Fwd: OWT August 2026

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Den Duggan 
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 at 19:55
Subject: OWT August 2026
To: Brian Screaton , Frank Smith 

OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
AUGUST 2026
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

FROM DENNIS BIGGS  1949-56   I was interested to read about the woodwork classes.  Mr Cropper was the teacher in 1949, and the first item I made was a stand for a smoothing iron.  My mother used it for a number of years.  Until the purchase of a folding ironing board many years later, mum used the kitchen table.  The skills we learned came in useful in later life.
3 Alpha had art classes instead of woodwork.  I can't recall the first master's name, but later we had Mr Kaye.
The House system was very important, especially for sporting activities.  We also had house assemblies.  I was in Bradgate (red) with Johnny Jeeves, an elderly teacher of French, as house master.  Abbey was green, Charnwood yellow, De Montfort blue.  In later years the system seemed to wane, and become less important. I am still in contact with a few Old Boys from the 1949 intake,  John Hill, Graham Norton, Bob Gregory, John Page  but inevitably our numbers are dwindling as we are almost ninety years old!  If any others from 1949 see this, please get in touch via the facebook page.  See item below!! -Ed
Our contact with the old school via Wyvernians is very important to us.  So I thank Dennis, Brian and Frank for their continued efforts to keep things alive and thriving.

FROM ALAN PYKETT  1959-66   August 31st, 2025, marked forty two years attendance at the church where I am still a member.  I believe that during that time I was the only Wyvernian, so am delighted to advise that, at a stroke, the number increased to four on September 1st 2025.  I have been joined by fellow Wyvernians John King (1950-56) Brian Pearson (1949-55) Stephen Thompson (1966-73)  This follows the closure of their former church.  Many readers will know that Stephen is the son of Brian Thompson, who was also a local Methodist preacher.  Naturally we have good chats about our days at CBS  See item above!! - Ed
Editors note:  I wore my Wyvernians tee shirt at lunch one day on a cruise ship to Iceland in 2002.  Imagine my surprise when a chap across the table announced he was once one of my teachers at CBS.  It was Brian Thompson, and we had a lovely chat.  He genuinely remembered me, as he was my form master in 1 Alpha, and I caused him a few problems.

FROM PETER DICKMAN  1972-79   I attended Whitehall Junior school, and selected CBS as my first choice for several reasons: it was my father's school (late thirties, early forties) my mother worked there part-time in the office; it was convenient, as we lived nearby - not far from The Dove, where I worked briefly between school and university.  Any other choice would have been unthinkable, not to say treasonable, under those circumstances.  Most of my friends went on to Wyggeston.
The last two reasons were not necessarily great, especially when some of the teachers came to the house for dinner with my parents.  My father subsequently threw himself into PTA activities and continued long after I left for Cambridge.  That's a lot of family connections to hide when starting at a new school, not helped by Mr Golding deliberately (gleefully?) revealing my link to the school office during an early music lesson.  Fortunately my mother eventually transferred to a full-time job at Judgemeadow, which reduced the pressure a little (But not much)
Initially I was shy and quiet, though finally began to find my feet in the sixth form.  Along the way I formed some lifelong friendships, which have stood the test of time.  I was utterly unsporty, but strong at maths.  With Tony Baxter also running drama activities I eventually became involved in that too.  Initially as a prompter in a Shakespeare comedy (can't recall which) then with minor parts.  One year I played a soldier in Aykbourn's Ernie's Incredible Illucinations, and Mr Fitch, the Borough Surveyor, in Albert's Bridge.  I recall Tony being a huge fan of Tom Stoppard's work.  The events following Fitch's flawed transition-planning from old to new paint systems, were even the basis for a couple of real-world discussions related to computer software changes, decades later.
I also tried my hand at drama, briefly, in my first year at university, as an ant in The Insect Play.  But my lifetime peak and triumph was at CBS, playing the dead body in The Real Inspector Hound, which was also by Stoppard.  It was performed in the round, which meant I had to lie on the hall floor, absolutely still and breathing as shallowly as possible.  That was before the audience arrived until after the final bow.  Unforgettable - for me at least.

OBITUARIES   From John Offord.  Those who attended the school between 1958 and 1965 may remember footballer Bob Hastings.  Sadly Bob passed away on Easter Sunday.  Outside school, Bob was a member of The Heathens five-a-side football team. They reached the final of a competition played at Granby Halls.  Team members were Eric Bann, Mel Knight, John Offord, Steve Hunt and Bob Hastings.
From Gary Archer 1971-78   Matthew Biggs passed away July 2026, aged sixty five.  He presented BBC Gardeners' Question Time.  I'm pretty sure he was in the same year as me, but did not stay on for the sixth form.

Dennis J Duggan (1959-64)

Fwd: OWT February 2026

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Den Duggan 
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2026 at 17:26
Subject: OWT February 2026

OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
FEBRUARY 2026
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

FROM DAVID LINNELL  1955-62   I was never any good at woodwork.  So when we had to make a stool I was not given a single  piece of wood to make the seat - instead I got four strips of wood which needed to be planed to size and glued together.  Four legs were then attached to the side pieces via mortise and tenon joints, and the seat attached.  I still feel a real sense of triumph that the resulting stool lasted for many years as a secure solid seat and hop-up.'  If only I could have demonstrated this to my old teacher!

OBITUARIES   Brian Jordan informs us that John Crouch passed away recently.  He was one of the 1959 intake.
Terry Holt passed away on December 12th 2025, aged 82, after a short illness.
Mark Skevington contacted me as follows: it is with great sadness I inform you that my father, John Skevington (1945-53) died on his 91st birthday in July 2025.  He settled in Sheffield via university in London after leaving school, but it's clear the school never left him.  So he was delighted to reconnect in recent years, attending the final reunion in 2023.  Thank you for making that possible.

FROM MARTIN POTTER  1965-72   Ernie Bell would doubtless have been thrilled had I reported that after leaving CBS I went on to obtain a Cambridge University degree.  But that would not represent the whole truth, if such a thing exists in these times of alternative facts.  Yes, I did study for a degree in Cambridge, at an educational establishment that is now a university, but one which was very much at the opposite end of the academic hierarchy to the somewhat better-known University of Cambridge.
I was awarded a CNAA degree in modern languages by the Cambridge College of Arts and Technology - a college which at that time did not even qualify for polytechnic status.  It did eventually become a polytechnic in 1991 then, in 1992 after the passage of the Further and Higher Education act - it became an independent university, along with all the other polytechnics.  Were I to reveal this to Mr Bell he would undoubtedly have been horrified.  On the many occasions he spoke to us about our options on leaving school, he would invariably laud Oxbridge as the only worthwhile aspiration.  On the other hand, if we chose not to apply ourselves, and did not put the work in, the best we could hope for was - and I quote - 'a degree in sociology at the University of Little Pidlington.'
I fear my degree falls somewhat into the latter category, and I sincerely hope that poor old Ernie isn't turning in his grave.  In fact the degree was of a standard commensurate with a 'proper' university course, albeit not at Oxbridge level.  I studied German and Spanish, but the course was unusual in that it included a large element of modern history relating to the countries whose languages we studied.  The idea was to give us a better insight into the mindset of the local population during our study period overseas, and made for an interesting course.  But my four years at CCAT were also hugely rewarding from a social point of view, making lifelong friends, enriching the local hostelries - and meeting my wife.  We have been married for almost fifty years.

FROM ROGER DIGBY TILTON  1969-76   Question: is there a record, or archive, giving details of the syllabus for which we studied and sat exams?  For example, I am interested to know the set texts for English Lit 'O' level in 1974, and 'A' level in 1976 - governed by the Joint Matriculation Board (Which I believe has since metamorphosised considerably since)  Many thanks in advance for any interest or help. 
Contact   +22241950057 WhatsApp.

FROM ALAN RUDGE  1954-61   I was saddened to hear that John Crouch has passed away.  He will be missed by the fencing world.  If my memory is correct, fencing at CBS began in 1958, and John commenced his career under the guidance of Ray Waterfield, an excellent coach.  I  recall fencing against John when I was at university, and he was already very good.
I came across John many times, as we were both involved with East Midlands teams.  Much later, we met at veterans' events.  John was dedicated to fencing, and had exceptional  organisation skills, which helped him with the roles he held.  He was also an excellent President, respected by fencers of all abilities and international standing.  His contribution to the sport cannot be under-estimated.
I hope that other fencers who recall John will share their memories.

FROM BRIAN STEVENSON  1959-65   I hope it's not too late for me to send in a memory of Bunny Hutchinson. Unlike many fellow Wyves, woodwork was probably my least favourite lesson of the week. I was totally inept at anything practical, and I can't recall actually completing any of the woodwork tasks set, not even that wretched table lamp thing we did at the beginning. As time passed I would furtively conceal pieces of mangled wood in my blazer pockets, where my mother would sometimes find them and question me before they were thrown away. She seemed more bemused than cross. Thankfully my dad seems not to have got to hear of these failures, as he may have taken a less charitable view.

What did Bunny have to say about this state of affairs, you may ask? It seems I was saved because of my usefulness to him in other matters. Many contributors have mentioned Bunny's love of horse racing. He was also very interested in boxing. In that period (early 60s), Britain was able to boast a number of heavyweight boxers who were competitive on the international scene – the likes of Dick Richardson, Brian London, Joe Erskine and of course 'Our 'Enery' Cooper. Mostly they were never quite good enough to win the really important fights when it came to the crunch, but they did have their supporters on the edge of their seats at times. As it happened, my dad was always very interested in these fights, and he and I would spend evenings listening to the wireless commentaries of Harry Carpenter ('oh.. back, back, back goes Erskine's head…') when the big fights were on. As a result I had a good knowledge of the heavyweight boxing scene at this time. Now, I don't know whether Bunny couldn't afford a radio or was pursuing other interests of an evening, but he never seemed to know who had won the fights, and would sometimes start his lesson (after the usual 'Now, gather round…') with the question 'Does anybody know about the boxing last night'? And of course, I, his worst pupil, usually only too keen to remain as anonymous as possible to avoid any attention being paid to my woodwork, was able to pipe up unexpectedly and furnish him with the result and a bit of an account of the fight. I think this somehow made him think kindly of me, and when he came anywhere near my bench, he would just grimace at what he saw and pass on without comment. This useful arrangement saw me through a year or two until I was able to give up woodwork.

When you look back, we were given some odd choices of lessons at school. At one point we had to choose between woodwork and art. Both of these were anathema to me, but even art was a better prospect than woodwork. Sadly, I was no more able to produce a painting to please Charlie Varley than I could fashion a bookcase to satisfy Bunny. But I never found an equivalent excuse for Charlie!

Dennis J Duggan - 1959-64

   

                                                                                                                                           

Fwd: OWT Nvember 2025

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Den Duggan 
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2025 at 13:15
Subject: OWT Nvember 2025

OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
NOVEMBER 2025
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

FROM TONY FOWKES  1961-68   I too recall the severe winter of 1962/63, and its affect on our games afternoons.  We were bussed to Grace Road (three to a seat!) and instantly formed into a crocodile for the walk back into town.

FROM ROGER GOWLAND  1957-64   One wet ,lunchtime, I was sitting in the 5S form room, smoking a cigarette as usual.  Suddenly Bunny Hutchinson burst into the room.  Desperately I tried to extinguish the cigarette under cover of my desk, burning one of my fingers in the process.  'Gowland, have you been smoking?' asked Bunny, I admitted my guilt, Bunny replied, 'Well can you give me a light, the so-and-sos in the staff room won't oblige!'  Fond memories of one of my favourite teachers.

OBITUARIES   Dianne Godby informs us  that Steve Godby (1968-75) passed away February 2025.
Keith Duguid informs us that Steve Hunt (1958-63) passed away on the 14th August.  Keith was told some months ago that Steve had terminal bone cancer, but was still playing golf. It is likely that Steve represented the school in both football and cricket.

FROM DAVID BILLSDON 1959-66   Sad to hear that Bunny Hutchinson has passed away. I am grateful to hm for preparing me for two foundations in my career as a Chartered Electrical Engineer.  In the first year sixth he provided as optional 'O' level course in geometric and engineering drawing.  As a boy, I had been interested in electronics, and assembled radios of increasing complexity.  A friend gave me a magazine which had a project to construct an electric guitar.  As I did not own the necessary tools, I asked Bunny if I could work in the woodwork room over lunchtimes.  He agreed, made the tools available, and also provided advice on techniques and choice of materials.  The project was a success.
My 'A' level results were below expectations, but I obtained an interview for a course on electrical and electronic engineering.  The panel seemed keen to assess my level of interest and ability on the subject, particularly hobbies and the guitar.  I think it was the guitar that clinched the offer of a place.
The skills learned in Bunny's classes have been useful in many DIY projects over the years. My other memory is that he took part in motor cycle scrambling, and from time to time turned up wearing a bandage or sling!  Happy days...

FROM HOWARD TOON  1950-57   This contribution concerns my English teacher, George Franey, and a comment he supposedly made to all his pupils.  It was simply this: people who use bad language have lazy minds, in so far as they cannot not be bothered to think of the appropriate words for the prevailing circumstances. Although not given to swearing myself, the comment has stayed in my mind as being true, and I'm glad to say the use of bad language has never taken hold.  May he rest in peace.

FROM GEOFF MANCHESTER  1961-66   I volunteer at the Great Central Railway, and a few years ago came across John Offord.  .  That was on the platform at Leicester North station.  I mentioned that I had joined Wyvernians after it was well-established, so had not seen the first dozen or so editions of OWT.  John then printed issues one to twelve, and brought them to the next reunion.  Recently I came across them again, and noted the request for catch phrases in the July 2001 issue.  Ken Witts was a good source.  Go and get organised; don't just sit there and let it roll round your ears;  and one often aimed at me in response to an incorrect answer - don't insult my intelligence. 

FROM DENNIS BIGGS  1949-56   I was interested to hear about Peter Robinson's sports photo exhibition at De Montfort University.  Peter, who attended CBS, is a leading photographer, specialising in sports.  These include Olympic Games and world cup football.  I made contact with Peter at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.  I was one of the many  volunteer Games Makers, seconded to the Protocol Group at Wembley stadium.  This gave me access to the VIP lounge, enabling me to watch the matches with FIFA officials, team managers and delegations from abroad.  My role was to ensure the well-being of the visitors, so I met a number of former and current players, plus the leaders of the delegations.
Peter was there in his official capacity as an accredited photographer, and I was able to spend time with him behind the scenes, and by the  pitch.  When we said goodbye, Peter was already preparing for the 2016 Olympics, in Brazil.  I have recently been in touch with Peter, who remembered our time together.
Unfortunately I cannot travel to Leicester, but am sure the exhibition will prove of great interest to visitors.  We can be proud that one of our Old Boys achieved such fame and success in his chosen career..
A couple of years later I undertook a similar role in the Para Olympics at the O2 London Dome, which hosted the wheelchair basketball matches.  It was a memorable time for me, as I was involved in this once in a lifetime event.  That included the opening and closing ceremonies, plus the opportunity to watch the action at close quarters.

 AND FINALLY...  My only memory of woodwork lessons involves an accident.  A fellow pupil managed to use a panel saw to gash his knee.  The wound was soon bandaged, but possibly require stitches.  So a prefect was summoned to accompany the unfortunate boy to the A & E department at the infirmary, travelling by bus!  We never heard anything further of the matter, though one can't help wondering what would happen in today's risk averse society and its obsession with health and safety.

Dennis J Duggan (1959-64)
November 6th 2025

Fwd: OWT Special Memorial Edition

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Den Duggan 
Date: Thu, 18 Sept 2025 at 11:38
Subject: OWT Special Memorial Edition
To: 

OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
SPECIAL MEMORIAL EDITION IN HONOUR OF 
FRANK (fFRED/BUNNY) HUTCHINSON)
  SEPTEMBER 2025

EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

EDITORIAL   We all have memories of our former teachers at CBS, some good, some not so good! But occasionally the sad passing of a particular individual sparks off a host of affectionate messages as we recall those masters who, for whatever reason, made such an indelible impression which has remained with us to this day.  Three examples are Dr Arnold Doc Burrows, Ken Witts and John Larry Lawson.   And now we have another addition to the Hall of Fame - Frank Fred Bunny Hutchinson, who taught woodwork and metalwork from 1957-96 (The exact dates are uncertain, but whatever, it was a very long time!)  During my years (1959-64) we thought his name was Fred, but at one of the reunions he told is it was actually Frank.  Apparently that was to avoid confusion with another chap, also called Frank Hutchinson.

FROM BRIAN SCREATON 1959-65   A bit of sad news I'm afraid.  I've just been notified that former teacher Frank Fred Hutchinson passed away on Sunday August 31st.  A service to celebrate his life will be held at Cold Overton church, East Leicestershire, on Wednesday October 1st at 2pm.  I understand there is likely to be a large number of attendees.  

FROM ALAN COCKBILL  1961-67   We always called Mr Hutchinson Bunny. Not to his face of course, but as a term of endearment.  I think he was generally well-liked.  One of the two coffee tables I made, with his guidance and support, is still in use in my brother's summer house.  The smell of parana pine being sawn or planed, and the warm fish glue - which dripped everywhere if you weren't careful - are with me still.  I mentioned it to Frank at, I think, our final reunion, and it made him chuckle.  Inevitably, his corduroy trousers were always covered in dust and wood shavings.

FROM BOB CHILDS  1976-2009   A very fond farewell....

When I joined the newly named City of Leicester School on Downing Drive in 1976 it was starting its evolution from a single sex selective school to a mixed, all ability comprehensive. It now had an 8 form entry instead of 3, which required more accommodation and new facilities. I was one of about ten newly appointed teachers but of course most were inherited from City Boys from its pre 1965 existence at Humberstone Gate. You could say that the staff in 1976 were like a case of old wine in new bottles. In addition the school pupils or students from the CBS era remained in the majority until 1979 and a significant presence until 1982.

Older, experienced staff came and went throughout my career up to 2009. Fred (as we knew him) was of course exceptional as he served CBS, COLS and the City of Leicester College as a Woodwork, Design and Supply teacher for about 44 years! I initially came across Fred on some lunchtimes,  when looking out from the History Department 's stockroom at the back of room. C (later room 17) on the corner of the upper floor of the Science and Library block. A few male staff sometimes went for a run at lunchtimes....notably John Lee (English) and my colleague Geoffrey Reginald Norris Littlejohns! Sometimes they were accompanied by a craggy looking, middle aged but very lean and fit man with his trousers tucked into his socks....FH!

Other early encounters were in after school full staff meetings when Mr. Wood was Headteacher. As 5PM approached audible groans and murmurs would greet Fred asking a question or giving a view on lunchtimes, bells, movement between lessons, detentions etc!  What soon became clear however was how well liked, friendly and helpful he was. In the mid eighties I had moved from Winterdrsdale Road in Evington to Thurcaston near Rothley. Having mentioned we wanted someone to fit two bespoke cupboards in our lounge, Fred insisted on helping us. Within weeks he had driven over from East Leicestershire on several occasions having:

sourced a large piece of a fallen oak 
prepared it in school

built two perfectly fitted cupboards in a light oak finish

refused to accept proper remuneration for his time, travel and professional skill.

I told the young couple who bought our house in 2015 they had a very special set of matching cupboards

Fred was what my Auntie would have called a "one orff" ! He had a thorough understanding of his subject and was an excellent teacher as well as an accomplished rider of horses. He was a man I am glad to have known both as a colleague and friend.

FROM MELVYN LINNETT  1962-67   My first memory of Bunny was in woodwork.  He was making a saddle (for a horse) and I guessed what it was. He was making the tree, which is basically the chassis.  Not long afterwards, he told me to bring a jacket to school.  It was a Friday, so sales day at Leicester racecourse.   We went at lunchtime, and watched the horses being sold.  The old Land Rover was very noisy, but to me it was a Rolls Royce.

FROM DAVID WALKER  I don't have many memories of my time at CBS, but do have a couple about Mr Hutchinson.  He drove a very old pickup truck, and we were instructed to design and manufacture a cover for the open deck, using wood provided by the school.  It took many weeks, but we were successful, and it looked very smart.  Later, he married, and we were tasked with crafting a bespoke wooden bedhead.  This was a more intensive job, involving experimenting with staining and polishing the timber.  It occupied a term of work before Mr Hutchinson announced it was  good enough for his bride-to-be.  I studied woodwork for my 'O' Level (or maybe 'A' level) and between us we decided I should make a china cabinet with glazed doors, using parana pine. This is a straight-grained softwood.  The end result was very successful, with many dovetail joints and treated with French polish.  It gained me good marks. It went into my mother's house, she was proud to show it off to her friends.  It now resides in my workshop, having been retrieved when my mother passed away. 

FROM JOHN OFFORD  1958-63   Very sad news.  I remember having discussions with Bunny at reunions, regarding horse racing and his career as a jockey.  I am still using the woodworking skills he taught me.  Not many former teachers left now. 

FROM KEN WARD 1959-66   One of the lessons I did enjoy was woodwork, with a really cool teacher called Mr Hutchinson.  His name was Frank, but for some reason everyone called him Fred.  Every teacher had a nickname, his was Bunny. Bunny Hutchinson - that was an appropriate name, but behind that name was a really great person.
Around the age of fourteen or fifteen I had been introduced to horse riding by a good friend from CBS.  At the weekends we would go to a riding stable in Queniborough.  It had twenty two horses and ponies, ranging in size up to eighteen hands.  We would be there on both Saturdays and Sundays.
I went to the stables to work, so I could 'earn' myself a ride, as I could not afford to pay for lessons.  There was a great gang of lads and lassies who would clean out the stables, and prepare the horses for the gentry to go hacking in the countryside around Queniborough.
Whilst the gentry were riding, I would be standing on top of the hay pile, separating the droppings from the bedding.  On cold days the steam rose from the pile to keep you warm.  Believe it or not, I loved it.
A young lady, perhaps around twenty four, was in charge of the four show ponies.  One was a beautiful palamino, which could only be ridden by the daughter of the stable owner. One day we got chatting, and when she discovered I went to CBS she said she was a friend of Bunny's. On returning to school I was approached by Bunny in the woodwork lesson, and the full story of his other life outside teaching became clear.
Bunny was a part-time jockey, and at weekends and holidays he rode horses for Lord Crawshaw at the races.  He lived in a mews cottage above the stables on Lord Crawshaw's estate, somewhere in Leicestershire.  Our mutual interest in horses was then always a topic of conversation.  Just before Easter, Bunny invited me to go to a point-to-point meeting, with him and his
partner, at Market Rasen.
For this to happen, I had to stay overnight at Bunny's apartment, and help prepare the horses the following morning.  A grey called September Mourn (sic) and one other before heading off.  It was a dull, overcast day, but a fabulous  one for me.  Because of strict rules I was not allowed into the stable area to help with the final preparations, but was left to nosey round the course and fantasise about being a jockey, given that I was still a shorty!
I did have the opportunity to talk to Fred about that Easter weekend some five years ago, at one of the annual reunions.  Understandably, he found it difficult to recall the experience, given the number of years that had passed.  However, he did recall that my dad drove me to the stables in his Standard Vanguard, and that alone was very satisfying for me.
Mr Hutchinson/Fred/Frank/Bunny, thank you for that great Easter.  It will never be forgotten.  I never did become a jockey, but still have a love of horses.
As for the woodwork lessons - well, that 's another story!

FROM RICHARD CHATHAM  1967-74   I have fond memories of Mr Hutchinson.  His teaching and encouragement during the double period helped my basic skills in woodwork and metalwork.  Classes began with a call of 'circles for turtles,' an invitation to gather round in our light brown aprons.  We left-handers had our own bench.  As my marks were only average I'm sure he would be amazed that the flower trough I constructed is still used and in good shape! Others may know of his (rumoured) horse riding and point to point achievements.  Occasionally we washed the old Land Rover.  I can't recall if that was because we had done well and finished early, or because we hadn't done so well! 'Measure twice, cut once,' was his advice.  He always said to begin by drawing the saw slowly towards us, to create a groove, before sawing strongly.

FROM KEITH BUCKNALL  1970-75   Mr Hutchinson was the woodwork teacher.  I think we might have called him Scrutch.   I'm sure he once sent someone out to fetch a bubble for the spirit level - or perhaps it was for a tin of elbow grease?  Lovely memories.  May he rest in peace, and rise in Glory.

FROM ALAN ROWDEN  1963-70   Sorry the hear that Mr Hutchinson has passed away.  I believe he used to be a jockey.  I managed to make a wooden pencil case in his woodwork class, which I still have.

Dennis J Duggan  1959-64
September 18th 2025

Fwd: OWT August 2024

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OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
  AUGUST 2025
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

OBITUARIES   (From Mick Stokes 1957-62)  I am sorry to report the death of a former classmate, Eric 'Eggy' Hanson, who passed away during the weekend of July 12th & 13th. He joined CBS in 1957, and became a legal executive at a Leicester solicitors.  Eric was a keen player, and follower, of cricket.  He came up to Headingley last month for the test match, bur felt unwell so visited Leeds hospital.  He was discharged and returned home, but again felt sick and went to Leicester Royal Infirmary.  He was expected to be allowed home, but sadly that was not to be, and he passed away in hospital.
(From Frank Smith 1959-66)  I recently learned that Mick Savage has passed away.  He joined CBS in 1966. I first came across Mick a couple of years ago.  I was working as a volunteer classroom assistant at the WEA, supporting adult students attending computer classes.  Mick was there, to provide one-to-one support for his son. Whilst getting to know Mick, I discovered he was something of an artist.  Examples of his work can be seen at www.facebook.com/micksavart or www.savartist.wordpress.com.

FROM FRANK SMITH  1959-66   (This item received May 21st - Ed)  Local firm Glenfield Television closed its shop in Glenfield at the end of May.  It was started by the Voce family in 1959.  I recognised the surname, and asked if ex-pupil David was a family member.  Apparently he was a cousin of the present owner Kevan.  Here's what cousin Kevan said: David trained to be an accountant.  Kept the Dove pub in Evington for a few years, then moved to Glenville Avenue, Glenfield, where he stayed until he died in 2008.  A lovely fella, and a fixture in the Railway Inn, Glenfield.  He loved nothing more than to do the Telegraph crossword over a couple of pints.  He was a really gifted pianist.  No lessons.  He listened to something and could just play it.  Amazing!

FROM TONY WAKEFIELD  1951-56   I was sorry to hear that my good friend, Roy Townsend, has died.  We were friends at CBS, but lost contact until we caught up again via OWT.  I would like to share the story of our big adventure.
During the summer of 1955, Roy's parents invited me to join them for their holiday at Pevensey Bay, near Eastbourne.  But he family car did not have sufficient room for everyone, so Roy and I decided to cycle there.  We set off very early in the morning, and reached Eastbourne around 11pm, feeling absolutely shattered.  We did not know the way to Pevensey Bay, so decided to sleep in one of the shelters on the prom.  We were woken in the early hours by a policeman, who demanded to know what we were doing.  We explained, and the policeman told us to follow him to the police station, where he put us in a cell for the rest of the night, and kicked us out in the morning. He did give us directions to Pevensey Bay.  I liked to tell people that Roy and I had once shared a cell, with no explanation, which caused some funny looks.  RIP, Roy.

FROM DENNIS BIGGS  (1949-56)   During September 1961 I began a degree course in Commerce and Russian Studies at Birmingham university.  My first-year tutor and lecturer on statistics was Professor Alan Walters, who became the controversial chief economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher during her term in office.  He was an inspiring teacher, but I had no inkling his career would lead him in that direction.  I met him again by chance a few years later at Vienna airport, but unfortunately we only had time for a brief chat.
From 1965-69 I was working for the East European filial of the merchant bank Guinness Mahon, and active in negotiating turnkey projects with the Soviet trading organisations.  The first British trade fair was staged in 1966, and I spent a number of weeks in Moscow assisting with the arrangements for this important event for Anglo-Soviet trade.
The fair was opened by Harold Wilson, and I was asked to accompany him on a tour of the stands.  He was very affable and interested in the exhibits, and as I spoke Russian I was able to act as an interpreter. I have a photo somewhere, which might have been used  in some of the newspapers
I married in 1967, and my long periods of absence on trade missions was proving problematic, so I joined Molins Machine Co, Deptford, as European Sales Manager.  Molins manufactured machinery for the cigarette industry, in particular a revolutionary machine which produced four thousand cigarettes per minute, and a machine which packaged cigarettes at two hundred packets per minute.  These were the hinged lid-type packets, still common today.  This was the heyday of cigarettes, and Molins had a world-wide dominance at the time, with trade in Europe ant the USA at its peak.  But the anti-smoking lobby was gradually taking hold, and the inevitable decline soon followed. 
So after seven years with Molins I was invited to join Blaw Knox, a Babcock & Wilson subsidiary, in Rochester, which made machinery for road construction.
Later I worked for Neil & Spencer, Leatherhead, manufacturers of dry cleaning and laundry machines.
Finally I was invited to join a larger company based in Augsburg and Heilbronn, Germany, where I worked for twelve years before finishing my career.
I was grateful for my apprenticeship at A A Jones & Shipman, Narborough Road South, Leicester, which began my career path through a number of leading machinery manufacturers in such a wide variety of industries.

FROM DAVE POSTLES  1960-67   A brief comment regarding the pitch at Downing Drive which was, as described in the CBS history book, a disaster.  I recall a game when the entire centre was cloying mud. Mr Haddon, the referee, instructed us to get the ball out to the wings, where there was at least some grass.  As to the solid defence during the 1966-67 season (when the 1st eleven won the cup) that solidity was entirely due to 'loan' players from the lower years.  Bill  Souden, for example, was an accomplished defender.  I'm not sure those of us from the sixth form in the back four achieved the same standard or consistency.  Similarly, for crucial games the attack was reinforced by the addition of Steggles, from the lower years.

FROM PETER KIRK  1953-60   Roger Povoas wondered if there was any information regarding the 1953 intake, so here is my response!
It was GEOFF Kitchen, but I have no further details
John Geary: Obtained a degree in geography, and spent most of his career teaching in Africa, where he became a Headmaster.  He passed away in 2020.
Dave Williams: Obtained degrees in history and PGCE.  Taught history at a Reading secondary school, then spent twenty seven years at a further education college in Huddersfield.
Jim Henderson: Obtained a degree in modern languages.  Was a teacher at Ripon grammar school, then spent the rest of his career in Hong Kong.
Trevor Cross: Attended Oxford university, and worked for the gas board.
Peter Kirk: Obtained a degree in modern languages, taught first in south Wales then Welwyn Garden City, where I was head of modern languages.  Then followed a teacher exchange with a German colleague, and found life, and teaching, in the Black Forest so rewarding I moved to Germany, and taught English for thirty years.  I now live near Brecon.

FROM DAVE WINTER  1959-66   I am trying to contact Arthur Skinner. He joined CBS in 1959, but I'm not sure when he left.  I recently revisited Houghton Mill, sixty-odd years after we went there on the first stage of our cycling trip round Holland.  It would be great to make contact again.  I have found Arthur on the Linkedin website, but don't know how to make contact via that route.  (If any reader can help, please contact me via email and I will forward the message to Dave.  I  cannot share Dave's contact details here, for reasons of privacy - Ed)

AND FINALLY...   Anyone remember the very harsh winter of 1962-63?  Everywhere frozen solid for several weeks, but it did not defeat Jock Gilman, the teacher in charge of sport.  We were transported to Grace Road as usual, courtesy of Leicester Corporation Transport, where we formed up into a crocodile and walked back into town. via Aylestone Road.  Bill Mann was often roped in as well.  Supervision was minimal, and whilst I had no objection to a walk, it seemed rather pointless to trek back to the city centre when I was already halfway home.  We lived in South Wigston, and the number 87 bus, which terminated by The Exchange, Sturdee Road (On the Monsell) passed by the junction with Grace Road at regular intervals.  No roll call was taken, so my cunning plan was to make sure to be the last person in the crocodile, then secrete myself just inside one of the extensive front gardens until the column was out of sight.  All I had to do then was wait at the bus stop!  I don't think I risked it every time though!  No point pushing my luck!  Did anyone else manage to slip away?

Dennis J Duggan
1959-64

Fwd: OWT

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Brian Screaton 
Date: Sun, 11 May 2025 at 14:29
Subject: OWT
To: Brian Screaton 

  Hello All,

Dennis has completed the new edition of Old Wyves Tales, but Frank Smith is away on holiday, so it won't appear on the Website or Facebook until later this week. So as not to keep you waiting I thought the best thing is to email it out to you, as below.

Don't forget that Dennis is always looking for contributions to OWT, so if there is anything in this issue that sparks a memory, do write it down and email to Dennis 

Best wishes,

Brian

OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
  MAY 2025
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

FROM BRIAN SCREATON  (This is a slightly-edited copy of Brian's round-robin dated 14.4.25 - Ed)  The Old Wyves lunch went very well, and despite being slightly down on numbers the buzz of conversation about old times was just as great as previous lunches.  We were pleased to welcome John Offord, who made the journey from the south-east.  Although he could not be present, it was still pleasing to be able to toast the 87th birthday of Bill Mann, who is a resident at Welford Court Residential Home in Leicester.  I realise that many of you live too far away to attend the lunches, but I thought you would like to know what goes on.  The next lunch will be early October.

FROM BRIAN PAPWORTH  (Original message dated 18.4.25 - Ed)  I saw an announcement in the Leicester Mercury that Clifford Roy Townsend (known by all as Roy) had died.  I'm not sure when he attended CBS, but as he was born in 1939 I believe it would be 1950-55 or 1951-56.  I knew Roy for over twenty years, and we shared an interest in local history and numismatics.

FROM FRANK SMITH   We received the following sad news from Catherine Dack's sister, Diane Robertshaw via facebook, on March 7th: Re Catherine Dack, who taught physics at CBS.  Sadly Catherine passed away on 21st February 2025, aged 83 years.  Her funeral and burial took place at Tissington church, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, on Monday 24th March at 2pm, followed by refreshments in the village hall.  Although apparently not listed in Andy Marlow's book as being on the staff, I understand she taught at the school for about thirty years.  She taught Gary Lineker, amongst others, and was deputy head for some of that time.

FROM MARK HAYLER   Pilot Officer Alan Frederick Canham  (5S, 1961) killed in a plane crash near Abingdon on July 6th 1965, is commemorated at the National Arboretum, on the RAF 1965 panel of the Armed Forces Memorial.  A small cross was placed at the base of the panel which bears his name, from his classmates at CBS.

FROM ROGER POVOAS   I often wonder what some of my contemporaries achieved after they left school.  Perhaps others feel the same way, either specifically or generally? Can I suggest that interested readers submit no more than two specific names, and await a response? Mine are Phil Kitchen and ??? Geary.

FROM PAUL NEWCOMBE  1959-64   I emigrated from the UK in 1967 aged 19, on the ten UK Pound passage to Australia via an old Italian cruise ship. We got to see the Canary Isles, Cape Town, (where I also nearly missed the ship's departure, but maybe save this story for another time) Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.  During the six weeks it took to get to Sydney, I met my future wife Elizabeth and we have been married for fifty three years. On arrival in Sydney I got a job as a window cleaner (Oh yes, my education at City Boys really was put to good use) and during this brief stint I got my five minutes of fame on National TV when we got stuck twenty five floors up on the exterior of a skyscraper and eventually had to be rescued by firemen, who hoisted us up to an open window. I decided to seek another career after that, and joined an American firm, Emery Air Freight, where I worked for four years at Sydney Airport. I already had experience in the UK where I had worked in the same industry for LEP Transport, Leicester and in London, for EMG Air Services. Elizabeth was not happy in Australia and wanted to return to the UK with our daughter Jennifer; I agreed to follow as soon as I had saved enough money to get us a new start. I did have access to free tickets so I was able to go back to the UK to see them but the travel time Sydney to London in those days was thirty two hours and I knew that could not continue, so about a year later I had managed to save £1000 and was offered an exchange employment transfer position with the same company at Heathrow. So I packed up in 1971 and returned to the UK. I joined Elizabeth and Jennifer in Blackpool, where they were living with family, and we married, after which we proceeded to London for our honeymoon and to find employment. When I arrived at the Heathrow office of Emery, the existing manager had decided to remain in the UK and I was offered another managerial job, however, the salary did not pay our share of rent in the Hounslow area, the cost of a car and caring for a family, so I walked away and started a road haulage company, mostly between Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Again, I had experience in this area as I had co-founded a small haulage company in Australia operating haulage between Sydney and Melbourne Airports, and an air cargo service around Australia with a De Havilland Beaver. After being rejected for financing to expand the business domestically and internationally, I decided in 1972 to fold up and move to New York but there were Visa issues so I decided to join a friend of mine who had started a business in Vancouver, Canada, where the immigration requirements were quite easy at that time as long as you had a sponsor and job to go to. We closed up our affairs in the UK and the three of us flew on complimentary tickets from Heathrow to Montreal where we spent a night in that amazing city, travelling the next day to Vancouver which was even more amazing to see from the air. On arrival we stayed with friends and eventually got settled in and employed. The job required a lot of travel and I was back in the UK within a matter of weeks on business. Then I was off to Japan, and whilst there I discovered a customer who was exporting from Canada plane loads of Holiday Magic cosmetics; believe it or not, his name was Larry Profit and he resided on a large yacht somewhere off shore in Florida/Bahamas. I secured this business with the help of my friends in Toronto and we handled this business for more than a year until the collapse of what I later found out was a pyramid scheme. Having travelled to Japan many times on business I also noticed that vast amounts of electronics, car parts and other manufactured goods were being exported to UK/Europe and South America and convinced my two friends, who by then were also partners, to invest in an operation in Japan to secure this business. It was a unique concept we developed whereby goods were moved by ocean to the West Coast ports of Vancouver, Seattle and Los Angeles and then flown to their final destination on a multimodal document in roughly half the time of all sea freight and half the cost of air freight. To cut this story short, we opened offices throughout the USA/UK/Europe/South America and Asia to handle this business. Along the way we moved to Montreal for five years between 1975 and 1980 to make travel easier and a more convenient time zone. This was followed by eighteen months living in Chiswick, UK to open a UK operation and then briefly to Los Angeles to do the same before settling down in Vancouver, BC, Canada.  Unfortunately, during the 80's when interest rates hit 22%, we experienced financial problems which caused the divesting of most parts of the business to pay banks and other creditors. I decided in 1988 to again pack up and move to Nassau, Bahamas, picking up the pieces and practically starting over again by mortgaging our home along with a partner who did the same, to the maximum, and getting as much credit as I could from vendors. We have lived in the Bahamas ever since, with brief spells in the UK and Turks & Caicos Islands.  During this time, we either had our own offices or exclusive agents in thirty countries and this required my travelling more than 200 days a year. My wife would sometimes join me when I was going to the UK and very occasionally, Brazil, Japan, India and Dubai. The business was sold in 1999 and I retired exhausted. I did not enjoy City Boys school, and left as soon as I had completed my GCSEs, just a few weeks before my sixteenth birthday,  But I must have learnt something academically and socially to add to the street smarts of growing up in a two up two down terrace home off the Melton Road near the Cossington  Street Baths. As much as we both still love the UK , watching Sky news every night and I watch every LCFC game, we have no other family or ties left there and decided not to visit anymore and limit our travel to Nassau, Palm Springs and Vancouver. My wife and I have four grandchildren, all living in Canada; three boys are Jennifer's children and our son Christopher has a girl. They are all grown up now. This is a brief story covering the past fifty seven years, and our somewhat nomadic life moving around the globe.

FROM CHRIS GLENTON   Those of you who know me, and possibly some who don't, will recall that I was heavily involved with the school plays in the late sixties, which were produced by my favourite teacher, Tony Baxter. Myself and Geoff Spencer took over sound and lighting in around 1967 along with Mike (Snowy) Thornton and this gave us a fairly free run at walking about on the hall roof (try that at a school in this day and age) and also the storage area under the stage which was a great place to go and smoke at break and lunch times. In the process of taking over the technicals, we met our predecessor, an upper sixth former Phil someone (I can't remember his second name) who was about to leave that summer. Phil had somehow acquired a master key for the school which he would lend us briefly from time to time, but it was made clear that separating him from it permanently, even when he was leaving was not going to happen. Well we couldn't have that, so I set about copying it. First a quick visit to Mrs Ward at Downing Street shops to obtain a blank, she was my neighbour so there were no awkward questions. I then set about making a copy from a plasticine impression. Hours of filing over a few days and the copy was complete. We waited until a rehearsal night and headed off to the library to try it……… It broke, and I am guessing the remains stayed in the bottom of the lock until the building was demolished. Back to the drawing board: another blank, a lot more filing which was done more carefully this time, and the job was done. This time it worked, and we were away. Its main job was to get us around the school when we were the only ones there (again what are the chances of that these days) we had free access to the woodwork room and the art room for legitimate set building reasons, and there was the occasional visit to the store room for paper, along with the odd visit to the staff room, which to be honest we avoided because aside from getting caught, the place was a bit of a dump. The smell of stale cigarette smoke still lives with me. The one question that I still ponder occasionally is: Did they know, and let us get away with it because we were reasonably trustworthy, or were they totally oblivious to the goings on when all the staff had gone home? Maybe someone will be able to answer that question, I would love to know. 

FROM TONY WAKEFIELD I left City Boys in 1956 after the fifth.form and at eighty five my memory of school days is a bit dim, but I do remember that we were not allowed to go into the Woolworths store in school uniform for some reason.Was it snobbery because Woolworths was a cheap store? I don't know, all I know is that most of us ignored it. We came to New Zealand in 1974, mainly because the trade unions in England were very powerful at the time and were causing all sorts of trouble, and we wanted somewhere more peaceful. NZ fifty years ago was a very laid-back, casual slice of paradise, but over the years has had to catch up with the rest of the world. I worked mainly as a sales rep, and then we had a retail business.We have never been back to England, relatives who we wanted to see have been out here for holidays, and now we have grandchildren and last year we welcomed our first great grandchild so we're quite happy in our old age.

FROM MICK STOKES   Back in 1962, for a grammar school pupil leaving at age sixteen,  it was essential for a career in banking, insurance and the like to have a minimum of 5 O Levels, which must include maths and English. I obtained six O levels, mainly down to Mr Smith noting that I couldn't read writing on the blackboard, and suggesting that I should have my eyes tested. What a difference a pair of spectacles makes! My first job was as a cost accountant at Stead & Simpsons, shoe manufacturers. Broken promises meant that job was going nowhere, so I decided I would look for a career in insurance. I reached the Phoenix via the National Deposit Friendly Society. I probably should have stayed there, but the pay wasn't good so I was on the move again to Midland Assurance. They wouldn't let me have time off for the holiday I had booked, so I moved to the Dominion Insurance Co. I had completed my exams,  becoming a Fellow of The Chartered Insurance Institute, which led to a promotion to Harrogate in 1976. They closed the office in 2002. I am still here, retiring in 2008.

I play chess. I have been running teams since I was sixteen. I run events for local primary schools. I first represented England in the World Seniors Championship, held in Vilnius in 2014 and I continue to play in World and European events which have taken me to Vienna, Prague, Dresdenand Rhodes, amongst other places. Thankfully you don't need to be a top player to compete in these tournaments. My other love is football and I still play five a side. I watch The Foxes when I can. The last time was a 4-0 defeat.  I also got into running and completed four marathons from 1999 to 2002. Now I struggle to do the Park Run.

FROM DEREK HOLLIS  1972-79   I cannot in all honesty say that my years at  City Boys were the happiest of my life, though I enjoyed the years in the sixth form more than the previous five. I recall with fondness some of the teachers who imparted their knowledge to me over the years. I've come into contact with a couple of them since leaving school. I recall numerous occasions when I helped out with events organised by the Parents' Association, the occasional rummage sales in the school hall, setting up in advance of the sale, and often being put in charge of the toy stall.

I gained two prizes, one was the Governors' prize for Public Spirit, the other Captain R.T. Cooper's prize for Latin. The late Don Whitbread taught 'O' level Latin to sixth formers, and as I intended to study languages at university he advised me to take the Latin 'O' level, whilst I studied for 'A' levels in French, German, and Economics.  A couple of weeks before the exam, I recall Mr. Whitbread telling me I'd definitely pass. "You might manage a 'B', and although I'd be very pleased if you did, I don't think you'll get an 'A'. You still haven't learned those tables, have you?"  He was right of course, I hadn't learned those seemingly endless tables of verb forms. Nevertheless I managed an 'A' in the exam.  My only claim to fame, I often say, is that I was at school with Gary Lineker. He and I were in the same class at the school.

Church was always important in my life, and as a server at St. Denys I was always ready to carry the processional cross into the church at the start of the school carol service. Later on, having been ordained, I was pleased, as the Assistant Curate at the church, to be able to welcome the school into the church again. After I left school I studied for a degree in Modern European Studies at Loughborough University. I spent a year working with the then Missions to Seamen, in Rotterdam and then on secondment to the Deutsche Seemannsmission in Bremerhaven. This was followed by three years at university in Durham studying theology. The initial curacy in Evington was followed by a second curacy at Arnold in Nottingham.

Incumbencies followed in Nottinghamshire and Suffolk, and for a while I was adviser on rural affairs to the Bishop and the Diocese of Southwell. I retired in 2018,  initially to Norfolk, but am now back in the East Midlands, living in Rempstone. My wife and I are involved now in local U3A activities. I have permission to officiate in churches across Nottinghamshire,  and Sally often plays the organ.

FROM HOWARD TOON   I came out of the RAF in 1962 as a ground radar technician, and sent my CV to Partridge Wilson, an electrical engineering company in Leicester.  I was looking for work on the shop floor.  The personnel manager was one Don Price, who told me he too was ex-CBS and also a former flight lieutenant in the RAF.  He felt I was 'too good' for shop floor work, and offered to take me on as a management trainee.  Don sent me on a work study course at Leicester Polytechnic, September 1962, where I was taught by the unforgettable Dennis Browne, no less!  I stayed on to do an HNC in business studies, which opened the door for a three-year duration diploma in management studies under Frank Mee, still at the same establishment.  Eventually I became the first IT co-ordinator at Loughborough Technical College, and senior lecturer in the computing and IT department.  Now I am in retirement, and rarely leave the house.

FROM JON PRITCHETT  1965-72   Ernest Bell was headmaster for the duration of my time at CBS, though I never came to know him.  He came across as a cold, remote character, who only came into contact with boys who were either in trouble, or excelled in a particular field.  I was one of the former category who (deservedly) received the cane on one occasion (1969 I think)  But there was one other contact with Mr Bell!  During my second year at CBS I had a paper round, which I did in the mornings before going to school.  It was the tradition, at that time, to knock on the customers' doors just before Christmas in the hope of receiving a Christmas box to show appreciation for my services.  But, unbeknown to me, Mr Bell was one of my customers, so I was flabbergasted when he opened the front door of his house on Uppingham Road!  I mumbled, 'Christmas greetings,' then beat a hasty retreat on my bicycle before he had a chance to respond.  I have no yardstick to say whether Mr Bell was a good headmaster or not, but perhaps ex-teachers who were close to him might like to comment in a future OWT?

AND FINALLY...   I did have some dealings with Mr Bell, though it was a long time ago -1959, 1960 and circa 1963, Over sixty years have passed since then!  For various reasons, which have been well-documented in previous OWT's, I developed the habit of playing truant. But of course, it was only a matter of time before the 'Board Man' paid a visit to our house.  The game was up, and my parents were summoned to a meeting with Mr Bell.  They had no idea I was missing school, instead spending the days in town or in the New Walk museum.  I can only hope that Mr Bell believed their shock, not to say dismay, was completely genuine.  I too was at the meeting, but only recall parts of what was said.  It was agreed it would be best to move me from 1 Alpha to 1A, where the pace of lessons was slower.  Mr Bell said there was no point in dishing out any physical punishment, as I was not really a bad boy in the sense I was a thief, a bully or a vandal etc.  But obviously I could not be let off completely.  A compromise was reached.  For the next month I would stay behind for one hour after school, polishing tables.  I think that showed not only common sense, but also compassion.  The second was the infamous case of 'The Stolen Violin' which has also been published in an earlier edition of OWT.  The third occasion involved my interest in motor cars.  Mr Bell gave himself permission to park his black Rover P4  (now affectionately known as the Auntie Rover) by the main entrance.  It was a top-of-the-range model, and one lunchtime I was peering at the luxurious leather and wood interior when Mr Bell bustled up to retrieve some papers.  He gave me a friendly smile, and said something like, 'I'm afraid she needs a bit of a wash,' before returning indoors.  Funny how these random little incidents stay in our memory.

Dennis J Duggan
1959-64

Fwd: OWT February 2025

OLD WYVES' TALES
 THE ONLINE VERSION
  FEBRUARY 2025
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN

EDITORIAL   The recent news that Bill Mann has not been too well recently resulted in a number of emails from ex-pupils, which appear in this edition.
And a polite reminder from your editor:  I will not print any material which I consider to be offensive, cruel, prejudiced, unfounded etc, towards teachers or fellow pupils.

OBITUARIES   Gerry Johnson writes: Those who attended the school during the fifties may remember my cousins, the Cross brothers - Peter, Alex and James (Jim)  Regrettably, they have all passed away.  Jim, the youngest, died July 2024, aged 88.  Peter remained in the Leicester area all his life, eventually setting up his own woodwork machinery business having worked for Wadkin's.  Alex, after his PhD, moved to America and helped found Syntex, a pharmaceutical company.  For most of his life he lived in Palo Alto.  Jim took a degree in engineering and worked for Rolls Royce, ICI and, for many years at Windscale.  All remained keen fans of Leicester City.  Good people, good brothers and good cousins.

FROM WALLY PAYNE --1953-58  (Continued from the November 2024 OWT - Ed)  I understand that the school owned the Grace Road cricket ground, home of the LCCC.  We played all our sports there.  The centre square remained sacrosanct, and was roped off.  But the outfield was used as football pitches and for athletics.  At the beginning of the LCCC's first home fixture of one championship season in the late fifties, Yorkshire were the guests.  During the home team's first innings a ball was gently played towards the boundary, and the great Brian Close went down on one knee to field the ball.  Just before it reached Brain Close, the ball hit a divot left over from a football match, and smacked him right in the face.  The resulting complaints about the condition of the outfield reached the MCC, and a new sports ground was provided for the school.  That allowed the ground to be prepared for future first-class matches.
Come rain or shine, Saturday afternoon at 3pm would see me at Filbert Street.  If the first team was away, I would watch the reserves with equal interest.  One afternoon the reserves were at home to Northampton Town's second string.  An old chap was standing in front of me, and as the goals went in against the visitors he kept shouting, 'Come on, the Forest.'  By half-time it was five nil in favour of Leicester, and I felt it my duty to respectfully point out it was not the Forest team on the pitch, but Northampton Town.  He was outraged, and said, Ay up kid, I've paid my shilling to get in, like everybody else, and I can shout for whoever I want.'  He had a point, I suppose!

FROM RICH WAKEFIELD    I want to pay tribute to a teacher seldom referred to by anyone else… Mr Stanley Ras Berry.

 My school career was inauspicious, characterised by a mixture of painful shyness and diffidence, along with what I now realise was supreme laziness. I did not excel!!

  On drifting into the 6th form, with no idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I elected to study maths, geography and economics. I liked geography, and thought the other two would make a useful set of 'A' Levels. 


On the first day of the sixth form, those who had selected economics were summoned out of the classroom to discuss the options. It seemed more people wanted to do economics than there was room for, so a few would have to select something else. We were told it involved a lot of hard work and reading, so I immediately volunteered to change and selected English instead, mainly because it was next on the list of subjects we were shown. So, having read precious little up to that age, I was now doing English Literature at 'A' Level.

There were a number of books to study, and a number of teachers involved, and though I remember the books the only teacher I recall in English was Mr Berry.
He had always seemed undistinguished, but here I was unfair and didn't appreciate the man's qualities.

He led our group through the poetry of Gerard Manly Hopkins and Emma by Jane Austen. I still think the latter a strange choice for a group of 16/17 year old boys at that time, but that was what we we were studying

. I found Emma drab and dismal throughout, just didn't see the point. And Hopkins? A total wimp, as inspiring as watching paint dry. I was far happier with the module covering T S Eliot, who I still love with a passion. 

I recall a day when Mr Berry walked into the classroom, made himself comfortable and instructed us to take our copies of Emma and open them at a given page and he would read. There were were only five of us in the group, and we all sighed and did as instructed. Mr Berry started reading, kept giggling, and was amazed to see five bemused faces looking back at him and exchanging glances.
He asked if we didn't see it was comic, and as one we all said 'No… can't see anything funny,' and for the first and only time I saw him lose his temper and tell us we were all beyond hope.  He marched out slamming the door behind him

.
I recall little else of the course, but come 'A' Level my two main essays were on Emma and the poems of Hopkins. I came away with a good grade, so this good man had somehow got through to me, something I will always value and respect him for. 

Indeed some years later my (soon to be) wife was at Teacher Training College and studying literature, at which point I was reintroduced to Emma as it was in her course work. I found I could talk intelligently (by my standards) and throw light on some of the intricacies, and indeed the humour. I re-read the book, absolutely loved it and all of Mr Berry's teachings became clear. He was right and, somehow, had taught me to see deeper levels than I could ever realise  

Later, indeed nearly forty years later, I was at a crisis point in my life, very down, when words from one of Gerard Manley Hopkins' poems came back to me. It took me a while to realise where they came from, but I had written down about five lines. I was so surprised when I realised where they came from that I went into town and bought a volume of his poems and looked up the one I'd remembered. and in those five lines I had only four, maybe five, words wrong.
Again, I credit Mr Berry for teaching me so very much, even though I didn't see it at the time, and opening my mind to English Literature. So much so that some four years after leaving school I was avidly reading and loving all of the Victorian, Georgian, Regency novelists. And my love of poetry was growing, even after that moment of clarity when I was struggling, now some twenty years ago. 

Mr Stanley Ras Berry. An unsung hero, a a man to whom I owe so much. He has my undying respect and admiration

FROM ALAN PYKETT  1959-66   Recent OWT's have mentioned the first reunion at the Harrow public house, Thurmaston, in 1998.  I well-remember opening the Leicester Mercury and seeing the photo of, I believe, class 2A 1960/61 on the Mr Leicester page.  This had been submitted by our editor, who requested responses and, as we know, thus began our annual reunions which lasted until 2023.  Remarkably, for a non-photographer, I have some photos of that first reunion, and can identify the following attendees.  As was traditional, I will use surnames only,
Staff - Burrows; Witts; Lawson; Mercer; Thompson.
Pupils: Hames; Rowbotham; Davies; Billesdon; Papworth; Weston; Duggan; Screaton; Ward.
I am pleased to say I was ever-present at each annual reunion, but have missed one or two of the lunches.  I will also take this opportunity to thank Dennis for instigating the reunions which, as Brian states, are lively occasions with much chat about the times at our old school.

FROM RHYS DAVIES  (1972-80)   I am looking to trace Mrs Margaret Pooley, who taught French and, possibly, Russian.    (If anyone can help, please contact me and I will forward the information to Rhys - Ed) 

FROM ROGER GOWLAND  1957-64   When I went from 4 Alpha to the fifth form (1960-61) my choice was 5L, because my best subjects were French and German.  Along came the Mock 'O' levels and, apart from English Literature (which I found boring) I passed all the subjects with flying colours.
Messrs Brushe and Newton apparently got together, and said, 'If he can't do Eng Lit, what future can he have with French and German?'  And so it was decided I was, after all, a scientist and moved to 5S halfway through my 'O' Level year.
Achieving 70 at German, and 65 at French 'O' Level was balanced by 70 at physics and 65 at chemistry, so I turned out OK as a scientist.  The physics 70 was almost entirely down to the enthusiasm of Mr Mann as a teacher, so I add my plaudits to the guy.
I eventually graduated with a B.Sc in physics, and had a career in technology, mainly software development and testing, all thanks to the nurturing received from Bill Mann.

FROM ANDY BENNETT   It was Bill Mann who got me through my physics 'A' Level.  I always remember how he went out of his way to ensure those of us not taking 'A' Level maths alongside physics were shown how to do the non-calculus calculations (Non-Calcule students, in Bill's parlance)
Without this leg-up I would probably not have achieved the two 'A' Levels needed to land my first job, aged eighteen, in a career which saw me through forty years with a number of employers - who still bank-roll my wife and I as pensioners!
Please thank Bill for his inspirational teaching, and assure him of our affection and respect.

FROM FRED WALKER-SMITH   Bill Mann taught me physics for several years.  We met up many years later, as we were both Magistrates, based in Leicester for over twenty years.

FROM STEVE TAYLOR   Bill Mann was the teacher who seemed to inspire many pupils - including me.

FROM DAVID ATTON   Bill Mann joined the staff in 1960, and with his happy attitude and style soon became a pillar of the school for thirty years.  I left in 1962.  I recall he accompanied the junior, second and first XI's football teams to away games, which took up many of his Saturday mornings.  Bill was always fun, and the boys had great respect for him.  I recall he taught science, but I was never one of his pupils.  I wish Bill well, at this difficult stage of his life.

FROM JOHN PASIECZNIK  1971-78   Bill Mann was my form master when I joined the school during Autumn 1971.  At that age you think the teachers must be old, but I guess that Bill was 'only' in his thirties.  I recall that he commented we were a 'tall year', having been born in 1960.  When reading the daily register, Bill had to cope with my Ukrainian surname. followed by the Polish surname Poniatowski.  Needless to say, we sat together.  Bill enabled me to have the best-possible start at City Boys.  I also recall his wristwatch was always fast by ten or fifteen minutes, as he enjoyed teaching so much he did not want the lessons to end!  What a teacher! It was great to see Bill at several reunions over the years and, like all Old Wyvernians, I am so pleased to hear he has recovered from the recent bout of ill-health.

FROM CLIVE JACKSON   I haven't seen Bill Mann for fifty years, but he taught me.  He was in charge of the ATC cadets when I was in the army cadets.  I wish him well.

FROM ALAN PYKETT 1959-66   A lovely chap, Bill.  He was one of the three teachers on the trip to Paris in August 1965.  For me it was my first time abroad, and my first flight, so there was much excitement!  It was a great trip all round.

FROM BRIAN McAULIFFE   Reassuring to hear that Bill Mann is comfortable in a good home.  He taught me 'A' Level physics during 1962/63.  Some of the lessons were held in the Prefects' room, off the main entrance hall.  Amazingly, I managed to pass, and I put that down to Bill's tuition, rather than my ability.

FROM GEOFF GERMAN   Bill Mann was an excellent teacher, and such a kind and lovely bloke.

FROM DAVE POSTLES  1960-67  Let's perhaps be contentious. I refer back to a much earlier contribution by Andy Tear. The obvious candidate for Head Boy in 1966-67 was Richard McMorran. He was the only applicant pretty much expected to be accepted to Oxbridge. He was captain of the Football First XI which won the County Cup in 1967. He had been an excellent player for the chess team and so on. As Andy mentioned, however, he was not appointed. So my question is: how were Head Boys selected, and on what criteria? As far as I'm aware there was no plebiscite or consultation with the 'college of students'. Without being more personal than I have already, it would be interesting to have some analysis of the method of selection. Best wishes to all.

AND FINALLY...   What have I learned since arranging that first reunion in 1998, and compiling these regular editions of OWT?  I never, for one minute, imagined that twenty seven years later, we would still be going strong!  How did an 'ordinary' state grammar school manage to leave such an impression and, one might also say, affection, on so many of its pupils and staff that sixty-plus years later are still fresh.  Given my own sorry career at CBS, you might think I would have been the last person to arrange a reunion!  But looking back, with the advantage of hindsight, the problems were of my own making.  Not the staff, not the other boys, not my parents.  Yet I too eventually felt a strange attachment to the school, and perhaps, in some way, I wanted to make amends.  In  my mind, every pupil fell into one of four categories:
1)  A small elite group who effortlessly excelled in both sporting and academic matters.
2) A larger group, who were very good at sport, but weaker academically.
3) A second larger group, who were good academically, but less so at sport.
4)  The remainder, which included me, were a motley bunch.  Some were out of their depth, some were content to simply keep their heads down until they could leave school and find a job, a few didn't seem to worry about anything at all!  Some of us could regularly be seen outside the staff room, proffering our forged excuse notes to Jock Gilman.  Homework was rushed, if attempted at all etc etc.
But what I now realise is that the vast majority of staff, at least during my time, were more than willing to give extra help to any boy who they felt would benefit.  Some extra tuition, helpful advice and encouragement with their future plans etc.  I did not warrant such attention!

Dennis J Duggan (1959-64)