---------- Forwarded message ---------
OLD WYVES' TALES
THE ONLINE VERSION
AUGUST 2025
EDITED BY DENNIS J DUGGAN
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
(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