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No 81 /July 2015<br />
The Old Stationer<br />
Number 81 - July 2015<br />
Our new President takes office
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
2
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
The Old Stationer<br />
Number 81 - July 2015<br />
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION<br />
LIST OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2014/2015<br />
President<br />
Peter A Sandell<br />
11 Maplecroft Lane, Nazeing, Essex,<br />
EN9 2NR Tel: 01992 892766<br />
E-mail: peter.sandell@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Vice-President<br />
John Rowlands<br />
The Elms, 36 Lucas Lane, Ashwell, Baldock,<br />
Herts SG7 5LN Tel: 01462 742758<br />
E-mail: john@ashwell.org.uk<br />
Past President<br />
Roger Melling<br />
43 Holyrood Road, New Barnet,<br />
Herts. EN5 1DQ Tel: 020 8449 2283<br />
E-mail: melling@globalspirit.net<br />
Honorary Secretary<br />
Tim Westbrook<br />
7 Goodyers Avenue, Radlett,<br />
Herts. WD7 8AY Tel: 0845 8724001<br />
E-mail: tim@timwestbrook.co.uk<br />
Honorary Treasurer<br />
Michael F Hasler<br />
8 The Glebe, Weston Turville, Aylesbury,<br />
Bucks. HP22 5ST Tel: 01296 614352<br />
E-mail: mikehasler.oldstationers@gmail.com<br />
Hon. Membership Secretary<br />
Gordon V Rose<br />
39 King James’ Avenue, Cuffley,<br />
Herts. EN6 4LN Tel: 01707 872645<br />
E-mail: gordon.rose@talk21.com<br />
Honorary Editor<br />
Geraint Pritchard<br />
1 Willow Way, Toddington, Dunstable,<br />
Beds. LU5 6FD Tel: 01525 872166<br />
E-mail: geraintpritchard@msn.com<br />
Web Site Manager<br />
Michael D Pinfield<br />
63 Lynton Road, Harrow, Middx. HA2 9NJ<br />
Tel: 020 8422 4699<br />
E-mail: oldstationers@gmail.com<br />
OSA website: www.oldstationers.co.uk<br />
Honorary Archivist<br />
David D Turner<br />
63 Brookmans Avenue, Brookmans Park,<br />
Herts. AL9 7QG Tel: 01707 656414<br />
E-mail: d.turner@sky.com<br />
Ordinary Members<br />
Peter Bothwick<br />
52 Hither Green Lane, Abbey Park,<br />
Redditch, Worcestershire B98 9BW<br />
Tel: 01527 62059<br />
E-mail: pedrotres@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Andreas H Christou<br />
22 Woodgrange Avenue, Bush Hill Park,<br />
Enfield EN1 1EW Tel: 020 8350 4857<br />
E-mail: andreashchristou@yahoo.com<br />
Tony C Hemmings<br />
5 The Mount, Cheshunt,<br />
Herts. EN7 6RF Tel: 01992 638535<br />
E-mail: hemmingsac@hotmail.com<br />
David J Sheath Ksg<br />
12a Bolton Crescent, Windsor, Berks.<br />
SL4 3JQ Tel: 01753 855021<br />
E-mail: davidsheath@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Honorary Auditors<br />
Chris Langford, Roger Engledow<br />
Clubs & Societies<br />
Football Club<br />
Vince Wallace<br />
23 Lovelace Road, Barnet, Herts. EN4 8EA<br />
Tel: 020 8361 0145<br />
Golf Society<br />
Peter J Bonner<br />
3a Mount Grace Road, Potters Bar, Herts.<br />
EN6 1RE Tel: 01707 658016<br />
E-mail: peter.bonner@ntlworld.com<br />
Apostles Club<br />
Stuart H Behn<br />
l67 Hempstead Road, Watford,<br />
Herts. WD17 3HF Tel: 01923 243546<br />
E-mail: stuartbehn@hotmail.com<br />
Luncheon Club<br />
Alan R Green<br />
Willow Tree House, Ditchford Hill,<br />
Moreton in Marsh, Glos GL56 9QS<br />
Tel: 01608 654164<br />
E-mail: alan.green61@btinternet.com<br />
SC School Lodge<br />
Michael D Pinfield<br />
Details as above<br />
E-mail: secretary7460ugle@gmail.com<br />
Magazine<br />
Publishing Adviser<br />
Tim Westbrook<br />
Details as above<br />
Design & Production Manager<br />
Ian Moore<br />
Homecroft, Princes Gate,<br />
Pembrokeshire SA67 8TG<br />
Tel: 01834 831 272<br />
Email: ian@outhaus.biz<br />
Website: www.outhaus.biz<br />
Printer<br />
Stephens and George<br />
Contents<br />
Regular features<br />
Editorial 00<br />
Dates for the Diary 00<br />
President's Address 00<br />
Correspondence 00<br />
Far as you roam<br />
?? 00<br />
?? 00<br />
Special features<br />
Feature 1 00<br />
Feature 2 00<br />
Clubs & Societies<br />
Golf Society 00<br />
OSFC 00<br />
Varia<br />
News of former staff 00<br />
New members 00<br />
Changes of address 00<br />
Obituaries<br />
?? 00<br />
Minutes of the AGM 00<br />
President's Address (AGM) 00<br />
Treasurer's Report (AGM) 00<br />
Balance sheet 00<br />
Funds summary & General fund 00<br />
Supplying items for publication<br />
Text: Please supply as Word or typed documents if<br />
possible. Images: Supply as original images or hi-res<br />
(300dpi) digital files in tiff, jpeg or eps format.<br />
Post or email to the Editor, Geraint Pritchard:<br />
see Committee page for address details.<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
To come...<br />
Geraint<br />
DATES for the DIARY<br />
AGM & ANNUAL DINNER<br />
Friday March 27th 2015<br />
Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane<br />
London EC4 7DD<br />
AGM 6.00pm. Annual Dinner 7.00pm.<br />
LUNCHEON MEETINGS<br />
Tuesday, 12th May 2015<br />
Imperial Hotel, Russell Square<br />
Wednesday, 9th September 2015<br />
Imperial Hotel, Russell Square<br />
Wednesday, 2nd December 2015<br />
Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane<br />
PRESIDENT'S DAY<br />
Sunday, 30th August 2015<br />
43rd Annual Cricket Match<br />
Botany Bay, East Lodge Lane, Enfield, EN2 8AS<br />
Lunch 12.30pm; Match 2.00pm.<br />
OSA CAROL SERVICE<br />
Sunday 6th December 2015<br />
4pm at St Mary with St George Church,<br />
Cranley Gardens, Hornsey. N10 3AH<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS<br />
I am delighted to have been elected as<br />
President of the OSA and even though I<br />
have only been in office for a short while, I<br />
am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to<br />
serve and look forward to the various events<br />
that I will be attending during my year.<br />
I joined the school in September 1965<br />
having been at junior school at North<br />
Harringay, in Falkland Road. At that time<br />
I was living in Sydney Road, the first road<br />
from Turnpike Lane along “the ladder”<br />
from Wightman Road to Green Lanes.<br />
I recall in my first term I wore shorts; one of<br />
just a few, much to my disgust. I recall Geoff<br />
Blackmore also being in shorts; clearly good<br />
grounding for future OSA Presidents! I am<br />
the 2nd President from the 1965 intake;<br />
Geoff served way back in 1993/4.<br />
The school became comprehensive at the<br />
beginning of my 3rd year when I moved<br />
from Norton to Hodgson house. For many OSA members you<br />
will have no concept of the change that comprehensive<br />
education brought upon the school; it quickly became a<br />
completely different school not least going from c 630 boys to<br />
over 1300 in the next 5 years.<br />
Unfortunately unlike many of my immediate Presidential<br />
predecessors, I was not particularly academic & nor was I<br />
much of a sportsman either. I was, however a reasonable<br />
PRESIDENT'S DAY<br />
SUNDAY 30th AUGUST 2015<br />
I would like to invite you and your family & friends to<br />
a special day on Sunday 30th August, when I am<br />
hosting the traditional Old Stationers` President`s<br />
Cricket Match in the beautiful setting of the Botany<br />
Bay Cricket Club, East Lodge Lane, Enfield. Middx.<br />
EN2 8HS.<br />
I am grateful to Geoff Blackmore for selecting for me<br />
the team of OSA Cricketers to play a team from Botany<br />
Bay. The match will commence at 2.00pm, closing at<br />
around 7.30pm.<br />
The bar will be open from 11.45am and lunch will be<br />
served at 12.30pm. If you wish to have lunch, the cost<br />
will be £20 per head. Please send your cheque to<br />
Gordon Rose (made payable to him) at the earliest<br />
opportunity & certainly no later than 20th August.<br />
Gordon`s address is 39 King James` Avenue, Cuffley,<br />
Herts, EN6 4LN.<br />
I do hope you will join Lesley and myself for this special<br />
occasion.<br />
Regards<br />
Peter Sandell<br />
President 2015/2016<br />
musician, being a member of the school<br />
choir for all of my 7 years and in my final<br />
2 years in the 6th form, I was school<br />
organist, which mainly entailed a visit to<br />
Robert Baynes` office before morning<br />
assembly to find out what hymn he<br />
wanted me to play at assembly.<br />
The music tradition of the school was<br />
excellent and especially the choir ably led<br />
by the four Music masters, namely Norman<br />
“Jack” Rimmer, Roberts, Richard<br />
Hickman and Donald Ellman. The most<br />
notable choral work undertaken was<br />
Haydn`s Nelson Mass which the choir<br />
performed in the school Hall in 1968 and<br />
subsequently in Christ Church, Crouch<br />
End and St Andrew`s Ealing with the<br />
school `s own Graham Bentley (1961-68)<br />
singing the tenor soloist part when he was<br />
in the 6th form. The work was accompanied<br />
on the organ by a contemporary of mine,<br />
Paul Bateman when we were both in the 4th year. Paul was an<br />
exceptional musician and he has gone on to be a renowned<br />
conducted and arranger. I saw him conduct the Royal<br />
Philharmonic at the Royal Albert Hall a couple of years ago.<br />
Membership of the school choir also took me to Stationers`<br />
Hall for the first time in 1966 when I was just 12, following<br />
the Ash Wednesday service held in the crypt of St Paul`s<br />
Cathedral. We were given tea and cakes and half a crown. I<br />
attended every year until 1972 and I remember even as a 12<br />
year old appreciating what a magnificent place the Hall was. I<br />
still have that same feeling and I know how lucky we are to<br />
have the opportunity to use the Hall for our Christmas Lunch<br />
and annual Dinner.<br />
During my 1st year, my parents moved from Hornsey to<br />
Winchmore Hill, so I became one of many commuters<br />
travelling into Harringay West station each morning from<br />
Grange Park station on the Hertford North line. It was very<br />
handy to get home from games afternoon as I just jumped on<br />
the 244 bus from Winchmore Hill Broadway.<br />
Also at that time I joined the church choir at Holy Trinity<br />
church on the Broadway in Green Lanes Winchmore Hill,<br />
diagonally opposite the school ground. By the age of 14 I was<br />
asked to help out playing the organ as the organist had retired,<br />
so I agreed to help out & ended up being organist at Holy<br />
Trinity for nearly 40 years!! I am currently organist at St<br />
Peter`s church in Roydon, Essex.<br />
At the beginning of my lower 6th, Geraint Prichard arrived<br />
back at the school to teach Geography and for his sins, he was<br />
also our form master. Despite there only being about 35 in<br />
total in the sixth form with just one class, we had a great time<br />
and we all had a great bond for those 2 years, which made life<br />
bearable despite many issues that I recall the school having at<br />
that time as standards fell which coincided with the growth of<br />
the school.<br />
I only achieved one “A” level in music, so it was appropriate<br />
with such a qualification that I left school at 18 and went into<br />
banking! I knew I wasn`t talented enough to have taken up<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
music professionally, so I joined Barclays Bank and embarked<br />
on career spanning the next 38 years!! Fortunately I seemed<br />
cut out for banking and progressed through the ranks working<br />
at various branches in and around North and Central London<br />
from 1972 and achieved my first managerial appointment in<br />
1986 in Kingsway branch with subsequent managerial jobs at<br />
Strand, Regional Office and Palmers Green where I was<br />
appointed Branch Manager in 1992. Since then I was mainly<br />
in Corporate Banking based in Essex, in offices in Ilford,<br />
Basildon and most recently Chelmsford from where I retired<br />
in February 2010.<br />
I have been living in Nazeing, Essex since 1978 and married<br />
to Lesley since August 1977.We have two daughters aged 35<br />
& 31. Sadly my younger daughter Claire, is severely physically<br />
handicapped having been born with cerebral palsy. She has<br />
neither speech nor any control of her body, hence she is in a<br />
wheelchair and totally dependent upon others for all her<br />
needs. She is however, mentally very “with it” and has a wicked<br />
sense of humour. She has been living in a very good care home<br />
in West Sussex for the last 10 years and we visit most weeks.<br />
My older daughter, Joanne and I are both Arsenal season<br />
ticket holders. I am also a member of Middlesex County<br />
Cricket Club & frequently bump into a number of OSA<br />
members at Lords throughout the season.<br />
In the months to come I am determined to help increase<br />
membership numbers particularly from the “younger” element.<br />
It is interesting to note that there are only 33 members of the<br />
OSA who joined the school from 1969 to the date of closure.<br />
By 1970 there were well over 1000 boys at the school and the<br />
intake each year was c 170/180; so why have so few from that<br />
era joined the OSA? I am determined to find out and see<br />
whether the OSA needs to offer some alternate functions in<br />
order to attract this generation. I am compiling a list of year<br />
representatives initially from the years 1966 to 1982 and will<br />
encourage each of them to track down as many of the<br />
contemporaries as possible with a view to running a reunion<br />
and also encouraging them to join the OSA.<br />
This year coincides with my 50th anniversary and Geoff<br />
Blackmore, Huw Williams & I have been tracking down as<br />
many of the 1965 intake as possible; last count we’d found 69<br />
with another 24 to go. Our reunion is on 9th October.<br />
Finally, I look forward to seeing as many of you who can make<br />
it at Botany Bay Cricket Club on Sunday 30th August for the<br />
annual President’s Day match. I have threatened to play, but<br />
I’m not sure whether Mr Blackmore will pick me!! In any<br />
event I will certainly buy you all a drink!<br />
Peter Sandell<br />
OSA President 2015-2016<br />
ANNUAL DINNER 2015 -Stationers' Hall – March 27th 2015<br />
President's Address – Roger Melling<br />
Bishop, Master,Clerk, distinguished guests and fellow Old Stationers.<br />
Thank you Stephen for your toast to the OSA. You are indeed<br />
evidence that Old Stationers have been successful in many<br />
callings and professions.<br />
I have been coming to these dinners for some 11 years. I never<br />
ever contemplated standing in this position! Be aware of the likes<br />
of Tony Hemmings or Geraint Pritchard say ‘could I have a<br />
word?’ It could be your turn! It has been a huge privilege to be<br />
President, especially this year. Last september was the 60th<br />
anniversary of the class of ’54, starting at Mayfield Road, so Ihave<br />
been able to hold the presidency, on behalf of all members, of<br />
The Presidential speech<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Tony Mash leads us into the school song<br />
MC Mike Pinfield with The Master.<br />
course, but especially on behalf of our year.<br />
I’m sure we all have clear memories of arriving for our first day<br />
at Stationers’ – being uncertain as to what to expect – Stationers’<br />
being a very different place to our primary schools – no girls for<br />
a start, not that that bothered me - well, at that stage anway!<br />
It is interesting to reflect that these days there is a great deal of<br />
preparation for the transfer to secondary schools. Exchange visits<br />
of teachers, pre transfer visits etc. We just turned up on the first<br />
day and got on with it. As I recall most of us soon settled down<br />
to our new routines, subject teachers, afternoons at Winchmore<br />
Hill, friday afternoon activities and detentions! I remember my<br />
first—from Sam Read for not knowing all S. America’s capital<br />
cities. By the way do any of you shop at Sainsburys Winchmore<br />
Hill and think 'I should have brought my football!’<br />
We all know that for good or bad the world of education has<br />
changed beyond all recognition since the demise of our own very<br />
special school. Its closure was a great sadness and to this day<br />
there is still discussion on how this came about. But it is really<br />
time to move on. Last October saw the opening of Stationers’<br />
Crown Wood Academy [to which the Master has made<br />
reference]. 26 of us attended the opening ceremonies which we<br />
brought to a close with a rendition of the school song. We were<br />
concerned as to whether this was appropriate but we felt we were<br />
able to demonstrate to both pupils and invited guests that the<br />
traditions of the old school have their place and that this was<br />
appreciated. I am sure the new school will develop its own<br />
culture but it will be hard to surpass our own collective creative<br />
genius. Just think of the nick-names we gave our masters, in<br />
my time: Beaky Davis, Josh Nunn, Donkey Bray, Flick, Wacker<br />
Rees, Dickie Dash and so on. Our woodwork masters also had<br />
Andreas Christou our youngest member with The Clerk, William Alden.<br />
very appropiate names - Nailer and Sloggat. The managerial<br />
brilliance of appointing good teachers with such appropiate<br />
names will take some beating!<br />
The pupils at the new school will not, of course, divide between<br />
Tottenham and Arsenal supporters, as here! But probably<br />
between Chelsea, Crystal Palace and even Millwall fans!<br />
We found Stationers’ Crown Wood Academy to be an impressive<br />
school, a 21st century school worthy to carry the Stationers’<br />
banner. We are very pleased that the principal, Michael Murphy,<br />
has been able to join us this evening, demonstrating an evolving<br />
relationship between the school and the association. It is still<br />
early days and we will need to take time to work out how our<br />
history and traditions can contribute to the new school.<br />
Presidents of the association are always appreciatve of the work<br />
undertaken by our committee. It is not until you are on the<br />
committee that you fully appreciate just how much our very<br />
existence depends on the hard work and dedication of a very<br />
limited number of people. I consulted our incoming president<br />
and the last two presidents before proposing ‘an award for<br />
outstanding service to the osa’. The presidents agreed that we<br />
should make four such awards this evening. In no particular<br />
order to Tony Hemmings, Gordon Rose, Geraint Pritchard, Tim<br />
Westbrook and Alan Green.<br />
Those of you who attended the AGM will know that Tony is<br />
standing down as Secretary after 13 years in that role. We cannot<br />
thank him enough for his immeasurable contribution to the<br />
OSA. His knowledge of our procedures and history is<br />
unsurpassed. Gordan has been a highly dedicated membership<br />
secretary with the unenviable task of chasing non or late payers.<br />
I hope that all of you have a clear conscience!! He has also been<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
the mastermind behind President’s Day. He will be standing<br />
down in the next year. We owe a great debt of gratitude to<br />
Geraint. Apart from editing an excellent magazine he is our<br />
roving ambassador and even if you live in the outer hebrides you<br />
will not escape a visit. It is so good that there is someone who is<br />
able to keep in touch with our members who may no longer<br />
enjoy the best of health. Tim is a longstanding committee<br />
member and very much the technical brains behind the<br />
presentation of our magazine making sure that we have a quality<br />
production. He will be our new secretary. Alan has been<br />
organising our wonderful lunches for the last 20 years, they have<br />
provided the opportunity to keep in touch and make new friends.<br />
Please come and receive your awards.<br />
Guest speaker, Rt. Rev. Stephen Platten.<br />
Clearly there are others who, over the years have made a<br />
significant contribution to the life of the association but are no<br />
longer with us.One of those was Peter Bullen who sadly died last<br />
year. Peter was the architect who brought together the Old Boys<br />
Association and the sports clubs to create the association as we<br />
know it today. He would certainly have qualified for an award of<br />
outstanding service to the association.<br />
We are very grateful for the continued support of the Stationers’<br />
company. It is a privilege to be able to dine in this magnificant<br />
hall. We are very appreciative Master of your kind invitation to<br />
our members to become freemen. This will only serve to further<br />
strengthen the close relationship between the company and the<br />
association. It has been the drive and commitment of the<br />
Tony, Gordon, Geraint and Tim, recipients of the OSA long service award.<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
company that has resulted in the creation of Stationers’ Crown<br />
Wood Academy. We will continue to work with the company to<br />
determine how we can best support the school.<br />
It has been a privilege and an honour to be your president and I<br />
Gordon receives his long service award.<br />
hand over the presidency to peter sandell knowing that with the<br />
committee he will ensure that the association goes from strength<br />
to strength. Thank you to all of you who assisted and supported<br />
me over the last year.<br />
Annual Dinner 2015 Attendees<br />
Mike Pinfleld 60/66<br />
Toast Master<br />
Tony Hemmlngs 54/59<br />
Michael Murphy - Headmaster,<br />
Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy<br />
Rt. Rev. Stephen Platten 58/66<br />
Guest Speaker<br />
Ian Locks<br />
Master of the Company<br />
Roger MellIng 55/62<br />
President GSA<br />
William Alden<br />
Clerk to the Company<br />
Peter Sandell 65/72<br />
Vice President GSA<br />
Geraint Pritchard 54/62<br />
Ian Jones 38/45<br />
George Copus 32/40<br />
Stuart Behn 47/53<br />
Terence Butler 48/53<br />
Ray Chew 47/54<br />
Stanley Ward 44/49<br />
John Taylor 51/56<br />
David Turner 51/56<br />
Richard Hersey 51/58<br />
Don Bewick 51/56<br />
John Partridge 51/58<br />
David Kaye 52/68<br />
Michael Facey 51/57<br />
Michael Brady 51/56<br />
Richard Wilson 51/58<br />
Peter Redman 53/59<br />
John Miles 45/49<br />
Peter Watcham 45/50<br />
Tony Bodley 46/53<br />
Peter Hawkins 46/53<br />
Roy Saunders 43/49<br />
Michael Saunders 46/50<br />
Richard Phillippo 54/62<br />
Michael Weatherley 54/59<br />
Peter Bonner 55/62<br />
Chris Wilkins 57/63<br />
David Sheath 55/62<br />
Michael Mote 55/60<br />
Keith Mullender 56/63<br />
Roger Phillpot 56/63<br />
David Deane 57/62<br />
Ian Meyrick 66/72<br />
Steven Wallace 62/69<br />
Liam Gallagher 74/81<br />
David Gilligan 71/76<br />
Pat Dunphy<br />
Gordon Rose 44/49<br />
David Uncoln 56/63<br />
Chris Woodhams 56/63<br />
Michael J Heath 55/62<br />
Keith Knight 55/63<br />
Tony Taylor 53/61<br />
Michael Hasler 53/59<br />
John Geering 53/60<br />
Tony Moff~t 54/61<br />
Roger Engledow 54/61<br />
Andreas Christou 80/83<br />
Adrian Broadbent 79/82<br />
Timothy Westbrook 62/69<br />
Peter Bothwick 62/69<br />
Philip Geering 61/68<br />
Derek Mitchell 61/68<br />
John Rowlands 61/68<br />
Alan Palmer 61/68<br />
Alun Jeifreys 66/72<br />
Michael Kahn 64/71<br />
Michael Ttofi 73/80<br />
Anthony Eade 73/78<br />
Michael Howell 73/80<br />
Geoff Blackmore 65/72<br />
Bob Fry 65/72<br />
John Lane 73/80<br />
Mark Willison 73/80<br />
Nigel Powell 61/68<br />
Keith Allen 61/68<br />
Robert Hughes 61/68<br />
Richard Slatford 76/83<br />
Nigel Burt 61/68<br />
Tony Mash 61/68<br />
Michael Evans 58/64<br />
Raymond Warren 62/67<br />
Ross Thompson 62/68<br />
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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
10
OSA CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2015<br />
at STATIONERS HALL<br />
Wednesday 2nd December 2015<br />
As you will know by now, this is not just to remind you of our<br />
Christmas Lunch - but also to request your confirmed booking.<br />
We are pleased to say again this year that we do not have to share<br />
the Hall as we continue to be treated as a separate ‘Company<br />
Event’ in our own right!<br />
You all remember, too, that we now must do the same for<br />
Christmas Lunch as we do for our Annual Dinner – which<br />
means that we need to receive your booking with a cheque.<br />
Bookings WITH CHEQUE must be received by<br />
20th November 2015 at the latest!<br />
No cheque received means no booking has been made - & there<br />
will be no lunch for you.<br />
As usual, there is likely to be a large footballers’ table (that is large<br />
in number, of course, & not referring to their respective sizes<br />
nowadays!) & other tables that each take no more than ten<br />
diners. Please indicate those with whom you would like to sit<br />
with (or those you wish to be away from!) and, whilst no<br />
guarantees can be given, every attempt will be made to<br />
accommodate your wishes.<br />
Once again, we are pleased to continue our arrangement whereby<br />
the price is inclusive of pre-lunch drinks and wines with the<br />
lunch itself. It is our normal practice to start the ball rolling by<br />
around 12.15 p.m. (although some of us do get there well before<br />
that time!) so they can start feeding us at 1:00 p.m.….<br />
Dress code remains of course, Lounge suits or Jacket and trousers<br />
with an Old Boys Tie.<br />
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
CAROL SERVICE<br />
Confirmation has been received from Fr Bruce Batstone<br />
that ths year`s Carol Service will be on Sunday 6th<br />
December at 4pm at St Mary with St George<br />
Church, Cranley Gardens, Hornsey N10 3AH.<br />
Encoragement to attend...<br />
If you require an acknowledgement of your booking, please<br />
provide your email address – or include a stamped self-addressed<br />
envelope with your booking & cheque.<br />
Please note:<br />
Even if you have already said you are coming, you must still<br />
confirm it by sending a cheque for £48 - payable to The Old<br />
Stationers’ Association.<br />
Please cut-out or photocopy the slip below, enter your details and return with your cheque to:<br />
Mike Pinf ield, 63 Lynton Road, Harrow, Middx. HA2 9NJ<br />
Name: Years at school: to<br />
Contact number:<br />
Address:<br />
Postcode:<br />
Email:<br />
I wish to sit with/near to<br />
and/or<br />
away from
MID SEASON REPORT<br />
The Society numbers some 28 members this year, with a couple<br />
of regular guests. Several of our regular members have ceased<br />
competitive golf this year, including Harold Perry – now<br />
approaching 90 – and Peter Engledow. However, we are pleased<br />
to have welcomed several new Associate Members who have all<br />
the privileges of full members save entry to the Champions<br />
Shield. Further, some new retirees have committed themselves,<br />
including David Hudson, Tony Mash and Ian Meyrick.<br />
Our first event of the year was for the pairs trophy. It was held at<br />
Redbourne Golf Club on a beautiful but windy Spring day in<br />
April. Some eight pairs entered. The winning pair were Tim<br />
Westbrook, our new OSA Secretary, partnering Colin Walker.<br />
Tim was the individual winner with 37 points. The next best<br />
score was carded by Geoff Blackmore, playing off 27, with a score<br />
of 35 points. He even parred the 18th, a monster 600 yard par<br />
five. Perhaps it is time for a further handicap cut! Dave Lincoln<br />
and Tim (again!) won the two nearest the pin holes.<br />
In May we played our now traditional match against Old<br />
Tollingtonians. This was held at Crews Hill Golf Club. The<br />
match had to be hastily re-arranged to avoid clashing with the<br />
OSA lunch on 12th May. In all some 23 players participated.<br />
There were a few hitches in the administration of the day, for<br />
which the club has offered fulsome apologies. These included no<br />
hot water in the showers. It was a fine day and the course was in<br />
excellent condition. The meal post the match was excellent.<br />
However, sadly, we had to relinquish the fine cup. Dedicated to J<br />
E Johnston, an Old Stationer, who had taught at Tollington. In<br />
the five years we have played for this trophy we have only won it<br />
once (2014). Next year!!<br />
On 22nd June we play the first Shield event of 2015 at<br />
Brickenden Grange, which is Roy Saunders’ home course. The<br />
club is buried deep in the Hertfordshire countryside adjacent<br />
(nearly) to the Zoo at Paradise Park – birdies and eagles abound!<br />
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Old Stationers' Golf Society<br />
The balance of our programme is as follows:<br />
13th July Essendon GC: match against the Stationers<br />
Company (2nd Shield event)<br />
16/17th Aug Away trip to Thorpness GC<br />
3rd Sept Broke Hill GC (final Shield event)<br />
28th Sept Theydon Bois GC (Guest pairs)<br />
27th Oct Mill green GC (Team event)<br />
Should any non-members be interested in any of the above,<br />
please contact me – contact details at front of magazine.<br />
It looks to be a good venue and at £75 per head for dinner, bed<br />
and breakfast, two rounds of golf, a bargain!<br />
Our last Shield Event is in September at the beautiful Aspley<br />
Guise GC, followed by our team event at Brookmans Park at the<br />
end of October.<br />
Peter Bonner Secretary to OSGS<br />
OSA v the Stationers company<br />
On Monday July 13th the best of the OSA golf society turned<br />
out at Essenden Golf and Country Club for our annual match<br />
against the Stationers Company.<br />
Playing the Old Course we had a few showers to liven things up<br />
but also some reasonable interludes of sunshine when the course<br />
could be appreciated in all its glory.<br />
The greens were receptive and slow but true giving everyone a<br />
chance to score while the rough was severe, punishing any<br />
wayward drives.<br />
The Company had won the trophy for the previous two occasions<br />
so we were all determined to contribute a creditable score for the<br />
team result.<br />
Colin Walker & Tim Westbrook winners of the Pairs competition.<br />
Peter Bonner & Mike Hasler<br />
12
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
OSFC 2014/15<br />
End of Season Report<br />
Peter Sandell & Ian Meyrick<br />
Peter Sandell & Tim Westbrook<br />
With this in mind, Peter Bonner shrewdly agreed with their<br />
captain, a “cross-country” scoring formula only counting the top<br />
5 scores from each side.<br />
After a satisfying dinner of fish and chips we eagerly awaited<br />
Peter’s announcement of the scores. Mike Hasler carded 41<br />
points but Ian Meyrick excelled with a stunning 44 point<br />
contribution and this was decisive in giving us a famous victory<br />
over the Company.<br />
President, Peter Sandell presented the prizes and the trophy<br />
which Tim Westbrook received on behalf of the team.<br />
The story of our season can be summed up as "what might have<br />
been". Despite strong performances from the 1st XI and 2nd XI,<br />
both ultimately had to settle for third place finishes in their<br />
respective leagues<br />
The 1st XI, under the leadership of keeper Perry Langley, had an<br />
indifferent start to the season, picking up only 3 points in the<br />
first 6 games, but once a settled team emerged, performances<br />
improved and we then went eleven League games undefeated<br />
(10 wins, 1 draw). However a backlog of 7 games in the last<br />
month of the season proved our undoing and despite being in<br />
with a chance of the runners-up spot right up until the last<br />
Saturday, we fell just short. To compound our frustration in just<br />
missing out on promotion, we actually beat the eventual runnersup<br />
Old Esthameians both home (2-0) and away (6-2)!<br />
Encouragingly the third place finish in the League was our best<br />
performance since dropping down to Senior Division 3 in<br />
2004/05. With a young side, including two teenagers, Sean<br />
Derrick and James Phillips, who both represented the AFA<br />
under 18 Representative side, we hope to have a strong push for<br />
promotion again next season.<br />
The 1s also reached the Quarter Finals of the Middx/Essex AFA<br />
Cup, beating two sides from higher divisions on the way, before<br />
losing to a strong Old Hamptonians side. In the AFA Cup we<br />
lost a tight game 0-2 to eventual runners up Old Meadonians.<br />
The 2nd XI, run by Mickey Byrne/Kyri Apostolou, had an even<br />
more frustrating season, having led Intermediate Division 3 for<br />
much of the campaign, some poor away form meant the Reserves<br />
also ultimately fell just short of promotion losing out on the<br />
runners up spot on the last day of the season to (yet again) Old<br />
Esthameians, and only on goal difference. This was despite<br />
beating OEs away 5-3 and drawing at home 0-0 and completing<br />
the season unbeaten at home. Again, maybe next year!<br />
A young 3rd XI side overseen by "veteran" skipper Mark Tansley,<br />
took a while to settle, but with a string off impressive results<br />
mid-season, promotion suddenly seemed an outside possibility.<br />
However, towards the end of the season we failed to pick up<br />
points in two crucial double-headers against higher placed clubs<br />
which meant we had to settle for a credible mid-table finish in<br />
Junior Division 2.<br />
The 4th XI was captained by<br />
Jamie Luis (mentored by Dave<br />
Gilligan), and were certainly<br />
consistent in their inconsistency,<br />
which resulted in an 8th place<br />
finish in the League. The high<br />
point of the season was reaching<br />
the Old Boys Cup Semi-Final<br />
against Old Parks, which<br />
despite leading 4-1 at one stage<br />
was disappointingly eventually<br />
lost on penalties, another what<br />
might have been!<br />
The 5th XI, captained yet again<br />
by stalwarts Nick Plinston/<br />
Russell Toone also had an<br />
Have you got your copy?<br />
inconsistent season finishing<br />
13
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
7th in the League, but with the usual committed group of players<br />
showing no less enthusiasm that those in higher XIs<br />
The finale of the season was the Annual Awards Dinner in early<br />
May at The Southgate Masonic Club (organised for the<br />
umpteenth year with his usual efficiency by Jim Mulley) and<br />
attended by many present and past players. The following Player<br />
of the Year Awards were handed out (see over):<br />
1st XI: Sean Derrick, Ben Jackson, James Keenan ( Joint)<br />
2nd XI: Lenos Apostolou<br />
3rd XI: Reece Evans<br />
4th XI: Harry Houldsworth (yes, son of Ray)<br />
5th XI: Jay Gladdy<br />
Young Player of Year: James Phillips<br />
Club Service Award: John Jackson<br />
A note for your diary. The next Annual Re-Union of Ex-OSFC<br />
Players will be on Saturday 10th October 2015 at the club,<br />
further details will appear on our website www.oldstationersfc.<br />
co.uk nearer the time. Over the past few years this popular event<br />
has been supported by many ex-players, so if you played for the<br />
club at any stage over the past 109 years and have not visited us<br />
for a while, then this coming October is your chance.<br />
Information about the Re-Union and all club matters will appear<br />
on, our now regularly updated, website, please take a look.<br />
Finally, congratulations to former OSFC player Grant Mathias<br />
(right), who was appointed to referee this season's AFA Senior<br />
Cup Final at Bank of England's ground in which Old Wilsonians<br />
defeated Old Meadonians 3-2. Grant now joins a select band<br />
who have refereed and played in an AFA Senior Final (having<br />
been a member of our victorious 1988/89 side). At least one Old<br />
Stationer appeared in an AFA Final this season!!<br />
The club is still alive and kicking, here's looking forward to a<br />
successful 2015/16 season.<br />
Ian Meyrick<br />
OSFC Chairman<br />
OSFC 1stXI 2014/15<br />
Back row L-R Ben Jackson, Marcus Archer, Tom Jackson, Perry Langley, Matt Taylor, Steve Watts, James Keenan<br />
Front Row L-R Perry Christian, Josh Toumany, James Phillips, Sean Derrick, Marc Smith, Billy Phillips, Tom Gullon<br />
14
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
WAR MEMORIAL WINDOW ORIGINALLY IN THE SCHOOL HALL,<br />
MAYFIELD ROAD - DESIGNED BY ALFRED WILKINSON, A FORMER PUPIL<br />
Correspondence from Mark Wilkinson, Andreas Christou and the<br />
Editor<br />
Dear Mark Wilkinson<br />
As Andreas has written to you on the 3rd October 2014, I am<br />
aware of his response and of the Order of Service for the War<br />
Memorial Window dedicated on the 19th February, 1950. This<br />
WINDOW, as Andreas mentioned, was located in the Parish<br />
Church of Hornsey at the bottom of Cranley Gardens, in Park<br />
Road around 1983. If my memory serves me well, I went to the<br />
Parish Church before the closure of the Stationers' Company's<br />
School with the Headmaster, Stan Read at that time to see the<br />
Window positioned in the Parish Church.<br />
Susequently, the Annual Carol Service that the Stationers'<br />
Company's School held annually, was revived by the Old<br />
Stationers' Association (OSA) a few years after closure to<br />
coincide with a Dedication of the Memorial Window in the<br />
Parish Church. This Service of Dedication was the impetus for<br />
an OSA Carol Service which has taken place ever since for at<br />
least ten years.<br />
At the Dedication of the Window in the Parish Church, the<br />
then former Headmaster, Robert Baynes wrote introductory<br />
noters for the Booklet that was prepared for the occasion. The<br />
cover of this booklet had a photograph of the Memorial Window,<br />
copied from an original produced as a sheet with explanation of<br />
the Window before the Memorial service that took place in the<br />
School Hall on the 19th February 1950. The actual Magazine of<br />
the Old Stationers' Association, 'The Old Stationer' also carried<br />
this photogaph on the cover of the edition of the Magazine of<br />
the time.<br />
The Carol Service in the Parish Church of Hornsey this year is<br />
particularly poignant as you will know, commemorates those Old<br />
Stationers who died in the First World War, started 100 Years<br />
ago and those Old Stationers who died in the Second World<br />
War, 1944, that ended 70 Years ago.<br />
We would welcome and members of the family to the Carol<br />
Service on Sunday the 7th December at 4.00pm in Hornsey<br />
Parish Church – St.Mary cum St.George's in Park Road at the<br />
bottom of Muswell Hill, London N.10.<br />
As for your Uncle, ALFRED LASHBROOK WILKINSON,<br />
born 14th October, 1899, perhaps you could let me know when<br />
he died. Could you please let me know some details of<br />
S.E.GORSKI? However, I met ALFRED WILKINSON, when<br />
Alfred visited Stationers' Company's School, many years ago.<br />
You may have some information when Alfred attended<br />
Stationers'.<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
Geraint Pritchard<br />
Hello Geraint<br />
mark wilkinson (markwilkinson86@gmail.com)<br />
28th November 2014<br />
Thanks for writing. Thank you for the invite to the Carol Service<br />
at Hornsey Parish Church on 7th December, but I won't be able<br />
to visit at this time'<br />
You asked about Alfred Wilkinson's date of death. That was the<br />
25th March 1994 at Dovercourt, Harwich. He had lived there<br />
since the 1960s. You also asked about S.E.Gorski. All I do know<br />
is that on a wall of Alfred's house, prior to it being cleared and<br />
sold, were two oil paintings of trees with S.E.Gorski's signature<br />
in deep red paint. They had been hanging in the same place<br />
since at least 1970.<br />
You mention Muswell Hill which made me check on Alfred's<br />
works in that area. He has windows in St. Michael's Muswell<br />
Hill (1940) and the great East Window of St. James (1952).<br />
Another couple of snippets of information about Alfred.He was<br />
born in Germany. He was at Stationers' from 1911-1916. He<br />
came first in a Senior Handicap Race (over 14s). When he left<br />
school aged 17 he was a Lance Corporal in the School Cadet<br />
Force and a member of the signalling station.<br />
Later he studied at St. Martin's School of Art and worked with<br />
his father, Horace, as a stained glass artist at their studio at 101<br />
Gower Street. He became a Fellow of the Society of Master<br />
Glass-Painters in 1935. In 1965 he was secretary of that Society.<br />
I live at Autumn Lodge, Moulton Lane, Boughton,<br />
Northampton, NN2 8RF.<br />
I would be pleased to have a copy of the documents you<br />
mention for our family archive.<br />
Sincerely<br />
Mark<br />
15
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Our New Master<br />
After the ceremonials last night, 7 July, the celebrations<br />
took their usual joyous turn (drinks in the garden) as Helen<br />
Esmonde was installed as Master although there was an<br />
extra frisson of excitement, obviously, as Helen is the first<br />
woman to be Master of the Company after a line of 612<br />
men. We wish her well for her year as Master and commit<br />
to supporting her endeavours. It is going to be a year<br />
focused on education as that is the Master's especial<br />
interest but, as with every year, there will be all sorts of<br />
causes to which members can contribute their energy and<br />
from what Prof Tim Connell, Chairman of the Livery<br />
Committee, said at Common Hall, all sorts of Livery<br />
Committee events to enjoy - something for everyone was<br />
the mantra!<br />
CLASS OF ’53 REUNION<br />
Notice of a Second reunion of the class of ’53 has been<br />
arranged for Wednesday 21st October 2015 at The<br />
Cheshire Cheese, Little Essex Street, Temple, London,<br />
WC2R 3LD. The time 12.00 with lunch being served at<br />
around 13.00. Lunch will consist of 2 courses with a<br />
choice from the pub menu.<br />
Please let Peter Redman know your availability asap by<br />
e-mail: pete.redman@pgra.co.uk or telephone:<br />
01707654821.<br />
Alternatively, Mike Hasler via email: mikehasler.<br />
oldstationers@gmail.com or telephone: 01296614352 or<br />
Alan Green via email: alan.green61@btinternet.com.<br />
The missing names in the last magazine (Issue No.80, page<br />
14) were middle row, Chris Seabrook and either Keith<br />
Fielder or Peter Finch in the back row. Can anyone help as<br />
I seem to have mislaid my list of attendees?<br />
Mike Hasler<br />
The Royal Maundy<br />
Thursday 2nd April<br />
by Rev. Brian Cranwell<br />
To say I was surprised to receive an envelope in February<br />
postmarked E:R Buckingham Pallace, must be the understatement<br />
of a lifetime. Even greater was the surprise to find an invitation<br />
to be a recipient of Maundy Money from HM the Queen at<br />
Sheffield Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, April 2nd .<br />
I telephoned one of the enquiry numbers given in the letter, and<br />
told the clergyman on the other end that I had always assumed<br />
that these gifts were a token payment to the poor and destitute.<br />
He replied that they were in the days of King John but are now<br />
given for services to the church and the community. He could<br />
not tell me who had nominated me for this honour; the Dean of<br />
Sheffield had sent the list to the Palace but had merelv collated<br />
the nominations.<br />
The envelope included a stamped reply envelope addressed to<br />
the Royal Almoner at the Palace. This merely had a second class<br />
stamp. So concerned was I that it might go astray that I sent it<br />
recorded delivery (accepting the invitation naturally)!<br />
I had seen in our local papers that the Maundy service was to be<br />
held in our Cathedral, the first time a monarch had ever done<br />
this in South Yorkshire. It marks the fact that the Diocese had<br />
just completed its 100·h anniversary since being separated from<br />
York Diocese in 1914 and the completion of a massive reordering<br />
and restoration of the cathedral. Originally this was Sheffield<br />
Parish Church, the site of which goes back to the Saxon era with<br />
parts of the present building dating back to the Normans<br />
On Saturday March 14'" recipients and their escorts were invited<br />
to attend a briefing by the lord High Almoner, by tradition the<br />
Bishop of Worcester, at the cathedral. The Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr<br />
John Inge gave us an interesting history of the Maundy ceremony<br />
which was at one time much more involved. Recipients used to<br />
receive clothing and a platter on which was bread, salmon and<br />
herrings in addition to the money. Now there is a purse of money<br />
in place of the food, plus another purse containing the specially<br />
minted Maundy coins of 89 pence representing the age of the<br />
sovereign. These are given to 89 men, and 89 women.<br />
It was interesting to hear the lord High Almoner explain that the<br />
Queen has always insisted that the sense of an act of humility<br />
(the essence of the origins of the ceremony from Christ's last<br />
supper with his disciples) should be retained, by her coming to<br />
the recipients rather than recipients going to her in london as we<br />
would for a medal or other award. The first Elizabeth included<br />
washing the feet of the recipients though it seems that three<br />
wandsmen twice washed their feet before the queen did it and<br />
the sovereign also received a nosegay to counter any unsavoury<br />
smells that might arise! Such nosegays are still prepared by<br />
Purveyors of Nosegays by Royal Warrant, and carried by the<br />
Queen and others.<br />
The first record of a sovereign carrying out this ceremony was by<br />
King John at Knaresborough in 1210, but later research found<br />
mention of it in the days of Augustine, the first Archbishop of<br />
Canterbury. The ceremony used to be carried out at whichever<br />
city the sovereign was Visiting on the day. We were also advised<br />
that the Queen would personally hand the purses to each<br />
recipient, walking round to our seats, quite a task for a lady of 89.<br />
16
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Further information from the Sheffield Master Cutler advised<br />
that a) all recipients and their escorts were invited to a lunch in<br />
Cutler's Hall after the service and b) the Cutler's Company was<br />
having two special chairs made for the service, for the Queen and<br />
the Duke of Edinburgh by a Company member, using Sheffield<br />
stainless steel. These would remain in the cathedral. The Cutler's<br />
Hall, which is directly opposite the cathedral, was to be used for<br />
the recipients to be received and duly identified before being<br />
taken across to their seats.<br />
The Almoner pointed out that we were not expected to give the<br />
Queen anything in return. Apparently on one occasion an elderly<br />
lady presented her with a jar of homemade marmalade after<br />
receiving the purses!<br />
And so to the great day. Needless to say, my wife Hazel had a<br />
new outfit, and as the street was closed to traffic, we could not<br />
take cars UP to the doors of the Cutler's Hall and had to walk<br />
the final 200 yards. We hoped that the weather would be kind to<br />
her outfit and my suit, and this proved to be the case as although<br />
cold it was dry and sunny. We were taken across to the Cathedral<br />
watched by the crowds gathered The Queen arrived spot on 11.0<br />
am, with an escort of Yeomen of the Guard. There were four<br />
processions, the Cathedral's, the Ecumenical, The Queen's and<br />
The Royal Almonry. The Choirs of the Chapel Royal and<br />
Cathedral were magnificent, and the music (I gather chosen by<br />
the Queen) included Handel's stirring "Zadoc the Priest" which<br />
is sung at coronations. During the service the Queen went twice<br />
round the cathedral handing the Maundy money to each of us<br />
personally. like many others I was surprised at how petite she<br />
seemed. Amazingly, despite all that had to be achieved the<br />
processions out were right on 12 noon (perhaps because there<br />
was no sermon i), with the Queen signing the Visitor's Book at<br />
the Cathedral door, following which she was greeted by a crowd<br />
estimated at 10,000, and went across to a Civic lunch at the<br />
nearby Town Hall.<br />
The irony for me was that the cost of my wife's new outfit for the<br />
event would have qualified me for assistance under the heading<br />
of destitute! But regardless, the occasion was a memory of a<br />
lifetime.<br />
Rev Brian Cranwell after receiving Maundy Money from the Queen in<br />
Sheffield Cathedral, with his wife Hazel.<br />
Music at Stationers'<br />
Your article about Dr David Clover, Director of Music at<br />
Stationers’ reminded me of a coincidence that happened<br />
only 3-4 years ago in Sheffield.<br />
I was talking to another retired clergyman named John<br />
Collie, and in the course of the conversation he mentioned<br />
he had been at Highgate School. When I told him I had<br />
been at Stationers’ he said “Oh, my father taught music at<br />
Stationers’ for some years”. I realised that his father was<br />
Norman Collie who ran the choir of which I was a member<br />
at Stationers’. He had the nickname of ‘Hamilton’ though I<br />
have no idea why.<br />
This choir was invited to sing at St Paul’s Cathedral at the<br />
first post war Stationers’ Hall crypt service on Ash<br />
Wednesday in 1946. I still remember the first two lines of<br />
the anthem we sang with its tune but have no remembrance<br />
of the composer.<br />
When John died a memorial service was held for him in<br />
the church where he had been vicar for many years. During<br />
the service two of John’s grandchildren played an<br />
instrumental piece “Romance” written by Norman Collie<br />
for his daughter’s 21st birthday.. Later, at the bun fight<br />
following I told the grandchildren I remembered their<br />
great grandfather. They must have thought I was as old as<br />
Methuselah!<br />
I remember mention of Clover in the Sheffield press when<br />
he ran the youth choir. I wish I had known his connection<br />
with Stationers. The musical side of life only consisted of<br />
the choral practice one hour a week at Stationers in my day.<br />
Rev. Brian Cranwell<br />
Promotional programme to<br />
encourage membership of the<br />
Stationers’ Company<br />
Our President was recently a guest at a Master and Wardens’<br />
Luncheon at the Stationers’ Hall. When invited to speak, he<br />
recalled his first visit to the Hall in 1966 as a member of the<br />
school choir after singing the Ash Wednesday service in the<br />
crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the memory of John Norton who<br />
died in 1612.<br />
His comments reminded me that our relationship with the<br />
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers not<br />
only takes us back to the days of our teens and the opening of our<br />
school in 1861, but it also links us to the beginnings of the<br />
printing industry in 1403.<br />
There are 110 Livery Companies in the City of London, all<br />
playing a part in maintaining the traditions of each guild and<br />
industry from which they were created. Today, not only do these<br />
companies provide a wide variety of social gatherings and a<br />
network of business contacts, but there is also a strong ethic of<br />
support for both charities and educational establishments.<br />
Collectively, the Livery Companies of London donate over £50<br />
million per year which is exemplified by the current investment<br />
by the Stationers’ Company in the Stationers Crown Woods<br />
Academy.<br />
17
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Anyone who studied economics under Joe Symons and his<br />
predecessors will recognise the role our school played in training<br />
and supplying bright chaps to work in the worlds of banking and<br />
finance in the City of London and beyond. While, the majority<br />
of us are now retired, one can continue to enjoy the linkages with<br />
both history and the City by applying to join the Stationers’<br />
Company as a Freeman.<br />
Currently, there are 37 Freeman and 17 Liverymen who are old<br />
boys of the school. Many of them joined the Company in 2006<br />
as Freemen when a special discount scheme was offered to<br />
members of the OSA. Recognising that a new generation of<br />
members has joined the OSA since that time, the Stationers’<br />
Company is pleased to offer a new programme to encourage a<br />
new wave of applications.<br />
The current fee to join the Company is £381 as a Freeman and<br />
the annual membership fee is £88. The joining fee has been<br />
reduced temporarily to £281 for all members of the Old<br />
Stationers’ Association. To take advantage of this offer, you<br />
should first approach Hon.Secretary Tim Westbrook who will<br />
confirm your OSA membership and arrange for the application<br />
forms to be sent to you. This offer will close at the end of this<br />
year.<br />
Freemen can attend the many social functions organised by the<br />
Company Livery Committee, the Annual Lecture, archive<br />
evenings, industry seminars, concerts in the Hall, the Ash<br />
Wednesday service in St. Pauls and the twice yearly golf events.<br />
It is often said that people get out of membership as much as<br />
they put in. This discount scheme is designed to encourage many<br />
more OSA members to join the Company and take an active<br />
part in its programme of events.<br />
Tony Mash<br />
OSA welcomes our new<br />
Honorary Secretary<br />
We congratulate Tim Westbrook on his recent election to<br />
Honorary Secretary following on from his service as Committee<br />
member since 2003; supervision of the two year project for<br />
digitising the entire archive of Stationer’s School Magazines and<br />
The Old Stationer magazines going back to 1884; as well as<br />
publishing adviser initiating the move to all colour printing for<br />
the OSA Magazine and currently overseeing the set up of direct<br />
distribution from the printer to our world-wide membership.<br />
Plus unofficial photographer for OSA events.<br />
OUR OLDEST STATIONER?<br />
Harold Perry celebrating his 90th birthday this week.<br />
18
Hi Geraint<br />
perring32@btinternet.com<br />
3rd January 2015<br />
Happy New Year to you and I hope your<br />
weather today is better than ours. Its dull<br />
with constant drizzle and the hill above us<br />
is shrouded in mist. Soon it will soon be<br />
spring again.<br />
A couple of years ago you published a<br />
letter from me in which I gave a brief<br />
outline, as far as I knew, of the careers of<br />
the six Stationers, including self, who<br />
joined the PLA (Port of London<br />
Authority) in September 1954. One of<br />
these was BRUCE HOLLOWAY whom<br />
I last heard of some twenty five years ago<br />
when he was working for an estate agency<br />
in the Southend area. However, this<br />
Christmas I had a card from EDDIE<br />
DENNISON who had run across Bruce<br />
some time last year.<br />
Have copied Eddie's card to you and no<br />
doubt you can use it in some form in the<br />
next mag. unless Eddie has already told<br />
you the same.<br />
Regards<br />
Lucien<br />
7th January 2015<br />
Further to my recent e-mail concerning<br />
Bruce Holloway, I have now received an<br />
e-mail from Eddie with a little more<br />
detail. The picture he refers to I found on<br />
the internet, and is of Bruce being<br />
presented with the Seniors Trophy at<br />
Boyce Hill Golf Club which is at Benfleet,<br />
Essex, picture attached, date not known.<br />
Regards<br />
Lucien Perring 1949-1954<br />
Lucien<br />
7th January 2015<br />
eddie.dennison@btinternet.com<br />
Thanks for the picture. It certainly is our<br />
Bruce and I have no idea why I did not<br />
recognise him because upon reflection he<br />
has hardly changed and of course I have no<br />
objection to you informing OS of his<br />
existence or our meeting. I always knew of<br />
his interest in jazz because when we were<br />
at school I remember he bought a trumpet<br />
and had professional lessons from a jazz<br />
tutor. If I see him again, which I hope that<br />
I do, I will tell him of your interest and get<br />
his address for you. I will keep you updated.<br />
Best wishes<br />
Eddie<br />
Edward Dennison 1949-1954<br />
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
(Another talented musician in the OS, in this<br />
case a jazz player. How many jazz players do<br />
we have? Ed.)<br />
Hi<br />
CORRESPONDENCE<br />
18th January 2015<br />
perring32@btinternet.com<br />
Further to my earlier info re. Bruce<br />
Holloway, looking at the Boyce Hill Golf<br />
Club site it would seem that Bruce is a<br />
keen golfer as since 2005 (the earliest<br />
results they have on line) his name has<br />
appeared in the results of their Senior<br />
competitions on a number of occasions,<br />
has won one competition and figured in<br />
several others.<br />
Lucien<br />
Bruce Holloway being presented with the Seniors<br />
Trophy at Boyce Hill Golf Club in Benfleet, Essex.<br />
Members of the OSA who are contemporaries<br />
of those mentioned above: Peter Clydesdale<br />
1949-1954; Peter Engledow 1949-1954;<br />
Peter Evans 1949-1954; David Hill 1949--<br />
1954; Kenneth Hills 1949-1956; Brian<br />
Humphreys 1949-1956; Brian Moir 1949-<br />
1954; George Sprosson 1949-1954; John<br />
Wheeler 1949-1953.<br />
Hi Gordon<br />
566, Wolf Grove Road<br />
ALMONTE<br />
Ontario K0A 1A0<br />
February 18th 2015<br />
Just back from our local OS luncheon<br />
featuring ART MOREWOOD and<br />
JOHN BATHURST. Some talk of the<br />
Academy project and more talk of John's<br />
Prince Shoal Lighthouse made for a very<br />
entertaining afternoon at the Whispers<br />
Pub.<br />
I was back in Britain last year for the<br />
Yorkshire stages of the TdF (Tour de<br />
France) and did a circle tour on the bike<br />
which included a couple of days on the<br />
IoM (Isle of Man), finishing up in<br />
Worthing to join brother Ray, RAY<br />
HUMPHREYS 1954-1960 and<br />
RUSSELL PLUMLEY 1956-1964, for a<br />
couple of days by the sea. Before returning<br />
home I attended a reunion of the class of<br />
'52 in London.<br />
Please find my subscription enclosed, best<br />
regards,<br />
LesHumphreys 1952-1959<br />
Prince Shoal Lighthouse.<br />
Les Humphries on the Isle of Man<br />
26th February 2015<br />
roy.turner@telkomsa.net<br />
Greetings Geraint<br />
I trust you arrived safely back home after<br />
your SA (South Africa) sojourn. We<br />
appreciated and enjoyed your visit and it<br />
was good to spend some time together and<br />
hear some OS news.<br />
I trust that the rest of the trip enabled you<br />
to relax after the beach walks and swims<br />
on the KwaZulu Natal shore of the Indian<br />
Ocean.<br />
19
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
I have caught a little more OS News after<br />
receipt last week of the two copies of the<br />
magazine you sent me – many thanks<br />
indeed. We are away from home for a<br />
couple of days but I have completed the<br />
application form and shall scan and send it<br />
when back home and on line.<br />
Regards<br />
Roy Turner 1953-1958<br />
Hi Geraint<br />
4th March 2015<br />
peter.sandell@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Having just read some of the magazine<br />
and the letter 'from your ecclesiatical<br />
correspondent in the North', I remembered<br />
that I came across another Old Boy, C of<br />
E priest: MARTIN JOHN HARRIS,<br />
1966-1973, whom I'm sure you will recall<br />
and no doubt you taught.<br />
He is 'Team Rector' at St. Paul's Harlow<br />
and is also Area Dean for the Harlow<br />
Deanery. I play the organ at St. Peters<br />
Roydon which comes under the Harlow<br />
Deanery, so heard his name and found him<br />
on facebook a couple of years ago, but met<br />
him at a dinner 16 months ago in Harlow<br />
and was sitting on his table, so we had a<br />
chat.<br />
After university he practised as a solicitor<br />
for a number of years but changed direction<br />
to become a priest.<br />
Regards<br />
Peter Sandell 1965-1972<br />
PS. Have a look at Facebook. There's two<br />
sites in particular: Residents of Hornsey<br />
and Residents of Muswell Hill which<br />
often have postings from Old Boys of all<br />
ages. The OSA doesn't have a facebook<br />
site and I think in order to tap into the<br />
'younger' market, maybe we should.<br />
From my ecclisiastical correspondent in the<br />
North – PETER MILLS former pupil at<br />
Reading School.<br />
A copy of a letter that Peter Mills received<br />
from ALAN CLEPS regarding DAVID<br />
OWERS.<br />
Please see Magazine Number 80 page 24,<br />
where Peter Mills meets DAVID OWERS<br />
and his wife EILEEN at Haxey Church and<br />
Peter discovers that David Owers is a former<br />
pupil at Stationers' Company's School.!<br />
Hello Peter,<br />
alancleps@yahoo.co.uk<br />
4th March 2015<br />
My name is Alan Cleps and I was a pupil<br />
at Stationers' from 1946-1951. I remember<br />
DAVID OWERS well. He was a fine<br />
footballer and played for the School<br />
alongside ALAN 'Shorty' JOHNSTONE<br />
1946-1950 with whom I am still in regular<br />
contact. Alan and his wife Rosemary have<br />
lived in Canada for many years and<br />
currently reside in Toronto. I left Stationers'<br />
in July 1951 to take up an apprenticeship<br />
in the printing industry. I remained a<br />
printer all my working life as did 'Shorty'<br />
Johnstone. Alan is also a member of the<br />
OSA. Like yourself my wife and I are very<br />
much involved at our church, St. Faith's<br />
Gaywood, King's Lynn, Norfolk, where I<br />
was churchwarden for ten years. My wife is<br />
currently a Server, Acolyte and Chorister.<br />
She also takes Communion to the local<br />
housebound and runs a drop in centre on a<br />
Thursday morning. I left London 35 years<br />
ago for Norfolk. I turned 80 in August<br />
2014. I have remained active in my<br />
retirement and currently create and print<br />
our church magazine. I also print two<br />
other Parish magazines along with creating<br />
and printing several other publications.<br />
We are fortunate in that our church has a<br />
complete printing set up which enables us<br />
to do the work for outside organisations, so<br />
bringing in much needed funds. I was in<br />
Hodgson House. Please remember me to<br />
Dave when you see him.<br />
Regards<br />
Alan Cleps 1946-1951<br />
Dear Geraint<br />
56 years on!<br />
ATC CAMP 1959<br />
brijwilk@yahoo.co.uk<br />
12th March 2015<br />
In issue number 79, you kindly published<br />
my request for a copy of the photo of the<br />
1959 ATC Camp at RAF Leeming (which<br />
I now live near). GRAHAM ARNOLD<br />
1953-1960 responded as he had a copy of<br />
the said photo. He also reminded me that<br />
we were in the Potters Bar Boys' Brigade<br />
and the church youth club together!<br />
I had been in touch with RAF Leeming to<br />
see if they had a copy of the photograph in<br />
their records but they could not oblige.<br />
However, the Station Warrant Officer got<br />
in touch with me recently to say that if I<br />
would like to have my photograph taken in<br />
front of the Gloster Javelin gate-guard, I<br />
had better visit the station in the near<br />
future as it was about to be dismantled.<br />
Apparently, the MoD will only maintain<br />
such planes as are visible to the general<br />
public whereas the Leeming gate guard is<br />
now a long way from the original gate as<br />
the station has expanded over the years.<br />
The RAF have sold the Javelin to an air<br />
museum.<br />
So I visited the station and the Station<br />
Warrant Officer showed me around the<br />
station including their museum, which<br />
brought back memories of 1959, and I was<br />
able to present them with a copy of the<br />
2049 squadron 1959 photo which is now<br />
in a prominent position in the museum.<br />
One amusing incident was when I was<br />
having my pass issued in the Guardhouse,<br />
the aircraftman on the desk asked if I had<br />
been to RAF Leeming before, so I said<br />
“Yes, 56 years ago!” at which the SWO said<br />
“You won't find him on the computer<br />
system!”<br />
At the end of our tour, we took some<br />
photos of the Javelin including one of me<br />
in front of the plane where I was standing<br />
56 years ago! The eagle-eyed among the<br />
magazine readers will spot that it is not the<br />
same plane as we lined up in front of in<br />
1959 but it is still a Gloster Javelin. The<br />
SWO, who had only recently been<br />
appointed, was obviously immensely proud<br />
of RAF Leeming and when I thanked him<br />
by e-mail, he responded, “You are more<br />
than welcome, it was lovely to talk to you.”<br />
My abiding memoryof that camp was the<br />
bone-shaking journey up the Great North<br />
Road in the back of a lorry (no Health and<br />
Safety in those days!) and the next day we<br />
flew down to Hendon in a transport plane.<br />
We all wondered why we couldn't have<br />
waited a day and travelled up in style. I also<br />
remember long chats with one of the<br />
officers about the possibility of taking up a<br />
short-term commission when I was called<br />
up for National Service. However,the last<br />
quarter of 1940 was the first quarter not to<br />
be called up so it didn't arise and I went<br />
to Exeter to read Law instead. It would be<br />
interesting to hear others memories of that<br />
camp.<br />
Yours nostalgically<br />
Brian Wilkinson 1952-1959<br />
alex.flemming@websmartware.com<br />
7th April 2015<br />
Hi Geraint<br />
The extensive piece in the last issue of The<br />
Old Stationer by Roger Engledow<br />
attracted my attention. The various<br />
scenarios facing the OSA regarding the<br />
future, especially since the inception of<br />
Stationers Crown Woods Academy,<br />
deserve much credit for their wide-ranging<br />
nature. Indeed I can only think that this all<br />
20
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
boils down to the following points:-<br />
1. Are the members of the OSA (however<br />
this 'vote' may be achieved) interested in a<br />
future for their past?<br />
2. If the vote is no, then all the other<br />
scenarios are pointless. If yes, then a hand<br />
needs to be extended to the future<br />
graduates of SCWA whether by means of<br />
sports societies or whatever. (For those of a<br />
more sporting bias, it would be great to see<br />
actual Old Stationers playing in the teams<br />
of that name, would it not?)<br />
3. Finally, in my last message, 'Exit the<br />
Royal Blue' the deliberate mistake in the<br />
spelling of Harringay West Station (I<br />
could see the place from my room at<br />
home) was only mentioned to me in an<br />
e-mail by my pal MIKE KAHN. Does<br />
this mean that people do not read these<br />
messages or simply there is no feedback at<br />
all or what?<br />
Incidentally, my friendship with Mike<br />
Kahn goes back to 1957 when we started<br />
school together as bewildered little boys.<br />
Considering that he has been a<br />
'professional' Tottenham supporter all this<br />
time, still going regularly to games around<br />
England and Europe and I have been an<br />
Arsenal supporter for as long as I can<br />
remember, these partisan differenceshave<br />
never upset our relationship. Stationers'<br />
Company's School was not on the the 653<br />
(then 253) bus route connecting the two<br />
grounds but it could boast a bus connection<br />
by means of the 233 (W4) route. So I<br />
wonder how many Old Stationers also<br />
enjoy a good friendship despite these<br />
soccer variations?<br />
Kind regards<br />
Alex Flemming 1964-1971<br />
Dear Geraint<br />
peter@chantrell.plus.com<br />
17th April 2015<br />
I have recently received the February copy<br />
of The Old Stationer and was much<br />
surprised to see my picture at the tender<br />
age of 11 on the front cover. Fame at last I<br />
thought, but shortlived. I was sorry to find<br />
myself as one of the four pictures assembled<br />
as part of the obituary to Peter Bullen. We<br />
were friends and sat next to each other for<br />
some time and shared detentions when he<br />
was keen to look out of the window at the<br />
back of the class to watch a dog-fight in<br />
the air pretty close by. Two or three years<br />
back, Peter phoned to ask how things were<br />
with us. This was out of the blue since we<br />
had no contact for the past 60 years. It was<br />
pleasant to chat. So, I was sorry to learn<br />
he had died last year.<br />
The article by JOHN BATHURST<br />
brought back many memories and names<br />
long ago lost in the depths somewhere. It<br />
is a pretty good photograph too. Thank<br />
you for printing it.<br />
Kind Regards<br />
Peter Chantrell 1938-1943<br />
Peter lives in Widemouth Bay near Bude in<br />
Cornwall. Not very many Old Stationers<br />
in these parts!<br />
Contemporaries of Peter that are members<br />
are, KEITH HEWETT 1938-1943, IAN<br />
JONES, 1938-1945and DENIS LOFTS<br />
1938-1943.<br />
Stationers' 1stXI,1959 - Can anyone identify faces? (Photo courtesy of Mike Weatherley)<br />
21
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
OLD STATIONER MEETS PRESIDENT OBAMA<br />
Dear Geraint<br />
14th May 2015<br />
davidsheath@hotmail.co.uk<br />
In June last year I travelled to Normandy<br />
to take part in the D Day Celebrations.<br />
My father, Robert, was a paratrooper in the<br />
US Airborne Division (The Screaming<br />
Eagles 101st) and had been killed on<br />
D-Day in 1944 in the first wave of the<br />
invasion. His plane had crashed at a small<br />
village called Magneville, south of<br />
Cherbourg. All 18 paratroopers and 4 crew<br />
had perished. There is a fitting memorial<br />
just outside the village (see picture) to<br />
commemorate the event. Every year in<br />
June the Mayor and Villagers perform a<br />
small ceremony around the Memorial and<br />
I was invited to attend. It was a very<br />
emotional moment, especially when I met<br />
one of the villagers, Alfred (picture<br />
enclosed), who was 17 at the time of the<br />
crash, and had rushed to the scene and<br />
removed all the bodies (badly burned),<br />
covering them with their parachutes before<br />
taking them by trailer to the local<br />
churchyard for burial. My father was<br />
reburied after the War at the American<br />
War Cemetery (Colleville-sur-Mer)<br />
overlooking Omaha Beach. I was privileged<br />
to be invited, as next of kin, to the June 6th<br />
event at the American War Cemetery<br />
which was hosted by Presidents Hollande<br />
and Obama. It was indeed a great honour<br />
on the occasion for me to meet and shake<br />
hands with the American President. Sadly<br />
I have no 'selfie' of the moment!<br />
I had made the same trip to my father's<br />
grave in 2013 when I was accompanied by<br />
former classmates and good friends<br />
PETER BONNER and MARTIN<br />
BURR and their wives. It was then that<br />
we discovered the crash site at Magneville<br />
and met the Mayor whose grandparents<br />
too had been present on that fateful<br />
morning, He, very kindly presented me<br />
with a small book that had been written<br />
(in French) about the crash on June 6th<br />
and the events preceding it (picture<br />
enclosed). Thanks to 'Beaky' Davis, I was<br />
able to read most of it!<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
David Sheath 1953-1960<br />
OLD STATIONER<br />
UNVEILS NEW SPORTS<br />
HALL<br />
Dear Geraint<br />
davidsheath@hotmail.co.uk<br />
14th May 2015<br />
I was wondering if any Old Stationer has<br />
had a building named after him? Last<br />
December I was honoured to be asked<br />
back to the School, St. Marks Catholic<br />
School, Hounslow, where I had been<br />
Headteacher for 15 years, to open the new<br />
£2 million Sports Hall that had been built<br />
at the rear of the School, on the old school<br />
'MAGNEVILLE Ce Jour La...' 6 Juin 1944<br />
Philippe R. NEKRASSOFF Eric BRISSARD]<br />
(bottom left) DAVID SHEATH and the MAYOR<br />
(below right) David Sheath in France<br />
22
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
field. To my utter astonishment, when I<br />
pulled back the curtain over the brass<br />
plaque in front of the Sports Hall Entrance,<br />
I found that the Sports Hall (picture<br />
enclosed) had been named after me . To<br />
say I was chuffed would be the<br />
understatement. I had no idea as it had<br />
been kept a complete secret from me.<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
David Sheath<br />
The David Sheath Sports Hall<br />
Officially Opens<br />
The Sports Hall was officially opened on<br />
the 10th December at 9.30am. The school<br />
was fortunate to welcome back former<br />
Headteacher, David Sheath as guest of<br />
honour. Mr Sheath was Head of the<br />
school from 1986-2001, and in recognition<br />
of the great contribution he made to the<br />
school the new Sports Hall was named<br />
after him.<br />
David Sheath unveiling the plaque.<br />
The David Sheath<br />
Sports Hall<br />
23
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
far as you roam<br />
GO WEST (OLD MAN!)<br />
In 2012 I discovered that my old friend and Old Stationer,<br />
Martin Burr, and his wife Beverley, had not visited the<br />
American West. I and my wife, Diana, have been fortunate<br />
enough to have made several trips to the Northern and<br />
Southern Rockies, often driving a camper (aka an RV) and<br />
have visited numerous of the spectacular National Parks in the<br />
region. We thus decided to organise a trip in the late spring to<br />
the amazing region of southern Utah & northern Arizona.<br />
We spent many hours discussing, agreeing and booking a<br />
roughly circular tour, starting and finishing in Las Vegas.<br />
Las Vegas<br />
We flew with Virgin to Las Vegas, booking premium<br />
economy, mainly for better seats and to avoid noisy infants,<br />
which can be a pain on long haul flights. The flight was<br />
excellent. We had booked a hotel in Las Vegas — Trump<br />
Tower. It is a 5 star hotel with, thankfully, no casino — the<br />
main hotels on the ‘strip’ have literally acres of slot machines,<br />
crap tables etc. on the ground floor and gaggles of rinsed<br />
haired widows spending their ex husbands’ life insurance<br />
money on the slot machines. The hotel rooms were exceptional,<br />
even having an LCD TV inset into the mirror in the<br />
voluminous bathroom! All this (no breakfast) for £62 per<br />
room, per night!<br />
We spent a day and a half cruising the strip. If you have ever<br />
been to Las Vegas you will appreciate that the place is so over<br />
the top as to be a complete hoot. There are replicas of the<br />
Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids, Venice (St. Marks Square) and<br />
virtually all the wonders of the world.<br />
We lost our obligatory $50 on the slots and blackjack tables,<br />
but none of us were real gamblers, so watching the antics on<br />
the crap tables was pretty amusing. By the way do any<br />
Europeans understand this uniquely American game? We<br />
took in a show in the evening and watched the wonderful<br />
fountains set to operatic music at Belagios before collapsing<br />
into exhausted jet lag sleep.<br />
Zion National Park<br />
After 36 hours in Las Vegas we left. Having picked up a huge<br />
Ford Expedition, a 4x4, we travelled to St. George in Utah<br />
where we stayed overnight. St. George is close to the western<br />
gateway to Zion National Park, our first objective. We drove<br />
from St. George to Zion the next morning and parked our<br />
‘truck’ and took the courtesy coach tour. Zion apparently is a<br />
Hebrew name for Jerusalem and the park is mainly based in a<br />
valley, perhaps a quarter of a mile wide and five miles long<br />
with towering mountains reaching five thousand feet above<br />
the Virgin River on either side. There are rivers, waterfalls,<br />
‘weeping’ rocks and nature trails in the park. It is a scenically<br />
splendid valley. On leaving the coach we picked up our ‘truck’<br />
and travelled east through a mile long tunnel dug during the<br />
Great Depression by ‘unemployed’ labour. On exiting the<br />
tunnel, still within the park, we were confronted by mile after<br />
mile of the most extraordinary rock formations — the like of<br />
which I doubt exists anywhere else in the world. One of the<br />
strangest of these is called ‘Checkerboard Mesa’ (see photo).<br />
Here the rock strata are parallel (surprisingly rare) and are<br />
intersected by rivulets that run perpendicularly down the<br />
mountain. This creates thousands of squares — hence the<br />
name.<br />
Bryce Canyon<br />
On leaving Zion we headed for Bryce Canyon — my wife’s<br />
favourite place on earth! —and stayed in the small town of<br />
Tropic, just outside the park. Tropic is a half-horse town and<br />
Bryce Canyon<br />
24
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
one of the (few) locals confided in us that for groceries she<br />
had to travel to Cedar City — a journey of over two hours,<br />
whilst if she wanted a selection of clothes she travelled to Salt<br />
Lake City — over four hours away.<br />
The next day we visited Bryce Canyon — for my wife and I<br />
- the third visit — and again marvelled at the quite astonishing<br />
rock formations. Here the soft red sandstone has been worn<br />
away into thousands of stacks, called Hoodoos, each one<br />
surmounted by a small cap of harder rock. The Canyon covers<br />
several square miles and can be viewed from the canyon rim<br />
in a number of places. For those with poor hearts be advised<br />
that the rim reaches 9000 feet above sea level. Detailed below<br />
are some of the more fascinating views.<br />
Hell’s Backbone and the Burr Trail<br />
We left Tropic and finally drove a road that I had always<br />
wanted to travel — Hell’s Backbone — but one needs a four<br />
wheel drive and it is impossible in snow. However, were<br />
driving the granddaddy of 4x4s and it was May! The road is a<br />
dirt one, carved out of the mountains in the 1930s by<br />
unemployed labour (the Federal Civilian Conservation<br />
Corps). It is some 40 miles long between Escalante and<br />
Boulder (Utah) and rises 9000 ft to the Aquarius Plateau,<br />
passing such interesting places as Death’s Hollow and<br />
climaxing at Hell’s Backbone Bridge, which spans a deep<br />
gorge between two mountains massifs.<br />
In the event the drive was uneventful, except for the odd large<br />
boulder in the road. The view from the bridge was pretty<br />
spectacular however. On completing this drive we arrived at<br />
Boulder and stopped for lunch at Burrs Trail Diner at the<br />
junction of Burrs Trail and Highway 12. Martin, who of<br />
course is a Burr, was intrigued by the trail, which bears his<br />
name. It wanders for fifty or so miles east, being mostly a dirt<br />
road towards a high plateau in the general direction of Capitol<br />
Reef National park. In the diner, having lunched and bought<br />
the inevitable baseball cap (Burrs Trail) for Martin, we were<br />
told that some eleven miles down the trail there was an<br />
impressive canyon called Long Canyon some seven miles<br />
long. We promptly decided to make a detour and visit this. We<br />
passed such evocative places as Deer Creek Gulch and arrived<br />
at Long Canyon. It turned out to be spectacular. Try to<br />
imagine a dirt track winding along the canyon floor, which is<br />
about 60 yards wide. On either side are sheer cliffs of dazzling<br />
red rock over 200 feet high. You might also image the Indians<br />
on top of the cliffs waiting for the cowboys below!<br />
Capitol Reef, Arches National Monument<br />
and Monument Valley<br />
Leaving Burrs Trail we rejoined Highway 12, heading north<br />
to Torrey, another half¬horse town, still in Utah, where we<br />
overnighted. That evening we found a gourmet restaurant<br />
virtually in the middle of nowhere. Apparently people travel<br />
for scores of miles to eat there.<br />
The next day was to be our most interesting, although in<br />
unexpected ways. We visited Capitol Reef National Park, so<br />
named as one of the mountains was said to look like the<br />
Capitol building in Washington. None of us thought so,<br />
however, and the park was a disappointment, except for two<br />
adjacent mountains (see photograph) — remind you of<br />
anything?<br />
Capitol Reef<br />
We left the park early and headed east for Hanksville, which<br />
is the furthest north we were to travel, and is at the northern<br />
end of highway 95, the route to Natural Bridges National<br />
Monument and thence Mexican Hat and Monument Valley.<br />
On route to Hanksville we passed through an area of ‘bad<br />
lands’ i.e. no trees or vegetation and sombre black mountains<br />
on either side of the road — quite depressing. It turned out to<br />
be a rough drive as we ran into the mother of all hail storms<br />
with heavy black skies. The hail buffeted the 4x4 for nearly an<br />
hour, creating a din that made it difficult to speak let alone<br />
drive. We fully expected to see dents on the bonnet and roof<br />
when we stopped — but surprisingly our truck was<br />
undamaged..<br />
I turned the wheel over to Martin when we stopped for lunch<br />
at Hanksville. The hail, of course, had stopped by then, leaving<br />
a coating of ice on the windscreen (aka windshield). The two<br />
hour drive from Hanksville south to Natural Bridges National<br />
Monument was uneventful, albeit along a high plateau, about<br />
7,000 feet above sea level. The Natural Bridges National<br />
Monument was a bit of a disappointment. Although there are<br />
three natural rock bridges to be seen they are not as impressive<br />
as those in Arches National park, some 150 miles to the north<br />
east.<br />
On leaving NBNM it was my turn to drive again and we<br />
headed for Mexican Hat. Shortly we came to the junction of<br />
the 95 and 261 highways. Our satnav instructed us, as they do,<br />
to stay on the 95 and head east, then south on Highway 191<br />
and then west on 163, a total of some 75 miles to reach<br />
Mexican Hat. The map we had, however, showed that the<br />
alternative 261 went due south to Mexican Hat, a distance of<br />
only 25 miles. There was a road sign at the junction which<br />
muttered something about switchback roads, and speed and<br />
heavy vehicle restrictions but we blissfully ignored this and set<br />
off down the 261. It was a pretty road, and for the first twenty<br />
or so miles was fairly flat. Then we crested a small rise, the<br />
tarmac road ceased and we were presented with an awe<br />
inspiring panorama. We were on the top of a cliff, more like a<br />
sheer precipice, about 700-1000 feet above a vast plain. We<br />
could make out Mexican hat, a high stone stack capped with<br />
a larger harder rock in the shape of a Mexican sombrero, and<br />
in the distance perhaps as much as fifty miles away, we could<br />
make out Monument Valley, one of our objectives for the day.<br />
Wondering where the highway went we looked to our left and<br />
saw to our trepidation that it had degenerated into a dirt track,<br />
about 30 feet wide inching its way down the escarpment with<br />
a one in fifteen slope — not quite Muswell Hill — more<br />
Denton Rd! This dirt track hugged the face of the precipice,<br />
wending its way around blind buttresses for some three miles<br />
25
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
to the bottom. We now realised why the satnav had told us to<br />
take the long route! After some debate, and realising that to<br />
backtrack would take hours, we determined to tackle this dirt<br />
track. We carefully read the notice at the start of the descent<br />
— no more than 5 mph and no heavy or long vehicles. The<br />
descent was in second gear, on the wrong side of the road,<br />
hugging the cliff face and with ample use of the horn! It took<br />
nearly an hour to get down — a distance of some 3 miles! We<br />
passed only two vehicles on the way down, one of which we<br />
were astonished to see dragging a boat up the precipice!<br />
Obviously he was a local!. At the bottom we uttered a sigh of<br />
relief and headed for Monument Valley, some 40-50 miles<br />
away. We were now in Arizona.<br />
Monument Valley is within a Navajo Indian Reservation and<br />
is an astonishing collection of sandstone buttes, mesas and<br />
stacks, some of which reach over 1000 feet above the plateau<br />
floor — which itself is some 6,000 ft above sea level. The<br />
valley is far from any significant habitation and was made<br />
famous by those John Ford westerns made in the mid 20th<br />
century. There is even a viewing point named after John Ford.<br />
The Navajo have made the Valley a money spinner and charge<br />
for access to the 17 miles of track within the valley. The track<br />
is not for the faint hearted or saloon cars, being extremely<br />
rough. Ideal, of course, for rented 4x4s! Some of the most<br />
spectacular formations include the ‘Mittens’ and the ‘Three<br />
sisters’ (see photos).<br />
After Monument Valley we overnighted in Kayenta, a small<br />
nondescript town of shacks, trailers and flatpack houses.<br />
Route 66 and Flagstaff<br />
From Kayenta we drove south west towards Flagstaff, skirting<br />
the Painted Desert. We stopped briefly at Sunset Crater<br />
The Grand Canyon. Sedona and the Petrified Forest<br />
volcano National Monument to see an extinct (?) volcano and<br />
acres of lava fields from an eruption some 1000 years ago.<br />
Arriving at Flagstaff we found our vacation home, which we<br />
had rented for 6 days, as a base, as we had felt, correctly, that<br />
by now we would be ‘canyoned out’ It turned out to be a<br />
welcome stop, with a well kitted house — which included —<br />
of course — four televisions!<br />
The Grand Canyon. Sedona and the Petrified Forest<br />
After a day of rest/shopping we visited the Grand Canyon,<br />
which is some sixty or so miles north of Flagstaff It is over<br />
6,000 ft deep, and 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide.<br />
The North Rim is higher than the south rim. On the day of<br />
our visit it was too windy for fixed wing flights over the<br />
Canyon and we didn’t fancy a helicopter ride, so we took the<br />
tour bus. The problem with the Grand Canyon is that is too<br />
big and one’s eyes cannot really adjust to the vastness of it.<br />
Still it is impressive. I gather from another Old Stationer,<br />
Roger Engledow, that to really appreciate it one has to trek<br />
down to the valley floor on a two day jaunt.<br />
After a golf day we next went to Sedona, a typical cowboy<br />
town set in splendid red rock canyons. It is very much a tourist<br />
trap and now one of the most visited places in the USA.<br />
However, the drive to it, down Highway 89A, is beautiful and<br />
the town has immense charm. There is a sign you can see on<br />
entering the town that states “God created the Grand Canyon<br />
but he lives in Sedona” (See photo of ‘Bell Rock’).<br />
The following day we tracked east on Route 66 in the<br />
direction of Gallup, New Mexico — what a dump! — to the<br />
Petrified Forest. This is an area of a former primeval forest<br />
that has seen the trees petrified. Large chunks of petrified logs<br />
are scattered across several square miles. (see photo). Whilst it<br />
26
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
is illegal to pick up any fragment in the park, once outside<br />
there are many shops selling fragments should you care to buy<br />
them. On the way back to Flagstaff we passed the Meteor<br />
Crater. This is now run as a commercial enterprise and the<br />
charges to see only a huge hole in the ground are truly<br />
exhorbitant. We did not stop!<br />
Lake Havasu City and London Bridge<br />
Las Vegas and Home<br />
Finally we left Lake Havasu and travelled the short distance<br />
back to Las Vegas and home. An enjoyable but exhausting trip<br />
of some 2,500 miles and six national parks.<br />
After Flagstaff we headed for Lake Havasu City along I 40<br />
(formally Route 66). Lake Havasu was formed from the<br />
Colorado River once the Parker Dam was built. It is on<br />
Navajo land but was bought by an entrepreneur, Robert P<br />
MeCulloch, in 1963 where he established a city on the east<br />
side of the lake.<br />
In order to promote his new city he decided to offer free<br />
homes to the Apollo Astronauts and extraordinarily purchased<br />
the old London Bridge — no he did not think he was buying<br />
Tower Bridge, which is an urban myth. He spent $7.5 million<br />
disassembling the bridge, shipping it and re-assembling it. In<br />
order to make best use of the bridge, he arranged for the<br />
Colorado River to be diverted, creating an island which is now<br />
connected to the east bank of the lake by the bridge!<br />
All this has proved successful as the city from nothing in 1963<br />
has developed to a population of over 50,000 today. The city<br />
is a haven for watersports and even has artificial beaches —<br />
catering for weekenders, since the nearest coast, California, is<br />
several hundred miles away. California, in fact, starts on the<br />
other side of the lake and a small fee will allow you to take the<br />
ferry across. On the other side is an Indian reservation, and<br />
being federal land the Indians have built a casino there (no<br />
gambling casinos are allowed on state land in California). The<br />
Indians are clearly getting their own back on the palefaces!<br />
Lake Havasu City and London Bridge<br />
27
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Dear All<br />
Here is the attachment I recently received from Mike Bonner, noted<br />
right back of OSFC many years back – and of course, brother of Peter<br />
and like me also 1951 intake. He originally sent this to John Taylor,<br />
also same intake, who had the idea of sending an abridged version to<br />
Arsenal. This resulted in it forming part of the programme for the<br />
Arsenal vs Liverpool game a week or so ago. Hope of interest even to<br />
those supporters of the Lillywhite boys – you will find still worth a<br />
read as there is an almost kindly mention of the likes of Blanchflower,<br />
Mackay etc. at one point - maybe edited out from revised version?<br />
Regards<br />
Don<br />
North of The Angel<br />
The Angel in Islington, that is. It’s Highbury, a stadium which<br />
evokes love locally and derision elsewhere, especially at the other<br />
end of the Seven Sisters’ Road close to the White Hart Tavern,<br />
home of Tottenham Hotspur. It’s May 2004 and the football<br />
season – the Premiership anyway – has drawn to a close. The<br />
Gunners have lifted the league trophy without a single defeat<br />
home or away and are being hailed as the best Arsenal team ever.<br />
The day after clinching the title one national daily carried the<br />
views of several past players on their all-time best elevens. They<br />
were all different, of course, though unsurprisingly Liam Brady<br />
and Thierry Henry figured in each. Being of an age to remember<br />
most of the outfield players mentioned I found it fascinating<br />
reading, and could readily understand the rationale behind most<br />
of the selections. We’ve had some decent goalkeepers in our time,<br />
too – Swindin, Wilson, Seaman and company, as well as the<br />
immaculate Pat Jennings, who was most pundits’ choice. He<br />
wasn’t the best, though. That accolade will only ever belong to<br />
the great Jack Kelsey.<br />
Jack was a quiet, blond Welshman with film-star good looks who<br />
(it seemed to me at the time) steered a succession of very<br />
moderate Arsenal teams almost single-handedly through the<br />
turbulent fifties into the clearer water of the post-Joe Mercer<br />
sixties, albeit in the shadow of the dazzling skills of Blanchflower<br />
and Mackay’s all-stars over at Spurs. He was a talented and<br />
courageous ‘keeper and that rarity: a man’s man who was<br />
attractive to women, too. A great servant of the club, you could<br />
meet him serving in the supporters’ shop after training. Quite a<br />
few players had local business interests – you’d always get served<br />
by Wally Barnes in his sports shop (especially after his broken leg<br />
in the 1952 Cup Final against Newcastle ended his playing<br />
career), and Alex James’ sweet-shop was en route to the ground<br />
from Finsbury Park Station. The trouble with him was that<br />
no-one I knew could<br />
actually recall Alex’s playing<br />
days, with the result that<br />
almost any male assistant<br />
could palm himself off as<br />
the great man. “He was in<br />
today. Served me himself ”<br />
was a common claim in the<br />
pre-match exchanges.<br />
Jack Kelsey inspired the sort<br />
of confidence fifties’ supporters had no right to expect in an<br />
endless succession of suspect Arsenal defences. It wasn’t as<br />
though his influence spread far upfield, like the later Shilton’s, or<br />
certainly Schmeichel’s at Manchester United. It was in the goal<br />
area where Jack reigned supreme; the penalty spot marked the<br />
farthest limit of his authority. He didn’t so much patrol the goalline<br />
as prowl a cage, and all of us North Bankers (hardly anyone<br />
I knew stood at the Clock End) had our brittle hopes ransomed<br />
there. For an hour and a half we would watch them attacked<br />
from all sides by dark forces with strange kits and unfamiliar<br />
names, protected only by one man’s unwavering skill and courage.<br />
And we trusted him completely.<br />
I’ve always thought goalkeepers get off rather lightly when<br />
apportioning blame for goals conceded, but I can honestly say<br />
Jack was never ever at fault. The ball found his net often enough<br />
in those days, but such shots were of the unstoppable variety and<br />
usually as a result of some defensive cock-up. Every team visiting<br />
Highbury at that time seemed to possess at least one player<br />
whose mischievous skills – I’m talking the likes of Matthews,<br />
Shackleton and Finney now – wreaked the kind of devilry to<br />
which the straightforward heroics of Jack Kelsey had no answer.<br />
Whatever the score, however disappointing the performance,<br />
nothing ever diminished our faith in him.<br />
I didn’t actually go to Highbury that often compared to some of<br />
my pals – I had a serious cash-flow problem, for a start – and my<br />
visits became even less frequent once I started playing regularly<br />
myself. Maybe that’s why I can often recall so much of the detail<br />
– each match seemed endowed with its own peculiar uniqueness.<br />
Funnily enough, some of my best mates were of the Tottenham<br />
persuasion – Tony Balding, for a start, a gifted footballer himself<br />
who played with the sort of neat economy of movement that<br />
seemed to characterize their sides … Anyway, enough about that<br />
lot. I made more of an effort when the F.A. Cup came round,<br />
though, and one of these occasions was probably the last time I<br />
ever saw Jack play. It was a home tie against one of the Lancashire<br />
clubs – the Big Bs, Bolton, Burnley, Blackburn maybe, or even<br />
the great Blackpool team, all of whom I think were in the old<br />
First Division at the time. I had the usual isolationist ignorance<br />
of most Londoners at that time, and imagined these all to be<br />
huge, million inhabitants-plus cities with great stadia to rival our<br />
own. Much, much later I was to visit all four. Needless to say, I<br />
was deeply humbled when I recalled the defeats they regularly<br />
inflicted on us with such apparently limited resources.<br />
Jack, like all goalkeepers, had his own superstitious ritual prior to<br />
kick-off. Fans would roar encouragement as he made his way<br />
goalward before kick-off, and he would respond with a shy,<br />
solitary wave of the hand. He’d throw down his gloves in the<br />
back of the net, mark out the corners of the goal-area with the<br />
heel of his boot, then walk the length of the goal-line and kick<br />
both posts. He’d bend from side to side and jump twice in the air,<br />
tucking his knees tightly into his chest before picking his gloves<br />
28
up from where he’d thrown them and tapping imaginary mud<br />
from the toes of his boots. He’d swing both arms backwards in a<br />
circular motion before jumping and hanging momentarily from<br />
the crossbar. And so it went on, his every movement quietly<br />
monitored by the approving fans crammed into the terrace<br />
behind, part of the 60,000-plus gate then usual on such occasions.<br />
For a moment I thought ahead to the final whistle and the crush<br />
towards the exit on Avenell Road. I had a horror of tumbling<br />
down the steep steps and being trampled on by thousands of our<br />
own supporters.<br />
We won the toss and Joe Mercer chose to defend our end. The<br />
Gunners had just finished warming up and there was just time to<br />
watch Jack Kelsey complete the rest of his routine before kickoff.<br />
I hoped he’d find time during a lull in proceedings to turn<br />
and chat to some of the spectators, which he sometimes did. I’d<br />
been at the front of the crowd a few times and wondered if I’d<br />
ever have the nerve to come out with the sort of quip that made<br />
him turn and grin in acknowledgement. I’d have given a lot to do<br />
it, but I didn’t then and it’s too late now. This was a match we<br />
should have won on paper. A shame, as they say, it was being<br />
played on grass. Besides, I hadn’t spotted Lishman or Roper in<br />
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
the line-up and Jimmy Logie had been injured for weeks. I’d<br />
check on the team-sheet at half-time – someone had always<br />
finished with their match-day programme by then.<br />
I’d felt vaguely uneasy in the seconds before kick-off but couldn’t<br />
put my finger on why. The crowd, too, were strangely silent. Then<br />
someone to my right rustled his programme noisily in agitation<br />
and seemed to speak for the whole of the North Bank as he<br />
pointed almost accusingly towards a Jack Kelsey now busily<br />
adjusting his stockings and yelled “He’s not punched his gloves!”<br />
Dismayed fans were now staring anxiously in the direction of the<br />
Arsenal goalkeeper. Something was badly wrong. “He hasn’t<br />
punched his gloves!” the man repeated. “No, he hasn’t,” I silently<br />
mouthed, horrified.<br />
The game couldn’t start yet. The ritual wasn’t complete. Unmoved,<br />
the referee raised the whistle to his mouth to signal the start of<br />
play. This couldn’t be happening. Just as he blew for the off Jack<br />
jumped lightly on his toes and punched his gloved left hand<br />
once, twice, in quick succession with his right. There was a huge<br />
communal sigh of relief from all sides of the ground. The match<br />
was on, now. Once again we were in with a shout.<br />
DRAMA PRODUCTIONS AT STATIONERS' COMPANY'S SCHOOL<br />
Having collected a number of programmes of Drama<br />
productions that have taken place at Stationers' over the years,<br />
I thought the list of productions may be of interest to the<br />
thespians of the Old Stationers Association. One of the<br />
problems over the years, is that sometimes there is no date of<br />
any kind on the programme, so the only clues are the names of<br />
the actors who appear on the programme. Who remembers the<br />
production of 'It's Spreading.... with The Company'? There<br />
were 14 items in 'It's Spreading, in fact 15 as the first item was<br />
highlighted as, -1 'Before the Beginning Began', and the last<br />
item in this section was 14 Concerto for Homo Sapiens with<br />
Gramophone in 3 movements! The dates and names of the<br />
production only, in this compilation, have been gleaned from<br />
information from the back of the programme that lists<br />
productions over, say a decade, but the information is not<br />
always correct!<br />
1947 DR. KNOCK December 1947<br />
1949 TWELFTH NIGHT December 1949<br />
1950 HENRY IV December 1950<br />
1953 ANDROCLES AND THE LION February 1953<br />
(Photographs of this production hung in prominent places in<br />
the corridor of SCS, I remember when I arrived at Stationers'<br />
in 1954.Ed.)<br />
1957 MASQUE OF THE COMPANY May 1957<br />
1958 CAKES AND ALE December 1958<br />
1960 SCUTTLEBOOMS TREASURE April 1960<br />
1961 TWELFTH NIGHT February1961<br />
1961 THE LADY'S NOT FOR BURNING November 1961<br />
1962 LES PLAIDEURS April 1962<br />
1962 IT'S SPREADING Before the Beginning Began, took<br />
place in July 1962 which included A Selection from Cakes and<br />
Ale and 'Spreading the News'', a comedy in one act by Lady<br />
Gregory. A few members of the Association who are members<br />
at the present time and were behind the scenes at that time are<br />
A.W.Dunlop, 1955-1962; A.W.Henfrey, 1956-1963;<br />
M.J.Heath,1955-1962 who are named in the programme; and<br />
the list of actors in 'The Company' for 'It's Spreading' are shown<br />
on the front of the programme. Members of the OSA today who<br />
were in 'The Company' are Alan Holmwood, 1960-1967; Philip<br />
Miall, 1960-1967; Anthony Pigden, 1961-1967; John Rowlands,<br />
1961-1968; Martin Slatford, 1961-1968; Michael Pinfield,<br />
1960-1966.<br />
1962 BILLY BUDD December 1962<br />
1963 MACBETH by William Shakespeare, took place on<br />
12th,13th, 14th December 1963.<br />
This production of Macbeth, was directed by Mr P.L.B.Woodroffe.<br />
Members of the Cast in this production who are present<br />
members of the OSA include Anthony Mash, 1961-1968;<br />
Robert Assirati,1958-1965; Alan Burgess, 1963-1970;<br />
C.A.Woodhams, Construction.<br />
Apart from one scene at the King's Palace in England, the action<br />
of the play takes place in Scotland in the eleventh century in the<br />
castles at Forres, Inverness and Fife, and in and around the castle<br />
of Dunsinane.<br />
1964 THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR by Nikolai Gogol<br />
was performed on the 3rd, 4th and 5th December 1964. In this<br />
programme Anthony Mash acted Hlestakov, a junior official;<br />
M.Evans, Construction; Mr J.Leeming and D.A. Owen on<br />
Lighting, 1960-1967; Mr G.R.Dolamore; Stage Management.<br />
1965 LES FOURBERIES DE SCAPIN April 1965.<br />
1965 THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, December 1965<br />
1966 THE LONG AND THE SHORT AND THE TALL<br />
December 1966<br />
1967 THE ALCHEMIST December 1967<br />
1968 SERJEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE December 1968,<br />
by John Arden took place on the 4th,5th,6th December 1968. In<br />
29
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
this production the part of Private Attercliffe was played by<br />
Stephen Jeffreys, 1961-1968; Bludgeon, the Bargee by Martin<br />
Lawrence, 1963-1970; The Constable by Tim Westbrook, 1962-<br />
1969; The Mayor, Nigel Dant, 1963-1971; Officer of Dragoons<br />
by Graham Hobbs, 1962-1969; Design by Keith M. Hewett;<br />
Communication and Painting, by Geoffrey T. Dent; Lighting<br />
and Sound by John Leeming; Front of House, Daniel J. Bone.<br />
1969 HOBSON'S CHOICE December 1969<br />
1970 THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS December 1970<br />
1971 THE HAPPY APPLE December 1971<br />
1973 OF MICE AND MEN April 1973 by John Steinbeck<br />
took place on the 4th,5th, 6th April, 1973. In this production<br />
Carlson was played by Dave Fuller; Lighting and Sound, John<br />
Leeming;<br />
“It's gonna be nice there. Ain't gonna be no trouble, no fights.<br />
Nobody ever gonna hurt nobody, or steal from 'em. It's gonna be<br />
– nice.”<br />
The place across the river which George and Lennie, his simple<br />
travelling companion, hope to reach is familiar, in one form or<br />
another, to the dreams of most men. The play is set in the 1930s,<br />
but its theme, and the timeless quest involved, retains, perhaps<br />
more than ever, today.<br />
John Steinbeck was born in California in 1902 and educated at<br />
Salinas High School and Stanford University. His first book,<br />
Cup of Gold, was published in 1929. He wrote several articles<br />
about the injustice suffered by the displaced persons of California,<br />
the migratory agricultural workers, and in 1939 'The Grapes of<br />
Wrath' was published. Controversial feeling reached such a pitch<br />
that Steinbeck had to leave the United States for several years,<br />
including the war period, and he travelled extensively in Europe<br />
as a war columnist. His later novels include, Of Mice and Men,<br />
from which this play is adapted. In 1940 he was awarded the<br />
Pullitzer Prize and in 1962, the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature.<br />
1973 PASSION, POISON and PETRIFACTION July 1973<br />
1973 SWEENY TODD December 1973. A Victorian<br />
Melodrama by Alan Rosser was produced in the same year, on<br />
the 12th,13th, and 14th December , 1973. Dave Fuller, 1967-<br />
1974 acted the part of Mark Ingesgrie. Michael Morrison, 1967-<br />
1974 was the Stage Manager; Ian Morrison, 1970-1976 in the<br />
Stage Team. Sound by John Leeming and Raymond Borella,<br />
1968-1975; Make-up, Mary Pryor. Hot pies will be sold in the<br />
interval!<br />
1974 THE GHOST TRAIN by Arnold Ridley took place on<br />
the 11th,12th and 13th December 1974. Teddie Deakin was<br />
played by Richard Griffiths,1968-1975; Herbert Price by Richard<br />
Comerford 1968-1975; John Leeming and Raymond Borella,<br />
1968-1975, Sound and Lighting; Mary Pryor, Make-up.<br />
The Ghost train was first performed at the St. Martin's Theatre<br />
in London in 1925 and its author was a young actor named<br />
Arthur Ridley, better known now as 'Godfrey' of 'Dads Army'<br />
on TV. One might ask why 'The Ghost Train' has lasted when<br />
so many other plays of that fragile theatrical era have vanished.<br />
For at first sight 'The Ghost Train' is just another example of<br />
that popular twenties artform – the comedy thriller. But 'The<br />
Ghost Train' has outlived the rest because of its superb situation<br />
and the sheer suspense of its plot. Who could think of a more<br />
tense situation than to have six people stranded for the night in<br />
a deserted Cornish station haunted by the ghost of a train which<br />
crashed twenty years previously! Linked with the situation, have<br />
traditionally gone the sound effects that are now part of the<br />
play's reputation. In 'The Ghost Train' it is the drama and<br />
comedy of the situation that has carried the play along for three<br />
generations,<br />
1975 ERNIE'S INCREDIBLE HALLUCINATIONS by<br />
Alan Ayckbourn took place on the 10th,11th, 12th December<br />
1975 followed by THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND.<br />
Members of the OSA today who took part in the first of these<br />
productions are Andrew Devon, 1972-1979 acting the part<br />
of'Mum'. In The Real Inspector Hound, Ian Morrison, acted the<br />
part of 'The Body', and was Stage Manager and helped out on<br />
Business Management. Michael Morrison,1967-1974 was in the<br />
stage team. John Leeming was on Lighting and Sound. Peter<br />
Maddigan, 1969-1976 was on Front of House.<br />
1976 CRACKERS, A Christmas Revue, took place on the<br />
15th,16th, and 17th December 1976. Mary Pryor and Michael<br />
Fitch sang in the Opening Chorus. John Leeming was again on<br />
Sound.<br />
1977 ANDROCLES AND THE LION by George Bernard<br />
Shaw, and LITTLE BROTHER LITTLE SISTER by David<br />
Campton, took place on the 14th,15th and 16th December 1977.<br />
In this production Charles Zarb acted the part of Ferrovius;<br />
Michael Howell, 1973-1980, acted the part of Spintho.<br />
The Stage Crew included, Michael Morrison, Keith Roberts,<br />
1971-1978, and Glen Catlin 1971-1978. John Leeming on<br />
Sound. Mary Pryor on Make-up.<br />
ANDROCLES. The central theme of Androcles and the Lion is<br />
that men must have something worth dying for to make life<br />
worth living; in other words, an end outside oneself is essential<br />
for human existence. Shaw regarded religion as something to<br />
30
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
31
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
inspire people to strive for a better world where every one would<br />
be able to use his individual aptitudes to the full for the common<br />
good, unhampered by any form of class or racial restrictions.<br />
There are Shaw Theatres in Niagara on the Lake in Canada,<br />
which are extremely popular. Ed.<br />
LITTLE BROTHER, LITTLE SISTER<br />
A macabre fairy tale, set in a deep shelter, where two adolescent<br />
children have spent their entire lives. The play concerns the day<br />
when they finally challenge the only authority they know:<br />
ancient cook armed with a mincing machine. "A beguiling and<br />
touching fable of innocence, (quote) with a fine flourish of of<br />
Carrollian fantasy, and a nice ear for irony."<br />
1978 MAN ALIVE by John Dighton, took place on the<br />
13th,14th,15th December 1978. Waldorf was played by Mike<br />
Howell, 1973-1980; the stage crew included Ian<br />
Morrison,1970-1977; Mark Willison, 1973-1980; Paul<br />
Clague,1973-1980. John Leeming on Sound. Mary Pryor on<br />
Make-up. Dave Fuller, 1967-1974, printed the programmes.<br />
1979 CABARET and UNMAN WITTERING ZIGO by<br />
Giles Cooper.<br />
1980 CATCH 22 by James Heller, and TOP TABLE by<br />
Margaret Wood took place on 10th,11th, and 12th<br />
December,1980. The time of action is World War II. The place<br />
of the action is an air base on an island somewhere in the<br />
Mediterranaen.<br />
Richard Farrow took the part of the Patient's Father. Ian<br />
Morrison as Stage Manager. John Leeming on Sound. Mary<br />
Pryor on Make-up. Liam Gallagher and Richard Jenkins 1974-<br />
1981 both on Front of House.<br />
CATCH 22. Although comedy is uppermost, our theme this<br />
evening is the futility of war. Catch 22 will be new to our<br />
audience in this stage version and – as in the premier production<br />
in America – many new roles are doubled or trebled.<br />
1981 HERE IS YOUR LIFE by Bob Wilson took place on the<br />
9th, 10th, and 11th December 1981.<br />
Gabb was acted by Alan Dobbie, 1978-1983.<br />
BLACK COMEDY by Peter Shaffer was performed the same<br />
evening.<br />
1982 CINDERELLA by Norman Robbins, took place on<br />
December 15th,16th,17th 1982. Euthanasia was acted by Mike<br />
Fitch; Stage Manager, Ian Morrison; Mary Pryor, Make-up;<br />
Sound, John Leeming.<br />
This was the last production in the School Hall at Stationers and<br />
when Euthanasia, played by Mike Fitch, daughter of Baron and<br />
Baroness Hardup of Stoneybroke Mansion, was caught with<br />
stolen silver and about to be sent to prison, the lines that brought<br />
the house down were 'Don't send me to the Langham, don't send<br />
me to the Langham!!<br />
The significance of the last sentence, is that the Langham School<br />
was the new name for the amalgamation of Stationers' Company's<br />
School with William Forster School!<br />
SUMMARY OF PRODUCERS<br />
S.C.Nunn had been Headmaster since 1936.<br />
The 1963 production of 'Macbeth' was directed by Mr<br />
P.L.B.Woodroffe, as well as producing 'The Government<br />
Inspector' in December 1964.<br />
In 1965 the 'Devil's Disciple' was produced by Mr Michael Hay.<br />
In 1966 The Long, the Short and the Tall was produced by Mr<br />
Jim Cooke.<br />
1967 Mr Clive Blenkinsop produced 'The Alchemist'.<br />
In 1968 'Serjeant Musgrave's Dance' was produced by Mr Jim<br />
Cooke. Was he not a former pupil of the School?<br />
In 1969 'Hobson's Choice' was produced was produced by Mr<br />
Clive Blenkinsop with Martin Lawrence.<br />
In 1970 'Servant of Two Masters' was produced by Mr Clive<br />
Blenkinsop.<br />
In April 1973, Ian Paterson directed,'Of Mice and Men',<br />
followed in the December 1973 by 'Sweeny Todd' also directed<br />
by Ian Paterson. 'Ghost Train' in December, 1974, and the<br />
Double Bill of 'Ernie's Incredible Hallucinations' and 'The Real<br />
Inspector Hound' in December, 1975, followed by 'Crackers' in<br />
December 1976 were directed by Ian Paterson. In December,<br />
1977, Derek Reid, directed 'Little Brother, Little Sister' in<br />
another Double Bill with 'Androcles and the Lion' directed by<br />
Ian Paterson. 'Man Alive' followed in December, 1978, 'Unman,<br />
Wittering and Zigo' in 1979, and another Double Bill of 'Catch<br />
22' and 'Top Table' in 1980 with direction again by Ian Paterson.<br />
In 1981, the double Bill was 'Here is Your Life' and ' Black<br />
Comedy'. The last production of Drama at Stationers' took place<br />
in the School Hall was 'Cinderella' and marked this phenomenal<br />
record of over 10 years of productions by Ian Paterson in the last<br />
decade of the existence of the Stationers' Company's School,<br />
now brought to a premature end!<br />
These notes have been compiled with available evidence of<br />
fourteen programmes. This is a start to have a fuller<br />
documentation of those who contributed to the very successful<br />
drama productions at Stationers'. I am aware that 'The Guest'<br />
performed at Wisbech during the War, is missing, which has<br />
been recorded in a recent magazine. Gaps from 1930 to 1960,<br />
particularly are missing because programmes and magazines<br />
need to be further researched. Also, there are a number of<br />
teachers not necessary Drama Teachers who produced or<br />
directed plays. Those who had a flair for Thespianism in the<br />
wider meaning of the word, have not been included because they<br />
did not appear in this sample. D.J.O'Connell is little mentioned<br />
in this article and together with S.C.Nunn were very keen on<br />
Drama directing many a production. Frank Dash, R.A.Robertson,<br />
John Morris and Peter Huke et al. are missing in the credits at<br />
this stage.<br />
Old programmes and School Magazines will be the main source<br />
for such information! While doing this exercise neither were<br />
available to me Ed.<br />
During the 1950s Mr S.C. Nunn and Mr D.J.O'Connell were<br />
the producers of many of the drama productions. Mr<br />
D.J.O'Connell had been on the Staff since circa 1930 and Mr<br />
32
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
WILLIAM GEORGE<br />
ERNEST COTTRELL<br />
1923-2014<br />
School Dates: 1935-1940<br />
It is interesting to note that George<br />
Cottrell was the last man standing of the<br />
1935 starters!<br />
wolram@btintemet.com<br />
26~ August 2014<br />
Dear Gordon<br />
It is with great sadness I write to let you<br />
know that my father George died suddenly<br />
last Thursday, 21st August, 2014 aged 90.<br />
He had been in reasonable health, apart<br />
from his Alzheimers, until early last week<br />
and I am just pleased for him that he did<br />
not suffer at the end.<br />
With my good wishes,<br />
Mike Cottrell<br />
gordon.rose@talk2 1 .com<br />
Dear Mike<br />
Thank you for your recent email even<br />
though it was sad news. I had the pleasure<br />
OBITUARIES<br />
of playing with George in my early days<br />
with the O.S.F.C. when I guess he was in<br />
his late twenties. He is yet another of our<br />
players of that vintage who have suffered<br />
with Alzheimers in their later life. I have<br />
for some time believed that it was the<br />
result of playing with the heavy leather<br />
ball and the amount of heading they did.<br />
It is also a factor in the senior game.<br />
My very best wishes to you and the family.<br />
Gordon<br />
Address by MIKE COTTRELL<br />
William George Ernest Cottrell was born<br />
on 18th October 1923 in the St Pancras<br />
area of North London, the eldest child of<br />
William & Florence. Within six weeks<br />
George had the first of his brushes with<br />
death when he contracted pneumonia. He<br />
was not expected to live and was given the<br />
last rites after which he miraculously<br />
recovered. His early years were spent in<br />
various locations around North London<br />
and in the early 1930s the family, now<br />
increased by a sister Marjorie and a brother<br />
Harry, moved to Crouch End. It was here<br />
that in 1935 George attended the local<br />
Stationers’ School. With the exception of<br />
French and Art he was a star pupil and<br />
regularly came top of his form. As the<br />
country descended into war the school was<br />
evacuated in September 1939 to Wisbech<br />
in Cambridgeshire George and Harry<br />
were billeted together with a local family.<br />
Their education continued at the Wisbech<br />
Grammar School using the buildings on a<br />
time-share basis with that school’s pupils.<br />
The following summer saw George<br />
complete his General Schools Certificate<br />
thus enabling him to return alone to his<br />
parents in Crouch End. Following his<br />
return with the help of a master an<br />
interview for George was arranged through<br />
the Headmasters Bureau with a firm of<br />
City accountants. He subsequently joined<br />
Sissons, Bersey, Gain, Vincent & Co in<br />
August 1940. Two months later George<br />
had his second brush with death when a<br />
German bomb landed right outside his<br />
house bang in the middle of the road. The<br />
resulting explosion blew out the front of<br />
Back row from left: Jim Barry; ?; Les Wingrove;<br />
Bob Beckley; ?; Peter Hodgson. Front row from left:<br />
Dereck Pyrke; ?; Laurie Battell; George Sabini.<br />
33
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
Back row: Colin Lea; ?; Bernie Kelly; Ronnie Day;<br />
Brian Cook; Dereck Pyrke; Dickie Rundle. Front<br />
Row: Brian Owers; George Sabini; George Cottrell;<br />
David Owers: Stan Dickens.<br />
the house and George awoke under a pile<br />
of rubble as the ceiling fell in on him. His<br />
parents were unharmed as they were safely<br />
tucked-up in the air-raid shelter which<br />
George had considered to be for cissies.<br />
Also during this period of the Blitz, George,<br />
being a young and more active member of<br />
the accountants’ staff, was press-ganged<br />
several times a week for night-time roof<br />
duty. This entailed wielding a long-handled<br />
broom and knocking any incendiary devices<br />
that had landed on the roof into the street<br />
below. What fun this must have been for a<br />
17 year-old. In 1942 at the suggestion of a<br />
friend, he joined a tennis club which was<br />
affiliated to the local Methodist church. It<br />
was here one afternoon that he was attracted<br />
to a somewhat sunburnt and red-faced<br />
young woman out on court. He turned to<br />
his friend and asked “who is the strawberry<br />
tart?” What a description of the lady who<br />
one day would become his future wife! Her<br />
name was Mollie and they soon started<br />
stepping out together. Their courting<br />
continued apace until the following summer<br />
when George received his call-up to join<br />
the RAF. He was billeted in a rather<br />
swanky St John’s Wood apartment and sent<br />
to the Long Room at Lord’s Cricket<br />
Ground where he was kitted out in his<br />
uniform. George joined an Initial Training<br />
Wing in July 1943 and the powers that be<br />
decided that he had an aptitude for flying.<br />
In January 1944 full of fear and trepidation<br />
he boarded RMS Andes in the Upper<br />
Clyde to make the dangerous journey across<br />
the North Atlantic to New York and then<br />
by train, firstly to Canada then on to the<br />
mid-west in the USA. Here he joined<br />
Course 20 at No. 3 British Flying Training<br />
School in Miami [Geraint: this is<br />
pronounced ‘my am ah’], Oklahoma and<br />
over the next 8 months learned how to fly<br />
aircraft. He graduated as a pilot and was<br />
promoted to the rank of Sergeant Pilot<br />
exactly 70 years ago last Wednesday. For R<br />
& R, on some weekends, George and fellow<br />
pilots on a Friday afternoon would hitch a<br />
ride direct to Chicago along the famous<br />
Route 66 which passed right by his airfield.<br />
His US based training completed; he made<br />
a trouble-free return trans-Atlantic trip on<br />
the luxury troopship liner 55 fle De France.<br />
During the trip he celebrated his 21~<br />
birthday. Within 10 days of arriving back<br />
in the UK a wedding to Mollie was<br />
arranged, honeymoon leave granted and<br />
his next posting to Scotland confirmed.<br />
Luckily for George he was still training<br />
when it became apparent he would not be<br />
required to enter combat, as the war in<br />
Europe was rapidly coming to an end. In<br />
late 1945 the birth of his only child,<br />
Michael, took place and George spent<br />
most of that day drinking and playing<br />
darts with his chums in a pub at the top of<br />
Muswell Hill. The RAF in their wisdom<br />
retained George’s services for all of 1946 as<br />
his Wing Commander had recognised his<br />
sporting talents. Most of that summer was<br />
spent representing his squadron at not<br />
only tennis but also cricket. 1947 saw a<br />
return to Civvy Street and a return to the<br />
City accountants where in 1951 he<br />
qualified as a Chartered Accountant.<br />
During the 1950s major events took place<br />
in George’s life. He joined a new tennis<br />
club with Mollie, one that had a bar and<br />
permitted tennis to be played on Sundays,<br />
something of course which was anathema<br />
to Methodists. This was a good move as<br />
George together with his doubles partner<br />
went on to win 21 men’s doubles titles at<br />
the club. The family relocated from<br />
Muswell Hill in 1957 to the leafy North<br />
London suburb of Totteridge and for<br />
George this was to be the start of a<br />
residency that lasted 54 years. In 1953<br />
George joined the Secretary’s department<br />
of United Dairies in Bayswater and by<br />
34
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
1959 was heavily involved in the merger<br />
with Cow & Gate. In 1960 he became<br />
Group Accountant of the newly formed<br />
company, Unigate. Various promotions<br />
followed and culminated in his<br />
appointment as Unigate Company<br />
Secretary in 1975, a position he held until<br />
his retirement in 1983.<br />
During the 60s, 70s and 80s George and<br />
Mollie started to travel abroad for holidays.<br />
They preferred very hot Mediterranean<br />
locations especially the Greek islands, in<br />
particular Antipaxos where they went for<br />
many years. They also travelled to the<br />
United States to stay with tennis club<br />
friends who had moved there. Some of the<br />
antics that they got up to whilst there are<br />
probably best not to be aired, just to say<br />
that George was almost arrested for<br />
consorting with a hooker who in fact<br />
turned out to be his own wife! In 1973<br />
George became a grandfather at the<br />
ridiculously young age of 49 and was<br />
chuffed to bits to welcome his<br />
granddaughter Teresa into the world.<br />
George was a very keen gardener and<br />
loved walking especially with the three<br />
dogs he and Mollie owned over a number<br />
of years. In 1998 it was becoming apparent<br />
that George required a replacement hip<br />
but before this happened he had his third<br />
brush with death when he suffered a<br />
pulmonary embolism in his lung. He was<br />
rushed to Barnet General where prompt<br />
action saved his life. Six months later he<br />
had recovered sufficiently to enable him to<br />
have that replacement hip from which he<br />
unfortunately took a long time to recover.<br />
In 2004 his beloved Mollie suffered a fall<br />
and broke her hip. They were however,<br />
able to celebrate their diamond wedding<br />
anniversary together, albeit round her bed<br />
in Finchley Memorial Hospital. Sadly 6<br />
months after that she died. George decided<br />
that he wished to remain living in the<br />
home he and Mollie had shared and there<br />
he stayed until October 2011. During this<br />
period his great-granddaughters were<br />
born, Evie in 2007 and Molly 2009, yes<br />
another Molly and nothing gave him more<br />
pleasure than to have them visit their<br />
Grampy in Totteridge. By then it had<br />
become apparent to George that he was no<br />
longer able to fully look after himself and<br />
he asked to come and live with Lyn and<br />
Mike in Marlow.<br />
This he duly did for almost 2 years before<br />
sadly he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.<br />
As his illness grew worse it became clear<br />
that he needed more specialist care than<br />
Lyn and Mike could provide, so a place was<br />
found for him at Sir Aubrey Ward House, a<br />
Back row: John Hudson; ?Name; Gary Dayton; Bill<br />
Mountford: Robbie Robertson;George Cotterell; Joe<br />
Johnson. Front Row: John Taylor ;Frank Tree; Peter<br />
Bullen; Eric Van Emden; Frank Abbott.<br />
care home in Marlow and this is where<br />
George spent the final 15 months of his life.<br />
All the family would visit George frequently<br />
and he loved all the drawings and notes that<br />
Evie and Molly would make for him. These<br />
he kept in his room and during their visits<br />
he would always open up his biscuit tin for<br />
them or give them a chocolate or two from<br />
his bottom drawer. It was also lovely that<br />
some of his former friends from Totteridge<br />
would visit him from time to time even<br />
though George’s Alzheimer’s must have<br />
made these visits very difficult for them. As<br />
this terrible debilitating illness progressed<br />
he became more and more insular, rarely<br />
leaving his room except at mealtimes.<br />
However, he remained extremely cheerful<br />
and content in his own little world. This was<br />
a blessing and a great comfort to those who<br />
loved him. The end came suddenly and he<br />
did not suffer for which his family will be<br />
eternally grateful. George was a kind and<br />
generous man a true gentleman especially to<br />
the people he cared for most. He was a<br />
loving husband, father, grandfather and<br />
great-grandfather.<br />
He will be greatly missed.<br />
35
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
OSFC Champions Division III Southern Amateur<br />
League 1952-53<br />
Back row: Tony Budd; Robbie Robertson; Malcolm<br />
Ridgeway; George Cottrell (Vice Capt.); Bernie<br />
Kelly; Colin Lea. Front Row; Brian Owers; Dereck<br />
Pyrke; Dickie Rundle (Capt.); Jim Barry; George<br />
Sabini.<br />
League Record P 20; W 17; D 2; L 1; Goals for 49;<br />
Against 15 Points 36<br />
Geraint<br />
gordon.rose@talk2 1 .com<br />
16111 December 2014<br />
I have now done as much as I can to<br />
identify the players in the four photos.<br />
There are still too many gaps, but I have<br />
now run out of those who may be able to<br />
help and I must now rely on feedback<br />
from our readers.<br />
That’s the best I can do, GORDON<br />
(Please contact Gordon if you can supply any<br />
of the missing names. Thanks Ed.)<br />
There is also an article on GEORGE<br />
COTTRELL in The Old Stationer No. 79<br />
pages 25&26 under the heading ‘News of Old<br />
Stationers who started School in 1938 or<br />
earlier.<br />
DAVID WATTERSON<br />
1943-2014<br />
David was a pupil at Stationers’ from 1954-<br />
1959.<br />
Obituary by TONY MOFFAT<br />
David joined Stationers’ in 1954, in Norton<br />
House, and left at the end of the fifth<br />
form. Mike Hiron (a year-mate) was one<br />
of his friends and remembers: “One<br />
absolutely marvellous, unforgettable<br />
moment that will always remain with me,<br />
is when we had a school cross-country<br />
race. Just before the race started, one of the<br />
runners, a real big-headed big-mouth (no<br />
names no pack-drill as they say!) loudly<br />
boasted “at least I will beat old Watterson<br />
cos he will probably come last”. The race<br />
ended with David finishing in the top half<br />
of the runners while old big-mouth (no<br />
names etc!) finishing way, way behind him.<br />
That really made our day - well done<br />
Dave”. David later moved to Enfield and<br />
Richard Phillippo (another year-mate)<br />
also remembers David when they would<br />
go running around the streets of the town<br />
and Richard had difficulty keeping up.<br />
David maintained his links with Old<br />
Stationers by joining the OSA and was<br />
still in contact with Old Stationers John<br />
Brown and George Mears who were a few<br />
years older than him.<br />
When at School, he lived near Highbury<br />
and that is why he was such a passionate<br />
Arsenal supporter. He was such an ardent<br />
fan, that he was even buried in his Arsenal<br />
shirt and scarf.<br />
His first job was working for the Post<br />
Office dishing out pensions etc, then a<br />
newspaper before joining GEC as a credit<br />
controller. He became a Member of the<br />
Institute of Credit Management and later<br />
became a credit controller for Lloyds of<br />
London enjoying travelling abroad to keep<br />
36
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
in touch with his clients.<br />
In his spare time he was a drummer in a<br />
band, he enjoyed all sorts of music ranging<br />
from Buddy Holly to “Last Night at the<br />
Proms” – hence the choice of music for his<br />
funeral service.<br />
He met his wife to be, Jan, when he was 21<br />
and she was still at school. It was at a<br />
ballroom dancing school in Walthamstow<br />
- no internet dating in those days. One<br />
evening at the dancing school, David bet<br />
his friend (another Old Stationer, George<br />
Bigby) half a crown that he would dance<br />
with the girl in the flowered dress first and<br />
that is how their 50 year relationship<br />
started. Jan went off to teacher training<br />
college but they continued to see each<br />
other and got engaged on Jan’s 21st<br />
birthday and married the following year.<br />
They bought their first house in London.<br />
Jan soon found out that, while David was<br />
very good at drawing and painting pictures,<br />
his DIY skills were sadly lacking. He<br />
managed to wallpaper their bedroom<br />
hanging the pattern of the paper upside<br />
down. Jan thought that this was a cunning<br />
plan on his part so she wouldn’t ask him to<br />
do any more decorating. It worked!<br />
They thought that London was not the<br />
place to start a family so they moved to<br />
Colchester in 1972 whilst he was working<br />
for GEC. The following summer, Russell<br />
was born and then Lara two years later. As<br />
the children grew up he was involved in<br />
their activities: governor at their schools, a<br />
keen fundraiser for the Scouts, a track<br />
judge at Russell’s athletics meetings and<br />
even attempted horse riding with Lara.<br />
He was a real family man and was very<br />
proud when his children graduated and<br />
very happy when they were both married.<br />
He was full of pride when he gave Lara<br />
away wearing his Manx kilt. He introduced<br />
his daughter in law, Bee, to the joys of<br />
football and his son in law, Matthew, to<br />
gardening. In 1996 he moved jobs to<br />
Norwich working for Her Majesty’s<br />
Stationery Office as UK Trade and Foreign<br />
Credit Controller. Although he liked his<br />
job, he always fancied being a full time<br />
beer drinker, aka a publican – the dream of<br />
many an Old Stationer. So when he saw an<br />
advert for a relief manager at a Greene<br />
King pub in Norwich, he decided to apply.<br />
He got the job and “The Ten Bells”<br />
became his home from home. As David<br />
wrote in the Old Stationer in the winter of<br />
1999, “I have a part interest in The Ten<br />
Bells in Norwich and if any Old Boys are<br />
in the neighbourhood, please drop in”. In<br />
2003 he retired and returned to live in<br />
Colchester. In 2007 they moved to Port<br />
Erin, Isle of Man back to his Watterson<br />
family roots. By this time Matt and Lara<br />
had given David two grandsons, Charlie<br />
and Russell, and the family moved to live<br />
on the island in 2011.<br />
The funeral service was held on 19<br />
November 2014 at the Church Hall near<br />
the Douglas Crematorium. The service<br />
was opened by Gordon Cringle (a friend<br />
of the family) with a tribute to David read<br />
by his daughter in law, Bee. Two of David’s<br />
favourite pieces from the Proms were<br />
played: Jerusalem, followed by The Lord’s<br />
Prayer and Rule Britannia ended the<br />
service.<br />
Perhaps David is best summed up by his<br />
class-mate Richard Woods, “He was a nice<br />
chap”.<br />
Tony Moffat<br />
KENNETH GEORGE<br />
HORTON 1930-2014<br />
A Service of Remembrance and<br />
Thanksgiving for the life of Kenneth<br />
Horton was held at Kemnal Park<br />
Cemetery and Memorial Gardens was<br />
held on Wednesday 17th December 2014.<br />
The hymn sung was, ‘Morning has broken’<br />
by Cat Stevens. Tributes were given and<br />
the Bible Reading was from St. John 14,<br />
verses 1-6. The Music was ‘Theme of the<br />
Dam Busters’ Eric Coates on entry and<br />
the Exit Music was ‘Stranger on the<br />
Shore’ Acker Bilk.’<br />
Mrs T. Horton<br />
49 Longdon Wood, KESTON<br />
Kent BR2 6EN<br />
l1& February 2015<br />
Dear Geraint<br />
Thank you for getting in touch, I hope the<br />
enclosed makes sense and is correct.<br />
After leaving Stationers’ circa 1948,<br />
Kenneth tried various forms of office<br />
employment, including Shipping and<br />
Forwarding where he met his wife Thelma.<br />
They married June 1954 and celebrated<br />
their 6011k Anniversary 2014.<br />
After Shipping and Forwarding he<br />
realised he needed a job with more<br />
prospects to support a wife, so joined<br />
Barclays Bank in 1953 Southgate/<br />
Cockfosters, until he transferred to the<br />
City, Newgate Street, where he stayed till<br />
retirement.<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
Thelma<br />
HARRY ROY SPiNKS<br />
1924-2015<br />
The funeral service for Harry Spinks was<br />
held at Enfield Crematorium on the 22nd<br />
January, 2015.<br />
The hymn sung was, ‘Eternal Father,<br />
strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the<br />
restless wave,’.<br />
During the Service there was a family<br />
tribute, Prayers of Penitence and and the<br />
the reading of Psalm 23 and verses from<br />
37
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
Genesis 1, verses 26-28. There was an<br />
Address and Prayers. The Music at the<br />
end of the Service was ‘Sailing’ (Gavin<br />
Sutherland 1972) performed by Rod<br />
Stewart.<br />
The photograph was taken on holiday in<br />
Porthleven, Cornwall in May 2008.<br />
A Life by Michael Spinks<br />
Harry Roy Spinks, Roy, to distinguish him<br />
from his father also a Harry, was born on<br />
20 April 1924 inside the sub¬division of<br />
Tollington in the Registration District of<br />
lslington in the County of London, at least<br />
that is what his birth certificate states. He<br />
was the beloved elder son of Harry Claude<br />
and Beatrice Maud Spinks, brother of<br />
Peter. No two brothers could be more<br />
unalike.<br />
Roy attended the Stationers Company<br />
School and studied electronics and radio<br />
engineering at night school and became a<br />
highly successful electronic engineer.<br />
From his own CV he writes,<br />
“1943-1947 Royal Air Force, Leading<br />
Aircraftsman, Wireless Mechanic South<br />
East Asia Command” “1948-1949 Air<br />
Service Training, Hants. Student. War<br />
interrupted studies leading to Institute of<br />
Electrical Engineers and City + Guilds<br />
Radio and Telecommunications exam<br />
results. Maybe it is true that he never<br />
threw anything away. We have the exam<br />
results to prove it.<br />
He worked successively in London for<br />
The Gramophone Company at Hayes and<br />
then for Murphy Radio Electronic<br />
Division Engineer where he did work for<br />
Swedish Air Force radar. He subsequently<br />
signed the Official Secrets Act. I trust<br />
nobody will be done for revealing that the<br />
Swedish Air Force owes him a debt of<br />
gratitude.<br />
As a young man he played tennis. It was at<br />
a tennis club that he met the lady who<br />
soon became his wife, Pamela Mary<br />
Cambridge Clarke. They were married at<br />
the Parish Church of St. Aldhelm,<br />
Edmonton on March 15th 1952. They<br />
became the proud parents of Michael,<br />
Susan and Richard and the grandparents<br />
of Robert, Alex, Timothy, Fiona, Owen,<br />
Kathleen, Freya and Megan.<br />
Roy and Pam moved to 3 Gayton Road,<br />
Southend-on-Sea, Essex late in 1952. He<br />
started working for EK Cole in Southend<br />
in January 1953 and wrote up a set of notes<br />
“Memories of EK Cole 1953-1957” A<br />
colleague from those days, Alan Moltino,<br />
regrets that he cannot attend today. Neither<br />
can his brother, Peter, living in Devon or<br />
his old “cousin” for want of better words,<br />
George Trowbridge.<br />
Roy left EK Cole in 1957 and worked as a<br />
Principal Development Engineer at the<br />
Plessey Company, Ilford. He acquired a<br />
Thames Minibus, 00 3609, and transported<br />
a group of SE Essex residents to Ilford<br />
every working day between 1957 and<br />
1966. That minibus became almost a<br />
second home and was used as a camping<br />
base at Burnham on Crouch and for<br />
transporting the whole family for many<br />
summers on the annual overnight trip<br />
down to Praa Sands in Cornwall. Neither<br />
the MS nor the M4 existed then so it was<br />
more of an adventure in its own right than<br />
it would be now. Turning back to his<br />
career, it was whilst at Plessey that he was<br />
involved in the development of a family of<br />
UHF Airborne and Marine Transmitter<br />
Receivers for the RAF, RN and “friendly<br />
governments”. That led to an opportunity<br />
for the family to resettle in South Africa<br />
but it didn’t happen.<br />
It was whilst living at Southend that a<br />
passion for sailing was ignited. He built his<br />
own Lazy E, a twin manned sailing boat,<br />
somewhat bigger than an Enterprise, in<br />
the garage, which he had also built, in his<br />
back garden and sailed it for many years on<br />
the River Crouch at Burnham as a member<br />
of Burnham Sailing Club. For the last 10<br />
years of his life he was a Member of<br />
Creeksea Sailing Club.<br />
The family moved to Muswell Hill, North<br />
London in 1966 when Roy joined the<br />
family business, EFG, as a Director.<br />
Relationships between the generations on<br />
the male side of the Spinks family have<br />
never been the easiest and he departed in<br />
1969. He joined Marconi Space and<br />
Defence Systems at Stanmore as a<br />
Principal Quality Engineer on the Stingray<br />
project essentially being the Quality<br />
Controller to do with vendor and subcontractor<br />
plans.<br />
Perhaps his radio engineering days at<br />
Plessey and then at Marconi were<br />
professionally his most creative and<br />
satisfactory opportunities. He had joined<br />
the Institution of Electrical Engineers in<br />
1947, became a Chartered Engineer, and<br />
received congratulations in 1997 for having<br />
been a member for 50 years. He was also a<br />
member of The Chartered Institute of<br />
Quality Assurance.<br />
After leaving Marconi he rejoined the<br />
family business, this time as Managing<br />
Director. He put up the new buildings at<br />
Liverpool Road, fought the good fight<br />
against British Rail when they damaged<br />
those buildings, fought each of the many<br />
(hundreds or thousands of them )parking<br />
tickets that our drivers accumulated,<br />
supported the Freight Transport industry<br />
inside London, ensured our banking was<br />
done correctly each day and defied any<br />
mugger to attempt a robbery on his daily<br />
visits to the Nat West Bank branch in<br />
Upper Street. Working Life in the<br />
wholesale industry was a bit more civilised<br />
when Roy was at EFG and a daily luncheon<br />
break was taken at either of the two Italian<br />
Tavernas at Highbury Corner.<br />
He did effectively retire but nobody is<br />
quite sure when because he retained keys<br />
to get in for many years and had an<br />
unhealthy attachment to the company’s<br />
fork lift trucks. Very little was more<br />
important than checking that they were<br />
properly on charge each weekend.<br />
What were Roy’s passions? Certainly for<br />
sailing which he maintained for 50 years.<br />
He was sailing independently last summer.<br />
Whilst he never learned to swim and was<br />
baled out of the River Crouch only last<br />
June having been outside his boat for 20<br />
minutes and unable to get back in, he was<br />
never deterred. In his later years he went<br />
on many Jubilee Sailing Trust voyages in<br />
their two large three masted schooners to<br />
places like The Canary islands and Lisbon.<br />
He blacked out preparing for one such<br />
trip, ended up in hospital, forfeited the trip<br />
and never fully forgave them for not taking<br />
him back on board again.<br />
He was involved in The Worshipful<br />
Company of Loriners. Before him, his<br />
father was and now his grandson, Robert,<br />
is a member. He became and was very<br />
proud of being a Freeman of The City of<br />
London. He had his loyalties to a select<br />
group of clubs which he actively maintained<br />
and supported for many years, The Burma<br />
Star Association, The Royal Air Force<br />
Association, The Royal British Legion, the<br />
United Wards Club of the City of London,<br />
the City Livery Club and was Chairman<br />
of the Aero Section of The City Livery<br />
Club. He also supported the RNLI and<br />
the National Memorial Arboretum and<br />
other voluntary associations. Whilst<br />
Chairman of the Aero Section he<br />
accompanied John Jordan chairman for<br />
many years ofJordans the Flour Millers<br />
who supplied the Essex with its flour) who<br />
piloted his own biplane, by approval onto<br />
an RAF base. What was not approved was<br />
the manner of their departure which<br />
involved doing barrel rolls in the biplane<br />
down the length of the runway and which<br />
38
got them both into trouble.<br />
Who were his closest friends. His children<br />
recall Donald Careswell, Lawrence Lawry,<br />
John Thorpe, Alan Moltino, Bill Bates,<br />
Keith and Jean Henderson, the adventurous<br />
John Jordan, John and Joan Summers,<br />
Frank O’Connor, his brother-in-law, John<br />
Clarke. No Engineer can be said to be<br />
short of convictions and Roy was not.<br />
John Black writes” i shall always remember<br />
him with great affection. He was of course<br />
a wonderful character and always admired<br />
for his great energy and enthusiasm” That<br />
just about sums up Roy. But he goes on to<br />
say” Many years ago he drove me in his<br />
ancient car to Llandudno, a terrifying and<br />
uplifting experience” with his hands firmly<br />
across his face in front of his eyes blocking<br />
off any view. That also sums up Roy.<br />
There was a well defined rhythm to his<br />
life. For many years the Easter weekend<br />
was devoted to charging up and down the<br />
highways and byways as he supported<br />
participants in the Devizes to Westminster<br />
Long Distance Canoe race. In particular<br />
he supported his son Richard, who still<br />
holds the record, only acquired after many<br />
attempts, for the military canoe class, the<br />
klepper class. 4 of his children /<br />
grandchildren have competed in that race,<br />
some with great distinction, some without.<br />
He and Pam went on the holidays latterly<br />
which they felt unable to do formerly and<br />
for a period of years Roy and Pam, Don<br />
and Betty and Frank and Ann enjoyed<br />
holidays together.<br />
Father and much-loved grandfather, e was<br />
proud of the achievements of his children<br />
and grandchildren with a special respect<br />
for those who had followed him into<br />
military service.<br />
A life lived fully to the very end. He died<br />
on 2~ January. He had enjoyed his cigarette<br />
on Christmas Day and a full Christmas<br />
Day Turkey lunch and on Boxing day he<br />
roused himself at 4am, drove to Muswell<br />
Hill to check on the timing of a medical<br />
appointment, then drove back to Enfield<br />
and pressed the doorbell to be let back in<br />
at 630am. Always himself, Roy Spinks.<br />
May he rest in peace.<br />
Michael Spink<br />
A cheque was received by the OSA through<br />
Gordon from Michael and Susan Spinks for<br />
the sum of £1,000 as a bequest.<br />
We thank the family very much for their<br />
generous gift to the OSA in memory of Harry<br />
Roy Spinks.<br />
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
IAN RICHARD<br />
DUNFORD<br />
1956-1963<br />
It is very sad to report the death of Ian<br />
Dunford on 28th February 2015. Ian was<br />
a member of Meredith House and lived at<br />
85 Boundary Road, Wood Green, N22<br />
6A5.<br />
RAY BARKER<br />
I have been advised of the death of RAY<br />
BARKER of the year 1948. Any<br />
information would be welcome. Gordon.<br />
d.turner@sky.com<br />
Gentlemen<br />
I believe I can be of assistance. 50 years<br />
ago we bought a house in Enfield ad one<br />
of our neighbours was a RAY BARKER.<br />
He was married to Rita and had two<br />
daughters and was in the printing trade,<br />
working at one time for the Macmillan<br />
Press and I think he became a director.<br />
Anyhow we moved away to Brookmans<br />
Park in 1972 and we did not see them<br />
again for many years until we were at a<br />
Freemans Association Dinner. It<br />
transpired that although he was never<br />
interested in OSA he had been a pupil<br />
and I feel almost certain this must be the<br />
same man because he was approximately<br />
three years older than me.<br />
His connection with the Company was<br />
not through the School but through the<br />
printing trade. He was a very pleasant<br />
man who must have started life in the<br />
North or Central England. We saw them<br />
from time to time at Freemans functions<br />
and always enjoyed his company.<br />
Regards<br />
DT<br />
Mark Radstone<br />
CHANGES OF ADDRESS<br />
DAVID COX<br />
Apt 14, Highbeam House<br />
581 High Road<br />
WOODFORD GREEN<br />
Essex 1G8 ORD<br />
ROGER ENGLEDOW<br />
118 Hertswood Court<br />
Hillside Gardens<br />
BARNET<br />
Herts ENS 4AU<br />
39
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
40
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1<br />
41
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the<br />
Old Stationers’ Association – Stationers' Hall, Friday 28th March 2014<br />
Present:<br />
David Sheath (President) in the chair<br />
Tony Hemmings (Hon. Secretary)<br />
Michael Hasler (Hon. Treasurer)<br />
together with 8 other Officers, Committee members and 42 ordinary members.<br />
The meeting was called to order at 6.00pm<br />
1. Confirmation of Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 22nd March 2013<br />
The minutes of the AGM held at Stationers' Hall on Friday 22nd March 2013 were unanimously adopted as<br />
a true record on a vote taken on the proposal of Roger Melling, seconded by Chris Langford.<br />
2. President’s Address<br />
See attached report.<br />
3. Honorary Treasurer’s Report<br />
See attached report.<br />
Auditor Roger Engledow advised the Meeting that, due to time constraints, he had still to conclude his audit<br />
of the Accounts. It was proposed by Michael Facey, seconded by Peter Sandell and unanimously agreed that,<br />
subject to the Committee being assured that the Accounts as presented have been ratified by both Honorary<br />
Auditors, the report and accounts for the year ended 31st December 2013 be approved.<br />
4. Election of Officers and Committee<br />
The Chairman invited nominations for the Association's Officers and Committee for 2014/2015.<br />
The following members were duly proposed, seconded and elected:<br />
Elected Proposer Seconder<br />
President Roger Melling David Sheath Tony Hemmings<br />
Vice-President Peter Sandell Roger Melling Geraint Pritchard<br />
Secretary Tony Hemmings David Turner Tim Westbrook<br />
Treasurer Michael Hasler Tony Moffat David Turner<br />
Membership Secretary Gordon Rose Tony Hemmings Michael Hasler<br />
Magazine Editor Geraint Pritchard David Sheath Andreas Christou<br />
Website Manager Michael Pinfield Nigel Wade Tony Hemmings<br />
Entertainments Secretary Post left vacant<br />
Archivist David Turner Michael Hasler Nigel Wade<br />
Ordinary Members<br />
Andreas Christou<br />
Tony Moffat Geraint Pritchard Michael Hasler<br />
Peter Sargent<br />
Tim Westbrook<br />
5. Election of Honorary Auditors<br />
Chris Langford and Roger Engledow were unanimously elected Honorary Auditors on a vote taken on the<br />
proposal of Roger Melling, seconded by Peter Engledow.<br />
6. Other business<br />
The Honorary Secretary drew attention to the decision of Peter Bonner and Nigel Wade to stand down as<br />
Committee members, Peter after 7 years including President in 2008-09, and Nigel after 4 years including<br />
President in 2011-12, and thanked them both for their valuable contribution, which was warmly supported by<br />
the members present.<br />
Peter Sargent asked about obtaining a copy of the Pupil Record Cards which have recently been incorporated<br />
into our Archives at Stationers' Hall. The Archivist replied that personal copies can be produced for members<br />
and a proposal by Cbris Langford that a fee of £5.00 should be charged was seconded by Mike Hasler and<br />
approved by the members.<br />
Peter Hames reminded members of the 'School Corner' on the 2nd floor, which contains portraits of former<br />
Headmasters of the School.<br />
The Honorary Secretary advised members that the AGM and Annual Dinner next year will be held at<br />
Stationers' Hall on Friday 27th March.<br />
There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 6.30pm.<br />
42
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION<br />
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING<br />
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS<br />
Good evening, gentlemen, and thank you for your presence here tonight at our AGM. I hope we will not<br />
detain you for too long as I know that finer events await.<br />
Let me start with a brief historical introduction. Whenever I visit Stationers' Hall I never cease to marvel<br />
at the beauty of this building and be inspired by a sense of the history that seeps through this Hall. To<br />
think that this great building was burnt down in the Great Fire of London and rebuilt in 1673 at a cost<br />
of just £3,000. The wood panelling alone came to the princely sum of £300. The School, of course, came<br />
much later - first at Bolt Court in 1858 at a cost of £8,000 and then its relocation in 1893 to Mayfield<br />
Road, Homsey, at a cost of £14,000.<br />
The Stationers' Old Boy's Association, later to become the Old Stationers' Association, was founded in<br />
1895 and I was proud and honoured to have been installed last March as its 90th President. I have had<br />
a marvellous year and have enjoyed participating in so many events and meeting so many of you. Though<br />
the School has been closed for more than 30 years - and most of us left many years before that closure<br />
- clearly, as our School Song says, we are proud to be Stationers and with hearts thus united no distance<br />
can sever.<br />
A number of you have travelled some way today to be present at our Annual Dinner, and I thank you for<br />
that. And for the many who live too far away, or are too infirm to travel, we keep them close to us through<br />
our wonderful magazine, and I pay particular tribute to editor Geraint Pritchard who has the arduous<br />
task of bringing it all together. I think that you will all agree that the latest 78th edition is just superb and<br />
a brilliant read.<br />
I didn't appreciate, until becoming Vice-President and then President, just how much work goes on<br />
behind the scenes to ensure the success of the wide variety of activities that our Association is involved<br />
in. In particular, I have been greatly impressed by the dedication and diligence of our Committee, who<br />
give so much of their time and effort to ensure that everything is running smoothly, and I would like to<br />
place on record my grateful thanks to them for the support they have given me in my presidential year<br />
of office. I would also like to thank and praise the significant contribution made by fellow Old Stationers<br />
who head up the various clubs and societies that make our Association so active and enjoyable. I<br />
particularly single out Alan Green, for his impressive organisation of the Luncheon Club; Peter Bonner,<br />
for the running of our very successful Golf Society; Vince Wallace and Ian Meyrick, for ensuring that<br />
our soccer traditions continue to thrive in the Stationers colours; Stuart Behn, for overseeing the exclusive<br />
and convivial Apostles' Club; Mike Pinfield, for his works with the School Lodge; and David Hudson,<br />
who organises the Bridge Society. I think a little round of applause would be merited for all those unpaid<br />
volunteers who represent us so well.<br />
Last December, at our Christmas Luncheon at the Hall, I asked for your help in finding storage for some<br />
important pupil record cards, dating back over many years, which Philip Trendall had managed to retrieve<br />
from the School before it was demolished. They contain details of every pupil's academic and sporting<br />
achievements and look like this (holding up sample). You will be pleased to hear that this problem has<br />
been resolved thanks to the Company finding us a suitable storage room in this building, which will<br />
accommodate all of our valuable archives, and my thanks to Archivist David Turner for overseeing this<br />
successful relocation.<br />
Now, just a brief word about the proposed new' Academy that I know the Master will make reference to<br />
in his address tonight, and which will probably incorporate the name Stationers when it finally opens. It<br />
is an existing school in the London Borough of Greenwich called Crown Woods, which was completely<br />
43
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION<br />
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING<br />
rebuilt at a cost of £50M in 2011. It is seeking Academy Status through the sponsorship of the Stationers'<br />
Company, and then will be renamed. I visited Crown Woods in January, with members of the Company,<br />
and was very impressed by the state of the art facility - particularly for sport. The Company is hoping<br />
that, after due diligence has been performed, the Academy will open this September. Once this takes<br />
place, then the Committee will have to assess how this impacts upon our Association and in due course,<br />
no doubt, make recommendations.<br />
Finally, I would like to commend those of you who have been organising reunions of year groups in the<br />
past and, I hope, for many years to come. Sadly, each year we lose a number of members and this is likely<br />
to accelerate with the passing of time. Therefore, I urge you to be proactive in recruitment. Our<br />
membership continues to remain healthy at around 500, and the reunions that you are organising have<br />
been a good source of new membership.<br />
Thank you again for your support for tonight's occasion and I hope that you enjoy the remainder of the<br />
evening in very good company.<br />
David Sheath President<br />
Honorary Treasurer’s Report<br />
For the year to 31st December 2013<br />
I am pleased to present the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2013.<br />
The surplus for the year on Ordinary Activities is £586 (last year £2,057). The membership is around 500, down<br />
very slightly on last year, and includes a number of Honorary Members. We have had a steady intake of new<br />
members during the year.<br />
The decrease in income is due to the reduction of the amount of arrears being collected since subscriptions were<br />
increased a few years ago, and to lower donations.<br />
Higher expenditure this year is due to the last magazine being 56 pages as against the normal 48 pages, with the<br />
associated extra costs and postage. Web site expenses were £163 compared with zero last year.<br />
Other Activites, covering merchandise, books and social events, show a surplus of £965 this year (last year deficit of<br />
£73). They include a surplus on sale of ties, scarves and blazer badges. Baynes' book, A History of the Stationers'<br />
Company's School, produced a surplus of £61 on sales during the year and there was a surplus of £889 on dinners<br />
and lunches.<br />
Overall, we have a surplus of £ 1,551 this year (last year £ 1,984) which has been added to the Accumulated General<br />
Fund.<br />
This year the Embleton Fund has subsidised the reprint of the 40th Anniversary President's Day programme and<br />
£123 has been written off against this Fund.<br />
The main features of the Balance Sheet are an increase in the cash held, partly offset by the increase in creditors. I<br />
am pleased to report that the OSA is in a healthy financial position and that, following the rise in subscriptions<br />
three years ago and barring unforeseen circumstances, we should be able to hold them at the present level for some<br />
time to come.<br />
Michael Hasler<br />
Hon. TreasurerHon. Treasurer<br />
44
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
OLD STATIONERS’ ASSOCIATION<br />
Balance Sheet<br />
As at 31st December 2013<br />
ASSETS<br />
31.12.13 31.12.12<br />
£ £ £ £<br />
Cash at bank on current account 6,331 4,209<br />
Cash on deposit account 10,935 7,730<br />
Total cash at bank 17,266 11,939<br />
Stock of ties & badges (note 2) 850 1,119<br />
Stock of books and programmes (note 3) 271 252<br />
The Carpenter Painting 1,077 1,077<br />
Less Net Creditors/Debtors<br />
Debtors 10 0<br />
Less Creditors (9,994) (6,335)<br />
(9,984) (6,335)<br />
TOTAL ASSETS 9,480 8,052<br />
FINANCED BY:<br />
Memorial Fund (Embleton) 1,721 1,844<br />
Accumulated General Fund 7,759 6,208<br />
9,480 8,052<br />
NOTES<br />
1 The OSA also has in its possession a number of items of regalia and cups.<br />
It is not proposed to show these on the face of the accounts, but the value for insurance<br />
purposes is £2,950.<br />
2 Stock of Ties and badges<br />
Stock 31.12.12 1,119 1,469<br />
Purchases - Scarves, badges and ties 0 30<br />
1,119 1,499<br />
Less sales at cost 235 348<br />
Less presented to The President 22 32<br />
Less presented to The Master 12<br />
Stock 31.12.13 850 1,119<br />
3 Stock of books and programmes<br />
Stock at 31.12.13 252 993<br />
Purchases - reprints 536<br />
788 993<br />
Less cost of sales 517 721<br />
Less F.O.C. to Baynes family 0 12<br />
Less 1 to Archive 0 8<br />
Stock at 31.12.12 271 252<br />
M F Hasler Treasurer<br />
Auditors Report<br />
In our opinion the above Balance sheet and related Statements of Income and Expenditure, Accumulated Fund<br />
and Memorial Fund present a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Old Stationers' Association as at 31<br />
st December 2013 and of the surpl of income over expenditure for the year.<br />
R Engledow, C Langford<br />
45
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 9<br />
OSA Funds Summary<br />
Year ended 31st December 2013 31.12.13 31.12.12<br />
£ £<br />
MEMORIAL FUND (EMBLETON)<br />
Balance per Accounts 31.12.12 b/fwd 1,844 1,994<br />
Less Old Stationers' President's XI 40th Anniversary book net cost (123) (150)<br />
Accumulated Surplus on Memorial Fund 1,721 1,844<br />
ACCUMULATED GENERAL FUND<br />
Balance per Accounts 31.12.12 b/fwd 6,208 4,224<br />
Add: Surplus on ordinary activities 586 2,057<br />
Deduct: -Deficit/Surplus on other activities 965 (73)<br />
Accumulated Surplus on ordinary activities 7,759 6,208<br />
TOTAL OSA FUNDS AT 31.12.2013 9,480 8,052<br />
GENERAL FUND<br />
Income & Expenditure Account<br />
Year ended 31st December 2013 31.12.13 31.12.12<br />
ORDINARY ACTIVITIES £ £ £ £<br />
Income<br />
Subscriptions & donations 7,480 7,863<br />
Bank interest 5 4<br />
7,485 7,867<br />
Expenditure<br />
Magazine and bulletin costs 6,443 5,487<br />
Printing, Stationery, Postage & Web expenses 336 143<br />
Sundry expenses 120 180<br />
6,899 5,810<br />
Surplus on Ordinary Activities 586 2,057<br />
OTHER ACTIVITIES<br />
Tie, scarves and blazer badge sales net -cost/income 25 (20)<br />
Past President badges at cost (10) (20)<br />
Baynes book 61 79<br />
Net surplus on dinner and lunch club 889 (112)<br />
-Deficit/Surplus on other activities 965 (73)<br />
EXCESS INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE FOR YEAR 1,551 1,984<br />
46
Old Stationers Fantasy Football -<br />
Season 2014/5<br />
As per our league table below, Odetothomas Dons finished as League<br />
Champion, shading TrundlinAgain (Pat Dunphy) into second place, with<br />
Chevaliers NZ, managed by John Shanks, based in New Zealand, claiming<br />
third place. Congratulations are in order to our newcomer, Ian Moore, of<br />
magazine fame, winner of our Cup competition at the first attempt.<br />
Just a brief word about this competition: points are scored based on the success<br />
or otherwise of footballers in the Premiership and at the beginning of the<br />
season all players eligible are listed by the Daily Telegraph, with values stated,<br />
which don’t change throughout the season, although comings and goings of<br />
players are constantly updated. The competition allows the Manager of each<br />
team a maximum expenditure of £50,000,000 per team. Currently up to 30<br />
transfers of players are allowed in the season, limited to just 5 any one week. The<br />
Telegraph awards points for goals scored and assists as well as for defensive<br />
players keeping clean sheets and “man of the match”. There is a scale of points<br />
deducted for goals conceded, yellow/red cards received. The Telegraph itself has<br />
a range of prizes awarded weekly/at the end of the season - its top prize this<br />
year was £35,000. The paper ecourages the formation of leagues such as ours,<br />
providing regular revised editions of league tables available on the computer, all<br />
making it very user-friendly, even for the newcomer. Full details as to our own<br />
rules, award of prize money etc., can be found by reference to www.oldstationers.<br />
co.uk.<br />
Don Bewick<br />
Final League Position - Overall<br />
1 5796 Mr D Bewick* Odetothomas Dons 15 1714<br />
2 9953 Mr P Dunphy TrundlingAgain 34 1687<br />
3 17424 Mr J Shanks Chevaliers NZ 28 1654<br />
4 19160 Mr R Slatford In The Net 27 1648<br />
5 29342 Mr D Bewick NE1410IS 35 1617<br />
6 34755 Mr D Hudson Thinslug 11 1603<br />
7 44121 Mr I Moore DribblyBibs 15 1581<br />
8 46868 Mr M Mote itsafreebie 25 1575<br />
9 48320 Mr M Mote bellow street united 18 1572<br />
10 49718 Mr D Bewick Pick & Peckham Dons 28 1569<br />
11 58918 Mr M Mote grange park utd 13 1550<br />
12 67931 Mr R Slatford BFG Fc 21 1532<br />
13 71543 Mr P Dunphy ONandONandON 49 1525<br />
14 87752 Mr D Hudson OSFC 5 1494<br />
15 91914 Mr D Hudson HUD1E 16 1486<br />
16 119170 Mr D Hudson Bens Boys 16 1432<br />
17 140263 Mr M Mote shanghai surprise 12 1387