OSAmag81

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 1
WILLIAM GEORGE
ERNEST COTTRELL
1923-2014
School Dates: 1935-1940
It is interesting to note that George
Cottrell was the last man standing of the
1935 starters!
wolram@btintemet.com
26~ August 2014
Dear Gordon
It is with great sadness I write to let you
know that my father George died suddenly
last Thursday, 21st August, 2014 aged 90.
He had been in reasonable health, apart
from his Alzheimers, until early last week
and I am just pleased for him that he did
not suffer at the end.
With my good wishes,
Mike Cottrell
gordon.rose@talk2 1 .com
Dear Mike
Thank you for your recent email even
though it was sad news. I had the pleasure
OBITUARIES
of playing with George in my early days
with the O.S.F.C. when I guess he was in
his late twenties. He is yet another of our
players of that vintage who have suffered
with Alzheimers in their later life. I have
for some time believed that it was the
result of playing with the heavy leather
ball and the amount of heading they did.
It is also a factor in the senior game.
My very best wishes to you and the family.
Gordon
Address by MIKE COTTRELL
William George Ernest Cottrell was born
on 18th October 1923 in the St Pancras
area of North London, the eldest child of
William & Florence. Within six weeks
George had the first of his brushes with
death when he contracted pneumonia. He
was not expected to live and was given the
last rites after which he miraculously
recovered. His early years were spent in
various locations around North London
and in the early 1930s the family, now
increased by a sister Marjorie and a brother
Harry, moved to Crouch End. It was here
that in 1935 George attended the local
Stationers’ School. With the exception of
French and Art he was a star pupil and
regularly came top of his form. As the
country descended into war the school was
evacuated in September 1939 to Wisbech
in Cambridgeshire George and Harry
were billeted together with a local family.
Their education continued at the Wisbech
Grammar School using the buildings on a
time-share basis with that school’s pupils.
The following summer saw George
complete his General Schools Certificate
thus enabling him to return alone to his
parents in Crouch End. Following his
return with the help of a master an
interview for George was arranged through
the Headmasters Bureau with a firm of
City accountants. He subsequently joined
Sissons, Bersey, Gain, Vincent & Co in
August 1940. Two months later George
had his second brush with death when a
German bomb landed right outside his
house bang in the middle of the road. The
resulting explosion blew out the front of
Back row from left: Jim Barry; ?; Les Wingrove;
Bob Beckley; ?; Peter Hodgson. Front row from left:
Dereck Pyrke; ?; Laurie Battell; George Sabini.
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