OSAmag80

More documents

Recommendations

Info

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0 they didn't do! Some of them (no names) seemed so bored with their subject. I note included in the list was JOHN DUPERE: I seem to remember from a previous edition of the magazine, circa 1977, that he had died at a very young age of 35. I don't know whether this can be checked? Also who should be included is JOHN G. GRAVENOR, with whom I was particularly friendly. Although he only joined the school in 1954 it was the end of the first year, so he was a member of our cohort, leaving with A Levels in 1960. I just don't know what happened to him in the intervening years. After leaving SCS I went to UCL for six years of Chemistry followed by post doctoral appointments at universities of St. Andrews, Leiden and KCL. The next 36 years I spent at Kingston Polytechnic, later Kingston University from which I retired in 2006. I have since enjoyed eight years of retirement and keep myself busy playing the organ as ever – I used to play at assemblies at Stationers' – and training the choir at Fleet Parish Church. Previously I was organist at East Barnet Methodist Church where KEN SOUTHALL (teacher of French, 1950-1960) worshipped, Surbiton and then West Clandon, Surrey. I have been married to Louise for 46 years and have two sons and one granddaughter. My older brother, ROBIN COOPER was at Stationers' from 1950-1957, but sadly died in 2009 – which was recorded in your August publication. Hope that's of some interest. Tony Cooper 1953-1960 Robin Cooper was a regular contributor to 'The Old Stationer' often to the section 'As Far as you Roam' and stories of Stationers' Company's School. 5 Croton Square SHERFIELD-ON-LODDON RG27 0SX 20th August 2014 Dear Geraint Having just read the latest magazine (No.79) I thought I would write concerning two particular articles to which I felt I could perhaps add something. THE AURORA BOREALIS I found John Ivey's account of his holiday in Norway most interesting. My wife, Kathy, and I have been to the Norwegian Fjords and as far north as Trondheim, and then across to Iceland. However, both holidays were summer cruises and whilst the scenery was absolutely stunning, there was of course no chance to see the 'Northern Lights' or 'Aurora Borealis'. However, it did remind me that in a previous existence some 35 years ago, whilst working as a manager in the International Division of Williams & Glyns Bank, I had the amazing experience of seeing the 'Aurora' at its absolute best. I was flying back from Tokyo via Anchorage in Alaska and on the second leg of the flight we flew within a few hundred miles of the North Pole. Although it was night time and dark I looked out of the window to see what I can only describe as colour falling down the sky. I asked the stewardess about this and she said it was the Aurora Borealis like she had never seen it before. In fact the pilot made a low key announcement so that those people who were awake should not miss it. It is something I shall never forget but of all the best laid plans you just have to be in the right place at the right time – I count myself lucky. Graham Ling 1954-1961 Dear Geraint 35 St. Stephen's Avenue St. Albans AL3 4AA 22 nd August 2014 I've read the obituary for Eric Wareham with interest and sadness. Eric and I were in the 6th together 1942-1943, and were the only two boys offering German for Higher School Certificate in that year, so we came to know each other well. Our tutor was, of course, 'Sacco' Englefield, whom we both greatly respected. He generously made it clear that he would be available to help us at the School during the Christmas break, and I remember that, when the two of us arrived on the agreed date, we found him playing the piano in the School Hall with his usual accomplishment. I kept in touch with Eric for some years prior to his marriage, and last saw him at the reunion in Wisbech, (fifty years on from the initial evacuation) in 1989. The reunion was arranged by Murdoch, who was also a 6th form boy in 1942. Both Eric and his wife attended, and I remember her telling me how she had met Eric on her way to America and stayed with him ever since. It is clear from the obituary written by his son that their marriage was a very happy one. Thank you, Geraint, for enabling me to get in touch with Sylvia Mogg, who wrote that article on 'The Guest' (the play produced by the School in Wisbech) for the Old Stationer. Sylvia and I were pupils at Hornsey County School in Wisbech 1939-1942, until I transferred to Stationers' for sixth form work. Sylvia was able to visit me in May of this year, on her way to her ninetieth birthday party the following day, and it was splendid to renew the contact in this way after some seventy years. Best wishes George Wells 1942-43 OLD-STATS ronhorne@xtra.co.nz 26 August 2014 It was so upsetting to read of the passing of DENIS HAMMENT and PETER BULLEN. Although neither of them was in the same form as me, our friendships were built around our service together in the 2049 ATC squadron. Denis and I were Flight Sergeants and Peter a corporal and all appear in the original formation photo in the archives. I noted that the squadron had been camping in 1958 near Leeming on page 14. I have often wondered what happened to them after the school closing and whether they still exist and where. On my recent travels I visited the Mosquito Museum at Salisbury Hall where Peter did his initial training as an apprentice to De Havillands which stirred the memories of him. He bought a 250 BSA motor bike around 1944 and he kindly allowed me to try it. I rode it into the wall of the house adjacent to the school and haven't tried again since, luckily there were no after effects on either me or the bike. As previously noted in one of my letters he visited me in New Zealand in the 80s when on his honeymoon. Other items that caught my eye were the obituary of ERIC WAREHAM and the pictures on page 15 of Muswell Hill. As I mentioned earlier one of the former staff members in the village here was born and raised in Fortis Green Road not far from where our kids were born in Alexandra Park Road and her policeman father served in the Hornsey Police Station during the war with my wife's uncle. Small world eh. Regards Ron Horne 22
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0 OLD STATIONER JULY 2014 Dear Geraint mikejohns@worldonline.co.za 5 th September 2014 Your excellent production brought back a few memories. To John Ivey's piece about Muswell Hill I would add: 1. Leonard Lyle's – the gents outfitter (opposite St. James' Church) – where I worked as a Christmas relief while still at school. 2. St. James' Church itself where I was married. 3. Muswell Hill Station, at the top of Muswell Hill was part of the line which I used to use from Stroud Green until the line closed in July 1954. 4. A shop on the Broadway with a coffee grinder in the window pushing out wonderful aromas. This shop was between W.H.Smiths and the United Dairies and called 'Martyn's'. 5. The Royal Oak in St. James' Lane (which you mention somewhere) which was owned by Tony Lane's mum. Tony was an OS but very heavily involved with Crouch End Vampires, not OSFC. Not sure whether the Red Cross establishment on Muswell Hill itself belongs to the John Ivey or Priory Road sections. Certainly in the latter I would mention ALAN BERWICK, OS cricketer and footballer, who lived more or less above the laundry in the picture on page 21. In the row of shops opposite the Victoria Pub was Cottingham's, the newsagents, which employed PETER CRITTEN and me as paper boys. Very close was Sorrell's the greengrocers, another of my former employers. SORRELL himself was an OS. I am coming to the 1953 Reunion and staying at the George in Cartwright Gardens, Bloomsbury. Could the website be corrected to record only a 10% discount now, not 20%? Apparently the hotel changed hands two or three years ago. Finally, could I be related in any way to the G. JONES listed as a late joiner to the 1953 group, page 26? I certainly spent most of my time with them and in fact will soon be able to have attended reunions for two years, 1953 and 1954. Kind Regards Ginner (Mike Johns) 1954-1960 Dear Keith don.bewick@hotmail.co.uk 12 September 2014 Just to say congratulations on your recognition on receiving your OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List – I noticed the announcement in the Stationers' Company's Magazine just received. Regards Don Bewick Dear Don Keith Woodley Friday, September 12th 2014 Thank you for congratulations. I am now looking forward to a trip to Windsor Castle on 2nd October for the presentation. It was a great surprise but I felt very honoured and thrilled. Best wishes Keith Woodley johnwatson@westnet.com.au 24th September 2014 Hi Geraint. Well well! Sometimes good old email system turns up some unexpected results. I assume that you have retired by now but you never know in this day and age. Still pretty fit to be climbing those big English mountains? At least over here we do not have that temptation as the biggest hills here are about 300 metres. A quick potted version of life since teaching in Plymouth would be as follows. Gave up teaching to follow the money in Sales. This was followed by starting my own business in Devon which we ran for 12 years and sold to the wonderful Americans. Nothing to do with geology I am afraid!! Ending up being bored I joined the UK government as a business adviser to keep the brain sharp. During this period met my second wife and still living in Devon. About 2001 it was very wet and cold and as Anne was actually born in Australia we sold up and emigrated to the big sun down under. Big wrench to leave our six kids but that is life. Here we are in Perth and once again did a bit of consultancy work which resulted in owning yet another business. From 2013 I have run this little operation and managed to get my son into the country despite our very difficult immigration controls. I have now passed the business on to him so am now free and easy and can concentrate on keeping fit, golf and playing bridge. Obviously with five kids and eight grandchildren still in the UK we make frequent trips back to them all. Generally it is the annual pilgrimage. It is then you realize how far Australia is from anywhere else especially here in Perth. But someone has to pay for our sunshine and beaches!! The climate certainly makes you feel 10 years younger. Glad to hear that some of the geology pupils actually went on to do something in the subject. Pass on my good wishes to anyone who may recall me. Glad to hear you are well. Perhaps I will hear from you soon. John Watson Dear Geraint 47 The Gill, Pembury Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 4DJ 7th October 2014 We too enjoyed our week on the North Yorks Moors at the beginning of September. The weather was fine and we spent a lot of time along the coast between Saltburn and Filey. On the way up we stayed at Porch House (the oldest house in Northallerton where Charles 1st once stayed) with Glyn and Joanna Williams where they have been running a B&B. Glyn Williams has joined the OSA in recent time. Looking forward to seeing you again at next year's Annual Dinner. Until then, with all good wishes. Roger Phillpot 1956-1963 Greetings Geraint dg2813@hotmail.co.uk 4th October 2014 I'm pleased that you found the article interesting as I did and that you will be finding a place for it in the magazine. (Please see article under 'News of Former Staff. Dr. David Clover.) I am sure that anyone attending the School between mid50s and 1960 will remember 'Fourleaf' well. Holcombe is a lovely place to live, as you may well have established for yourself. I was aware you had stayed nearby as I recall mention was made in an itinerary account of your travels that appeared in the magazine. I wasn't sure where. We decided to 'escape' to Devon 27 years ago not realising a close friend of mine from School, John Hopkins, had fled from London to Hayle in Cornwall about a year earlier. We have met several times since reconnecting and we're in regular email contact. I'm also in constant touch with Mick Dawson and his wife, and whenever my 23
Page 1 and 2: No 80 /February 2015 The Old Statio
Page 3 and 4: T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o
Page 17 and 18: 70th Anniversary of Operation Marke
Page 21: T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o
Page 35 and 36: WHY WE SPEND NEARLY HALF THE YEAR I
Page 39 and 40: My first excursion to Norway was pr
Page 45 and 46: PETER BULLEN 1927-2014 A Service of

OSAmag80

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?