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Issue No. 157 2011

President: JohnCole 01785714093 president@oldeds.co.ukVicePresident LenMould 01785223031Secretary RobinBelcher 01785604487 honsec@oldeds.co.ukTreasurer MarkAshton 01952820937 mark@oldeds.co.uk 19StationCourt,Newport,ShropshireTF107RZMembershipSecretaryJohnWood 01785214481 memsec@oldeds.co.uk 57GardenStreet,Stafford,StaffsST174DDTheStaffordian TrevorAshton 01785824497 editor@oldeds.co.uk WharfView,WharfRoad,Gnosall,Stafford,StaffsST200DA PeterJones(NewsHound) 01785713227 peter@oldeds.co.uk RobertOwen (AsstNewsHound) 01785220430 taffy@oldeds.co.uk PeteSmith(Distribn.) 01785812667 petesmith@oldeds.co.uk ChrisMarshall(Obituaries) 01785851329 obits@oldeds.co.ukAnnualDinner DerekEdensor:18ShepherdsFold,Wildwood,Stafford,ST174SFTel:01785660076 AlanSmith:8Highlands,Stafford,ST179RE, Tel:01785244169 RobertOwen:9RalphCourt,CastleHouseGardens,ST179FR,Tel:01785220430RecordsSecretary EddieDobson 01785258756Auditor JohnCole 01785714093 president@oldeds.co.ukCannockLiaison KenHandley 01543506503PressSecretary JohnWood 01785214481 memsec@oldeds.co.ukGolf MikeWinkle 01785600997 golf@oldeds.co.ukSkittles SimonButton 01785604877 simon@oldeds.co.ukBowls EdDobson 01785258756Website http://www.oldeds.co.uk

How can the bird that is born for joy,Sit in a cage and sing.How can a child when fears annoy.But droop his tender wing.And forget his youthful spring.

O! father & mother. if buds are nip’d,And blossoms blown away,And if the tender plants are strip’dOf their joy in the springing day,By sorrow and care’s dismay.

How shall the summer arise in joy.Or the summer fruits appear.Or how shall we gather what griefs destroyOr bless the mellowing year.When the blasts of winter appear.

Extract from

‘The School Boy’ William Blake

http://www.oldeds.co.uk

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Photographs1947 Boxing Club 8Jasper’s Buns 9‘Jock’ 10Onion Johnies 101951 Sports DayPresentation 11The Roaches (Owen & Clarke) 14John Bagnall with his MG 181954 Colts Cricket Team 221952-53 Bantams Rugby Team 22Ladies Dinner (JS & T Wood) 24

Maurice & Ruth Downes 34Christchurch Earthquake 35Jack Netherwood 37Brian Burton 37Colin Riley 38‘Tug’ Wilson 39 AdvertisersAnnual Dinner 2012 3Stafford Grammar School 6Robert Nicholls 38John Wood’s Flowers 40

Contents Issue No. 157 2011Editorial 3 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)AnnualDinner 3Congratulations 4HonoraryLifeMembers 4President’sPage 5 JohnCole(1947-53)OldEdwardians’AssociationTies 5OldEdsRemembranceService 6Golf,PaulButtersGolfCompetition,Friday1July2011 6 MikeWinkle(1963-70)SchoolboyBoxingAtK.E.S.S.1946-1953 7 ABetts&B&RAdams(1946-53)TheFamous'JasperSugarBun' 9 FrankJasper(1947-52)NotTheDaleks! 10 Robert‘Taffy’Owen(1944-53)Flowers,Singing,AndThings-ConfessionsOf‘OurNimmy’ 11 John‘Nimmy’Wood1944-52AllTheWorld’sAStage 13 PeteEmberton,1948-54.Walking-TheRoaches,Tuesday21June2011 14 Robert‘Taffy’Owen(1944-53)AynukAndEmbo 14 PeteEmberton,1948-54TheOtherQueenMarys 15 BrianHMason1946-51AnnualDinner2011 16AnnualSkittlesEvening: 16 SimonButton(1972-75)SchoolScienceSociety1930s 17 JohnLWeaver1931-36GreenfliesVBluebottlesAsIRememberIt....... 19 HarryMatthews(1939-44)Cricket-2010Edition-Page28-AnotherMemory 20 HarryMatthews(1939-44)SteveJobs1955-2011 21 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)A‘Short’HolidayToCanadaAndTheUSA 23 PeterMJones(1949-55)LadiesNightWednesday5October2011 24 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)AndThatIsHowItAllBegan.ItWasn’tAlGoreAfterAll. 25Bowls,AlanBalmforthTrophy2011 26 EddieDobson(1940-49)RecollectionsOfMyBalticEducationalCruise.24July–7August1974. 27 MartinJSullivan(1969–1976)TestYourMemory! 31PuzzlesTestYourGeographicKnowledge! 31Sudoku 32 TrevorCAshton(1945-50)Tell-TaleSignsOfGettingOld 32HowTheSchoolHousesGotTheirNames 33 PeterMJones(1949-1955)EulogyGivenAtTheFuneralOfMauriceB.Downes 34Letters 35TheGynaecologistWhoBecameAMechanic 36Obituaries2011 37Dyson(“Tug”)WilsonPoliceman,farmer,rugbyinternational&transatlanticyachtsman 39 DailyTelegraphAnswersForSudoku 40AnswersForTestYourMemory 40AnswersForGeographicTestOfYourKnowledge 40

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The magazine of Stafford Old Edwardians’ Association

Issue 157 December 2011

Editorial

This has been an evenful year, we enjoyed the rare beauty and peace of a White Christmas, being followed by a rather long damp spring but oh! what a glorious summer when all the spring flowers, that had waited so patiently, bloomed with the normal seasonal varieties and we had snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips. Christmas roses, poppies and peonies, all flowering together.

Such was the glory of the weather in our England but it was in parallel with floods in Australia, particularly Brisbane and earthquakes in New Zealand. Then, who could forget the earthquake in Japan in March and the ensuing Tsunami. As well as the damage to Nuclear Plant we should remember the 13,000 who died in that disaster.

Paradoxically, there were two billion people, all over the world, being enthralled by the wedding of Prince William and Kate on television and the USA launched the space shuttle Atlantis for the last time, carrying 8000lbs of spare parts for the space station!

Subsequently, there have been the deadliest tornadoes in history in the USA culminating with Hurricane Irene on the east coast. In Europe we had the more mundane toxic E.Coli in bean sprouts from Germany.

As well as the killing of Osama Bin Laden, arrest of Ratzo Mladic and downfall of Gaddafi there was a terrorist attack in Norway and the ongoing Arab Spring, There were even riots in London, Manchester and Birmingham. In October we lost a man who was arguably the shrewdest entrepreneur of our age, the inimitable Steve Jobs of Apple.

On a more local note, in Stafford, our new shopping precinct is taking shape around the river and the new play area in place of the old paddling pool is proving a resounding success, being enthusiastically welcomed by a new generation of a town which has grown massively since we were at school.

Some brighter news at least but, as I write this, it’s only October and we are still being told there could be a further recession! Not good news for our young people.

As always, we are grateful to the volunteers who donate their time to produce and distribute this annual magazine in particular my sub editors Peter and Taffy who do the ‘hounding’ and Pete Smith who does the ‘trudging’. We are continually amazed by the stories our Old Eds tell but can’t help noting that most of our contributors were at school in the 40s and 50s. Was the School such a dull place in the 60s? (Comments welcome!) We are indebted to the contributors who give their time to write these stories and send them to us to print, all are mentioned by name inside this issue. Thank you

also to the proof-readers, Peter, Mike, Megan and Dorothy.

The team wish to extend our very best wishes to all Old Eds and their families and hope that you enjoy a very good

Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Trevor Ashton

ANNUAL DINNER Tillington Hall Hotel

Friday 27 January 2012 6.45 pm for 7.30 pm£30 Including subscription and gratuities - Members; £22 Including gratuities - Hon/ Life Members; £25 - Non-members Tickets from:

Derek Edensor: 18 Shepherds Fold, Wildwood, Stafford, ST17 4SF Tel: 01785 660076

Alan Smith: 8 Highlands, Stafford, ST17 9RE, Tel: 01785244169

Robert Owen: 9 Ralph Court, Castle House Gardens, ST17 9FR, Tel: 01785 220430

Payment must accompany request for tickets with SAE please - Cheques payable to ‘Stafford Old Edwardians’ Association’ or SOEA will suffice.

For vegetarian option contact Derek Randles 01785 249634

Menu

Home made Soup

Breast of Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Seasonal Vegetables

Apple and Blackberry Pie with Dairy Custard

Tea/Coffee and mints

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HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS

MIKE HARNETT (KESS 1949-53)

Mike’s work has been recognised by the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, and by invitation, Michael and his wife, Sally, attended a Royal Garden Party in 2010 at Buckingham Palace.

Mike, who was living in Doxey when he attended KESS was an early member of Stafford Folk Club. He was a founder member in 1957 of the Stafford Morris Men, who met in the upper room of the Crown Inn, Queensville, now reverted to its original name Spittal Brook Inn (1834). On moving to Rutland he carried on his excellent work, founding the Rutland Morris Men and making good use of his diverse musical talents. Mike’s elder brother, Doctor Gerald, (KESS 1944-49), has a doctorate in virology and lives and still works! in Perth, Western Australia.

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Owen Bennion (retired estate agent) and wife Vera celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary (60 years) on the 25 August 2011 followed by a reception for family and friends at the Moat House Hotel, Acton Trussell.

MARK ASHTON AND BEVERLEY WOODHEAD

Congratulations to Mark, our past President and Treasurer, who was married to Beverley on 15 October 2011. Our best wishes go to the happy couple.

Basil Apin 1938 - 1943Raymond Arrowsmith 1935 - 1937Roy Aston 1942 - 1949Lawrence Bampton 1961 - 1982John Beech 1940 - 1944Owen Bennion 1939 - 1944Albert Betts 1946 - 1949Tony Bloor 1930 - 1937Neville Bramhall 1937 - 1944Bill Brown 1942 - 1947Wilf Burley 1929 - 1934Eric Cartwright 1938 - 1944Geoffrey Chatfield 1939 - 1948Peter Clewlow 1936 - 1941Eric Corfield 1942 - 1947John Curry 1939 - 1944John Elliott 1935 - 1940Jack Ellsmoor 1927 - 1932Stan Elsmore 1942 - 1947Keith Evans 1976 - 1988Stanley Gibbons 1937 - 1945Tony Giles 1939 - 1944Richard Glass 1936 - 1942Reginald Hall 1937 - 1944Stan Hidderley 1940 - 1948John Hughes 1931 - 1937Alf Johnson 1933 - 1938John Johnson 1936 - 1941Alan Jutton 1941 - 1945Brian Lambert 1942 - 1948

John Lycett 1935 - 1943George Maddick 1934 - 1938Derek Miles 1944 - 1950Ben Milner 1938 - 1945Stephen Morrall 1942 - 1945Lionel Morris 1937 - 1943Len Mould 1936 - 1942Eric Osborne 1939 - 1947Bill Osborne 1931 - 1937Tony Page 1942 - 1947Roy Parker 1937 - 1940Phillip Penson 1937 - 1945Jim Phillips 1936 - 1942Dennis Press 1943 - 1948Derek Robbins 1940 - 1947Freddy Sandy 1939 - 1945Doug Scholes 1941 - 1945Peter Stevenson 1938 - 1945Gordon Swinton 1930- 1937Bill Tavernor 1927 - 1930Gerald Taylor 1939 - 1946Stewart Taylor 1941 - 1947James Terry-Short 1942 - 1947Francis Trawford 1930 - 1940Trevor Tucker 1939 - 1945Gordon Turner 1942 - 1947Dennis Wall 1939 - 1946John Weaver 1931 - 1936 Noel Yeates 1941 - 1947

.CONGRATULATIONS,

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Welcome to the 157th edition of our magazine. Thank you to our editor, Trevor Ashton and his helpers Peter Jones and Taffy Owen who do a tremendous job to consistently compile an excellent annual magazine. I hasten to recognise though that they are not responsible for all 157 - I don’t think they would claim to be that old.

Remarkably our Association membership continues to hold up even though it is now 35 years since the old school closed.We do, however, urgently need new committee members, perhaps from the latter end of the school’s existence, otherwise I think it might be difficult to continue with our present format. Please seriously consider helping.Our social activities started off in January with the Annual Dinner at Tillington Hall in a much nicer dining room than we have had before at that venue. Away from the dining table, once again Old Eds have had the opportunity to show off their varied skills at bowls, skittles and golf. Sadly some failed miserably. At times it was difficult to differentiate the various techniques required for each sport - those used sometimes looked the same to me! Still competition was lighthearted. I have to mention the bowls where Vice President Len Mould, graciously, ( I think that’s the right word ) conceded defeat by one point to the Presidents’ team.Our Ladies Evening this year was held at the Swan Hotel and on occasions such as this it is a pleasure to recognise the support our partners give to our functions.All the rest of our events are detailed in the programme I sent earlier in the year.The highlight of the year for many of us is, of course, the Annual Dinner and elsewhere in the magazine you will find more details. Please order your tickets early.Finally I must thank the committee for their support together with the organizers of the various events. Without their commitment our Association would not continue.I hope to see as many of you as possible at our events .

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

Sincerely Yours,

John Cole (1947-53)P.S. If you didn’t attend the last Dinner and so have not yet paid your subscription for the current year, you can of course write to our Membership Secretary, John Wood, 57 Garden Street, Stafford. ST17 4DD enclosing a cheque for eight pounds made payable to S.O.E.A.

Or pay direct to Lloyds TSB, Stafford, Sort Code 30-98-00, a/c No. 01634667

Overseas IBAN - GB78 Lloyds 3098 0001 6346 67 or via our website http:/www.oldeds.co.uk (PayPal)

OLD EDWARDIANS’ ASSOCIATION TIES

Ties must be worn at the Annual Dinner and other official functions. Just a reminder here that Association ties are available from Peter Smith, Tel: 01785 812667 . They will be available on the night of The Dinner from Peter at a special price of £7.50.

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OLD EDS REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

GOLFPAUL BUTTERS GOLF COMPETITION FRIDAY 1 JULY 2011

We were fortunate to have another glorious afternoon for our Annual Stableford Golf Competition at Stafford Castle Golf Club. Ian Gilbert’s brotherhood of golf swelled our numbers to 16 golfers.

The winner this year was Mark Ashton, with a score of 36 points. Paul Amison won the guest prize.

In the evening our wives, partners and friends joined us for a meal and good company in the Club house.

Next year our competition will be on Friday 6

July 2012. Please contact Mike Winkle on 01785 600997, at least two weeks in advance, if you would like to take part.

Mike Winkle (1963-70)

The weather was particularly kind for this year’s remembrance service, held at the Old School War Memorial. A record attendance assembled to honour past members of the School, masters and boys who gave their lives for their country. It was good to have Jack Ellsmoor and George Maddick present, both nonagenarians; young pupils representing King Edward the Sixth High School; and Bruce and Jennifer Williams’ very young grandchildren. After the ceremony, all retired to the old school hall for a ‘sociable drink’, conversation and a rendering of WW1 and 2 songs to the accompaniment of a piano-accordion, first played in 1918, celebrating the end of WW1.

Michael Acocks 1951-58Mark Ashton 1969-76BeverleyAshtonRoger Barker 1948-54Ann BarkerGeoff. Barnett 1941-49Robin Belcher 1975-82Philip Bennett 1969-77RaymondBriggs 1944-49Simon Button 1972-76Robert ButtonBarrie Chackett1951-56John Cole 1947-53Carole ColeMartha CollopEric Corfield 1941-47Terry Dingley 1945-47Eddie Dobson 1940-49Pat DobsonBrian Ecclestone1950-55Beryl EcclestoneJack Ellsmoor1927-32

Peter Emberton1948-54Michael Fisher Rev.Ex-MasterKen Handley1945-52Anne HandleyAlan Hartley 1944-49Richard Hinton 1962-64Stan HumphreStand’dBearerPeter Jones 1949-55David Keates MBE,MajorGeorge Maddick1934-38Bryan Moss 1946-50Len Mould 1936-42Coralie NetherwoodRobert Owen 1944-53Elizabeth OwenJohn Perry 1956-63David Podmore1951-58Derek Randles1949-54Derek Robbins1940-47Peter Smith 1949-54Megan SmithSteve Smith HeadofCentre

Peter Stevenson1938-45MargaretStevensonMartin Sullivan 1969-76John Wood 1945-52Treece WoodBruce Williams1953-58JenniferWilliamsArchie Salt GrandsonHattie ArchibaldGranddaughterEddie Wright 1962-69

Mike SiteSupervisorDeborahTickell HeadofHistory,KingEdwardtheSixth,HighSchoolSakhile Mpofu HeadBoy,KingEdwardtheSixthHighSchoolBillyGodfrey KingEdwardtheSixthHighSchoolRebeccaLeah HeadGirl,KingEdwardtheSixthHighSchool

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SCHOOLBOY BOXING AT K.E.S.S. 1946-1953

Albert Betts and his cousins, Brian and Ron Adams, have spent many long hours reliving the happy years spent at school, and now set out their recollections of the Boxing Club in particular. We hope this may encourage others, whose memories are sharper and go back further, to write in with their memories.

Albert and Brian both held the position of Captain of Boxing.

1946-1949 Albert's Recollections

My early Boxing Career was distinctly average until my uncle, Horace Betts, an ex Army Boxing Instructor, intervened with some much needed advice. The improvement was so meteoric that Mr Balmforth asked me what had brought about this change.

When I explained that my Uncle had been tutoring me, Alan Balmforth was round there like a shot, invited him to become our Trainer,and the rest is History!

The teams went from strength to strength and took all before them over many years with some members gaining the highest honours. Consequently many of the Teachers,including D.J.D. Smith himself and Dr. Gilmore often popped in to watch the contests. I recall that we travelled far and wide to places like Cardiff, Leeds, Wolverhampton, Walsall and to many parts of the Black Country,where you had to be tough even to survive, let alone win! Great Britain Finalists went to the Royal Albert Hall.

Bouts were scheduled for three rounds, each of from one to three minutes (Seemed much longer if you were on the wrong end) Mr. Smith (not D.J.D.) used to inspect the opposition by feeling their biceps, tummy muscles,etc; and then reporting back to us where best to aim our punches. Horace never acknowledged Mr. Smith as Assistant Trainer and to give a flavour of what he really thought of the latter's contribution, he was often heard to say on training nights,and I quote,"If you want to bloody learn anything then come down to my end of the Gym"

Names which come to mind are Powner, Wilkes, Burton, Edensor, Reid, Boon, Keeling, Middleton, Heald and many dozens more.

The Brine Bath Experience

For some of us ,it was necessary to take a Brine Bath to ensure we made the weight. This meant getting into a bath full of hot brine for as long as it took. We were held down by a band of webbing across our middle. A wide pipe entered the water at one end which admitted a jet of steam to keep the water at the right temperature!

Alan Balmforth was always on hand to ensure that an infusion of steam was added periodically. After this we lay on a bed, enveloped in the biggest and hottest towel you ever did see, and left to sweat profusely.

Normally, a cup of tea and biscuits followed but we were not allowed this luxury. It left us weak,vulnerable and easy prey for our opponents especially if the contest went its full course.

When I talked to Derek Edensor about this, he said that his fights never lasted long enough to experience this feeling of weakness.

After making this statement he shared a Lager with me as if to apologise for boasting, but I suppose a Schoolboy Champion of Great Britain can be forgiven this uncharacteristic lapse, in his moment of pride.

Brian’s recollections

I admired, nay, revered the older boxers, on the back and second rows of the photograph! When we boxed against other schools -- I tried to get my fight over quickly, in order to watch the big lads. I remember Brian Burton and Derek Edensor wore Union Jack badges on their shorts to denote that they were National Boxing Champions. I lost no opportunity to point this out

to the opposition when they were at the weigh in or preferably five minutes before they were due in the ring !

I recall older boys, -like Harry Powner (Boxing Captain) Wilkes (Boxing Captain) Don Sharkey, Eddie Dobson . There were others, nearer my own age, not on this photo, who became part of a particularly strong boxing team. including Kenderdine (cousin Ben) Crockett, Best, Randles, Osborne, Heald and the credit must go to Horace Betts as coach, Alan Balmforth and the older boys who set such high standards.

I particularly remember Algy Dobson. He and I had to endure additional training sessions in Mr.Smith's garden in Newport Road on Sunday mornings, which left us completely exhausted and to follow, we had to drink some concoction with glucose, eggs and special ingredients.

My recollections are a bit disjointed but Colin Heald comes to mind ,because we had regular matches against Dartmouth St. School, where Vic Roebuck trained a hard bunch of lads. Colin fought a chap named Billy Riley over a number of years and although he won most of these encounters, they were epic battles of which both must be very proud.

I left school in 1953 and was sorry to

A Betts (1946-49) & B & R Adams (1946-53)

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learn that schoolboy boxing, frowned upon by some politicians, ceased altogether at KESS. I kept in touch with Elwin Hill and around 1960 he allowed some boxing equipment from school to be sent to me in Nigeria, where I worked and where boxing was popular - inspired by a local flyweight named Hogan Bassey. Nice to think the KESS boxing spirit continues.

1947 - 1953 Ron's recollections.

They are primarily about the Thomas Shield, which was a boxing trophy for schools in Staffordshire. Each school which took part in the contest had to select a team of seven boxers in different weights and age bands. A random draw was made and the seven fights took place in the same evening, with a neutral referee and three judges. The team which won the most fights e.g. 4/3 or 5/2 etc would progress to the next round of the competition. Eventually two schools were left for

the final contest which was held at a prestigious location. The winning school held the Thomas Shield for 12 months until the following year .

I think KESS won the inaugural contest and went on to win it on another two occasions (to the best of my memory). Even though a boxer may have lost his fight, he progressed to the next round to represent his school, as long as his school had won the most fights. Of course he had to be selected by his boxing coach too. The weight of each boxer was closely scrutinised. Even 2 oz overweight could result in a boxer having to either box in a heavier category or not box at all . Boxers had to present themselves for the weigh in about 2 hours beforehand.

Several KESS boxers won the highest accolade in school boy boxing - the English school boy boxing champion at his weight. Two of these were Brian Burton and Derek Edensor who both won titles in successive years. Keeling

was tall and thin so the opposing boxer could not get past his long reach.

Other boxers who reached finals and semi finals of the championship were Stuart Boon (an excellent all rounder too), Chris Cotton, a dazzling boxer with quick hands and feet, Albert Betts, a KO specialist, Ray Middleton and Colin Heald who both had fearsome knockout punches even with heavy gloves and Mal Reid who eventually became a horse jockey.

1947 - 1953 Brian's recollections

My memory is not good but I have a photo from 1947, when brother Ron and I joined the Boxing Club, and I use that as an 'aide memoire'. The people on the photo are I believe as below. I would value some assistance with some and may also have put wrong names to one or two other faces. Apologies to those people.

Back Row :Betts H, Burton, Cotton, Edensor, A Balmforth, Betts A, Keeling, McMurray, Smith

Second Row:Mountford, Woodhouse, Boon, Middleton, Hawkins, Scriven

Front Row: Duffin, Adams R, Adams B, Hubble, Reid, Carr, Galpin,Wolfenden, ANO.

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The Famous 'Jasper Sugar Bun'

Frank Jasper (1947-52)

The Jasper family have been bakers for at least six generations, first operating a bakery business in Welshpool around 1880, leading to bakeries in Stourbridge and Stafford. The latter owned and operated by my father Reg Jasper.

I traded with a number of bakeries and shops in the Stafford and Stoke-On-Trent areas, these eventually being sold to George Lowe Bakers, allowing me to further my skills and career with a large multinational company working throughout Europe.

The Jasper skills, traditions and old fashioned production methods have continued more recently with my son Mark (A former KESS Pupil) opening bakeries in Penkridge, Stafford and Newport, which have been successfully trading for more than 20 years.

The original 'Jasper Grammar School Bun' started life around 1947 when the Headmaster Mr DJD Smith considered opening a school Tuck Shop. That idea was dropped because of administrative difficulties, however the school then asked my father Reg, if he would supply Sugar Buns on a daily basis. To be delivered by 10am each morning, the initial order was for 80 each day, this quickly increased to 250!

(Not bad considering this was a period of rationing.)

This Bun was produced using a unique ‘Jasper’ recipe, which has been passed down through the generations; my son Mark in fact, is still using it to produce Chelsea Buns.

The reputation of the 'School Bun'

soon reached Stafford Girls High School at the Oval and the then Headmistress Miss Dawson ordered a similar daily delivery.

However the young ladies of the High School were not content with a mere Sugar Bun, so fondant icing had to be added.

The extra demand at the time

created a production problem for Reg Jasper, so he had to persuade the bakery to start an hour earlier to cool the buns, so as to allow the fondant icing to be added.

The reputation continued to spread resulting in a regular order being placed by the Technical College in Tenterbanks.

In 1971 as previously mentioned I sold my Bakery in Stafford

to George Lowe Bakers who continued to supply Buns to the schools (although not using the same recipe) until the mid 1970's.

The Buns were then I believe dropped in favour of Jam Doughnuts which continued to be supplied until the Grammar School and High School Amalgamated.

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I did think about writing an account of the day I took a Dalek for part of its journey from the BBC, London to the Isle of Wight where we lived in the New Forest. Somewhere I have the receipt, 2 June 1978, from The Red Funnel Ferry to prove it!

Then I heard on our old wind-up radio, while relaxing in the bath, an intriguing programme interviewing celebrities, asking them which treasured possession each would grab in an emergency.

That set me thinking! Before the start of WW 2, we lived in Garndiffaith, a small community at the head of the Newport Valley, South Wales. Dad was a signalman on the railway, the main function of which was to carry coal down to Newport. I had not long started at the village school, when there was a miners' strike, just before Christmas.

Money was tight and as I have subsequently read, strike pay did not go far. A kind, voluntary organisation had provided Christmas gifts for the children in our Infants' School and

I came home clutching my "Merrythought" toy dog, which I named Jock.

I remember my mother making me take it back to school the next day as she said my Dad was not on strike. My teacher, however, thought I should keep it even though my father was not a miner, unlike most if not all the other children's fathers.

Looking back on those times, I remember well the pit ponies out in a field for their Christmas

break, blinkered against the unaccustomed light, but otherwise humanely cared for underground. The coal allowance given to the miners was emptied on the road outside each house... milk was ladled from a churn into our jug by the visiting milkman... the "Onion Johnnies" from Brittany, with strings of onions dangling from the handle-bars of their old

"sit-up-and-beg" bikes.

We moved from the "Garn" when I was seven, down the valley to Tredegar, as Dad got promotion there. After another three years, he arrived at Stafford Number 5 signal box, which had 123 levers!

I spent a brief spell attending Walton

NOT the Daleks! Robert ‘Taffy’ Owen (1944-53)

Village School, and we lived in a little "railway" cottage on Milford Station (the station and cottage, now gone). I was fortunate to get a scholarship to K.E.S.S. which shaped the rest of my life.

As for my little dog Jock, he has leaned on my bedside cupboard for many years, now not so steady on his feet, having had nearly as many adventures as myself. He was on loan to my brother John's children, when they lived in Doxey and sadly his button-eyes and collar have long gone (health and safety) and he is balding (who isn't?)

Number One to rescue?

Jock!

I wouldn't part with him for all the ‘Beer in Burton.’

Recommended reading about social history of South Wales: Factual: "In the Frame: Memory in Society, Wales 1910-2010, by Dai Smith. Fiction: "Border Country", by Raymond Williams, about the academic son visiting his father, a railway signalman, living in a small village near Abergavenny.

‘Jock’

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At last! Nimmy’s abridged life story. We all know John as a personable and popular schoolboy (still, after over 70 years). Yet he is probably best known for his flower stores, a business founded on hard work and dedication.

As he approaches what he calls “my dotage” he has felt fit, through the Staffordian, to crystallize some significant events in his life.

“For anyone who may wonder what in God’s name, I have done with it!!”

So here goes........ Ed

Apart from my family, the loves of my life have been singing and sport!

My first large public event was at the age of approximately 12, taking part in a massed choir for a centenary concert in Lichfield.

I joined KESS in 1944 where I made considerable progress with my rugby if not the academic subjects. In 1952 I was on the fringe of making the English Senior Schoolboy Rugby side, at the same time as playing for Stafford RUFC First Team—and also was Head Boy at KESS.

Like most lads of my age, on leaving school, I was required to do my National Service. I was fortunate enough to obtain a commission at Mons at Aldershot, returning to Oswestry to continue representing the RA in Rugby (What else was one to do during National Service?).

In 1955 I went to Harper Adams

Flowers, Singing, and Things Confessions of ‘our Nimmy’

Agricultural college to qualify in Agriculture and again spent much of my time playing Rugby in college, Staffordshire and North Midlands. I even found time to be President of the Student Union.

After securing my NDA and HAAC, I was offered a position managing a 10,000 acre farm in Kenya, but had to decline it, as I was not allowed to take my future wife with me until a later date.

I got married instead and went to work in Lincolnshire for Shell Chemical Company, where I had the opportunity of playing for Notts, Lincs and Derby for a season.

About two years later I returned to

Eccleshall, where Treece and I were brought up, to set up our business in Floristry, both retail and wholesale. At this time I also returned to singing, joining Stafford Operatic Society, playing the Tenor lead for several years before joining ( amongst other societies) Wolverhampton Operatic Society performing at the Grand

On behalf of Powell House, J S Wood receives the Collier Inter-house cup from Mr J T W Neville at the School Sports Day 1951. Behind are C H Clarke winner of the Dyke Cup for the mile and the headmaster Mr D J D Smith

John ‘Nimmy’ Wood 1944- 52

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Theatre. I can remember one season going though four productions of The Merry Widow!

Remember Wilfred Pickles on the Radio in “Have a Go”? He came to Eccleshall with his show, and he included me in his programme. He introduced me as the “Singing Florist”,and that description has stuck ever since!

The 60s was the age of Granada Television,and after listening and seeing the performance one night, I telephoned the Producer,and said I thought that I could do better than that — What a cheek! BUT he challenged me to go to the studios and prove it. After he heard me he invited me to perform on their new show, New Faces— This was shortly before I appeared on Opportunity Knocks.

It did just that and after my performance, I was approached by the biggest Agent in Liverpool, Mike Hughes, who provided me with a considerable amount of work throughout the Midlands and the North.

It was an exciting, but extremely hectic period of my life, Treece and I and the four children had moved into a larger house with a four storey Mill and a three and a half acre Pool, all in need of renovation. I had a lot more to do with the florist shop, and a budding wholesale business, and now a blossoming singing career. With all this work and travelling I enjoyed very little sleep.

I sang throughout the North Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds areas in some amazing working men’s clubs—A long way off the oratorios singing of school days and much more lucrative!

I would return home from my day-time

job at approximately 6.00pm and have to eat, change, load up my singing equipment, and be off again by 7.00pm to get to the venue of the evening, returning any time between 1.00am-3.00am depending on the distance travelled.

During the weekdays I was obliged to rise early enough to get to Birmingham Wholesale Market which opened at 5.00am. Arriving any later meant missing the bargains, so oversleeping was always a disaster. The times that Treece would have to call the Birmingham Wholesalers to put by certain commodities, because I would be late arriving, were so numerous that the telephone operator soon recognised her sleepy voice and would immediately say, “Oh no! Has he overslept again?”

The only time I told my agent that I was unavailable for a job was Christmas Day itself and for several years I would arrive home Christmas Eve or rather early Christmas Day very early in the morning, at the same time as the children were opening their Christmas Stockings!!

My main task as a club singer was to complement the Top of Bill, usually a well known comedian and I worked with many big names of the day. Freddie Starr was brought in by my agent as a stand in for P J Proby with whom I was doing a week, in a theatre in the Middle of Liverpool,when he failed to turn up for the Saturday performances!

This was my first introduction to Freddie, who a short time after that was selected for the Royal Command Performance in front of the Queen in London, and proving an amazing success.

I met Russ Abbott at that time with the Black Abbots when singing in North Wales, and he was late for the show. The audience were not at all pleased and it was left for me to sing my butt off until they arrived. But they were very popular and were soon forgiven.

Frank Carson was a very pleasant man to work with and very generous too. He would give away his signed photographs to the audience providing they made a contribution to his charity.

Norman Vaughan (“Roses grow on you”) was the star at Trentham Gardens in its heyday. I sang there with him. Thursday nights were so popular that the traffic would be queuing up along the main road (A 34) to get in. One evening I was caught up in this queue and had to prove my identity to get to

the stage on time! Those were the big-time days!

Hard work, yes, but gratifying and a great deal of fun also. I was privileged to meet many well known stars and even had the chance to go on tour with Julie Rogers(“The Wedding”) abroad in the Far East for a period approaching three months!

This might have been a make or break episode and I had a difficult decision to make. I had just finished a month at the night club at the Sutton Coldfield ‘La Reserve’, with some international Stars from one of the famous European circuses. At the same time I was rehearsing twice a week with Rugeley Operatic Society (The Carmen Opera) , on the way to my evening performance at “La Reserve”!!

Treece and I both felt it was too much of a risk to take, as we had a home, family and business to manage, and even she couldn’t cope with that on her own!

However the decision was taken out of our hands because, the three day week came along with the strikes in the Heath Government so most weekend shows were put on hold and the entertainment business shuddered to a halt.

For the first time in nine years I had time at home to reacquaint myself with our four children.

It was a wonderful experience to be in the world of entertainment, and I shall always remember those times throughout my life and regret nothing

During the last ten years I have had the pleasure of organising and taking part in concert shows in aid of charities, which has been most gratifying.

Having come through the full circle from singing as a very young treble in Eccleshall Church Choir, I now sing in a local community choir purely for pleasure!

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Nearly Sixty years on , at the Old Ed's Annual Dinner of 2010, I stood on our old school stage, recalling … …… ……… ………..

"Emberton! The Headmaster thinks, and I think also, that you could play the part of Prince Hal in the school play" (Henry IV Pt. 1 )

Dumbfounded, I stood facing Wally Pearce, hardly believing the words he had just uttered on the upper corridor, by Room 15.

Why me? The previous year I had been third juror from the left, in the trial scene from "The Merchant of Venice", watching spellbound, as Gerald Pointon's Shylock, thrilled, nay transfixed, us all.

This was the totality of my acting experience to date — and there were a mere three weeks in which to learn a major Shakespearean role of some five hundred lines, to say nothing of planning the moves in scenes which included soliloquies, tavern roistering, and an extended battle and duel to the death. (Not mine, I hasten to add, but that of Mike Shotton, who played the part of the rebellious Hotspur (Harry Percy).

"I'm afraid ‘X’ has had to give up the part, as he's too pressed for time at the moment."

What about me? It was my G.C.E. year, and a possible romance was in the offing in my young life. Still, think of the glory of playing a major role in the school play, besides being able to kill Shotton night after night, making him "food for worms, brave Percy".

"Here's your copy of the play, come to the staff-room after school, and we'll make the necessary cuts and changes." [Exit]

Feelings of panic, disbelief and bewilderment ensued, mixed with pride at being selected-even as second-best choice-by my favourite teacher and a much respected headmaster, D.J.D. Smith.

Of course I accepted this as a done- deal: one didn't question a request from such exalted authorities in those respectful days of the fifties.

For the following few weeks everything, except work, related to the events of the

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE “I know you all, and will awhile uphold the unyok’d

humour of your idleness...”

Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403 as seen by

the Bard, was put on hold. Lines were learned (if only I could remember what happened last week, or even yesterday, now!); measurements for costumes were taken (no crude comments please); props & weapons made or obtained; countless rehearsals took place —some unsupervised — where Shunter Richardson (Falstaff), Algy Dobson (Poins) and I , really did make merry in the Boar's Head Tavern (Room 14).

All moves and fights were choreographed, without serious injuries to parties involved. Eventually the day of reckoning arrived, when the play opened to the public in the December. Surprisingly few things went wrong on the nights: I did manage to split the de rigueur tights worn throughout, thus conforming admirably to Sod's Law and exposing the statutory acreage of bare flesh, while on another night I entered stage left, sword at the ready to face Hotspur and then completely ’blanked out’ for a few seconds, frozen in an aggressive pose until the words came back to me. It seemed an age, but no harm done really: The audience probably thought I was ‘hamming it up’ for dramatic effect.

Anyway, The Staffordian, our then school mag., said in its revue, "By the time he reached the battle scene on the last night, his whole body was suffused with dramatic energy."

More shaking like a leaf with nervous

anxiety, I'd say.

Thus ended my one foray into the world of make-up, pretty dresses and publicly showing-off. I can't say it was not exciting, in a masochistic kind of way, and I did get to kill Shotton four times over, if one includes the dress rehearsal

"Yet herein will I imitate the sun, Who doth permit the base contagious clouds to smother up his beauty from the world." [Act 1 Scene 111]

(Soliloquy, in which I rationalize my dissolute behaviour with Richardson and Dobson.)

ADDENDA

Excursions.

a) Henry V (Prince Hal) had been my childhood hero, since watching Olivier's film three times in one week during the war, at our beloved Odeon cinema. I was thrilled to see years later, his helmet, saddle and surcoat displayed behind the high altar of Westminster Abbey.

b) About four years ago, on visiting D.V.L.A. Shrewsbury, as one does, I saw a sign almost directly opposite the entrance to the estate on which it is situated, indicating "Site of the Battle of Shrewsbury".

I was thus able to view the layout of the battleground, in which Hal, as a sixteen year-old, had distinguished himself by leading a flanking attack on the rebel Percy army and their Welsh ally, Owain Glyndwr (The Prince learned the hard way how superb the Welsh longbow men were in battle, and used them in our great victory over the French at Agincourt eleven years later.)

Historically, there is no evidence that Prince Hal actually killed Hotspur in single combat, so I am deeply indebted to William Shakespeare for the privilege.

Besides, Hotspur at one time had been Hal's tutor, and which of us would be so base as to kill any one of our teachers, however satisfying the experience might have been?

[Pete Emberton, retired pedant and thespian manque]

Pete Emberton, 1948-54.

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Robert ‘Taffy’ Owen (1944-53)Walking - THE ROACHES Tuesday 21 June 2011

ColinClarke,Robert(Taffy)Owenand“minder”ElizabethOwendrovenorththroughLeektoTittesworthWater(SevernTrentReservoir)forgoodparkingfortheRoaches.TheRoachesisanextensiveandspectaculargritstoneridge,endingattheeastwithHenCloud(whichformsthebackgroundtoourphotograph).Fromthecarparkthereareseveralfootpathswhichreachtheveryminorno-throughroadbelowtheridge.Parkingispossibleonthisroadbutitgetsverycongestedwithclimbersandwalkers.UnfortunatelyonourdaytheheavensopenedsoweshelteredinRoachesTeaRoomswhichprovidesexcellentmealsinaspectacularsetting.Parkingthereisforcustomersonly.Websitewww.roachescottages.co.ukgivesyouaccessforopeningtimes.WearepleasedtosaythatGlynWettonhasmadegoodrecoveryfromhisfallandlooksforwardtogettinggoingagainwiththeoldbrigade.Pleasecontactusifyouareinterestedinjoiningawalkorsharinginformationatb-on-sea@hotmail.co.uk

AYNUK AND EMBO[With apologies to certain much-loved Black Country characters]

Sometwentyorsoyearsago,IwenttoHalesHallnearMarketDrayton(nottheCheadleone)tohearEnochPowellspeakatafund-raisingdinner.Afterhisusualincisiveandthought-provokingpresentation,Mr.Powellcirculatedamongtheguests,enroutetohistaxi.Whenheapproachedmytable,Ihadthetemeritytostrikeupthefollowingconversationwithhim:Embo:Mr.Powell,we’vemetbefore.Aynuk:Havewereally?Wherewasthat?Embo:Youcametoourschool,KingEdwardVIStafford,topresenttheprizes.Aynuk:Ahyes,HeadmasterDougieSmith,anexcellentfellow.MyClassicstutoratCambridge.Embo:Itwasfortyyearsago,whenyouwereMinisterofHealth.Aynuk:Wasitindeed?Well,we’llhavetomakeitaregulararrangement,andagreetomeeteveryfortyyears![Exit}Emboretreatsinconvulsion-orwasitconfusion?

Pete Emberton, 1948-54

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The Other Queen Marys

Brian H Mason 1946-51My story comes with the picture below. The ship is the Queen Mary, moved on to the Embankment with its rear almost under Waterloo Bridge; spending its latter days as a restaurant and drinking pad for the young and lively. If the name sets you aback, here is the story.

Sometime after WW1 Cunard had built a splendid new Transatlantic Liner and wanted a suitable fine name for it, they approached The Palace from where the message came back that they would be pleased if Cunard named the vessel after the last Queen. The Palace was mindful of Alexandra but it was by then the 1930’s and Queen Mary was the “last Queen”. To their consternation

Cunard discovered that there was already a

Queen Mary vessel plying the West Coast of Scotland. Reluctant to approach the Palace for clarification Cunard arranged the re-registration of our two funnel beauty under the alternative name of Queen Mary II, allowing the Queen Mary to go back and forth across the Atlantic avoiding icebergs on the way.

Over the winter of 1956-1957 the TS Queen Mary II was changed from coal to oil burning, the two funnels were replaced by a single, well proportioned, funnel. With the retirement of the Waverley in 1974, our Queen Mary became the last excursion steamer on the Clyde

Finally she was retired from service in 1977 and after a few wilderness

years became a restaurant ship on the River Thames where she has remained successful for many years, outside my office window, which was just behind the base of the forward funnel. The office, in 1, Lancaster Place (HQ of the Duchy of

Lancaster) was the result of clever sleuthing, negotiation and perseverance by Viola, something she did very well while I got on with dealing with clients.

N.B. The ship is listed by the National Historic Ships Unit as part of the National Register of Historic Ships. This means that she is officially recognised to be of maritime importance and therefore worthy of preservation in the long term and so deserves public support.

In November 2009, the ship was towed out of London on her way to La Rochelle. However, she is still moored in Tilbury Docks as of August 2011.

The first ship to carry the name HMS Queen Mary was a battlecruiser built by the British Royal Navy before World War I,

the sole member of her class. She was similar to the Lion-class battlecruisers, though she differed in details from her half-sisters. She was the last battlecruiser completed before the war and participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight shortly after the war began. As part of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, she attempted to intercept a German force that bombarded the North Sea coast of England in December 1914, but was unsuccessful. She was refitted during the Battle of Dogger Bank in early 1915, but participated in the next major fleet action of the war, the Battle of Jutland in

RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner. She was the first major ocean liner built since Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line.

The ship was named by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 after the first RMS Queen Mary, completed in 1936.

RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line (known as Cunard-White Star when the vessel entered

service). Built by John Brown & Co in Clydebank, Scotland, Queen Mary along with her running mate, the RMS Queen Elizabeth, were built as part of

Cunard’s planned two-ship weekly express service betweenSouthampton, Cherbourg, and New York City.

mid 1916. She was hit twice by the German battlecruiser Derfflinger during the “Run to the South” and exploded shortly afterwards.

Her wreck was discovered in 1991 and rests partly upside-down, on sand, 60 metres (197 ft) down. Queen Mary is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Editor’s supplement:

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Ken Ackland 1943 1948Michael Acocks 1951 1958Brian Adams 1947 1953Ron Adams 1947 1953Chris Andrews 1971 1973Basil Apin 1938 1943Mark Ashton 1969 1976Trevor Ashton 1945 1950John Baker 1943 1950Geoff Barnett 1944 1949Robert Belcher 1948 1954Nigel Bennett 1965 1972Philip Bennett 1969 1977Owen Bennion 1939 1944Albert Betts 1946 1949ChristopherBirch 1956 1963David Bishop 1965 1972Keith Boardman 1951 1956Ray Briggs 1944 1949Noel Broadgate 1948 1955Bill Brown 1942 1947John Bucknall 1948 1953Alan Budd 1944 1949Simon Button 1972 1976Mike Caddy 1965 1972Neil Cameron 1973 1979Graeme Card 1969 1976Barrie Chackett 1951 1956John Cole 1947 1953Jim Cooper 1950 1956Paul Cooper 1965 1972Paul Craig 1947 1953Tony Deakin 1970 1977Terry Dingley 1945 1948

Eddie Dobson 1940 1949Brian Ecclestone 1950 1955Derek Edensor 1942 1949Peter Emberton 1948 1954Bob Fearn 1943 1948Ian Gilbert 1965 1971Mark Godridge 1968 1972David Griffin 1951 1956Peter Griffiths 1969 1972Warren Griffiths 1957 1964Ken Hackett 1949 1954Ken Handley 1945 1952Derek Harrison 1945 1950Alan Hartley 1944 1949Harold Haywood 1946 1952Richard Hinton 1962 1964John Hodgens 1942 1952Reg Horne 1952 1958Roger Howard 1966 1973Roy Hudson 1944 1948Ron Jakes 1957 1962Mike Jeffries 1952 1957Peter Jones 1949 1955Brian Judson 1958 1962Paul Kehoe 1968 1973Ralph Lawford 1946 1951Rob Leech 1965 1972Roger Lycett 1957 1963George Marston 1946 1951Brian Mason 1946 1951Sam McCarthy 1955 1960Roger McLaren 1955 1961Dennis Medlycott 1953 1956Mike Morris 1958 1965Bryan Moss 1946 1950

Len Mould 1936 1942Bob Mudway 1953 1955Robert Owen 1945 1953Angus Parker 1974 1976David Pearsall 1957 1960Nigel Pepper 1965 1972Don Perkin 1954 1962Sam Pickstock 1945 1950George Pickup 1956 1961Dennis Press 1942 1947Geoff Pursehouse1944 1950Derek Randles 1949 1954Derek Robbins 1940 1947Mike Roberts 1966 1973Malcolm Robins 1956 1962Neil Robinson 1966 1974Peter Russell 1963 1970Rob Salmon 1965 1972Doug Scholes 1942 1947Paul Schroeder 1949 1958Dick Seddon 1967 1973Tom Shanley 1968 1973Dave Shelley 1968 1975Peter Smith 1949 1954Martin Sullivan 1969 1976Alan Till 1945 1951Wes Till 1969 1971David Townsend 1971 1978Gordon Turner 1942 1947Glyne Wetton 1946 1953Bruce Williams 1953 1958John Wood 1944 1952Roger Wood 1953 1960Eddy Wright 1962 1969TotalO.E. 106 Mike Darley Guest David Stott Guest David Thomas Spkr David Worrall Guest TotalGuests 4 GrandTotal110

Annual Dinner 2011

Annual Skittles Evening:The annual skittles evening took place on 15 September 2011 at the usual venue of Stafford Constitutional Club.

In a closely fought competition over three rounds the “Gerry Hatrix” team of Derek Robbins, Tony and Cynthia Haggett, Eddie and Pat Dobson narrowly held on to win the competition, beating the “Plonkers” team of Ken and Anne Handley, Rita Shirley, Len Mould (our Vice President) and Phil Bennett (our newest recruit to the committee) by only 3 points. Both teams scoring 61 in the final round.

Total1 Gerry Hatrix 70 53 61 1842 Plonkers 61 59 61 1813 Youn Guns 54 55 61 1704 49-Ers 62 54 33 1495 Dead Legs 43 45 50 138

The individual prizes for top scorers on the night went to Alan Hartley of the 49-Ers with 37 points (pity his team couldn’t match his performance) for the men, and Cynthia Haggett of the Gerry Hatrix with 36points for the ladies.

Our President presented bottles of wine to the winning team members and the two top scorers – didn’t Cynthia do well!

An excellent buffet was enjoyed by all. Thanks go to the Constitutional Club for providing the venue and refreshments and to Simon Button for organising the event.

This year’s Annual Dinner was back at Tillington Hall which has had a refurbish-ment since our last visit. The attendees were:-

Simon Button (1972-75)

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School Science Society 1930s

John L Weaver 1931-36

Yes - in the mid 1930s we had a school Science Society.

I can't tell you much about what happened at the regular meetings - there must have been some - but I remember the impressions some of the interesting visits left on me. (As I lived in the country getting home later in the evening precluded after school social activities).

Our visit to the Engine Works of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company (LMS) at Crewe was probably the first introduction many of us had to heavy engineering with all its dirt, deafening noise and frightening big machines.

At first sight the skinny, unpainted engine skeletons without their outer cladding took one back a pace as if one were suddenly confronted by naked people but then it was good to see what was underneath and to realise that a lot of the work there was not building shiny new engines, but stripping down and refurbishing existing ones.

Even the tools were big; huge spanners to fit enormous nuts and bolts and great files over two feet long used by platelayers when fitting track points.

I was intrigued to see these files being re-cycled. They were first passed through a grinding machine which removed most of the toothed surface on each side, then through a furnace which heated them up to anneal them before the teeth were re-cut by a high speed reciprocating chisel press. They were then re-heated and quenched in a big steaming water tank to re-harden them. The platelayers who looked after

the tracks then had almost no portable power grinders or other power tools.

Finally we saw new engines being assembled and ending up all new and shiny. A report of this visit in the School Magazine that year is said to have stated that on completion

the engines are pulled out of the factory by a wench with a rope but perhaps someone can check the archives for that misprint.

Of course we had to visit the Science Museum in South Kensington and a party of us went by train.

I found everything fascinating but, unlike today, most of the exhibits were static with little chance for hands-on twiddling.

The one thing that stuck in my memory was the Foucault Pendulum and it may still be there. It consisted of a heavy pointed pendulum bob weight suspended on a long wire from inside the top of the museum dome. A large circle about 5 metres diameter on the marble floor was marked out with the hours of the day.

Since the pendulum swung in the same direction all the time due to its inertia while the earth rotated under it the pointed bob pointed to the time of day on the circular scale.

It also made an impression on my friend George Maddick who attempted to replicate

this demonstration when he got back home. He chose the outside toilet for this purpose and suspended, on strong string, a big tin filled with metal scrap from the middle of the roof. He tied this back to one of the door uprights with a short string which he burned through to release the pendulum with minimum manual interference.

He later described how the heavy tin made one dummy run diagonally across the tiny room before the string broke on the second pass and dropped the heavy load of junk into the lavatory pan and smashed it. He failed to convince his parents that it was a legitimate scientific experiment.

Another popular visit was to Stafford Salt Works in the Stafford Common

area. Brine came pouring up out of the earth urged by the injection of water pumped in from above. This then went into swimming pool sized rectangular tanks heated from below to evaporate the excess water until the salt crystallised out. While it was still moist this was then shovelled by hand into tapered wooden boxes about a metre long where, on cooling, it became a tapered block of salt which could be tipped out and handled.

These blocks were sold just as they were to wholesalers such as Rowlands but some were cut up into smaller

Page 18

rectangular blocks with paper wrapping for domestic use. We trudged up iron stairs to a third floor to see this performance.

The first things one noticed were ladies with heavily bandaged fingers passing these blocks of salt deftly through band saws or circular saws with no apparent safety guards. The bandages were for protection not wounds. The air was full of choking salt dust.

One of our group who was a small but daring lad noticed that the bags of loose salt coming off the saws were thrown into an opening which was the start of a tight spiral shiny metal chute leading to the ground floor and he decided to go down that way.

When we arrived at ground level in the normal way he was still a bit dazed by the rate of descent, the spiral and the salt dust.

It was brine from this operation which was piped to the brine swimming baths in the town and which ceased to be available when the Salt Works to the north of the town was closed.

A visit to Bass's brewery at Burton on Trent is a hazy memory, not really because of the product, but one point of interest stands out. We were moving across a paved yard between the buildings when the guide who was showing us round stopped us and asked another employee to lift a manhole cover we were crossing. We were to see a torrent of beer passing through on its way underground from the brew house to the bottling shed. Unfortunately he picked the wrong manhole and we saw a torrent of what looked like used corks in brown liquid. Some of us commented

on the idea of washing the old corks in the new beer to mature it a little.

As well as visits we had an AGM and for some reason the 1935 one was a really extensive exhibition using the physics laboratory under Joe Smith and the chemistry laboratory under Jackie Poole.

Most of the chemistry experiments were producing smells of some kind - chlorine was one - but one was a tunnel explosion demonstration. As well as firedamp (methane) explosions in a mine there could also be a fast travelling wave of flame when the right mixture of air and coal dust got ignited.

Jackie Poole had a vertical six inch diameter Pyrex glass tube about five feet long. A rubber tube fed in town gas (not north sea gas) at the bottom, until the tube was judged to be full, with a spark plug at the top for ignition. When lit the gas burnt at the top until the amount of gas left formed an explosive mixture (2.5 - 5.0 %) which ripped down the tube with a mighty roar. It worked very well on the Friday when setting up when I saw it and for most of the time on Saturday. Finally the critical mixture occurred and in a real explosion the glass tube was shattered and bits flew everywhere.

Meanwhile in the physics laboratory most of the demonstrations

had an electric theme.

One lad had made an electromagnetic "gun" which could shoot steel rods across the lab. and another had made a vertical version which shot a big bearing ball up inside a beautifully made mahogany box about four feet long arranged so that each time the ball fell back down the tube it re-made the circuit and shot the ball up again. It made a thumping great noise with a bang every second. The big induction coil was making sparks a few inches long and my contribution was a sign "KESS" in six inch, high voltage discharge tubes, my particular enthusiasm at the time.

I found Joe Smith's water jet sound amplifier fascinating. This consisted of an old loudspeaker horn with a small diaphragm across the narrow end. A fine jet of water from a drawn-out glass tube played on the diaphragm and on this hung a pocket watch. Loud ticks came out of the horn.

This is an extremely simple analogue of electronic amplification.

John Bagnall (the present John Bagnall's father) brought along a one third scale MG sports car which he had made in the couple of years since he had left KESS. The detail and the bodywork were superb and John could just squeeze into it and drive it with its small two stroke rear engine (his feet were where the engine should go).

After an AGM we feasted on current buns and lemonade in the lab. and a few of us would quickly secrete as many buns as we thought we could eat in a bench drawer where we were sitting. One year this brought a comment in the annual school magazine "Weaver could be seen ploughing through plates of buns like a vacuum cleaner over a dusty carpet"

The Salt Works, Common Road, Stafford

John Bagnall with his one third scale MG

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Greenflies V BluebottlesAs I remember it .......

I realise that there are a number of editions of “The Staffordian” that I have not read and it is likely that many of the memories I recall have already been printed in previous editions. However, I hope the following recollections are of interest - remember, it’s over 65 years since I left KESS!!

These ramblings are probably far too long -but, I have had quite an interesting time putting them on paper. Good luck!!

Black gowned men with funny hats like mortar boards seemed to swarm about classroom and corridor —I realised I was not at St. Leonards’ any more.

Was I intimidated? Definitely! And I, like most other new boys, kept a low profile and hoped that we would not get lost in what appeared to be a vast building.

Any chance of settling down into a routine was quickly disrupted when soon after starting the country was at war.

Wholesale changes took place as many of the teachers joined the forces and some retired teachers were brought back out of retirement, appearing very ancient to us young boys -there were even lady teachers now employed!

Immediately, one extra piece of essential equipment was to be carried. The gas mask - forget it and you were sent home - maybe to get away with it the first time, try it on again and you would be reminded in a painful manner which made sitting down quite uncomfortable! To start with gas mask practice was really a chance to see who could make the most disgusting noise when wearing them.

Soon we were over-run with “Greenflies” who posed a direct threat to the “Bluebottles”. No worries about causing offence in those days. - The Chatham House crowd from Broadstairs, by mutual consent, formulated a distinct rivalry to the KESS lads which lasted until I left. It was amazing what pride was engendered in one’s school by that evacuation process.

Harmony between the two schools would have been a triumph of hope over expectation and was fully

displayed on the rugby field. No prisoners taken, and the only thing not likely to get battered was the ball - it was irrelevant, we were too busy kicking lumps out of each other. I can’t tell you the score, I was in a hospital bed with a fractured and dislocated arm by the final whistle. As the rugby field was a fair distance from the school changing rooms (over half a mile I would guess) a car had to be flagged down on Newport Road to get me to the hospital. Two years later I still had my arm in a sling, and to this day it still will not straighten —I never have been to Broadstairs for my holidays!

A shift scheme was devised to cope with the vast number now in the school - one week mornings and the next week afternoons, including Saturday and

that did not go down well at all. On the morning session you were allowed to come in half an hour later if there had been an air raid after midnight - a grossly manipulated concession I might add.

Regardless of our religious faith I remember one afternoon when we were all very devout.

The sirens had gone and this time it was for real, which was very unusual during the day. We were all in the air raid shelter over by the cricket pavilion and a rumour went round that a “dogfight” was taking place - Allied and German

fighter planes having a battle. Heroes all, and stirred on by the exploits of Rockfist Rogan R.A.F. and other supermen in the comics of that time, we were keen to share, however remotely, in the reflected glory of the real life drama taking place. That was

until another sound invaded our ears. Any self respecting lad of that time knew the sound of any aircraft engine -friend or foe. This sound was not one of ours and it was near and low and when a few moments later we heard three bangs which sounded like bombs, which they were. As devout cowards we decided to leave the real action to the true heroes at that time. The three bombs actually fell on the English Electric factory (near enough for us) and one landed in the middle of the works, but did not explode and little damage was done.

Harry Matthews (1939-44)

Page 20

There were characters aplenty but someone in our class struck terror into the hearts of every other boy who was there. Coincidentally, as I was musing over my thoughts his name came to my mind. Then, having received some old copies of the “The Staffordian” and reading the 2004 copy - there he was, alive and well (still is, I hope) making a contribution. I have to say it John - you were stark raving bonkers!! I really could not believe that a raised desktop would be sufficient to deflect the impact of the explosion that might be caused by a live grenade. It had been collected on the Cannock Chase practice bombing range and was being dismantled in the class room. Health and Safety - you must be joking. I send my best wishes to you - but you seriously frightened us.

As for the teachers, perhaps distance adds enchantment to the view. I reckon that at university training or maybe in the staff common room, each teacher was encouraged to devise a personal method of chastisement. Be it a coin between the fingers, a ruler, or a missile - scholars soon became aware of their personal preferences.

I particularly remember “Major” Barrett, keen rugby player in his time, obviously continued his sense of fair play in the class room. To the unwary a blackboard (no such thing as whiteboards in those days) rubber or piece of chalk would come flying in your direction. However, he would stand there and challenge you to hurl it back at him, which we took great delight in doing. We rarely scored a bulls-eye! Major Barrett was not averse to telling a few risque jokes at the start of a lesson much to the delight of boys who were very naive in those days.

“Tank” Averill was also a keen rugby enthusiast - his nick-name was well deserved. In a practice session one day when “Tank” was taking the mickey and giving us the run around I decided to have a go and tackle him. I bounced and “Tank” never even blinked - eight out of ten for trying, ten out of ten for stupidity.

During the war many teachers had been called up and with the shortage of teachers some lessons were designated “private study”. Not overwhelmingly successful I fear, although I maintain it

improved my timing at cricket, albeit with a rubber for the ball and a ruler for the bat

Many articles in the Staffordian have penned the idiosyncrasies of the teachers and the mention of cricket leads me to thoughts of “Corker” Cox. I recall how, faced with the “terrifying” fast bowlers of the first team, Mr. Cox calmly took out a stump and casually played them to all parts of the field. Mr. Cox had standards, high standards, which were to be maintained. I remember I had been having quite a good run with the bat and even received my cricket colours. I was proud of that!. Very soon after, following a game Mr. Cox called me over - Matthews, your boots were dirty - next time you will be dropped from the team!. I also recall having taken a sharp catch close to the bat and found I had dislocated two fingers. Mr. Cox merely gave them a quick glance, grabbed my hand and pulled them back into their sockets - Ouch!!!. His parting remark was, “Good catch, make sure you are ready for the next one”. Glad to say it was not put to the test.

Doc Gilmore -I am sure the Archangel Gabriel would never have managed a higher mark than seven - it was like getting blood out of a stone. It was however, Doc Gilmore who taught me a lesson in life which might well strike a chord with many others.

War, an horrendous time when many brave and courageous people were called to defend our nation. Some, due to age or disability were summoned to put aside a quiet retirement or incapacity to try and teach some pretty dreadful scholars of which I was one. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to borrow Doctor Gilmore’s book tracing the history of the school over the years before I arrived. I soon realised that some of those teachers, to whom our respect was less than total, in their prime had records in military service, in sport, and in academic excellence which would be the envy of the scholars who they were called upon to teach, though their patience must have been tested to the uttermost.

I cannot recall any of those teachers being accused of murder - remarkable! Far too late I know, but thanks to them all for their efforts with me.

I left Stafford over 60 years ago, although my sister still lives there, and my visits have been infrequent and then usually just in the Rising Brook area. The world and Stafford were changing and I was well out of touch. Only a remarkable set of coincidences which linked a Shearings coach holiday, Philip Wallbank an old KESS scholar, a Methodist local Preacher, and a Weights and Measures Inspector brought about my putting these ramblings together - and I enjoyed it.

Nostalgia for KESS had not, I regret to say, played too great a part in my life and memory, but I was in Stafford a few times recently and going up Newport Road I glanced at the old school and a nerve was awakened, but then ???? Have people no sense of decency whatsoever, as I looked towards that patch of ground that I had rolled on so often and on which I had gained my cricket colours. I saw ‘TESCO’!

RE CRICKET - 2010 EDI-TION - PAGE 28 ANOTHER MEMORYKESS WON WITHOUT ANYBODY SCORING A RUN!It must have been 1943 or 44 and I was in the first team and I am pretty certain we were playing Newport away from home.

Newport batted and were all out for 3, 2 byes and 1 leg bye (or the other way round) . If I remember rightly David Senhen took 7 wickets for 0 !

I opened the batting for the School and in the first over the ball was bowled down the leg side, I missed it, so did the wicketkeeper and it went for 4 byes. Match over - all extras!! Nobody scored.

Page 21

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

cartoonists imposing Christian imagery on non-Christians when they die. (After all, only one religion can be right, huh?) Comedian

George Carlin, a famous atheist, found a Christian heaven in many editorial cartoons. When Beatle George Harrison, a Hindu, died, the editorial cartoonists drew dozens of cartoons with George showing up in Christian heaven.Perhaps it is insensitive to impose your own religion on someone else when they die – but what the heck - readers and editors love it’.

These are just three of the many cartoons which have been drawn since the passing of Apple boss Steve Jobs.As a Mac addict since the 1980s I have included this page as a tribute to ‘our leader’.Needless to say I don’t claim them or the text as my own work.‘Apple’s Steve Jobs was a Buddhist, which makes the many heavenly cartoons that were drawn after his passing rather, erm … off the mark?We often see editorial

Trevor C Ashton (1945-50)

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BACK ROW. LEFT TO RIGHT Osborne, Wood, A.Johnson, Hassle, Wright, Lokier, Marshall, Bray, Garnett, Shackley, G.S.Johnson.

MIDDLE ROW. Barker, Mr. Baxter, Gardiner, unknown, Hill. FRONT Powell, Ecclestone.

BANTAMS RUGBY 1952-53

CRICKET TEAM COLTS 1954

BACK ROW FROM THE LEFT Mr Pearce, 4th from left Moseley, 5th Drew? Tunnicliffe may be either 3rd or 8th!

FRONT ROW Middleton, unknown, G.S.Johnson, unknown, A. Johnson.

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Day 1- Tuesday, Sept 20th      Heathrow to Toronto.

After a cramped 7 hour flight aboard BA 767 we arrived late afternoon in Toronto as part of a T…. Tour. Still weary from the flight and having had some difficulty in finding our coach, we duly reached our hotel, only to find the fire alarm was blaring out, firemen running about with pickaxes, floors 27-29 being evacuated and scores of people standing around uncertainly in the lobby. Eventually an electrical fault was discovered and we were allowed to find our rooms. What a start to the holiday!

Day 2- Wednesday.      Toronto.

We saw some amazing-shaped skyscrapers on our tour of the city – all dominated by the 1815 foot CN Tower. No, Pat and I did not go up it, instead we chose to wander round the harbour area in the last of the day’s sunshine. Later the whole party took a boat trip to the nearby islands even though the rain reduced the visibility.

Day 3- Thursday.     Toronto to Niagara to Niagara Falls.

Our first stop was a walkabout at Niagara on the Lake, a beautiful picturesque New England village which was almost too perfect.

Journeying on, our coach reached Niagara itself, a bustling town with the Falls as its main attraction. Very quickly we joined many others, all now wearing bright blue ponchos, on “The Maid of the Mist” which sailed relentlessly right up to the foot of the majestic Falls. Would it ever turn? The small boat pitched and tossed in the maelstrom, people’s screams could not be heard above the thunderous

roar of the water and everyone was thoroughly soaked to the skin. The whole experience was awesome!

That night, ignoring the Las Vegas part of the town, we ventured back to the Falls to see them floodlit. Stunning!

Day 4- Friday.       Niagara to Albany.

Bad news about the condition of the coach meant nearly a 2 hour delay while a replacement was sent for. Some of us then seized the opportunity to go behind the Falls through a maze of tunnels. It was fantastic and I was soaked again.

Later, in a new coach we crossed the border into the USA after lengthy passport examinations, finger printing, thumb printing and eye recognition checks. One began to feel like a criminal after all this but we understood why it was necessary.

After the delays we arrived at our new hotel in Albany only to find everywhere

in almost total darkness brought about by violent local storms. So for safety reasons we were obliged to move to another hotel elsewhere in the town. Another eventful day!

Day 5- Saturday.     Albany to Andover.

The weather was much better as we made our way through the beautiful Vermont countryside to stop at the famous white clapboard church at Bennington. The local guide there

A ‘Short’ Holiday to Canada and the USA

needed no encouragement to play on the organ and “How great thou art” was well supported by a chorus of English voices, including mine naturally.

After continuing on through the delightful hills and forests of Vermont we arrived at our next destination, Andover.

Day 6- Sunday.    Andover to Boston.

This was a day spent following the events of the start of the War of Independence. At Concorde we visited the bridge where the first shots of the War were fired accidentally and we heard about the Minute Men, the farmers called up to withstand the redcoats at a moment’s notice. We remembered “Paul Revere’s Ride”, the poem by Longfellow which was a romanticised version of a real-life event! Thence onto Boston, The Tea Party and “No Taxation without Representation” (how the events came flooding back to me from my schooldays!).

Boston 2011 – an attractive cosmopolitan city.

The sun was beating down and thousands in holiday mode were thronging the streets and visiting the open-air markets. In a terraced café we ate our lunch and sat back and watched the rest of the world and the redcoats pass by. Our one big regret was that we did not have long enough there!

Peter M Jones (1949 - 55)

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Ladies Night Wednesday 5 October 2011

Day 7-Monday.   Boston to New York.

There were considerable delays on the way to New York, caused by accidents and very heavy traffic (just like home) and this meant that we were behind schedule, but alfresco eating in Grand Central Station made up for it.

The city coach tour took us through Times Square, down Broadway, past the Empire State Building and alongside Central Park. It was magical – we could not believe that we were really there!

In mid-afternoon, on foot for a change, there was the “Top of the Rock” excursion at the Rockefeller Centre – 43 seconds by lift up 65 floors culminating in stunning views over the city. Wow!

At night, our brilliant driver, Bill, drove

us across the River to New Jersey to provide us with wonderful views of the Manhattan skyline.

Day 8- Tuesday.            New York.

This began on a boat around Manhattan

Island but we were almost thwarted by thick fog and extremely high tides. When the skies gradually cleared the tops of the skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty appearing out of the gloom made for an eerie experience. On the Hudson River itself some debris from Hurricane Irene still floated about.

Later, back on land, we stopped near to Ground Zero and saw diggers and cranes manned by lots of workers who were erecting the replacement to the Twin Towers.

Close by, lots of demonstrators, already camped out for a fortnight, were protesting in a Square against Wall Street, Capitalism, and President Obama under the watchful eyes of armed police. Some celebrities were with the protesters and there was even

some music being played - the bearded man playing the guitar and beautifully singing “Blowing in the Wind” turned out to be Peter of Peter,Paul and Mary fame.

In late afternoon Pat and I went on a horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park – thus fulfilling one of her long-standing ambitions.

To finish everything off we found the World Nintendo Centre, for our grandson, of course!

What a day of contrasts!

Day 9 – Wednesday.      Departure Day.

Before flying back we just had to re-visit Central Park, this time on foot, to experience the sights, the sounds and the beauty of the whole place.

It was back to JFK Airport eventually for a full body search through scanners, with shoes off, belts off and pockets and bags emptied before boarding a very full BA 747 to the UK.

A tiring night flight was to follow for some, particularly for me when the married couple next to me had a “violent domestic” – just about avoiding crew intervention. This holiday had indeed had everything!

Arriving in Penkridge hours later, I did not know what the time was and I was unsure what day it was…. Glad to be home, yes. Exhausted, yes. But a great few days!

ThisyearwehonouredourLadiesattheSwanHotel,Stafford.Aplacewithalmostasmuchhis-toryastheSchool.

Itwasapleasuretoseesomanyofourpartnersdolledupinspiteoftheappallingweather,whichputstrainsonourhosts’cloakroomfacilitiesforthefirsttimethisyear.

Inspiteofratherovercrampedfacilitiesthestand-ardofpresentationwasfirstclass,thefoodwaswellpresentedandthefrontofhousewasveryappropriatetothenight.

Perhapsinviewofthelackofelbowroomandpassagewaytheservicedidtendtoberathertardysoitwasagoodjobthatthecompanywascapableoffillingthegaps.Ourparticulartableplayed‘seektherightwine’fromthreegreenbot-tlesplacedatrandom(Afterafewfalsestarts.) Nimmy with his carer Treece

Trevor C Ashton (1945-50)

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In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dorothy abbreviated to Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called ‘Amazon Dot Com.’

And she said unto Abraham, her husband, “Why doth thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?” And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, “How, dear?” And Dot replied, “I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send

messages saying what you have for sale and they will reply telling you which hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah’s Pony Stable (UPS).”

Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent.

But this success did arouse envy. A man named Maccabia did secrete himself inside Abraham’s drum and

And that is how it all began. It wasn’t Al Gore after all.

was accused of insider trading. And the young man did take to Dot Com’s trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short. And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land. And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates’ drumheads and drumsticks.

And Dot did say, “0h, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others.” And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known ‘eBay’. He said, “We need a name that reflects what we are.” And Dot replied, “Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators.” “YAHOO!” said Abraham.

And that is how it all began. It wasn’t Al Gore after all.

.co.ukoldeds.co.uk

gnosall.info

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In a week of mixed weather we were once again blessed with a pleasant evening for our bowls event.

Thanks to an early start at six pm we were able to complete the nine games of the match in daylight. By a stroke of good fortune, right on time for supper break. This year we broke away from the usual cold buffet and had fish and chips delivered hot from the Windmill fish bar on Doxey Road.Anne Handley produced some bread and butter and armed with the bowling club forks, we enjoyed a good meal. Naughty but nice! Competition results, shown below in the table, could not have been closer and would in league bowling be classed as a draw with one point for each game and two points for the aggregate. I never spotted this on the night so John was able to gloat when Len presented him with the Alan Balmforth salver. The President, John Cole in his address thanked all members for turning out and making the evening such a success, as well as all in the Bowling Club including bar staff, then all concerned with the organisation and smooth running of this event. Bowling for the bottle was taken to a new level by Mark Ashton who bowled a perfect ‘toucher’ with his fourth shot out of six. He was the first to bowl for the bottle and in ten years no one got anywhere near such accuracy. For the sake of those who did not see this feat we decided to keep the event running so we put down a marker and carried on. Unbelievably two subsequent bowlers also got ‘touchers’. The three way roll-off was won by Steve Hawkins. At least he would enjoy the Whisky himself and not have to watch while his wife drank it!

BOWLS ALAN BALMFORTH TROPHY 2011

President Score v Score Vice-President

J & C Cole 8 11 D & B Press

P & M Smith 11 3 S & J Hawkins

R & M Fearn 0 11 N & C Yeates

A & C Haggett 11 7 E & P Dobson

D Robins & T Ashton 8 11 L Mould & D Scholes

G Chatfield & T Bartlett 11 5 D & J Scholes

N Bown & J Wood 10 11 R & E Owen

M Ashton & B Whitehead

11 8 G Pursehouse & D Stott

K Handley & R Shirley 9 11 D & L Stott

79 78

Eddie Dobson (1940-49)

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Built in 1955, S.S. Nevasa’s role was as a 20,000 ton troopship for the U.K. military forces. She was converted into an educational cruise ship in 1964 and made her first voyage in this new capacity in October 1965. In this new capacity she made nearly 200 voyages, steamed around 750,000 miles and carried 187,000 students.

At the ripe old age of 16 in July 1974, just after sitting my O-Levels, a group of us from the School sailed on board the S.S. Nevasa from Tilbury Docks in London on an Educational Cruise around the Baltic, calling at Travemunde in Northern Germany, then on to Leningrad (now St Petersberg) in Russia, back across the Baltic Sea to the island of Gotland, Sweden and finally calling at the Danish capital Copenhagen before returning to Tilbury. It was two weeks I will never forget. For a 16 year old this was a superb experience. Plenty of first-time experiences were about to be had, not least of all, acquiring those all important “sea-legs” and sleeping in a dorm with a dozen or so other boys of various ages.

It had cost our parents the grand total of £66 for our 14 day trip, which was a lot of money in those days so I felt very lucky to be going - but what a bargain! I no doubt contributed something towards the cost from my Saturday job at Addisons at the corner of Mill Street and Church Lane. Nevertheless... thanks folks - it was the best 2 weeks’ education a boy could get.

It was the first time I had been on holiday without my Mum, Dad and my big sister and the only sizeable boat I’d been on prior to this trip was the Swansea to Cork car ferry! The trip started with a largely forgettable coach trip from Stafford down the M6/M1 skirting North London and then on to Tilbury Docks in the East End. This was pre-M25 so I imagine it was quite a trek. I can only remember arriving in these strange industrial surroundings with grimy old warehouses and huge cranes when we got to the docks – a most unlikely beginning to our “holiday”. I think we arrived about 3 o’clock in the afternoon ready to set sail early that evening.

When we saw the ship it looked awesome from below and we weren’t disappointed when we boarded. Although the Grammar School party

Recollections of my Baltic Educational Cruise.

24 July – 7 August 1974.

only numbered a dozen or so, the ship, if I remember correctly, had almost 1,000 school children on board. So with classrooms, concert room, cinema and swimming pool, we had plenty to occupy us. There were also about 80 teachers and group leaders and more than 100 independent cabin passengers (carefully segregated as they had probably paid a lot more than £66 for their passage!) It really was as close as you could get to a floating school!

Not long after setting off from Tilbury, we had to practise as if there was an

emergency, everyone rushing to their muster stations to get life jackets on. The first night on board was a bit of a strange experience all right, but after the long coach trip most of us were too tired and soon fell off to sleep despite the continuous creaking of the ship! The Boys’ Dorms were of course kept entirely separate from the girls and there was usually a Teacher or even worse, a burly “Master-at-Arms”, patrolling the corridors to deter trespassers and nip any pranksters in the bud!

I remember there were plenty of representatives from other Staffordshire schools, Graham Balfour and the Girls

High School in Stafford, plus various others from the Potteries and Rugeley. As I recall, the rest of the floating school was made up of kids from certain North London Boroughs, we didn’t mix much as we could barely understand a word they said!

I remember we were accompanied by Mr Stubbs (History) and a few other members of staff I can’t recall for certain. Along with the other teachers on board, they had to deliver the educational lectures - attendance at

which was compulsory. Among the 146 lectures given, in total, were titles such as The Baltic Sea, The Russian Revolution and even Bird Migration. There were also a series of lectures given by the ship’s educational crew. Although these were optional, they proved quite popular and were well attended - lots of practical advice about living on a swaying ship - even how to walk safely! What the various signals and sounds on board meant, where “fore” and “aft” were, not to mention “midships”! how the ship was propelled, stabilised in rough seas (what!), how the lifeboats were lowered (yikes!) lots of nautical

Martin J. Sullivan (1969 – 1976)

Page 28

stuff to soak up – it all took on a whole new relevance while we were ploughing through the North Sea towards Scandinavia! Later in the cruise I remember learning some Russian and have never forgotten how to say Goodbye in the Russian language (Da svi’ daniya) to this day!

Teaching was just a small part of their work because the teachers also organised the games, led the parties on shore, dealt out the pocket money and foreign currency and kept an eye on the discipline in the cafeteria and dormitories.

Our dormitory was well below deck with no windows and I will never forget being woken every morning by Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” blasting through the P.A system at 7.00 am! Sleeping in dorms below the water line took a bit of getting used to and the smells from the kitchen always seemed to be the same regardless of it being breakfast, lunch or dinner.

We had so much to do on board and were kept busy all the time. Breakfast was the same every morning, boiled eggs, bacon and a choice of cereal. After breakfast on the first day we couldn’t wait to go up on deck only to find there was no land in sight! We were completely surrounded by the foaming deep and suddenly seemed an awful long way from Stafford....!

On the days we were at sea we had a timetable to follow, just like back in School, with lessons about the places we were about to visit, probably an interesting mixture of history, geography, language and culture. There was even a whole lecture on the Vikings!

I also remember that dinners were called according to a little white round badge with Roman numerals on, I think they were from I to V. We black marketed a few of these and went to lunch when we wanted or sometimes twice. The food, oh the food, to a kid it was great; but thinking back it would cause many a heart attack now with all the chips and stodgy puddings.

There was a big emphasis on sports as well, especially “Deck Quoits” where we had huge inter-dormitory tournaments that lasted days.

Although it was educational, it was much more relaxed than School, no uniforms for instance, boys’ first names were used (can you believe it!) and there were plenty of leisure time activities planned. I still have my log book that we used to have to fill in each morning. The evening seemed to be filled with watching films, playing cards or chess club. There were table tennis and other games in the numerous games rooms and there were discos nearly every night!

Lights out, or “turning in time” as it was called was 9.45pm. for the majority, but the few of us that were 16 or over could go to “Senior Club” which allowed an extra 45 mins until 10.30pm. I didn’t always go as sometimes I was just too tired from all the sea air and was happy to crash out at 9.45pm!

Ports of Call. Travemunde & Lubeck – West Germany

After two full days and three nights at sea we arrived at our first Port of call; Travemunde in Northern Germany. The Cruise Ship docked in the middle of the River Trave at 8.00 am, groups were called to their “Muster Stations” to disembark and we went on a small car ferry from the SS Nevasa to the shore. In the morning we were allowed to wander around the streets of Travemunde and we had pocket money for the trip which the teachers had changed into the local currency at each Port. I have noted in my “Log” that Germany was very expensive, so probably I didn’t spend a lot.

At 2.10pm we caught a double-decker bus to the nearby important medieval town of Lubeck, one of the Hanseatic ports as I recall, which controlled trade across the Baltic in centuries gone by. My Log says that we shared the bus with pupils from Graham Balfour and the Girls High School, with us and the Graham Balfour kids swapping the right to the Top deck on the outward and return journeys. I reckon the High School Girls must’ve got the top deck both ways!

At 5.00 pm we visited the nearby Border between West and East Germany; our first glimpse of the Iron Curtain, which just seemed to be miles and miles of twin rows of high fences with watchtowers along and uniformed guards – sent a bit of a shiver down a young lad’s spine all right! We were back on board the ship by 6.00pm and the day was rounded off with the usual 70’s Disco... with us all probably appreciating our freedom just that little bit more!

Another two days at sea, with the clocks going forward and a trip to the Engine Room, lots of documentary films about Russia and an inter-dorm skittles tournament behind us, we arrived at what was probably the highlight of the cruise - a visit to Communist Russia.

Leningrad, USSR

It was a suitably cloudy day when we The Bronze Horseman

Lubeck - Germany

Page 29

docked in Leningrad but, despite the gloomy skies, the youth brass band dutifully played to welcome us ashore in Leningrad’s Industrial docks. Before disembarking at Leningrad all our ID cards (no passport required on this school trip) had to be vetted by the KGB. We all had to wear a badge which identified us as tourist party and we were told in no uncertain terms not to take any photographs unless we were given permission at designated locations.

Independent travel was not allowed and so each group was escorted by Russian students, who spoke English reasonably well. Our Group was in Phase 2 and so were one of the last to disembark. We got onto a coach with 3 Russian Students and were taken around the city for about an hour and I remember that even in 1974 it still appeared to be heavily in ruins from the war.

We stopped at the ‘Bronze horseman’, (photographs were allowed here) a huge equestrian monument to Peter the Great. His successor Catherine the Great had ordered its construction, and had it inscribed with the phrase Petro Primo Catharina Secunda MDCCLXXXII in Latin meaning ‘Catherine the Second to Peter the First, 1782’. Of course being Grammar School Boys we all knew that!

The statue is mounted on the “Thunder Stone” which is claimed to be the largest Rock ever to be moved by man (1,250 tonnes). This stone was not only tremendously large, but was also effectively moved 6 km (4 miles) overland to the Gulf of Finland by manpower alone; no animals or machines were used. It was then transported by boat up the River Neva, and subsequently to its current site.

Journeying out of the City we arrived at a huge Stately Home and Park with many amazing golden statues and, according to my Log Book, 140

fountains! This was the Peterhof Royal Palace just South of St. Petersburg, sometimes referred to as the “Russian Versailles”. As we were escorted around we imagined the opulence of life in this imperial palace and grounds during the reign of Peter the Great. Inside the stately palace, we were ushered through the various rooms, adorned by priceless works of art, but we barely had a chance to stop and admire, as the sombre Russian women, dressed in drab, dark clothes, moved us on so quickly.

Everyone seemed so sad and life was obviously hard for so many at the time. On the coach journey back to the city, we passed endless food queues as people desperately waited in the hope of procuring a meagre allowance of food, if lucky. One of my lasting memories from Leningrad was glancing down from the coach window to see an old woman dressed in black rags, bent over double, sweeping the gutter with a dustpan and brush.

On the way back to the ship we stopped briefly at a tourist souvenir shop where we could buy things with either British or German currency, I still have the receipts!

We got back to the SS Nevasa about 6.00 pm and after tea we watched a well organised and typically Communist farewell from the Russian Students on the Quayside. We turned in as usual with plenty to think about after our day behind the Iron Curtain. Russian life was not impressive and we were probably all thankful to be heading for Sweden on our homeward voyage.

Visby, on the Island of Gotland, Sweden.

Freedom was much more apparent when we arrived at our next port of call, Visby, on the Swedish island of Gotland. This time our party was one of the first to disembark. We landed using the Lifeboats and using our hand-drawn maps handed out in Class the day before, It was a truly picturesque town, surrounded by a mediaeval wall. The ancient harbour had long silted up and was converted into a park called the “Almedalen”, small single-storey houses opened their neatly painted doors onto the narrow cobbled streets.

After visiting an old cathedral we split up into groups of 4 or 5 and were able to wander around the shops on our own and enjoy some sightseeing. Most of us had about 20 Krone each, mine was spent on souvenirs and ice cream and a climb to the top of the “Powder Tower” - my Log Book records that Sweden was even more expensive than West Germany!

At 3.45 pm we had to meet up again at the Docks. It was raining by now and due to waiting for two of our party we got soaked. Despite this we were all impressed by our visit to this historic Scandinavian town. Plenty of history and culture to soak up but probably the most notable discovery was that not all Swedish girls are blonde!

Copenhagen, Denmark.

After another day at sea, heading East at about 14 knots with a lecture on Copenhagen in the morning, a “deck quoits” competition in the afternoon

Tivoli Gardens

Page 30

and a fancy dress ball in the evening, we woke up to Elton John yet again, but this time we were docked alongside the Langeline Quay in Copenhagen, After breakfast we departed on foot and walked in our groups, past the statue of the “Little Mermaid” on a rock near the harbourside. After sightseeing in our organised groups most school parties from the Nevasa spent the afternoon and early evening at a huge fun-fair and park called the “Tivoli Gardens”. This was a great way to end our travels (those of us who had any money left!) and looking back it seems we were given the freedom to roam that school children of today could only dream about. Would you believe it – we all got back home safe and sound!

When we departed Copenhagen that evening the seas were calm, but it was definitely the calm before the storm because the crossing of the North Sea back to Tilbury was very rough and choppy so plenty of seasick faces around, and upset stomachs over the next two days.

The last night disco on the “Poop deck” was a very sad affair with lots of teenage couples kissing and swearing undying love and devotion to one another to the sound of “Hey Jude”! I wonder where they all are now?

Boarding the coach that met us at Tilbury docks, we set off back to Stafford, tired and still swaying gently, but with heads full of wonderful memories. The only thing I remember from the coach journey home was looking out of the window and noticing the litter in the English gutters and roadsides. At least it was familiar after all the strangely unfamiliar places we had just visited over the last two weeks, so all in all we were probably glad to be home, to see our families and sleep in a proper bed that stayed still!

I arrived home with a souvenir ash tray (I don’t know why, no-one smoked in my family!) with SS Nevasa on it, a replica “Little mermaid” statue glued to

a stone, a Swedish shoe horn and a small metal statue of a famous Russian whose name escapes me. The ash tray is still on the window sill in my parents’ home to this day!

The cruise was fantastic, a real adventure. I remember kids sliding down the brass handrails on the deck stairs, food on trays sliding around the tables in a very rough North Sea, dormitory wars, the blasted 7.00 am Tannoy with Elton John first thing every morning (put me off him for life!). No doubt one of the highlights of my school days at KESS. I wish I could send my 16 year old son on something similar, especially at the price my parents paid!

Over the years in the 1960’s and 1970’s many thousands of children went on these Educational Cruises, either around the Baltic or the Mediterranean Ports. Someone once wrote of his saga of life at sea with all aboard S.S. Nevasa that it was “an education and experience that would affect us for the rest of our lives”. That has certainly been true for me in more ways than one.

Little did I know at the time, but the July 1974 Cruise was to be one of the last the SS Nevasa undertook, because in April of 1975 she was sold by P&O for demolition and scrapped in June of that year in Taiwan. A sad end to a ship that must have enabled many treasured memories to so many young minds over the years.

I have always treasured my own memories of the cruise and so welcomed the opportunity to revisit these Baltic ports again one day. I am so grateful to that cruise for opening my eyes to so much, looking back it probably started a hunger for travel in me that is still going strong 36 years later!

Happy days!!

SS Nevasa - Technical Information.

The Nevasa - British India Line Built by: Barclay, Curle & Co Glasgow. Yard No 733. Tonnage: 20,527g;

11,496n; 8,271dwt. 185.6m long by 23.8m (609feet by 78.1) Engines: Twin-screw 2x3 Parsons/ Pamatrada turbines 18,400 SHP. Twin propellers, Service speed 17 knots, (20.96 Knots in Trials). Passengers 220 1st Class, 100 2nd Class, 180 3rd class, 1000 troops. Crew 409. Laid down May 1953. Launched by Mrs. J. A. Boyd-Carpenter, wife of the then Minister of Transport November 1955. Completed on 12th July 1956. Rebuilt by Silley, Cox & Co for school cruises. Tonnage increased to 20746 GRT. 307 passengers in cabins, 783 in dormitories. Transferred to P & O in 1972. Written off the register in 1975 at Kaohsiung in Taiwan where she was scrapped.

History:

The Nevasa, was the largest conventional ship ever built for the British India Line. Her delivery date coincided with the Company’s 100th anniversary and, within the Company, was often referred to as The Centenary Ship. She was the third Company ship to carry her name.

She was the company’s 459th vessel and the first troopship built since the end of the Second World War. With accommodation for 500 officers and their families and 1,000 NCOs and men on the troopdeck.

She had many comforts compared with older vessels, including stabilisers to reduce rolling in rough sea. Nevasa was built on the Clyde and launched on November 30, 1955, and sailed into Southampton for the first time the following year.

For 6 years the Nevasa was able to complete the duties for which she was designed but with the Government decision to transport troops by air her career as a Trooper came to an end and after her final trip in September 1962 she was laid up on the River Fal in October of the same year.

Unable to be used on any other regular BI route she lay forgotten on the Fal until October 1964 when BI decided to spend £500,000 on a conversion and turn her into an education cruise ship, with accommodation for 1,100 pupils and teachers, and 230 private cabins for cruise passengers.

Unable, because of her draft, to visit some of the ports that other Educational cruise ships called at regularly she nevertheless had a very successful career. She made nearly 200 voyages, steamed around 750,000 miles and carried 187,000 students.

On the 5th December 1972 her ownership passed to P&O and due to the oil crisis her future became rather bleak. So much so that on the 2nd April 1975 she was sold to Nan Feng Steel Enterprise Co. Ltd for demolition and work commenced at Kaohsiung on the 10th June.

Page 31

Puzzles

Test your memory!1. Whichcontroversialislandsare,dependingonthetongueinwhichtheyarespoken,namedafteradventurousFrenchsailorsfromSt.Malo?2. WhatisthelongestmonthoftheyearinmostareasofEuropeandNorthAmerica?3. Foreachofthefollowingrealnames,givetheirstagename:a:KathrynElizabethHudson(singer)b:RichardWaynePenniman(singer,songwriter,pianist,bandleader)c:DeclanPatrickMacManus(singer-songwriter)d:PrinceRogersNelson(singer-songwriter)e:FrancescoPaoloLoVecchio(singer,songwriterandactor)f:StanleyKirkBurrell(rapper,entertaineranddancer)g:StefaniJoanneAngelinaGermanotta(singer-songwriter)h:MauriceJosephMicklewhite(actor)i:BernardSchwartz(actor)j:IssurDanielovitchDemsky(stageandfilmactor)k:ErikWeisz(magician,escapologist,stuntperformer,actorandfilmproducer)I:WilliamClaudeDukenfield(comedian,actor,jugglerandwriter)4. Whichcountry’sflag,theoldestexistingflagintheworld,apparentlyfelloutoftheheavensduringabattleon15thJune,1219?5. Whichpinenuthadafamousnose?6. WhichthreelettersreplacedCQD?a.SOSb.KGBc.TNTd.FYI7. WhatdoLadyGreensleevesandNeilYoungbothhaveincommon?8. SundaythetenthofOctober2010canberepresentedinnumericalform10.10.10,anicebinary-soundingnumber.What

decimalnumberisrepresentedbythebinarynumber101010?9. JeudepaumewasaFrenchprecursorofwhichwellknownsport?10. ALennonandMcCartneycomposition,notsungbytheBeatles,wasanumberonehitintheUSAin1964.Thetitlewas“Aworldwithoutlove”.Whosangit?11. TheriverDanubeoriginatesintheBlackForestinGermany.NamenineothercountriestheDanubeflowsthrough.12. WhowasAgnesGonxhaBojaxhiubetterknownas?

whichcountryisthisparkfound?6. Inwhichcityiseachofthefollowinglandmarksfound?a. Doge’sPalace,b. SugarloafMountain,c. TajMahal,d. Atomium,e. HagiaSophia,f. St.Basil’sCathedral,g. Alhambra7. WiththeexceptionofasmallincompletesectionknownastheDarienGap,whichroadthatextendsmorethan15,000milesisthelongestintheworld?(AccordingtoGuinness)8. RapaNuiisthenativewordforwhich‘holiday’island?

9. Whichcountrywithalandmassof9.6millionsquarekilometreshasjustonetimezone?10. NamethethreeseasthatsurroundNorthandSouthKorea.BrainTeaser

Threepeoplecheckintoahotel.Theypay£30tothemanagerandgototheirroom.Themanagersuddenlyremembersthattheroomrateis£25andgives£5tothebellboytoreturntothepeople.Onthewaytotheroomthebellboyreasonsthat£5wouldbedifficulttoshareamongthreepeoplesohepockets£2andgives£1toeachperson.Noweachpersonpaid£10andgotback£1.Sotheypaid£9each,totalling£27.Thebellboyhas£2,totalling£29.Whereisthemissing£?

Test Your Geographic Knowledge!1. Formerlythe“BritishprotectorateofBechuanaland”,whichrepublicadopteditsnewnameafterbecomingindependentwithintheCommonwealthonthe30thSeptember1966?2. WhichEuropeancountryhasthemostlakes?(Russiaexcluded)3. Basedonthetotalamountoftourists,whatwerethefivemostvisitedcountriesintheworldin2009?4. Beforethebreak-upoftheformerSovietUniononlytwocountriesborderedtheCaspianSea.Nowtherearefive.Canyounamethem?5. TheKomodoNationalParkisfamousforitsKomodoDragons.In

Page 32

Difficulty level: 15

5 4 1 2 6 7 3 9 86 7 9 4 8 3 5 2 18 3 2 9 5 1 6 4 79 6 3 8 4 2 7 1 52 5 7 1 3 9 8 6 44 1 8 5 7 6 9 3 27 9 4 6 1 5 2 8 31 2 5 3 9 8 4 7 63 8 6 7 2 4 1 5 9

Difficulty level: 16

3 2 4 1 8 9 6 5 75 6 8 7 2 3 1 4 97 9 1 4 5 6 2 3 88 1 2 5 6 4 7 9 39 7 3 8 1 2 4 6 54 5 6 9 3 7 8 1 26 8 5 3 7 1 9 2 41 4 7 2 9 5 3 8 62 3 9 6 4 8 5 7 1

Difficulty level: 17

2 6 9 5 8 3 7 1 44 1 7 2 6 9 3 5 83 8 5 7 1 4 6 9 25 2 1 8 3 7 4 6 96 7 4 9 2 1 8 3 58 9 3 4 5 6 1 2 77 3 2 6 4 5 9 8 19 5 6 1 7 8 2 4 31 4 8 3 9 2 5 7 6

Difficulty level: 20

9 6 2 1 8 3 5 7 45 3 7 9 4 6 8 1 21 8 4 2 5 7 3 6 92 5 6 4 1 8 9 3 77 9 1 3 2 5 4 8 68 4 3 6 7 9 1 2 56 7 9 8 3 4 2 5 14 1 8 5 6 2 7 9 33 2 5 7 9 1 6 4 8

SUDOKU

Tell-tale Signs of Getting OldHow many boxes do you tick?1. FallingasleepinfrontoftheTV

2. Feelingstiff

3. Groaningwhenyoubenddown

4. Losingyourhair

5. Hatingnoisypubs

6. Thinkingteachers/policemen/doc-torslookreallyyoung

7. Gettingmore‘hairy’ears,face,eyebrows,noseetc

8. Strugglingtousetechnology

9. Forgettingnames

10. NotknowinganysongsintheTopTen

11. Choosingclothesandshoesforcomfortratherthanstyle

12. Drivingslowly

13. Developingafondnessforsherry

14. Complainingmore

15. JoiningtheWomen’sInstitute

16. Misplacingglasses/bag/carkeys

17. Thinkingworkcolleaguesaregettingyounger

18. ListeningtotheArchers

19. MovingfromRadioOnetoRadioTwo

20. Takingamid-afternoonnap

21. JoiningtheNationalTrust

22. Becomingaparishcouncillor

23. Complainingabouttherubbishontelevisionthesedays

24. Earsgrowingbigger

25. PreferringaSundaywalktoalie-in

26. Beingshockedbyracymusicvideos

27. Goingona‘nochildren’cruise

28. Takingakeeninterestinthegarden

29. Enjoybeingaskedforproofofage

30. Knowingyouralcohollimit

Page 33

The Education Act 1944 set the structure of the post-war system of state education. It brought with it a large influx of scholarship entrants and the demise of KESS as a fee paying school.

Pre-1945 the Houses represented geographical areas – North, South

and Centre. Rest House consisted of pupils from the outlying farming areas plus Cannock. In 1945 a new system of 6 Houses was introduced :-

Averill House (Purple) named after Archbishop Averill (O.E). who became Primate of New Zealand.

Ed. note: Alfred Walter Averill was born on 7 October 1865 in the par-ish of Castle Church, Staffordshire, England, the son of a pharma cist, Henry Alcock Averill, and his wife, Sarah Ellen Wootton. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Burton-on-Trent

How the School Houses got their namesInformation derived from the 1945 Staffordian and ex-panded with help from Wikipedia (with a few surprises)

Peter M Jones (1949-1955)

Chetwynd House (Light Blue) named after Walter Chetwynd (O.E 1717-1720) and King’s College, Cambridge; he served in Lord Gower’s House in the “45” Rebellion and was one of the earliest to attempt the ascent of Mont Blanc.

Ed. note: Ingestre Hall was built in red brick, on the site of an earlier manor

house, in 1613 for Sir Walter Chet-wynd, (High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1607). A later Walter Chetwynd his grandson, was created Viscount Chet-wynd in 1717. The daughter and heir-ess of the 2nd Viscount married Hon. John Talbot in 1748 and their son John Chetwynd-Talbot (who was later 3rd Baron Talbot, and from 1784 Viscount Ingestre and Earl Talbot) inherited the Ingestre estate.

Hales House (Canary Yellow) named after the Bishop of Coventry and Li-chfield 1459-1492

Ed. note: John Hales (or John Halse) was a medieval Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.

Briefly during the restoration of King Henry VI of England in 1470 Hales was named Keeper of the Privy Seal, but he lost the office on the restoration of King Edward IV of England in 1471.Hales was nominated on 20 September 1459, and consecrated on 25 Novem-ber 1459. He died between 15 Septem-ber and 30 September 1490.

Powell House (Gold) named after Mr E.O. Powell a previous Headmas-ter, who was a great friend of Izaak Walton.

No argument with this. Ed

Walton House (Pink) named after the famous Izaak Walton (1593) also thought to be an Old Boy.

Ed. note: Walton was born at Stafford; the register of his baptism gives his fa-ther’s name as Gervase. His father, who was an innkeeper as well as a landlord of a tavern, died before Izaak was three. His mother then married another innkeeper by the name of Bourne, who would later run the Swan in Stafford.

Worswick House (Green)named after Thomas Worswick BA.of Merton Col-lege, Oxford; he was the first Mayor of Stafford in 1622 and almost certainly an Old Boy.

Ed. note: When the King James I Charter, dated 1614, gave the town its first Mayor, Stafford was already an ancient town, founded by Ethelfleda in 913. Little is known of the Worswick family or of Thomas Worswick himself. Thomas Worswick was born in Stafford, 1564; matriculated St. Albans Hall, Ox-ford, 1581; B.A, Merton College, 15th June, 1585. He was a bailie (one of the chief offices of the Town) of Stafford in 1609 and Mayor, 1622. He was partly responsible for obtaining the Charter of James for Stafford, which constituted our present system of Mayor, Alder-men and Burgesses’. It was only after a good deal of quarrelling and rioting that a Mayoral Charter was granted by James I . One of the men who played an important part in trying to obtain the charter was Matthew Craddock junior, who eventually rewarded himself by becoming the first Mayor of Stafford.

Izaak Walton 1593-1683

Ingestre Hall

Alfred Walter Averill

Page 34

by The Revd Bernard Buttery

Ordained Local Minister at St Berte-lin's Stafford and a personal friend of Maurice,

Tuesday 1 March 2011.

Maurice was a Stafford lad, born and bred. After Primary School, he went to King Edward VI GrammarSchool. On leaving school he became the first apprentice mechanic with the Stafford-shire County Council. It was at this time that he met Ruth - but it nearly didn't happen. On their first date he was 20 minutes late. His van had broken down. She hummed and ahh-ed with herself as to whether she should wait, but she did - and she reckons it was the best decision she ever made in her life.

They were married in 1958. Maurice applied for a couple of new jobs - one with English Electric and the other with Dorman Diesels. He was accepted by both firms; but Dorman's paid an extra half-crown a week, so that's where he went.

He remained there, working his way up the ladder to Works Manager. During this time he and Ruth produced and brought up their family, Tim, Richard and Helen.

Even in the exalted position of Works Manager, he was made redundant whilst still in his early fifties. At that time jobs were hard to come by as industries in the area were closing. Ruth and Maurice were prepared to move anywhere in the country. Fortunately, however, he was offered a post as Training Manager at the Castle Works where courses were pro-vided for unemployed persons seeking retraining in practical skills.

This turned out to be an ideal position for Maurice, he could turn his hand to anything and thoroughly enjoyed all types of D.I.Y. and maintenance projects. Richard will testify as to how much work he put into transforming the Ingestre Stables, especially during the time between Dorman's and Cas-tle Works when he was working there almost every day.

Maurice was a very useful chap to have around. Ruth tells me that she can only remember once during their 52 years of married life when they had to call in a tradesman to fix something. Maurice did

Eulogy given at the funeral of Maurice B. Downes

everything else.

Whilst he was at Castle Works, where he eventu-ally became Managing Director, Maurice took personal responsibility for a project here at St. Berte-lin's. In 1988 we needed to extend our meeting hall facilities and Maurice brought a gang of his work experience people to build our small hall adjacent to the large hall and to put a pitched roof over the entire block to replace the flat roof of the first hall. He was not only Clerk of Works, but was the fore-man as well as the project manager. Typical of Mau-rice, when the tarmac was delivered for the extension to the car park, his team stood looking at it - Maurice got them organised with rakes, whilst he himself took over the large vibrating roller to get the job done.

When he retired from Castle Works he took up some part time work on the Board of Governors of the Staffordshire Probation Service. Maurice was a man who had 3 F's firmly embedded in his life: His faith, he was a regular worship-per here at St. Bertelin's each Sunday, and together with his brother-in-law David Mann, our Churchwarden, was a leading member of our Buildings Committee, and as churches also have to comply with modern legislation, he even wrote our Health and Safety Policy document.

The second important F was his fam-ily. As I have already said, he and Ruth enjoyed over 52 years of married life together. They have a close family. They enjoyed lots of holidays together when the children were small, and ventured further afield as they grew. In more recent times they have spread their wings even wider and have visited the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,Thailand as well as many parts of Europe. They have cruised in the Med. and most recently up the Rhine and the Danube. The last one was a bit touch and go as to whether Maurice would be fit enough to go, but he made it and he enjoyed it.

The third F was Freemasonry. One can't

talk about Maurice without saying how much he enjoyed his Freemasonry. We often say that you only get out of things what you put into them. When Maurice committed himself to anything, he al-ways put himself into it. He did this too

with his Masonry. He joined Eccleshall Lodge and worked his way through all the offices to become Worshipful Master in 1998. He soon became As-sistant Director of Ceremonies and then Director of Ceremonies of the Lodge (an important task) and of course, being Maurice he kept himself very busy mak-ing improvements to the Lodge Room facilities and doing repairs. When there was a problem with burst pipes during the severe frosts in January this year, the Lodge members had to keep this secret from Maurice, or he would have been down there to sort it, no matter how poorly he was.

Maurice lived a very full and busy life. He was admired and respected by all with whom he came into contact. Sadly in 2009 he was diagnosed with can-cer and needed chemotherapy and an operation on his stomach. This helped, but a later scan showed that the cancer had spread to his lungs. He was again operated on; but the glue didn't work too well in sealing up the lung and one lung collapsed.

We are all going to miss a very special man, his wife Ruth, the family: Tim, Richard and Jo, Helen, granddaughter Emma and all his friends. We can all be grateful that we knew him. He was a man who lived respected and died regretted.

The funeral was attended by almost 200 people including members of the Church, Freemasons and Old Eds.

Page 35

LettersThe following correspondence was between Robert (Taffy) Owen and his friends in New Zealand following the earthquakes in Christchurch twelve months ago. The personal emotions expressed are a sharp reminder to us all who live in the safety of our own temperate climate.

From Kate and Andy HollerRouse 09/09/2010

Dear Elizabeth and Robert (Owen)

Many thanks for your concern and email.

We actually were in Raratonga on holiday when the big one hit Christchurch with 7.1 on the Richter scale. It was only a few days before the end of our wonderful 15 days stay in this Pacific Paradise.

Of course, after a frenzy of trying to communicate with home, the frustration set in with a realization that one could not do much.

Receiving a positive phone statement from our nearby friends helped us to relax during the remaining holidays. Fortunately our flatmates and the house were all OK and not even a scratch (touch wood) so far. Perhaps the new building process three years ago made this house more able to withstand such a jolt. Regardless, we have been lucky and thank God we have not lost our roof.

We had many after shocks between 4.5 and 5.0 and have returned home now to a pretty chaotic site. The whole of the CBD is cordoned off and Army, The Red Cross and Civil Defence are doing a wonderful job. The whole provision from everyone is just incredible and wonderful. The community as a whole has really come together and even Banks are lending their support. Everyone is trying to chip in.

Fortunately, coming near to a wonder, nobody got injured or any fatalities resulted from the earthquake have been accounted for, which is really fantastic as this would have added another dimension to the whole spectacle.

Unfortunately the infrastructure has been badly hit. Approx 260,000 houses have been affected ranging from minor to total write offs and it will be an enormous financial burden to New Zealand to cope with it all. The Government had set up an earthquake fund decades ago and is handling most cases through this fund, but there will be thousands of insurance cases and all the dealings will take a long time to

process.

The human factors are the continuous after shocks, which are getting on peoples’ nerves. Kate had to close the school until further notice. The already hit NZ economy in Canterbury especially will have to cope with this additional burden and the small school had panic cancellations from all over the world.

Its hard to say now what the long term effects will be. Redundancies have already occurred and manufacturing had to close its doors for safety issues.

All in all we are very happy to be safe. Thank you for your concern.

Postscript:

We do feel really blessed and lucky so far {touch wood}. There are so many

people here who are really suffering as they lost their homes. And this is for many not the end, as the whole insurance process will take years for many to handle.

Our newly built home, which will in August now reach its “mature” age of 4 {ha, ha, ha,} has endured amazing forces and I am proud of what we achieved. So far it is standing, with very little damage (all manicure stuff... gipboard cracks etc.) all in all it has served us proud.

As winter has now engulfed us, the heating issue for many homes is a real problem. Many are still waiting for some emergency repairs, just to keep the wind and rain out. For 5000 homes now, the verdict has come that they will get a government payout of their house-value before September 4th {the first big 7.1 earthquake}. This means

that they can move on with their lives and start over somewhere else.

It is a very generous offer. Unfortunately, many are disagreeing with it. Of course, many will have to borrow again, to actually be able to get the home back they had, but it is their choice, as many could build smarter and smaller and therefore by downsizing, actually save money.

As you know, the fashion model and the metaphorical picture presented by media, as to what the “appropriate house” should be is kind of an illusion. Many people put

unnecessary pressure on themselves, as now they could, and would, have the opportunity to do the sensible thing, by sensibly down-sizing and reducing their own footprint by doing so.

We guess humanity is suffering from this issue all over the world, by focusing on the illusion (gadgets and fashion symbols) and we see the end results and the devastation such behaviour has. The earthquake, of all things has brought it back to us, the reality that we live on a very dynamic planet and everything is constantly changing, which is in many ways a beautiful phenomenon that nature is showing us. How boring would be the year without the four seasons! How sad would it be if we stay babies! And there are millions of examples. Life is changing and it is only humanity who

Page 36

THE GYNAECOLOGIST WHO BECAME A MECHANICAgynaecologisthadbecomefedupwithmalpracticeinsuranceandpaperwork,andwasburnedout.Hopingtotryanothercareerwhereskilfulhandswouldbebeneficial,hedecidedtobecomeamechanic.Hewenttothelocaltechnicalcollege,signedupforeveningclasses,attendeddiligently,andlearnedallhecould.Whenthetimeofthepracticalexamapproached,thegynaecologistpreparedcarefullyforweeks,andcompletedtheexamwithtremendousskill.Whentheresultscameback,hewassurprisedtofindthathehadobtainedascoreof150%.Fearinganerror,hecalledtheInstructor,saying,“Idon’twanttoappearungratefulforsuchanoutstandingresult,butIwonderifthereisanerrorinthegrade?”“Theinstructorsaid,“Duringtheexam,youtook50%oftheengineapartperfectly,whichwasworth50%ofthetotalmark.Youputtheenginebacktogetheragainperfectly,whichisalsoworthextramarks.”Afterapause,theinstructoradded,“Igaveyouanextra50%becauseyoudiditallthroughtheexhaust,whichI’veneverseendoneinmyentirecareer”Awholenewlookonlife!

19th January 2011

2a Grove Avenue

New Costessey

Norwich

NR5 0HN

Dear Editor,

I have just seen (courtesy of Dr C H Clarke, a fellow citizen of this fair city) a copy of “The Staffordian 2010”.

I was pleased to learn that I am, indeed, a Life Member of K.E.S.S. Old Edwardians Association and I found that list reminded me of several colleagues of mine of my brother’s. Please ask Tony Bloor, Eric Cartwright, Peter Clewlow, John Lycett, John Morgan, Stuart Peatfield (if still around?) if they can still remember me or my brother Dick – e.g. ask John Lycett if he recalls trying to knock rabbits over with catapults, in the company of Colin Wile?

And then, of course, Peter Hodgens (a contemporary of my brother Dick) who lived 3 doors further up Cannock Road from ‘Chez Arrowsmith’ – quite a military and (later) political figure. [He, and others, played ‘French’ cricket on my father’s back lawn – not, of course, the front lawn which Dad carefully tended as a putting green!]

Are you aware that Dr Gilmore (history master, mid-thirties to seventies?) wrote a history of KESS? (Which refers strongly to Peter Hodgens, amongst others). Norwich library found and loaned me a copy, 18 months or so back, obtained from Stafford William Salt library, I think (if not Stafford General library).

Jack Netherwood was in the same artillery outfit as my brother Dick, during 39 – 45, and his sister Barbara became Dick’s wife in 1945.

Please can you send me a copy of the 2010 ‘Staffordian’? If I owe you some cash, please tell me.

Yours most sincerely,

Ray Arrowsmith

(Left KESS in 1942 – now aged 84+)

P.S. I will most likely send a few pages (copied) to a 25 year old grandson, living in Toronto, who has shown a considerable interest in the life of his great-grandfather (born 1890, died 1978).

P.P.S. I was sad to learn, a few weeks ago, of the death of John Denzil Slinn, early in 2010 – an (ex) marine biologist in the Isle of Man. He was the very last of my KESS sixth form colleagues with whom I kept in touch over very many years – I was rather saddened to learn of his passing – we fished and bird watched together up and down G.B. John ‘suffered’ at KESS at the hands of ‘Bud’ Fisher (Biology master) but still won through to become one of Liverpool University’s ‘Finest’ – graduates that is.

feel things should be controlled and stay static. Also it has shown us again with enormous brutality, how small and fickle we are, and yes, a house is necessary, but only for shelter.

As the earth’s crust is continuing to adjust itself and our after-shocks are now a constant for us, we are left with the thought, shall we endure these shakes or shall we move on?

We have mixed feelings. On one hand we have many friends here, but on the other, our family is in Europe. Perhaps this was a sign for us to reconsider where really home is. Our parents are not getting younger and the days not spent with them are limited. Who knows? We might be back in England before you know.

New Zealand has given us a wonderful time in our lives and we have met some extraordinary people, and we are really grateful for that and feel blessed that we had the chance to have these experiences. Kate’s job is coming to its end, in the challenge it offered. It is time also for a change there after almost six years, running a language school. New opportunities await her. She will be fifty this year and I have had the honour to live with her for twenty-six years, with many more pleasures and adventures in the years to come.

Continued from previous page

Page 37

OBITUARIES 2011J G Netherwood ( Jack)

(1928-1934)

Yorkshire lad as ever, Jack was born in Huddersfield, He moved to Stafford aged 11 with his parents and became a pupil at KESS in the Christmas term 1928. On leaving school in 1934 he trained as an accountant with Dean & Son.

From February 1939 Jack has been a committed member of the Association.

At the outbreak of war in 1939 Jack enlisted in the Royal Artillery, Stafford Battery. He served with the RA throughout the war and while stationed in Yorkshire in 1942 he met and married his charming wife Coralie.

Back in Civvy Street and Stafford, Jack resumed his connection with the old school. He became Treasurer in 1947 and continued in that post until 1965 when he was appointed Vice President.

In 1966 he became our President and thereafter our Auditor. Jack served in the Association as an active member until only a few years ago when his health began to deteriorate. Not only did he work for the Association for 60 years, his sister Barbara was married to Dick Arrowsmith another stalwart Old Ed and son of Bob Arrowsmith, French master for many years.

Jack qualified as a teacher in 1948 at Drake Hall and Loughborough College. He taught Woodwork at Alleynes Stone for many years. A fine craftsman and the most worthy old Edwardian,

Jack was an active caravan owner and located sites for the Caravan Club of GB. He had long been a keen supporter of the works of the Salvation Army and also of Katherine House Hospice.

Jack always attended the Remembrance Service outside the School and read out the names of those who gave their lives in WWII, many of whom were known to him.

He leaves a widow, Coralie and two sons, Tim and John. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Tedstone Giles E.C. -

(1937-47)

Giles was born on the 22nd April 1928 and died on the 5th November 2010. Giles entered King Edwards in 1937 and was placed in form IIB. He left school in 1947. He was Captain of School in 1946-47 when he was in the Science form of Mr. Langdon-Davies. He was a member of Powell House and had been House Captain in 1945-46. He played Cricket for the School 1st XI in the summer of 1947. After he left School he obtained a BSc in Agriculture from Reading University and following various Farm Managers jobs he took the Tenancy of a Dairy farm at Raby House Farm on the Wirrall where he farmed for over 35 years. Farming was his life and his love and on his retirement he passed the farm down to his son.

Giles was an external examiner at Harper Adams Agricultural College and he was on the Council of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany at Cambridge for over 25 years. He was chair of the Herbage Trial Advisory Society in 1984-1985 where he had been a member for many years. He was President of The British Grass Land Society in 1984-1985 where he had been a member for many years. He died at the age of 82 years and leaves a widow and 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

Brian J Burton (1945-50)

A retired security company consultant, Brian was born in Stafford in 1934 and was married to wife Barbara Burton. Brian was schoolboy middle-weight champion of Great Britain 1950.

On leaving school he joined Staffordshire Police Constabulary and rose to the rank of Chief Inspector. He died athis home in Barlaston, Stone August 2011.

Downes, Maurice (1945-50)

See page 34

Paulus, Gerry G (1967-72)

Born May 1953 Passed away March 2010 aged 56 years. Lived in Broad-stone, Dorset

Page 38

Burton, Reginald Charles (1929 -1935)

Date of birth 22nd of April 1907 died 15th of September 2011 aged 94 years

Capt North House 1935 and captain of last soccer team in 1935, before the school changed in favour of rugby. Reg served in the Tank Corps in World War II taught at Dartmouth Street and St Johns’ school before becoming headmaster at Burton Manor Primary school 1960 to 1982.

Football played a large part in his life. He played for Stafford Rangers before the war and thereafter for many years. He did a lot for English schoolboy football and schoolboy football generally in Stafford. Reginald was an Honorary Life Member of the Association.

Wall, Peter (1954 to 1958)

Date of birth 5 April 1943 died April 2011 aged 68. Peter worked for the County Council all his life in the Social Services department before taking early retirement. A keen supporter of Stafford Rangers, on retirement he became Secretary of the club for a number of years.

Peter was a younger brother of another Old Ed, Dennis.

Scriven, David Lee (1947 to 1951)

Date of birth 16 December 1934 died 3 May 2011 aged 76 years After school he worked at GEC in the Purchasing Department, thereafter left to work in the Black Country.

Morgan, John Cecil Bradbury (1937-1945).

John was a keen cricketer opening both the bowling and batting for the school. In 1944 he joined the group that did overnight fire watching duties at the school. He obtained a P.E Diploma from Loughborough College and then did extended service in the RAF as a PE Instructor. Whilst stationed at RAF Shawbury he played regularly as centre half for Stafford Hockey Club.

After leaving the RAF, John moved to Croydon, Chertsey and Birmingham where he joined a jewellery company becoming their national agent and moving to Gnosall. He became the director and conductor of Gnosall Handbell Ringers taking them to National competitions and recording studios.

Both John and his wife were keen breeders and exhibitors of Golden Retriever Dogs. John was a member of Brocton Hall GC. A Hon Life Member of our Association, John passed away on 22 July 2010.

Riley, Colin (1944-1951)

After leaving KESS, Colin began his working life at Nelson Research Laboratories before moving to the main works of English Electric. He gained his Higher National and City and Guilds Certificates following studies at Wolverhampton College and was later awarded his doctorate (PhD) at Birmingham University.

Always involved in Metallurgy, he held various management positions and responsibilities during his time with English Electric. His later title changes included Chief Metallurgist, Quality Manager and Material and Standards Manager.

The company had customers and suppliers around the world and Colin visited customers and suppliers in Japan, Hong Kong, India, Germany and France several times. He also visited many UK customers and suppliers. He was extremely well known wherever he went and was much appreciated for the advice, wisdom, knowledge and

experience he offered. So appreciated was Colin that he was pursued by at least one German company that wanted him to join their senior management team

His knowledge was rewarded with the award of a medal from the American Welding Society for his submission of an outstanding paper on welding practice.

Away from work, Colin’s love of his family was paramount. He served as a Church Warden and worshipped all his life at St.Mary’s Church. He was a member of SOEA attending many of the functions with his wife Barbara. Colin was also a member of Stafford Operatic Society and a Freemason.

Colin retired in 1999 and took up golf at Stafford Castle GC until the onset of Parkinson’s Disease curtailed his visits.

Colin passed away on 6th February 2011 and St. Mary’s Church was filled with mourners paying their respects, leaving £1,100 in donations as an indication of his popularity.

Wilson, Dyson “Tug”

Died 20 April 2011 aged 84.

See page 39

Page 39

DYSON (“TUG”) WILSONPoliceman, farmer, rugby international and transatlantic yachtsman

Died on 20 April 2011 aged 84, won eight caps for England as a back-row forward between 1953 and 1955 and played on the 1955 British Lions tour of his native South Africa; a man sometimes described, with good reason, as larger than life, he was at various times a policeman, a Cornish fisherman, a transatlantic yachtsman, a farmer, restaurateur, boxer, writer and noted raconteur.

While a number of other policemen have played for England at rugby - notably Wade Dooley, Dean Richards and Paul Ackford - Wilson was unique in being capped while playing for the Metropolitan Police. He even served at one point on an undercover Met squad which set traps for gay men around premises notorious for “cottaging” - Police work then considered essential to limit what one Tory MP described as ‘an epidemic of sodomy’. Wilson, a humane and tolerant man, later took little pride from his involvement in these efforts.

Dyson Stayt Wilson was born at Wilderness (a fitting birthplace for a man who spent much of his life close to nature) in the Western Cape on October 7, 1926. His parents took him to England when he was eight, and he went to school at Rydal and King Edward VI Grammar School in Stafford. He was among half-a-dozen South

African-born players, such as Clive van Ryneveld and Murray Hofmeyr, who beefed up the England team in the 1950s.

He was on the winning side in his first four internationals, scoring a try against Ireland and two against Scotland. In all, his record was five wins and three losses. It was hard for him to retain a regular place in the team, as England was blessed with a group of unusually talented back-row forwards in John Kendall-Carpenter, Reg Higgins, Don White, Vic Roberts and Peter Robbins. He spent his later playing career with Harlequins and captained Middlesex.

When he retired from rugby, Wilson returned to Southern Africa, where he ran two restaurants in Salisbury, the Curry House and the Bombay Duck, which drew disapproval from the racist authorities in Ian Smith’s Rhodesia for being unsegregated. Some of his regular customers were security men sent to spy on him. He also took a Fun Fair around the mining towns of the Zambian Copper Belt, the star attraction being a “Wall of Death” for motorcycles modelled on the stunt made famous by ‘Tornado’ Smith’ in Southend. Wilson also took part in riotous wrestling bouts.

In 1969 he moved back to England and settled at Land’s End, first at Zennor, then Treen, where he part-owned and worked aboard a Cornish fishing vessel, Heather Armord, in an environment that was tougher than the rugby field. He crossed the Atlantic twice in

small yachts, the second time with his wife, Diana, and their small children. They then took over a farm near St Keverne on the Lizard, Cornwall, and raised beef cattle.

In his seventies he was summoned again by the call of the wild and took off round the Atlantic with Diana and a friend. Between Brazil and South Africa they were dismasted and rescued in the nick of time from the rocky shoreline of Tristan da Cunha by a flotilla of island boats. After this he was banned from further extreme adventures and settled on his farm on the Lizard, living out his personal credo of sustainability and humanism.

A modest and self-effacing man, he remained fit through squash, at which he could demolish much younger men without leaving the T at the centre of the court, all the while offering gentle, constructive advice. He was a charismatic talker, telling lively tales from his past, and wrote down, for his own amusement and that of his friends and family, a number of stories and essays.

Tug Wilson was buried in a wood he had created on his farm. He is survived by his first wife, Ann, and their two daughters, and by his second wife, Diana, and their two sons and a daughter.

Page 40

ANSWERS for Test Your Memory1. Malvinas.TheFalklands,2. October(31daysplusone

hour)3. Answersa:KatyPerry

b:LittleRichardc:ElvisCostellod:Princee:FrankieLainef:N\CHammerg:LadyGagah:MichaelCainei:TonyCurtisj:KirkDouglask:HarryHoudiniI:W.C.Fields

4. Denmark(TheDannebrog)5. Pinocchio.Pinocchiomeans

'pinenut'.6. a.SOS7. HeartofGold."Greensleeves

wasmyheartofgold,andwhobutLadyGreensleeves""Icrossedtheoceanforaheartofgold"-NeilYoung

8. 42:Forty-two9. Tennis10.PeterandGordon11.(Given:Germany),Austria,

Slovakia,Hungary,Croatia,Serbia,Bulgaria,Moldova,Ukraine,Romania

12.MotherTheresa

ANSWERS for Geographic test of your knowledge1. Botswana(Therepublicof

Botswana,togiveititsfullname)2. Finland.3. Inorder:France,USA,Spain,China

andItaly.(Source:WorldTourismOrganization)

541267398679483521832951647963842715257139864418576932794615283125398476386724159

324189657568723149791456238812564793973812465456937812685371924147295386239648571

269583714417269358385714692521837469674921835893456127732645981956178243148392576

962183574537946812184257369256418937791325486843679125679834251418562793325791648

4. Turkmenistan,Azerbaijan,Iran,KazakhstanandRussia

5. Indonesia6. Sevenanswers:

a. Venice,b. RiodeJaneiroc. Agra,d.Brussels,e. Istanbul,f.Moscow,g. Granada

7. ThePanAmericanHighway8. EasterIsland9. China10. YellowSea,SouthChinaSeaand

TheSeaofJapan

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Obituaries for Old Boys of KESS are recorded each year in The Staffordian. Some were members of the Association, some were not.We do our best to pay tribute to all Old Edwardians who have passed away, but we do rely on Committee Members being kept informed. If there are any inaccuracies or omissions please accept our apologies. It is also possible that at the time of going to press we had not received a full obituary, we apologise again and would gladly consider including a fuller obituary next year if it is made available.

Please contact Chris Marshall 01785 851329 or email obits@oldeds.co.uk