkey 1942-48Peter Smith 1949-54Peter Stevenson 1938-45Martin Sullivan 1969-76Wesley Till 1969-71HEADOFCENTREPhilCummingEX-MASTERRev.MichaelFisherBUGLERCapt(Ret.)DavidKeatesMBE

LADIESJulie AndrewsJackie ArmstrongCarole ColeMartha CollopPat DobsonRuth DownesAnne HandleyBrenda MouldCoralie NetherwoodElizabethOwen

MembersoftheStaffordOldEdwardiansAssociation,togetherwithfamilyandinvitedguests,metattheChetwyndCentre,NewportRoad,Stafford,onSaturdaymorning7NovembertopaytheirrespectstomastersandpupilsoftheformerKingEdwardVIGrammarSchoolwhohadbeenkilledduringthetwoWorldWarsofthe20thCentury.

Thiswasthefirstannualgatheringsincetherecentrenovationofthememorialstonelocatedatthefrontoftheoldschoolgrounds.Twonames,HBostockandPFPemberton,whohadoriginallybeenomittedfromthestonehadbeenadded.

TheremembrancegatheringwasledbytheAssociationPresidentSimonButtonwhowelcomedthe59attendeestotheschoolandintroducedtheproceedings.Vice-PresidentChrisAndrewsread‘InFlandersFields’,thencommitteememberDerekRandlesreadtheresponse.

ThenamesoftheFirstWorldWarfallenwerethenreadbyEddieDobsonwhilsttheSecondWorldWarnameswerereadby93yearoldveteranJackNetherwood.

FollowingthelayingoftheAssociation’swreathandcrosses,buglerCaptainDavidKeates,played‘TheLastPost’whilsthisBritishLegionstandardbearerloweredtheflag.CaptainKeatesthenplayed‘Reveille’aftertheminute’ssilence.

ThegatheringwasclosedbytheReverendMichaelFisher,aformerhistoryteacherattheschool,whoreadprayersandablessing.

Kathryn PodmorePat RandlesBarbara RileyMegan SmithMargaretStevenson

FRIENDSRobertButtonMichaelKozamYOUNGPEOPLETomBelcherBethanyReynolds

NEW EU DIRECTIVE No. 456179

Currency TermsInordertomeettheconditionsforjoiningtheSingleEuropeanCurrency.

AllcitizensoftheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIrelandmustbemadeawarethatthephrase‘SpendingaPenny’isnottobeusedafter31December2009.Fromthisdate,thecorrectterminologywillbe:‘Euronating’

Peter M Jones (1949-55)ItallstartedoneJulyafternoonayearago.Iwasdozingintheconservatoryaftermyusualsandwichlunchwhenthephonerang.Pat,rathermorealertthanme,answeredthecall.Theconversationwentsomethinglikethis:

“Ye-e-s,I’mMrsJones.Youwhat?You’rerelatedtomyhusband?“What’syourname?....ToddMason?....Er,well,I’lljustgethimforyou.”Sheputdownthephoneandcameouttome.

“There’samanonthephone-Ithoughtthathewastryingtosellussomething.Hesaysthathe’srelatedtoyou.HesoundsAustralian!”

“What!”wasmyreply.Istruggledoutofmycomfychairandpickedupthereceiver.“Ye-e-s,I’mPeterJones.Whoareyou?ToddMason?”

TherefollowedsomeevidenceofthegenuinenessonthepartofmycallerandIrealisedthesignificanceofmysecondChristianname,Mason.

“You’reAustralian,whereareyouspeakingfrom?”

“Stafford.TheVineHotel!”wasthereply.

AnhourorsolaterIwalkedintothefrontbaroftheHoteltomeetTodd,my“unknown”distantcousinfromDownUnder.Therehesatwithanopenlap-topandseveralprintedsheetsofourfamilytreewhichheproceededtoshowandexplaintome.IttranspiredthathewasanITConsultantoverhereonaconferenceandinhisfreetimehewascatchinguponhisgenealogy-theMasonline.

Ijustsatthereamazed-thereinfrontofmewasmyfamilytreestretchingbackgenerationswithonlyafewnamesthatIhadeverheardofbefore.

AsItriedtomakesenseofitall,ofimmediateinterestwasthesheetrelatingtomygrand-father,HarryMason,andhisparentsespeciallyhismother,ArabellaMason(formerlyArabellaLees),mygreatgrand-mother.Ilookedcloselyatthedetailsagainthereitwas-theAustralianconnection!

Mygreatgrand-motherhadmarriedtwice;thusArabellaLeesbecameArabellaMasonandhadfivechildren.LatershemarriedagainbecomingArabellaHolfordandhadfivemorechildren.SubsequentlysheandhersecondhusbandemigratedtoAustraliatakingsomeofhertenoffspringfromthetwomarriageswithher.Notablyformemygrand-father,HarryMason,wasoneofthosewhostayedbehind.Why,Iwonder?

Haveyoufollowedallofthissofar?Well,Iwasjustgraspingthesignificanceofmygreatgrand-mother’srolewhenToddsaid:

“YouknowallaboutHell-FireJackthen?”

“Who?”Ireplied.

“Hell-FireJack-ArabellaLees’sfather,FrancisLees,”hewenton.

“No!Howonearthdidhegetthatname?”

“Youdon’tknowabouthim?In1858hewasfamousfordrivinganengineoveraburningwoodenbridgewhichwasjustabouttocollapse.HebecamealocalheroandhisstorywasimmortalizedintheStaffordChronicle-it’sontheinternettoo!

“What?”wasallIcouldreply.

“Asamatteroffact,I’mmeetingtwomoreofyourcousinsfromManchesterathisgraveatCastleChurchtomorrow.Itwouldbegreatifyoucouldjoinus,”hecontinued.

SometimelaterIgothomeratherdazedtobegreetedbymywife.“Wasitworthit?“WhatwasToddlike?”andsoon.Iheldoutsheetsofmyfamily’shistoryandsaid:“I’vejustmetanamazingcousinfromAustraliaandtomorrowI’mgoing

Who Do You Think You Are ?

Unexpected links to my ancestors both near and far

........there in front of me was my family tree stretching back generations........

Hellfire Jack’s Headstone with one of my cousins - Olive Ashton

tomeettwoothernewcousinsfromManchester,allbyHell-FireJack’sgraveatCastleChurchinStafford.”Patjuststaredatme!

ThefollowingafternoonsawmepeeringoverthehedgeatCastleChurch.Thereinthedistanceinthepouringrainwerethreefiguresleaningoveragravestone-mythreenewcousins.IntroductionsweremadeandbothladieswereaspleasedtomeetmeasIthem.Beforeusonthetombstonewerethewords:

“ON THE FIRST AND LAST ENGINE THAT PASSED OVER BASWICH BRIDGE”.

Ittranspiredthatmygreat-greatgrand-fatherwasgiventhehonourofdrivingthefirsttrainoverthenewlyconstructedmetalbridgeandtothinkthatI’dneverheardaboutitallbefore!

QuitealothashappenedsincethatmeetingwithToddayearago.LettersandemailstoandfromAustraliahaveincreasedandgraduallyIambeginningtopiecetogetherthestrandsoftheLees-Mason-Holforddynasty.WhatabravemanFrancisLeesmusthavebeenandwhatanextraordinaryladyhisdaughterArabellamusthavebeentouprootherselfandtwo-thirdsofherextendedfamilytostartanewlifeinAustralia.Whatmadehergoandwhydidmygrand-father,Harry,staybehind?IwonderifIwillfindtheanswerstothesequestions!NowIamstartingtounderstandwhyIhavesomanyrelativeswithnameslikeAshton,Hudson,Tinkler,Holfordandsoon,inadditiontoalltheMasons-Ionlyhopethattheydon’tdescendonmeallatonce!Acknowledgements and thanks to:Stafford Chronicle (William Salt Library), Sept. I858. Francis Lees (Hell-Fire Jack) 2009. Story and music by Dr J.Eric Ashton.http://www.musicsmiles.com/Musicsmiles/hellfire_jack!.htm Additional information by Trevor Ashton, and most important of all to Todd Mason for opening up a treasure trove of family history.

✆ ✆ ✆ ✆ ✆ ✆ ✆ ✆

The computer swallowed grandpa. Yes, honestly its true! He pressed ‘control and ‘enter’ And disappeared from view.

It devoured him completely, The thought just makes me squirm. he must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm.

I’ve searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I’ve even used the Internet, But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves My searches to refine. The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found ‘online.’

So, if inside your ‘Inbox,’ My Grandpa you should see, Please ‘Copy, Scan’ and ‘Paste’ him And send him back to me. ThisisatributetoalltheGrandmasandGrandpaswhohavebeenfearlessandlearnedtousetheComputer.........Theyarethegreatest!!!Wedonotstopplayingbecausewegrowold;Wegrowoldbecausewestopplaying.

A Few Words on Computers

“Dear God, this year please send clothes for all those poor ladies in Daddy’s comput-er,Amen.”

Robert ‘Taffy’ Owen (1944-53)

........He was ever courteous and impeccably mannered with an old-fashioned attention to the ladies;..........

It is September 1959, and after National Service, day one of my first teaching post as Music specialist in an all-age Special Needs School in Coventry.

Atmorningbreakcamea‘criedecoeur’fromNUCampbell,fellowmemberofstaff,tosavehisandhiswife’ssanity,aseachMondayevening,fromthenext-doorsemi,cameprolongedstrainsofadultbeginnerrecorderplaying.CouldIdosomethingaboutit.?Readytoacceptthechallenge,ElizabethandIturnedupthenextMondayeveningtothesceneofcrime,littlerealisingthateachMondayeveningforthenexttenyears,wewouldplayrecorderswiththetwocouplesaccusedoftheoffendingcacophony.

The‘criminals’inquestionwereBob,ex-Londonpoliceman,oarsman,boxerandnowprobationofficer,hiswife,May,agenuineendearingCockneycharacterandformernurse;Jack,whosawactiveserviceduringthewarintheR.A.F,andnowdesignerofamphibiousarmouredtanksatAlvis,andhiswife,Pam,aneducationalpsychologistandlecturer.Althoughouragedifferenceswerelarge,wewere55,40,25...theenjoymentofeachother’scompanydevelopedaswecontinuedtomeetinourhomes,fortunatelycoupledwithanoticeableimprovementintheirmusicalskills!

AllsofarisintroductiontoourunfoldingexperienceswithBobandMay.WekeptonhearingthemtalkaboutMorgan,BenandPeterandeventuallypiecedtogetherthisfascinatingstory.

In1930Bobwasayoungpoliceman,onthebeatintheBloomsburyareaofLondon.Inadditiontohisworkhewasakeenamateurartist,amateurboxerandrowerandheattractedtheinterestandattentionofthelocal“BloomsburyGroup”,whoweretheoutstandingliterarytalentsinthecountry.HewasinvitedtotheirpartieswherehemetAuden,Isherwood,BenjaminBrittenandPeterPears.FollowingaBoatRacepartyatHammersmithhemetandstartedarelationshipwithE.M.(Morgan)Forster.Morganwasestablishedasaninternationalliteraryfigure,famedfor‘APassagetoIndia’,‘RoomwithaView’and‘Howard’sEnd’,subsequentlymadeintofilms.

LaterBobmarriedMayandsurprisingly,Morgan’srejectionwasnotforthcoming.InsteadhetookalikingtoMayand,whenweknewthem,Morganwasregularlyvisitingtheirsemi,inCoventry,forChristmas,hisbirthdayandotheroccasions.Morgan,nolongerabletoliveinhisown‘Howard’sEnd’,wasgivenanhonoraryFellowshipofKingsCollegeCambridgeinrecognitionofhisliteraryachievements,enablinghimtohaveroomsinCollege.Later,withdeterioratinghealth,BobandMaylookedafterhimintheirhomeandinJune1970hediedthere,holdingMay’shand.Number12SalisburyAvenue,CoventrynowproclaimsaBluePlaquerecordinghispassing.

Ashehadnocloserelatives,Maywasnamedhisnext-of-kin,inheritingmuchofhispersonalwritings,allhis‘common-place’booksandtheproofcopyof‘TheSevenPillarsofWisdom’byLawrenceofArabia,(T.E.Lawrence),withLawrence’sownpencillednotesandcorrections.OneofourvividmemoriesisofalargeportraitofLawrence,inArabdressandholdingacurveddagger,inBobandMay’sfrontroom.

DuringourtenyearsinCoventrywemetMorganseveraltimesatourrecordersessionsandparties,includingChristmasdinners.Whatoftheman?Hewasevercourteousandimpeccablymanneredwithanold-fashionedattentiontotheladies;healwaysstoodupwhenaladyenteredtheroom,hewasquietlyspoken,unassumingandthoughtful,butalwaysalertandwithanicesenseofhumour.

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD

A musical introduction to the famous E M Forster

E M Forster

AftertenhappyandformativeyearsinCoventry,myteachingtookmetopasturesnewandwemovedhouse,firstlytoChesterforfouryears,thensettledtothe‘goodlife’intheNewForest.TheGangofSixstillmetforoccasionalweek-ends,eatingdrinkingandexploringournewlocalities.Sadly,now,fortyyearson,theyhavealldied,butElizabeth,myselfandourthreechildrencherishmanyhappymemoriesoftimesspenttogetherwithBobandMay,PamandJack.Wedon’tthinktheywouldmindustellingthestorynow.

Butthestorydidnotendthere!In1994,tocelebrateElizabeth’sretirement,wevisitedrelationsinWashington,whosefamily,notrealisedbyusatthetimeofourvisit,hadmetandbefriendedMorganonanAmericanUniversitytourbeforetheWar.DuringWorldWarII,Morganandhisaunt,livinginSalisbury,receivedfoodparcelsfromGladysWerwiebe,Elizabeth’sfather’sauntandherdaughterJennifer,whoworkedintheAmericanLibraryofCongress.Inthecourseoffamilyconversation,whenwewereinWashington,itwasmentionedthattheyhadlettersfromanEnglishnovelist:theycouldn’trememberhisname,butknewitcontainedinitials!Wesaid“WasitE.M.Forster?”,andtooursurprisetheysaid“Yes”.Theyfoundsomeofhislettersintheatticandwenowtreasuretwoofthem.

♬ ♬ ♬ ♬ ♬

OLD EDS BOWLS 17 JUNE 2009

THE ALAN BALMFORTH SALVER

Eddie Dobson (1940-49)

Fromallaccountsthiswasoneofthebestbowlingeveningswehaveenjoyedoverthepastseventeenyearssinceourrecordsbegan.Somuchdependsontheweather.Thisyeartheforecastwasspoton.Itwasamiserablewetdayuntilaboutfive-thirtyandthenitturnedouttobeabrilliantsunnyevening.

ItwasunusualforustobeabletostartthecontestwithamatchbetweenourPresidentandVice-President,SimonandChris,bothyoung(quite)andeagerandfirsttoarrive.Simon’swifeAnnwasunfortunatelynotabletobepresentforthestart,duetoworkcommitments,soAnneBarkertookherplace.

Allgameswerecompletedbeforeweretiredtotheclubhousetoenjoyagenerous,mouth-wateringbuffetpreparedbyAnneHandley(withalittlehelpfromKen).

TheAlanBalmforthSalvershouldhavebeenpresentedatthispointtothewinningteamcaptainbutsomeonefromout-of-townhadforgottentobringit,soawoodenplatterwassubstituted.Itwasnoticedbysome!

President Result Vice-PresidentSimon Button & Anne BarkerTrevor & Dorothy AshtonNoel & Carol YeatesTony & Cynthia HaggetPeter & Megan SmithMaurice & Ruth DownesRobert & Elizabeth OwenDavid & Linda StottJohn & Treece Wood

15 - 515 - 6

15 - 123 - 159 - 1515 - 1115 - 715 - 21 - 15

Chris & Julie AndrewsAlan Hartley & Martha CollopGordon & Kath TurnerGeoff Chatfield & Terry BartlettMark Ashton & Bev WhiteheadKen Handley & Roger OwenDavid Owen & Judy BishopJohn & Carol ColeRoger Barker & Ed Dobson(A sweet combination!)

Result 103 - 88

Simonthankedtheparticipants,theBowingClubandallconcernedwithmakingtheeventagreatsuccess.WethenwentoutsideagaintobowlfortheBottleofWhiskywhichwaswonbyKenHandleywithanear-toucher.

Ron Jakes (1955-62)On two previous occasions I have written about my experiences whilst travelling abroad on company business. Whilst there are many more tales to tell I thought I would try my hand at a short piece of fictional history with associations to Stafford.

OnelunchtimeinJune1961acoupleofpalsfromthelowerfifthandIweresittingonaparkbenchbytheriverchattingaboutthatmorning’shistoryperiod.AskeenrailwayenthusiastsweweretalkingaboutthebuildingoftherailwaysacrossAmericaandthesubjectmovedontothedifficultiesoffeedingallthenavviesastherailwaysprogressed.Anelderlymanwassittingattheotherendofthebenchandsuddenlysaid,‘MyGrandpaworkedwithBuffaloBillwhilsttheybuiltthoserailways’.Hethentoldusthefollowingstory.“AboutahundredyearsagomyGrandpawasinhisearlytwentiesandhadrecentlycompletedhissevenyearapprenticeshipwithabutcherinGaolSquare.Ashenowhadatradeandareasonablysecurefuturehefeltconfidentenoughtoaskthefatherofhischildhoodsweetheartforpermissiontomarry.ThiswasatimeoftalesofadventureandexplorationbyBritonswhichwerereadilyreported,eveninthelocalnewspapers.Abouttwoyearsaftertheymarried,myGrandpasawanadvertisementforbutcherstogotoAmericatoworkontherailways.Theirspiritofadventureovercametheirconcerns,particularlyastheAmericanCivilWarwasrecentlyover[1865],sotheydecidedtogo.TheyrepliedtotheadvertandweresoonofferedjobsbyoneofthelargeAmericanrailwayswhichwereexpandingacrossthecontinent,throughbuffalocountry,tothewestcoast.IknowallthisbecausemydaughterhasthediarymyGrandmakeptfromthedayofherwedding.TheysoonreceivednoticeoftheirsailingdatesopackedtheirfewbelongingsandwalkedtotherecentlyrebuiltstationinStaffordtocatchatraintoLiverpool,attheirownexpense.MyGrandmawastheguardianofallthepaperworkincludingthefreeseapassageandthefreeAmericanrailwayticketsandsomeofthesestillexistwithherdiary.NeitherofthemhadtravelledfurtherthanafewmilesfromStaffordandsotherailwayjourneywasthefirstoftheirmanyadventures.

TheyarrivedinLiverpoolonaSaturdayafternoonandwereoverwhelmedbythesightsandsoundsthatgreetedthemwithsomanypeople,buildingsandships.Theytookthecheapestlodgingstheycouldfindinthedocksareaforacoupleofdayswhilstwaitingfortheembarkationdatefromtheship’sagent.AfterchurchontheSundaytheywenttothedocksandsawforthefirsttimetheshipthatwouldcarrythemacrosstheAtlantic.MyGrandpasaidtheynearlyturnedbackforStaffordwhentheysawthesizeoftheship,beingbiggerthananythingtheyhadeverimagined,buttheirsenseofadventureeggedthemon.ThelargestvesselstheyhadseenbeforethenwerethecanalbargesattheCoalWharfbytheGreenBridgethatcameuptheSowoffthecanalatthebackofBaswich.ThegreatestexpanseofwatereitherofthemhadeverseenpriortoarrivinginLiverpoolwastheSowinfloodatthebackofBroadEyetowardDoxeyFieldssocrossingtheAtlanticwassomuchofanexperiencemyGrandmawrotepagesandpagesinherdiary.WhilstinLiverpooltheyhadheardmanytalesofsicknessontheshipsandshipwrecksbuttheircrossing,whichtookjustoverafortnight,wasuneventfulexceptforthemanywondroussightsduringthevoyageincludingquiteafewicebergs.Asthecrossingwasfavourablethecrewhadmoretimethantheymightotherwisehavehadtochattothesteerageclasspassengersandexplainalltheysaw,whichmyGrandmafaithfullyrecordedinherdiary.

MyGrandpasaidNewYorkwasevenmoreamazingthanLiverpool,somanymorebuildingsandpeoplethanLiverpoolandsomanydifferentnationalities.Neitherofthemhadevermetanybodyfromanothercountry[notevenaWelshman]andparticularlyhadneverseenanycolouredpeople.Aftertwonights,againincheaplodgings,inNewYorktheysetoffwiththeirfreepassageonatraintoChicago.MyGrandma’sdiaryisfullofwhathappenedeverydayoftheirjourneybutitissodelicatenowIhaven’treaditformanyyearsandsocan’trememberalloftheiradventures.IknowthatforacoupleofmonthsmyGrandpaworkedinChicagoasabutcherfortherailwayandGrandmaworkedasamaidbeforetheyreceivedinstructionstomoveontothePrairies.

Youknowtheykilledoverahundredbuffaloadaytofeedthenavvieswhowerebuildingtherailwaysandthecompaniesweredesperatelyshortofbutcherswhowouldworkinthecamps.Astherailwayproceeded,thenavviesandalltheback-upworkerslivedintentedcampswhichmovedfurtherupthelineeverysooften.Therewerequiteafewbutchersinthe

My Grandpa

worked

with Buffalo

Bill

campmyGrandpawasin.MostofwhowerefromBritain,althoughtherewereacoupleofcowboysandaDutchman.Thebutchersbecametheirownlittlecommunityandwerewellrespectedbythenavvies.BecausemyGrandmahadbeentaughttoreadandwriteinachurchschoolinStafford,shewasemployedbytherailwayasaclerkinthemobile‘office’setupinarailwaycarriagewhichwasalwaysabouthalfamilebehindthemainoperation.Besidesbutchering,someofthem,includingmyGrandpa,becameunofficialsurgeonscarryingoutminoroperationsonpeopleandanimals.ThereweremanydisturbancesinthecampasyouwouldexpectwithsomanymenespeciallyonSundayswhentheywereallowedtogointothenearbysemi-permanentshantytownsthatwerebuiltalongtherailway,theonlyplacetheycouldgetalcohol.OneSundayagroupreturnedtocampmainlyworseforwearwithoneofthebuffalohuntershavingabulletwoundinhisarm.BuffaloBillwasamongstthisgroupandbroughtthewoundedmantomyGrandpa’stentfortreatment.GrandpagotthebulletoutandGrandmacleanedupthewoundandarrangedforoneofthecampwomentonursethemanforafewdays.Apparentlythisunofficialdoctoringandnursingwasquitecommoninthecampsasthereweremanyminorinjuriesandthewomenofthecampwerewellpaidbythosetheylookedafter.AfterthatincidentBuffaloBillwouldoftencallonGrandpaandGrandmawhenhecameintothecampafterbeingouthuntingforaweekormore.AboutayearafterhisdaughterwasbornmyGrandpaleftthemobilecampandsettledinoneofthenewrailwaytownsasthelocalbutcher.YouknowBuffaloBillwashisdaughter’sgodfatherandwestillhaveherhandmadeChristeningGownathome.AfteraboutfiveyearsinAmericatheyhadearnedenoughtobuyacomfortablepassagebacktoStafford,wheretheycouldaffordtotakeacarriagefromthestationalongthenewVictoriaRoadtostayintheSwanHotelforafewdays.MyGrandpasoonestablishedhisownbutcher’sbusinessintheexpandingStaffordwhichincludedastallinthenewcoveredmarketoffCrabberyStreet.Soonaftertheirson,mydad,wasborn.GrandpawaskilledintheBoerWarwhenmydadwasfour”.Theelderlymanthenwentveryquietandseemedtobefullofhisownfamilythoughts,sowesaid,“Thanksmister”andsetoffbacktoschool.Weneversawhimagainandregrettednothavingaskedhisname,sothatwecouldlearnmoreofhisGrandmaandGrandpa.Idon’tknowhowmuchofhisstorywastrue,butyearslaterIlearntthattherewasabutcher’sshopinGaolSquareinthe1850s/60sandthatafamilyrelative[abutcher]andhiswifehadmovedtotheAmericanPrairiesforafewyearsinthelate1850swheretheyhadadaughterbeforereturningtoStafford.

Notes

The1860sbutcher’sshopinGaolSquarewasRadioRentalsinthe1960sandisCafeNoirin2009.StaffordRailwayStationwasrebuiltin1861/2andthe1862facadesurviveduntilitwasbulldozedin1959tomakewayforthecurrentstation.VictoriaRoadandtheroadbridgeovertheSow,towardthestation,werenotbuiltuntil1866.TheCoalWharfbytheGreenBridgeisshownonthe1900StaffordmapandtheconnectionwiththecanalatBaswichisshownonthe1898countymapalthoughtheymaynothavebeeninusethen.WilliamCody[BuffaloBill1845-1917]wasanarmyscoutforGeneralCusterin1867andthenbecameabuffalohunterfor17months[1867/8]supplyingmeattotheUnionPacificRailroad.TheStaffordCoveredMarketofthe1960swasfundamentallythesamebuildingasthatopenedin1867onthesiteofthethenrecentlydemolishedpolicebarracks.

THE SCHOOL CANTEEN (DINING ROOM) CIRCA 1950

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(Subsequently The Library in Chetwynd School and now a meeting hall)

John L Weaver (1931-36)

War WorkMore of John’s war-time reminiscences

During World WarII I was working for English Electric on the design and development of electronics for linking naval anti-aircraft guns to the optical and radar ranging equipment, mainly for Destroyers.

Ourhush-hushunitwashousedinwhathadbeentheoldDormanDieselfactoryonthecornerofBrowningStandForegateSt,Stafford.Asidefromthetechnicalitiestherewasmuchtoaddtolife'srichtapestry.

Tosortoutteethingproblemsonships,onewasoftencalledtodockyardsatPortsmouth,Southampton,Leith,Rosyth,Barrow,theTyneandtheClyde,sometimesonovercrowdedovernighttrains.Weevensleptinthecorridorswitharmybootspassingoverus.OnoneoccasionIwascalleduptosomedockyardbecausetheNavythoughttheywerehavingtroublewithsomeofourelectronicswhichwerenewtothem—IthinkitwasJohnDenny'sYardatDumbarton.Astheywereaccustomedtohydraulicsystemsandoursweresomewhathybrid,theynaturallyblamedtheelectronics.

WhenIgotthereIfoundthatthehydraulicswereinbitsalloverthedeckinglookinglikeadismantledcarengine.TheproblemwiththosehydraulicswasthatanydesignfaultwouldmeanareturntothedrawingboardandmachineshopbutbythetimeIgottheretheyhadlocatedarepairablesnag.WhiletheydabbledwiththeiroilyfriendIwenttoBallochonLochLomondforabreakandwhenIcamebacktheyhaditallsortedout.

WhilelunchinginBallochIfellinwithayoungnavalengineerofficerandweagreedthatitwouldbeagoodideatohireaboatandrowtotheattractivelookingisland"justoverthere".Sowerowedandrowedandrowedwithourbackstowhereweweregoing,asonedoes.Itmusthavebeenawinterafternoonbecauseafteranhourthelightdimmed,abitoffollowingwindaroseandthewatergotchoppyandtheislandlookednonearer.Ballochhaddisappearedbelowthehorizon.SoweturnedroundwithourbackstoBalloch,fixedoursightsonadistanthilltopandvery,veryslowlyfloggedbackuntilthelights(nowneeded)ofBallochcameintoview.Ithenlearnedthatthischaphadneitherlearnedtoswimorrowbefore,accomplishmentsthatIhadgailyassumedwerehisbutwerecertainlynotmine.Moral—don'tassumethatallsailorsknowaboutboating!

IshouldexplainthatonDestroyersthedirectortowerwithitsopticalrangefinderandradaraerialswasmountedonarearwardextensionoftheship'sbridge.OnanotheroccasionIwasstrugglinguptherewithaproblemwhenthegunneryofficer,withwhomonenormallydealt,cameupthebridgestepsinalittledisarrayandinaveryslurredvoicegrowled,"Comeondowntothewardroom—I'vejustinventedanewcocktail".IsaidImuststayandgetthisthingsortedout—theyweredueoutanyminuteonarcticconvoyduty.

Howeverhereturnedatregularintervals,moreslurredeachtime,withthesamerequest.WhenIremonstratedagainhesaid,“Leavethatb-----thingaloneandcomeondown.Inevereveruseitanyway—IjustwaittillIseethewhitesoftheireyes.”

Imentionedthistoagunneryartificer(technician)andhesaidthisguywasalwayslikethatwhenlaidupinportbutthatatseahewasthebestgunneryofficerheknew.

OnanothertripIwashavingameetingwithagunneryofficerandsomeofhismeninthewardroomandtherewereacoupleofsimilarmeetingsofnavalandciviliancontractorsgoingonatothertables.AstewardcamequietlyroundtoourtableandsaidtotheG.O.inaquietvoice,“I’mafraidthebeerbarrelhasrunout,sir.”“WHAT!”criedtheG.O.andtherewasinstantpanic.Variousofficerspresentrushedovertothecorner,someonepickedupthebarrel,andshookitviolently.“YouBF,it’sjustthetapthat’sbungedup!”.Peacewasrestoredalmostasquicklyasithadbeenbrokenandweallreturnedtoourdiscussions.

Apparentlyalldrinksexceptbeerare,orwerethen,extremelycheaponboardbutbeerhadtobepurchasedashoreatthegoingrate.TwocolleaguesofminespentoneChristmasonboardadestroyeratScapaFlowandstoodthewardroomdrinksallChristmasEveanditcostthem18shillings(90p).

ThebrainsofoursystemwastwodecksdowninwhatwascalledtheTSorTransmittingStation.OnoneDestroyerallourequipmentworkedfineuntilIranguptheDirectorOperatorandaskedhimtoswitchovertoFullAutomaticFollow.

Wehadgonethroughtheotheroptions,rangingfromcompletemanualoperationofthegunstothisfinalphaseoftesting.EverythingintheTSwentdead.IwasploddingroundwiththeAvotestmetertryingtolocatethecausewhenanirateartificerburstinwith,“Whoputtheb-----bathheateron?”TheAdmiraltyhaddecidedthatitwouldbeagoodideaonarcticconvoys,wheremanyshipswerebeingsunk,todunksurvivors,clothesandall,intoahotbath.Tothisendasmallishhottankhadbeeninstalledinanofficer’sminutebathroom.Inthetopofthisweremountedseven3kilowattimmersionheaters.Nowwiththeadventofallthenewelectronicsetc.electricpowerwashardtocomeby.Thesystemofwhichourelectronicswasparthaditsown50volt,50cyclesupplyfroma30/40kilowattmotorgeneratorrunfromtheship’smaind.c.supply.Theiranswerhadbeentosupplythebathheatersfromthiswhenthedirectorandgunnerysystemwasnotwanted.Soachangeoverswitchwasinstalledwiththeobviousmistakeinthewiring-whenthegunnerysystemdemandedmaximumpoweritgotturnedoffandthebathheaterwasturnedon!

Ononeboatwewereunabletogetanyresponsefromoursystemalthougheverythingwasliveandswitchedon.Noweachdeckofafightingshipwastreatedelectricallyasaseparatelayer.Allthemanylead-coveredmulti-corecablesfromthedeckaboveenterjunctionboxeswhichwereallovertheplaceandalloutgoingcablestothedeckbelowleavefromevenmorescatteredboxes.Aftermanyhoursofopeningtheseboxesandtracingourmastersignalconnectionswefoundthattheyhadtravelledallthewaydownfrombridgeleveltotwodecksdownandwerethenconnectedandtravelledallthewaybackupagainthroughadifferentseriesofboxes.UnfortunatelytheydidnotstopoffatourequipmentintheTS!Ittranspiredthatanintermediatedeckhadrecentlybeenrewiredtoanout-of-dateissueofthewiringdiagram!Thisis

notsurprising,asthecustomwasthat,afterinitialworkhadbeeninspectedandthewiringteamreturnedtocorrectanyerrors,afurthertestandinspectionwasoftenwaivedbecauseoftheurgencyofgettingthedestroyerbackinservice.

OnceatRosythIwasbusysortingsomethingoutintheTSwiththeboatatthedocksidewhenIwastoldthat“TheOldMan”i.e.theCommanderofthedockyard,whowasanoldsticklerfordiscipline,hadsignalledtheskipperthat,fromhislair,hehadseenciviliansaboard,unsuitablydressedatthat!ItwasahotdayanditwassuggestedthatifIdidgouptopforabreatherIshouldkeeptopartsoftheshipnotvisiblefromhiswatchtower.OnthatoccasionIwasploughingonbelowwellintotheeveningandcameuptofindseaallaround.ForamomentIthoughtImightbeheadingfortheArcticbutIfoundwewereanchoredintheFirthofForth.Ifinishedquicklyandliterallythumbedaliftashoreonafreighterthathadbeenrefuellingtheship.Suchalotofnewhi-techequipmentwasaddedtooldershipsthatthingsweretuckedintoanyavailablespace.Nearlyallthewallsandshelvesinofficer’sberthswereoccupiedbyelectricalorelectronicboxesofsomekind.Iopenedonesteeldoorlabelled“Bo’sun’sLockerRoom”andfoundthetinyroomfullyoccupiedbyalarge,possiblyspare,radarset.Aerialsproliferatedlikespringflowers.Iwastoldanapocryphaltaleofsomeoftheladscomingfromshoreleaveandbringingapawnbroker’ssignwiththemwhichtheystrungupintherigging.Whensomevisitingtopbrasscrosslyasked“Whatwasthat?”hewastolditwasanothernewradaraerial.Thisproliferationbroughtotherproblemstoo.TheAAgunmountingshadlimitswitchesattachedunderneathandtheserodeovercamplatesplacedsothatfiringwasinhibitedwheneverthemovingaimofthegunsconflictedwithpartsoftheship’ssuperstructure,aerialsetc.Thesupplyofcamsdidnotalwayskeepupwiththeincreaseinaerialgadgetrywithpredictableresults.IwasvisitingRosythandstayinginDunfermlinewhenVJdaywasannouncedatmidnightandthetownwentmad.

YoucanfindmoretechnicaldetailsofthisstoryonthePeople’sWarMemorieswebsiteatwww.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2.

EdNote:Photographsarefromwww.bbc.co.uk

Story of the BatsTwovampirebatswakeupinthemiddleofthenight,thirstyforblood.Onesays,“Let’sflyoutofthecaveandgetsomeblood.”“We’renewhere,”saysthesecondone.“It’sdarkout,andwedon’tknowwheretolook.We’dbetterwaituntiltheotherbatsgowithus.”Thefirstbatreplies,“Whoneedsthem?Icanfindsomebloodsomewhere.”Hefliesoutofthecave.Whenhereturns,heiscoveredwithblood.Thesecondbatsaysexcitedly,“Wheredidyougettheblood?”Thefirstbattakeshisbuddytothemouthofthecave.Pointingintothenight,heasks,“Seethatblackbuildingoverthere?”“Yes,”theotherbatanswers.“Well,”saysthefirstbat,“Ididn’t.”

Chris Andrews (1971-73)Having a father in the Royal Navy meant that I went to a large number of schools between the ages of 5 and 17. However, the only school located in an exotic place that I attended was in Singapore. We were posted out there in 1963 and spent three happy years living in the Johore Bahru suburb which was across the causeway from Singapore City.

ThereweretwoschoolsdedicatedtoeducatingthechildrenofservicepersonnelbasedinSingapore;onewasfortheArmy,theotherfortheRoyalNavy.Irememberstandingatourbusstopwithmyoldersisterandmyyoungersister,waitingforthe‘Navy’bustopickusup.Ifthe‘Army’busdrovebywewouldgivethekidsonboardthethumbsdownandtheywouldgleefullyreciprocatethroughtheopenwindows!Isupposetheequivalentthesedayswouldbethe‘HarveySmith’two-fingeredsalute....orworse!Forsomereasonthechildrenofoneofmyfather’scolleagueshadtoattendtheArmyschool–perhapstheNavyschoolwasfullysubscribed.Ibettheyhadaratherhardtime!

Asanofficer,myfatherwasentitledtoaprivatehouseratherthantraditionalmarriedquarters.IrememberthatwelivedintwoverydifferenthousesduringourstayinJohoreBahru.Thefirstwasaverymodern,rathercharacterlessaffairthatwaslocatedonahousingestateofsimilarproperties.Thesecondwasvery

muchthetraditionaloldcolonialstylebuilding,allverandahsandshutters,thetypeyouimaginewhenyoureadbookslikeJewelintheCrownwhenBritainstillhadanEmpire.

Atbothhouseswehad‘servants’knownasAmahs(notsureofthespelling,norismyfatherwhohasassistedwithcompilingthisarticle).Thesewerewomenwhoactedashousekeepersandnannytomyyoungestsibling,Geoffrey.TheChineseamahatthefirsthousedotedonGeoffreybut,muchtoherdismay,shewasnotretainedwhenwemoved.Mymother,apparently,preferredMalayanstaffsohiredtwoamahs,andagardener,atthecolonialresidence.

Ihavemorememoriesofoursecondhome.Irememberthatwehadanumberof‘tame’ducksthatfrequentedourlargebackgardenandthegardenerkilledoneofthemontheinstructionsofmyfather.Iassumewehadthepoorcreaturefordinnerthatevening!Onthesubjectofdumbanimalsmeetinganuntimelyend,myfatherreversedhiscaroverourmongreldogkillingthepoorcreature!OneparticularphotoIrememberfromoursecondhomewaswasofmyfoursiblingsandme,posingoutsidethefrontdoor,mytwosistersintheirballetoutfits,mybrotherinaminiversionofthecolonialRoyalNavyuniform(allwhite),andmeinmycubuniformwhichconsisted

SingaporeAn itinerant schooling

ofthetraditionalgreencap,greyshirtwithepaulettes,andblueshortswithleatherbeltsportingthewolf’sheadonthebuckle.

Owingtothefactthatitbecameunbearablyhotaroundmiddayweonlyattendedschoolinthemornings,althoughwestartedalotearlierthanintheUK.

OneofthehighlightsofourstayinMalayawastheweeklyFridayeveningfilmshowsandbarbecuesatthenavalbase.Afterfillingourfaceswithhotdogswewouldsitdownandwatchamoviewhich,moreoftenthannot,wasaWaltDisneycartoon.NowadayswheneverIseeclipsofpre70’sDisneycartoons(particularly‘PeterPan’and‘Pinochio’)IamalwaystransportedinmymindbacktoSingapore.Thebasehaditsownswimmingpoolsowespentmanyhoursthere.

AtweekendswewouldoftengoonboattripswithanumberofotherNavyfamilies.Invariablywewoulddropanchorinasandycoveandspendhoursdivingofftheboat.Abarbecuewouldberustleduptofeedthehungrydiversandswimmers.

OnotheroccasionsIremembermyparentswater-skiing.Myfatherhadathirdshareinaspeedboat.Conveniently,oneofthetwootherpartnerswastheEngineeringOfficerfromhissubmarinesoproblemswiththeoutboardmotorweregenerallyrectifiedveryquickly!

Oneoffather’sotherhobbieswasgolfandhewasabletousethecourselocatedinthegroundsoftheSultan’spalace.Motherusedtoexercisehorsesinthegroundsaswell.

Despitemyfatherbeinganofficerandhaving‘staff’whilstlivinginalargecolonialhouse,hehadtwooftheropiestlookingvehiclesyoucouldwishtoclapeyeson.Onewas

aricketyoldmotorscooterwhichseemedtohavebeenhandpainted–withabrush!Theothervehiclewasaconvertiblesalooncar;Ihavenoideawhatmakeitwas.Ithadasimilar‘paintjob’tothescooter,againinblue,andwasarightnail!MysiblingsandIaffectionatelychristenedit‘TheCronkbomb’.Lordknowswhatmyfather’sseniorofficersmadeofhimdrivingintothebaseintheoldrustbucket.It’sawonderhewasn’tputonafizzeronaregularbasisforloweringthetoneoftheplace.

AnotherofmyfondestmemorieswasthedayIwentoutinmyfather’ssubmarine!HeheldtherankofLieutenantCommanderbutwasskipperofoneoftheolddieselsubs.Ihadlunchintheofficer’smess,lookedthroughtheperiscope,stoodatoptheconningtowerwhenwesurfaced,butmybiggestthrillwas‘driving’thesub.Iwasabletooperatethesteeringwheel,orwhateveryoucallit(sorry,father,fornotusingthecorrecttechnicalterm!).

IrememberthatwetravelledtoaresortinPenangforoneofourholidays.Itwasveryidyllicbutthat’sallIcanrecall.

MyfatherkeptmythreereportsfromtheInfantDepartmentoftheRoyalNavalSchoolSingapore.Thefirst,fortheyearendingJuly1963,revealsmyageas5.7,andstarts,“Christopherworkshardandplayshard”.Stilldo,haha!Myfinalreport,twoyearslater,ends,“Heisasensibleboy–agoodmixer.”Stillam,hoho!Apartfromthereportsmyfatheralsokeptacopyofoneofmyclassphotos.AnyOldsEdsfromthe71–73era,seeifyoucanidentifyyoung‘C.J.’

LivinginSingaporewasagreatplacetobeacubscout.ApartfromtheweatherbeingmoreconducivetocampingIseemtorecallamassiveinternationaljamboreebeingstagedwhilstIwasoutthere.

WhenweleftSingapore,priortoourflighthome,weweregivenabunchoforchidsbythelocalgreengrocer.Anyservicepersonnelwhohadhadanaccountwithhimwereaffordedthisgiftasatokenofhisthanksforallthebusinessputhisway.

IcanremembernothingabouttheflightstoandfromSingaporesoassumetheywererelativelysmoothbutIprobablyasked,“Arewethereyet?”severalhundredtimes!

Trevor Ashton (1945-50)One day in July I was working at my Apple Mac computer when I received an unexpected telephone call from a BBC researcher called Sophie.SheexplainedthattheBBCweremakinganewserieswiththeHairyBikersandshewasseekingninepersonswhoappreciatedgoodfoodtoactas‘tasters’intheproductionrepresentingStaffordshire.

BythistimeIwasseriouslysuspectingsomesortofwind-up.TheyoungladywentontoexplainthattheproductionteamwasComet,thesamecompanywhoproduceTheRichardandJudyShowandSaturdayKitchenwithJamesMartin.ThehairybikersareSiKingandDaveMyers-andareaswellknownfortheirmassivemotorbikes,andheavychin-growthsastheirskillsinthekitchen.Theduo’sTVshowsareamixtureofcookery

andtravelogue,inaKeithFloydstyle,gatheringingredientsastheygoandtryingouttheirculinaryskillsinanumberofdifferentlocations.

NaturallyIwassurprisedandflatteredtohavebeeninvitedtojointhemattheMoatHouseandlookedforwardtoconfirmationwhichwaspromptlyreceivedwithafullydetailedexplanationoftheprogrammewhichwastobemadeatTheMoatHousethefollowingWednesday.IaskedDorothyandoneortwomoreiftheywouldliketojoinmebutnooneseemedaskeenasIwasatbeingseenonTV.

IwasfascinatedtobeinvolvedinaTVshow,notlivebutrealenough.Theproductionprocessiswhatinterestedme.WehadtobeatTheMoatHouseby4pmandthefilmingwastotakeafewhours.Asalltheinviteesturnedupatreceptionwechattedandallofuswereintriguedastowhywehadbeeninvited.Theonlycommonfactorappearedtobethateach

ofuswasinvolvedwiththemanagementorleadershipofagroup.ItseemsIwasrepresentativeofmypaintinggroupatCastleChurchbutitmayhavebeenmyprofileaseditorofthechurchwebsiteormaybeevenasEditoroftheStaffordian.OtherswereinvolvedwithmanagementgroupsassociatedwithFoodinStaffordshireandanexChiefExecutiveofStoke.TheywerealldelightfulpeoplebuttheonlypersonIrecognisedwasex-councillorRobertSimpsonalsoanOldEd.TheProductionAssistant,buzzingaroundwithherclipboard,explainedtousthatsometimestheycouldstillbethereuntil10or11pm.Infactwewerefinishedabout10pm.Shepleadedwithusnottodrinkalcoholaswewaited,becausetheeffectsmightbevisibleontherecording.Fortunatelyitwasalovelysummer’sdaysohangingaroundchattinganddrinking(non-alcoholic)inthegardensoftheMoatHouseHotelwasverypleasurableandrelaxing.

TheshowwasbasedaroundtheHairyBikerscompetingwithlocalchefMattDaviestoproduceatrueStaffordshiredish.WeweretojudgewhichbestrepresentedourcountyofStaffordshire.Weplayedthepartofrestaurantdinersandweresplitintotwotablesforthetasting.Thefirstchefproducedtwoplatefuls,oneforeachtableandwewereinvitedtosharethemealandcommentaswetastedit.Thedisheswereanonymoussowewerenottoldwhohadcookedeachdish.AstherewasnootherfoodprovidedthatdayIwasluckytobeonthetableforfour.Idon’tknowwhytheychosetohaveninepeopletodividebytwo.Eachpersonwasprovidedwithaglassofwineandaglassofwaterbuttheadvicewastonotdrinkthewineastheywantedustolookandsoundsober.Noteasywhenwehadtohangaroundandentertainourselvesforfivehours.Thetemperatureofthefoodwasalsotobediscountedasitwouldnotbehotbythetimeallthefilmingandretakeshadbeenmade.

Thefirstplatewasadishofloinporkwithcrackling,onabaseofcourgettepureewithbabycarrots,roastedcourgettesandshallotsaccompaniedbymashedpotato.Wewerefirstinvitedtocommentonthepresentationwhichinthiscasewasveryartisticandtheneach‘taster’wasinterviewedastohowtheyfoundthefood,whethertheylikeditornotandiftherewasanythingtheydidn’tlike.

Afteranintervalwhichstretchedtotwohoursthesecondplateoffoodwaspresented.Theseconddishpresentedtous

With the Hairy Bikers at the Moat House

An unexpected invitation to judge Staffordshire food

wasroastchickenonabedofgooseberrystuffingwithmeatballsandgravy,servedwithamixtureofbroadbeansandcrispybacon,accompaniedbyaminiaturewirebasketofchips.Whilstthedishdidn’thavethesameaestheticappealasthefirstitwasattractiveenoughwiththechickenbreastcookedwithacrispyskinandthebroadbeanswhichwereskinned,retainedabrilliantgreencolour.Thewirebasketwasanoveltythatappealedtosome.

Wespentsometimewiththeproducerandcameracrewfilmingeachpersoninturnmakingcommentsonthefood.Theresultswereheavilyeditedandourextensiveandelaboratedescriptionscuttomilliseconds.Quiterightlyasyouwillobserveintheprogrammeotheraspectswerefarmoreinteresting.

Eventually,lateintheevening,theHairyBikersandTheMoatHouseChef,MattDavies,wereintroducedtousinthesideroomattachedtotherestaurantwhichwehadoccupiedfortheshow.Theylookedeverybitasexhaustedastheywereentitledtobeafterspendingallafternooninaveryhotkitchen.Apparentlytheyhadbeendelayedseveraltimesbythecamerasoverheating.Theyhadtocallahaltonseveraloccasionswhistthecamerascooleddown.

ThewinningplatevotedasthemosttypicalofStaffordshirewastheHairyBikers’dishofRoastChickenandChipswithBroadBeansandBacon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouagreebutIthinkthosetwocombinationsevokesomememoriesofhomeinthiscountybutIwouldbepushedtodeclarewhatisreallyaStaffordshiremeal.

Allthefoodservedwasproducedfromlocallygrownproduce.Theporkandthefreerangechickenwerebeautifullycookedandtastedverysucculent.Weallfeltsorryforthe’Loser’asTheMoatHousePorkLoinwasalovelydishandwouldhavebeatenthechickeninmostotherfacets.Itwasaveryunexpectedpleasureandaveryinterestingday.

TheserieswasshownonBBC2at5.30pmeachdayforthirtyshows,wehadtowaittill30Septembertoseeours.

♨♨♨ ♨♨♨♨ ♨♨♨Ted Talbot (1946-52)

At KESS, where I first met him, Peter was one of many boys who indulged in the popular hobby of trainspotting (noting down the numbers of engines in the hope of seeing all those listed in Ian Allan’s ABCs). Thelocationoftheschoolencouragedthispastime,notonlybybeingnearthestation(manyboystravelledtoschoolbytrain,fromstationssuchasMilford,Colwich,PenkridgeandStandonBridge)butalsobybeingideallysituatednearthegoodsyard.Atbreakandatlunchtimeboyswouldgatheronthe

airraidshelters,onthefarsideofthecricketpitchfromtheschool,asitenowdeplorablyoccupiedbyTesco(whyaresupermarketsneverbuiltontheplayingfieldsofEton?),fromwhereitwaspossibletolookoverthewallandseeenginesintheyards.Inclassroomsalongthetopcorridor,trainspotterswouldalsotrytogetseatsbythewindowsfromwhereitwaspossibletokeepaneyeontheline,whentheteacher’sattentionwasdistractedbylessermatters.OnSaturdaysPeterwouldoftenspendthemorningonthestationbutintheafternoonhewouldgotosupportStaffordRangerswithhisfather.HeremainedakeenRangers’supporterallhislifeandwouldattendmatchesinrain,snoworsunshine.

OneofPeter’sancestorshadbeenaseacaptainandsomehowPeteracquiredthenavaltelescopehehadonceused.WhenhelivedinTixallRoad,thisimplementalwaysrestedonhisdressingtable,carefullyfocusedontherailwaylineabout3/4ofamileaway,ontheStaffordsideofBaswichLanebridge.IfPetersawaninterestingenginepassingalongtheline,hewouldnipupstairs,grabthetelescopeandnotethenumberinabookkeptonthedressingtableforthepurpose.Fromtimetotime,havingseensomething“rare”passbyonitswaytowardsStafford,hewouldjumponhisbike,gotothestationandtelltheboysassembledonBagnall’sBridge.Sometimesthe“rare”itemwouldbedelayedinthegoodsyard,andPeter’snewswouldbegreetedwithremarkssuchas“Sezyou!”.Afewminuteslaterthedisbelieverswouldbeprovedwrong,muchtoPeter’ssatisfaction.

OfthemanytripswhichPeterandImadetogether,threestickinthememory.Firstwasoneinthe50s,whentheWolveswenttoplaySunderlandintheCup.NeitherofushadbeenfurtherthanDerbybeforeandwewentononeofthefivespecialtrainsarrangedbyBR,throughDerby,Sheffield,YorkandDarlingtontotheremoteNorthEast.WedidnotseethegameofcoursebutwentbytraintoNewcastle(onlyweeksbeforehediedPetercouldstillrememberthenumberoftheenginethatpulledus).AspecialtrainwaslaidonfromWolverhamptonat1.15amontheSundaymorningtogettheStaffordianshome.Ourbikeswerestillwaitingforusoutsidethestationandwepedalledhomeuneventfullyat2am.ThesecondtripwastoIndiain1968,(wherewebothexperiencedthelocalcuisineanditssometimesspectacularconsequences)andthethird,inAfrica.AtthetimeIwasworkinginZambiaandarrangedtomeetPeteratVictoriaFallsAirportbeforetravellingtoSouthAfricatogether.Despitetheexoticlocationandtheprospectofatrulymemorabletrip-1000milestoJohannesburgwithsteamhaulagealltheway-PeterwasjustascalmandmatteroffactashewouldhavebeenatStaffordstationifweweremeetingforadayoutatCrewe!

Peter Stead - An enthusiatic Train Spotter

If Peter saw an interesting engine passing along the line, he would nip upstairs, grab the telescope and note the number

A SIX-YEAR campaign to add the names of two veterans to a Stafford war memorial is finally nearing completion - after urging our members to give the price of a pint to help raise cash for it.

AllOldEdswillbeawareofthememorialstonelocatedadjacenttotheentrancetoouroldGrammarSchoolandthefactthatanumberofusmeetthereeachyearontheSaturdaypriortoRemembranceSundaytoremembertheformerpupilsandmasterswhogavetheirlivesduringconflictsofthe20thCentury.

TheMemorialbearsthenamesofmastersandpupilswhodiedduringtheGreatWar,howevertwonamesaremissingfromthelist,HBOSTOCKandPFPEMBERTONwhoarebelievedtohavefoughtintheFirstWorldWar.

Weaimtoaddthesenamesandalsogivethestructureacleanbuthavebeenunabletotouchitbecauseitismadeofdelicatesandstone.

Alan‘Chunky’Smith,aformerOldEdsPresident,hasbeenthedrivingforcebehindthecampaignforsixyears,togetherwithvariousmembersofthecommittee,notablyourHon.Sec.RobinBelcher,negotiatingwithNationalHeritageandtryingtopersuadethelocalcounciltoprovideuswithfinancialassistanceinachievingourgoal.Wehavefinallybeenofferedthesumof£1,500fromthecouncilbutthetotalcostoftheworkislikelytobesomewherebetween£2,500and£3,000.

AlanSmithsaidinacommenttotheStaffordNewsletter:“IfourmemberseachgivethecostofapintofbeerIthinkwecouldbewellonourwaytoraisingtherequiredsum.....Wearealsolookingatpotentialgrantsthatwemayapplyforandappealingtoanyonewhowouldliketomakeadonationtowardsthecampaign.

WehaveneverforgottenthesetwoveteransandalwaysreadtheirnamesoutattheannualceremonybutitwouldbegoodtofinallygetthemofficiallyaddedtotheMemorial.Ouraimis

toraisethemoneyandgettheworkdonebyNovemberintimeforthisyear’sRemembranceceremony.Wearealsokeentotracethefamiliesofeitherofthetwoveterans,althoughwehavetriedbeforewithoutsuccess.Ifanyonecanhelptofindthemthenpleasegetintouch.”

ToraisetheadditionalfundswemadeanappealtoallmembersoftheOldEdsAssociationtomakeasmalldonation.Wearepleasedtoannouncethattherequiredfundshavenowbeenraised.Weofferourgratefulthankstoallwhocontributed.

ANN BUTTON SPONSORED RUN

OnSunday13September2009,AnnButton,wifeofPresidentSimonButton,competedintheLakeVyrnwyHalfMarathoninWales.AnndecidedtoseeksponsorshipforthisraceinordertoraisemoniesfortheWarMemorialFund.Onaveryhotandsunnymorning1800runnerssetoffoverthe13.1milecourse.AnnwasrathermiffedthatiPodsandWalkmanswerenotpermittedtobewornforhealthandsafetyreasonsasshelikestolistentoinspirationaltuneswhenthegoinggetstough.

Despitebeinghamperedbyakneeinjury,Annfinishedaverycreditable967thcompletingtheracein2hoursand9minutes.

Todate,Annhasmanagedtoraiseover£170fortheWarMemorialFund.

War Memorial

AppealFor Renovation and to Add Missing Names

Letters7 St Brannocks Rd, llfracombe, N Devon, EX348EG

12.01.09

Dear Peter,

Guesswhothefat,oldchapisint

hephotobelow,taken

fromtheNorthDevonJournal?Th

ere’s10yearsofsitting

inthiswretchedchairvisiblether

e!Itisfromareportof

our(my)battletosaveourdayc

entre.Themayorand

IhadinvitedthechairofDCCto

comeandaddressthe

“Owduns”atthedaycentreandt

hePressweretheretoo.

Surprise,surprisetheywereallow

edinthistime.Banggoes

myanonymityintownnow!!I’ve

justreturnedhomeand

severalpeoplehave“congratulat

edme”onthecampaign,

eventhoughitisbynomeanscer

tainthatwehavewon.The

ChairofDCCisatypicalpolitici

an----asslipperyasabar-

relofeelsandadeptintheartofs

ayingalotwithouttelling

youanything.Stillatleasthedid

admitthat‘they’d’made

alotofmistakeslastyear,so1su

pposethatissomething.

Butthesameoldthingsweretrot

tedout---yestherewould

bedaycareforallwhohaditatp

resentanditwouldbein

llfracombe.Whenpressedhecouldn’t,orwould

n’ttellus

where.Hopeyouhada

goodChristmaswithallyourfam

ilyround

you.Itwasjollycolddownhere

withasprinklingofsnow.

Infactitisreallycoldnowandth

epavementsarereally

slipperyformywheelchair.1had

agoodtimeatBurrow

HouseforChristmas---toomuch

todrinkandtoomuchto

eat,butthat’swhatChristmasisa

llaboutisn’tit?Poorold

AnnabellewenttoSpaintocheck

onourlittleflatandhada

miserabletime---theplacewas

packedwithchavs,justlike

BenidorrnonTVapparently.We’restilltryingto

sellitbut

nobodywantstobuyattheprese

nt.

I’mgoingtotheProbusdinnerin

BamstapleonThursday,if

mypalRoyisbetterbythen.Hes

tilldrivesandhasprom-

isedtobringamanualchairform

e,onceI’mloadedintohis

car!1reallyenjoygoingtoProbu

sastheyaremainlyfitand

abletowalketc.,sothere’snoin

cessantchatteraboutaches

andpains.Theonlydrawbackis

whereittakesplace--up-

stairsattheyachtclub.1haveto

usethericketyoldstair

lifttoactuallygetupthere.Ithasn

’tletmedowntotallyyet,

eventhoughsomemonthsago1w

asstalledhalfwayup.

Thechapshadtocometomyresc

ue!

LotsofLuv

Terry Marriot

C.E.A. McCarthy 4, North Avenue, Abingdon. Oxon OX14 1QN2 July 2009,Dear Simon

IseeonyourcommitteewebsitethatyouareplanninganappealforsomerestorationworkontheoldSchoolWarMemorial;wouldyoupleaseac-cepttheattachedchequetowardsthefund.Ihavealsoenclosedacoupleofphotographsthatyoumightliketocon-siderforinclusioninthenexteditionofTheStaffordian.Thesearecopiessothereisnoneedtoreturnthem.ThephotographsweretakenduringanEnglishlessoninspring1959.GeorgeDavies[MrG.M.J.Davies]istheteacherandPhilLewis[E.P.Lewis]istheinquiringpupil.Inthiscase1wasnotthephotographeralthough,atthetime,1wasnevertoofarawayfromanynonsensethatwashappening.Onreflectionthiswasnotthewaytobehavebutnow,fiftyyearson,1haveacoupleofremind-ersfromtheLowerVthatKESS....and1didpassmy‘O’levelEnglish

Yoursfaithfully,‘Sam’McCarthy[1955-1960]

Well done Sam - Quite a scoop! - Ed.

7&8St.Mary'sGroveStaffordST162AT

Telephone01785252377Fax01785273122

DX14557Web:http://[email protected]

PROVIDING LEGALSERVICES TO

OLD EDWARDIANSFOR GENERATIONS

NOWELLMELLERSOLICITORS

Letters ctd

To [email protected]

From [email protected]

6July2009

Manythanksforhaving

suchawebsite.

Ihavebeenresearch

ingmyfamilyhistory

andhave

discoveredthatmyG

reatGreatGrandfathe

r*attended

yourschoolinthe18

80’s

Ithendiscoveredtha

ttheschoolhassince

closeddown

andthoughtIhadreac

hedadeadendinmy

research.

ThenIfoundyourwe

bsite.

Thankyouforkeepin

gthehistoryandtrad

itionsofthe

schoolalive.Further

thankyouforthepho

tos,itwas

wonderfultoseewhe

remyancestorwentt

oschool.

*HisnamewasTho

masOswaldOswell.

Hisfatherwas

apolicemanBenjami

nThomasOswell.Th

omasOswald

Oswellwentonthefi

ghtintheBoerWarandbec

amea

verysuccessfulpolic

emaninSouthAfrica.

Regards

Angelique Michel

Durban

South Africa

2 Beacon View.

Stanbridge,

Leighton Buzzard,

Beds.LU7 9JJ

[email protected] Tel 01525 210838

IthoroughlyenjoyedtheDinnerasIsatoppositeRonandBrianAdamswhowereatschool1947-53.TheylivedintheOxfordGardensareaandwefoundthatnotonlydidwehavethesamefieldswhichweroamedbutwealsoknewsomanyofthesamefolk.

IthoughtthatIwouldsendyouacontributionforthemagazinewhichIhopeisnotlibellousregardingCorker!

Youmaybeinterestedintheenclosed2004obituaryofArthurHopcraftwhowasatKESS1943-48butkeptafairlylowprofileasopposedtootherCannockianswhogenerallywereallverygoodachievers.1donotrememberhimshiningatanysportssoitwassurprisingtolearnthathisfootballbookisregardedasoneofthebest.Hewasobviouslyaverygoodlatedeveloperandalthoughhewasratherdismissiveabouthisschooldaysinhisbook‘TheGreatAppleRaid’hemusthavegainedsomethingfromtheSchool.

..........LookforwardtoseeingyouinJanuary.Regards,

Ken Ackland (1943-48)

51A AMOR STREET HORNSBY 2077 NSW AUSTRALIA

30thJanuary,[email protected]

DearPeter

ThankyousomuchforsendingmeacopyofTheStaffordian.OnceagainIsatdownandreaditfromcovertocover.IalwaysthoroughlyenjoyitasIstillrememberwithpleasuresomanyofthepeopleandtheincidentsmentioned.ItisreallygoodtolearnofthesuccesseseventuallyachievedbytheboysIknewduringmytimeatKESS.ImustcongratulatetheeditorialstaffofthemagazineasIthinkitisatremendousachievementtokeepamagazinelikethisgoing.Iknowthatagreatdealofhardworkisdemandedofaloyalbandofvolunteers.ButIthinkyouallmustbeverypleasedwiththeoutcome...........

Iremembersowellbeinginvolvedwiththeadmin.forthepurchaseofthegrandpiano,aRudIbach,butIdidn'tknowMrGillespieplayedboogie-woogie(p.12)..............

IfIthinkofanyamusingincidentsthatmightbeworthmentioning,Iwillcertainlyletyouknow.IwouldlovetokeepreceivingTheStaffordianandwouldbeveryhappytopayforitandthepostageifyouletmeknow.

Mysinceregoodwishestoyoufor2009andtoallthosewhoproduceandreadthemagazine.

Sincerely,

Joyce (Miles)

Hereisaninterestingandlovelywaytolookatthebeautyofmathematics.

1x8+1=912x8+2=98123x8+3=9871234x8+4=9876

12345x8+5=98765123456x8+6=9876541234567x8+7=987654312345678x8+8=98765432123456789x8+9=987654321

1x9+2=1112x9+3=111123x9+4=11111234x9+5=1111112345x9+6=111111123456x9+7=11111111234567x9+8=1111111112345678x9+9=111111111123456789x9+10=1111111111

9x9+7=8898x9+6=888987x9+5=88889876x9+4=8888898765x9+3=888888987654x9+2=88888889876543x9+1=8888888898765432x9+0=888888888

Brilliant,isn’tit?Andlookatthissymmetry:

1x1=111x11=121

111x111=123211111x1111=1234321

11111x11111=123454321111111x111111=12345654321

1111111x1111111=123456765432111111111x11111111=123456787654321

111111111x111111111=12345678987654321

THE BEAUTY OF MATHEMATICS

5 4 2 8 6 9 3 7 13 9 6 4 7 1 5 8 27 8 1 5 2 3 4 6 94 5 3 6 8 2 9 1 78 1 9 7 3 4 6 2 56 2 7 9 1 5 8 3 49 6 8 1 4 7 2 5 31 3 4 2 5 6 7 9 82 7 5 3 9 8 1 4 6

9 3 1 4 5 2 7 6 84 5 7 1 8 6 2 9 36 8 2 7 9 3 1 4 55 1 6 2 4 8 3 7 98 7 3 5 6 9 4 1 22 4 9 3 1 7 5 8 67 9 4 8 3 5 6 2 13 2 8 6 7 1 9 5 41 6 5 9 2 4 8 3 7

7 5 2 6 3 1 8 9 48 6 9 2 7 4 5 1 31 4 3 5 8 9 6 2 76 7 1 8 5 2 3 4 99 3 5 7 4 6 1 8 22 8 4 9 1 3 7 5 63 9 7 1 2 5 4 6 84 1 6 3 9 8 2 7 55 2 8 4 6 7 9 3 1

Difficultylevel:Straightforward

Difficultylevel:Abitharder

Difficultylevel:Tough!

SUDOKU

OBITUARIESItiswithsadnessanddeepregretthatwerecordthefollowingObituaries.

Alan Longden 1966-1972

HewastheSeniorPartnerofHowardsCharteredAccountantsbasedontheNewportRoadinStaffordandhadbeeninvolvedinthemergerofWood&CoandBarringtonstoformHowardsCA.

OriginallyfromLiverpool,AlanjoinedKESSin1966andleftin1972.AlanwasanardentLiverpoolFCsupporterwhichoftenbroughthiminto“conflict”withtheManchesterUnitedfansinhisfamily!Alandiedtragicallyathomeon21August2009aged55years.AlanissurvivedbyhispartnerLindaSimsandsonanddaughter.

Stephen Adrian Lunn 1971-1976

StephenhadworkedfortheExpress&StarNewspaperforover25yearswhenhedied.AtKESS,Stevehadalwaysbeenakeensportsmanandwasanexcellentcricketer.Afterleaving,heplayedcricketforStaffordandfootballforanumberoflocalclubs.Stephendiedtragicallyathomeon1February2009aged48years.

AD (David) Matthews 1940-1942

DavidwaswellknowninStaffordasSchoolMasteratanumberoflocalschoolsandplayedcricketforMilfordCricketClub.WhileatKESS,DavidwasCaptainofSouthHousein1941-1942.

DaviddiedinMay2009aged84years.

Mrs Dina North

FormerArtTeacher-NothingKnown.

Robert Thomas Page 1935-1939

Robert,anHonoraryLifeMember,diedon17thJanuary2009.RobertjoinedKESSin1935andleftin1939whenhisparentsmovedtoDerby.RobertfinishedhiseducationattheBemroseSchoolin1940.

Richard “Dicky” Charles Pepper 1938-1945

RichardCharlesPepperwasbornon21January1929.HewasthelastofsevenborntoSidneyNorrisandWinnifredNelliePepper,andoneofthreebrotherswhowereOldEdwardians,theothersbeingTomandBobPepper.HewastheuncleofNigelPepper,alsoanOldBoy.

Hewasanaccomplishedsportsmanenjoyingcrickethockeyandfootball-thelatteratBroctonFC.FollowinghistimeatKESShewasarticledatWrightandWestheadAccountants.UponqualificationasanaccountanthejoinedHenryVenableswherehebecametheCompanySecretaryandAccountant.HiscareeratVenablesspannedthreedecades.

HeservedhisNationalServiceinEgyptanduponhisreturntoStaffordmarriedPatWilton,aformerHighSchoolgirlandsisterofDickWilton.HewasalongservingandactiveRotarianwhogainedalocalreputationforhistalksonhistory,adrysenseofhumourandpersuasivemanner.

Patdiedon17July2008bywhichtimeRichardwassufferingfromLewyBodyDementia.Richarddiedon1September2009aged80years.HelefttwochildrenJohnandSarah,andgrandchildren,wholivelocally.Athisfuneralon8September2009atStaffordCrematoriumanumberoftributeswereledbyfellowOldEdJohnWood.

Frederick Eric Shelley 1942-1947

HewenttoworkforF.H.BurgessAgriculturalEngineersuntil2yearsNationalServiceintervened.EricspentmostofhistimeasanaccountsclerkatRAFHednesford.HethenreturnedtoBurgesswhereheremaineduntiltheStaffordheadquarterswasclosed.EricthentookapositionwithMrTheobaldtheveterinarysurgeonuntilheretired.Ericenjoyedworkinginthevet’spracticedealingwithmembersofthefarmingcommunitywhohehadmetwhileworkingatBurgess.Ericdiedon8October2009aged78years.

Frank George Smith 1944-1949

FrankwaswellknownforcatchingthetraintoLondoneachSaturdaytogodancingatTheHammersmithPalais.HewouldthencatchthemilktrainhomearrivingbackinStaffordintimeforbreakfastonaSunday!Frankdiedon23August2009aged76years.

Peter James Stead 1944-1950

Peterdiedfollowingalongillnesson14February2009aged75years.

5 4 2 8 6 9 3 7 13 9 6 4 7 1 5 8 27 8 1 5 2 3 4 6 94 5 3 6 8 2 9 1 78 1 9 7 3 4 6 2 56 2 7 9 1 5 8 3 49 6 8 1 4 7 2 5 31 3 4 2 5 6 7 9 82 7 5 3 9 8 1 4 6

9 3 1 4 5 2 7 6 84 5 7 1 8 6 2 9 36 8 2 7 9 3 1 4 55 1 6 2 4 8 3 7 98 7 3 5 6 9 4 1 22 4 9 3 1 7 5 8 67 9 4 8 3 5 6 2 13 2 8 6 7 1 9 5 41 6 5 9 2 4 8 3 7

7 5 2 6 3 1 8 9 48 6 9 2 7 4 5 1 31 4 3 5 8 9 6 2 76 7 1 8 5 2 3 4 99 3 5 7 4 6 1 8 22 8 4 9 1 3 7 5 63 9 7 1 2 5 4 6 84 1 6 3 9 8 2 7 55 2 8 4 6 7 9 3 1

Solution to Sudoku on page36

Whenheleftschool,PeterfirststartedworkintheCountyTreasurer’sandpassedrelevantexamsattheTechnicalCollege.ButafterfourorfiveyearsheleftandwenttoFramesTravel,wherehecouldputhisknowledgeoftravelandtransporttogooduse.ManyacustomerwasreassuredbybeinginformedpreciselyhowtochangetrainstogettoWeymouthorwherethebusstationwaslocatedinInverness.WhenyearslaterFrameswastakenoverbyCook’s,PeterwasmaderedundantandreturnedtotheTreasurer’sasamessenger.Thisjobwasputtogoodusealso,aswhiledeliveringitemsaroundthetown,hewasabletokeepaneyeonbusesandtrains.

Peter’sinterestintrainsandtransportstayedwithhimallhislife.Hehadalargecollectionofbooksonthesubjectandwouldmakefrequentjourneystokeepuptodatewiththelatestdevelopments.Formanyyearsheeditedamonthlynewscolumninthemagazineofoneoftherailwaysocieties.Peterdiedfollowingalongillnesson14February2009aged75years.HewasaloyalsupporterofKESSandcouldalwaysbeseenatSOEADinners,aloyalsupporterofStaffordRangersandatrueandloyalfriend.Peterissurvivedbyhiswife,Rose.

(Seealsotheobituaryonpage34)

Clement Peter Stocking 1943-1950

Pete(Clem)diedon18January2009athishomeinMurrieta,California.

Petewasbornon11May1932andattendedKESSbetween1943and1950.Heexcelledinsportsandwentontorepresenttheschoolinsomeofthem.despiteearlierproblemswithhisleg.OnleavingKESS,PetejoinedEnglishElectricCo.andworkedintheNelsonResearchLabsatBeaconside.AfterNationalService,hereturnedtoEnglishElectricbeforemovingtoSandvikUKin1965.HewastransferredtoCaliforniain1973andwasTechnicalManagerfor13statesincludingHawaiiandAlaska.

PeteremainedanavidWolvesfanwhohefollowedfirstonBBCWorldServiceandthentheinternet.HealsoplayedgolfwithBettyandanotherOldEdwardian,GStewartTaylorandhiswifeeveryweekend.IndeedbothcoupleslivedwithinamileofeachotherandtravelledtoAustralia,Scotlandetaltoenjoymanyaround.

PeteissurvivedbyhiswifeBettyasonanddaughter,threegranddaughtersandonegreatgrandson.

Douglas Whittaker 1948-53

DouglasWhittakerwasemployedforshortperiodsinaccountancyandadvertising.HisNationalServicewasspentintheRAFatWartonfromwhereheworkedattheradarstationonTheMoss.ThiseventuallyledtoDougsettlinghisfamilyontheFyldecoastwhereheindulgedhispassionfortheopenairandhorticultureleadinghimtoahappyandfulfilledcareerplanningandchangingpeople’sgardens.

Hewasveryfitandhadmanyyearsinathleticcompetition;oneperformancewhichgavehimparticularsatisfactionwasin1961whenhebrokeMichaelFarrell’sStaffordshireCountyChampionshiprecordforthe880yards.Hisfitness,locationandappreciationofthecountrysidewerecombinedwithhiswalking,primarilyinthefellsofCumbriabutalsofurtherafield.Hediedofpancreaticcanceron2ndSeptember2009aged72yearsleavingsonsGaryandIan.

ObituariesforOldBoysofKESSarerecordedeachyearinTheStaffordian.SomeweremembersoftheAssociation,somewerenot.WedoourbesttopaytributetoallOldEdwardianswhohavepassedaway,butwedorelyonCommitteeMembersbeingkeptinformed.Ifthereareanyinaccuraciesoromissionspleaseacceptourapologies.Itisalsopossiblethatatthetimeofgoingtopresswehadnotreceivedafullobituary,weapologiseagainandwouldgladlyconsiderincludingafullerobituarynextyearifitismadeavailable.

there are no words to match my gratitude, above all else ...oldeds.co.uk/staffordian09.pdf · there...

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