Contemporaries

[John Collier]

Has anyone any news of Seppy Owens, Gilroy and Stanley Finch (the latter won a scholarship to Merton College, Oxford, as I recall)? All three were with me in the mid-1940s which, as I write it, seems a frighteningly long time ago!.

 

John Collier

[PAUL SIMPSON]

A big bit before my time . have you tried records at Merton ?

[Tony Olivine and Jenny Halpin]

[Tony Olivine and Jenny Halpin]

I have the feeling that the ubiquitous "Someone" told me that Seppy, a spider-like creature who used to play the organ rather well on occasions in the days of Curly Briggs, is sadly no longer with us. He was just about a contemporary of mine, and he had a younger brother [Malcolm ?] who was a little older than me.

As for Stanley Finch, I can recall two of that name. One, I think, is/was Vicar of Broughton. The other, a sandy-haired person, sadly was killed in Egypt whilst doing his National Service. I can still remember the hush that fell on the School Assembly when Bacchus [Eric Johnson] made the announcement.

Hope this half-remembered information is both accurate and of use - memory is inclined to play tricks these days.

With every good wish

 

Tony Olivine

----- Original Message -----

From: John Collier

To: pgsasso...@googlegroups.com

[michael tyrer]

The Owens used to live in Ashton, There were 3 brothers in age order, Ted, Geofrey and Malcolm. Ted ran the London Section of PGSOB,as it was then, for some years, Geofrey studied classics and as TO says was an organist,  Malcolm is a member of PGSA and came to the Annual Dinner a few years ago. Malcolm was living in Solihul at that time. I believe only Malcolm is alive and will be aged approx 75.  Bye for now, --- On Mon, 26/10/09, Tony Olivine and Jenny Halpin <a...@olivine.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

[DAVID BILLINGTON]

Hello Jack,

 

Just to add to what has gone before.

 

Dr E E L Owens (presumably Ted?) is deceased, and Malcolm is still an active member of the Association.

 

Canon Stanley Finch is also an active member, and lives in Gloucestershire.

 

There is no trace of Gilroy on either the PGSA Database or on a  list of lapsed members (which is about to be put on the Website).

 

I hope this helps, if you want to be put in touch please send me an email, and I'll arrange it.

 

Best wishes,

 

Charlie.

 

 

 

 

[DAVID BILLINGTON]

By coincidence I have just scanned a 1947 Speech Day programme for uploading onto the Website (so watch this space - sorry Mac!).  Lots of interesting names, including many current members.  The School Organists are given as B A Hall and G L Owens (Geoffrey), to confirm what Tony Olivine and Mike Tyrer said in their previous emails.

 

Charlie.  

[robert]

Just received an interesting book - www.bybustoschool.co.uk - which includes an article by Peter Hesketh about travelling to PGS from 1958 on the Lane Ends to Cemetery route.

Reminded me of my journeys on the Ashton special a few years later.

Robert

[Rhona & David Sharp]

Ashton Special

                            Where were you when JFK was assassinated? Sat in 3b as the news broke but you know what the masters were like;calmly cruising through class.So it was homeward bound on the school bus that the astonishing news was discussed.

  Should anyone mention the Ashton 'Spesh' to me I always think of JFK's demise.Too late for therapy I suppose.

    Dave Sharp 

---

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[John Collier]

  Attention Michael Tyrer:  Many thanks for your response to my query about Geoffrey Owen (although he was always known as Seppy). His great pal through school was Derek Gilroy who, it seems, has vanished without trace. I'd forgotten about Owen's organ playing, but I can now recall, in my mind's eye, seeing him at the organ in the assembly hall. He was tall, painfully thin and pigeon-chested, but nobody teased him more than once because he he had a long reach and packed a powerful punch!

Again, my thanks.

John Collier

2009/10/27 michael tyrer <mfsf...@yahoo.co.uk>