Today's post comes from a 1983 edition of "The Victorian", a magazine published by Victoria College.
The Victorian 1983
Association of Old Victorians: O.V.S Here, There and Everywhere
Complied by “Dixie” Landick
Harry S. Robert ( 1937-1942). Writing from Swansea, Harry
recalls that among the friends of his time at V.C.J. were the Lamerton brothers
(John and 'Chard') and F. J. ('Louie) Floyd. On leaving V.C.J. he entered
Barclays Bank, filling a vacancy created by O.V. John Blackburn's deportation
to Germany In 1947. Banking was not proving very satisfying so he followed O.V
Wyndham Dupre's suggestion that he should join British European Airways. After
some years as an Assistant Operations Control Officer at Jersey Airport, he
moved to Renfrew (Glasgow) in 1963, to Abbotsinch in 1967 and to Heathrow in
1970. He retired as Fleet Controller in 1982 and says he will he pleased to see
any O.V.s holidaying in the Gower Peninsula.
W. H, ('Bill') Thorne (Prep. Staff 1937-1939:
Master-in-charge 1946-1956). whose address is Tara. Bouldnor. Yarmouth. writes
to say that he would love to see any O. V.s who come that way. 'Bill' is one of
many who have written to express their sadness at the death of the Much loved
'Reg' Nicolle.
Leslie G. Rofe (1937-1940). After leaving V.C.J. studied at
Magdalen College. Oxford. McGill University, Montreal and Columbia University,
New York Cit.. gaining the degrees D.S. (cum lande) and M A. His wartime
service (1941-1946) was in the Royal Armoured Corps, which he subsequently left
with the rank of Captain He is resident at Secaux near Paris and is at present
Lecturer, British Institute (University of London and University of Paris). He
also holds many other high-powered teaching posts and is the author and
co-author of various publications. mainly for the teaching of commercial
English in France. Leslie's hobbies include photography. hi-fi. gardening.
sailing and swimming. Surprising his hobbies do not include art. although many
of his generation at V.C.J. will remember his splendid drawings and paintings
of British huntsmen.
Mervyn G. de S. Taunton, F.S.V.A. ( 1 9411-1947) entered the
Army (Middlesex Regiments in 1949. serving in Hong Kong and in the Korean War (1950-1951951
). Gained the British Korean Medal and the United Nations Service Medal After
further service in Austria. was demobilised in 1953. Subsequently he joined the
staff of the Channel Islands branch of Rumsey and Rumsey,
estate agents He qualified in Bournemouth and in 1968 became
a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers. He formed the
practice of Knatchbull and Taunton, estate ages, which continues to the present
day. He is also a founder and vice-president of the Jersey Auctioneers and
Estate Agents Association.
David Romeril (1947-1950) joined the Royal Navy after a
year’s training at Warwick where he gained various certificates including his
Masters Certificate in 1963. After service on various cargo ships and tankers,
joined Sealink (UK) Ltd as it now is on
their Harwich-Zeebrugger and Hook of-Holland runs Last year he was on the first
Sealink ship to go south of the Equator. It was not trying out a new route but
(as David writes) ". we were requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and
lived up to the advert that '.Sealink sets you free' by taking General Menendez
and about 500 other Argentinians home, before becoming a floating home for the
troops in Port Stanley ".
M. H. ('Mick') Burke .(1943-1951) was the Captain of the
successful College soccer Xl in 1951 and a member of those fine teams produced
by the late 'Paddy' Blomfield between
1949 and 1951. Mick writes ". I have.amongst other things. served two
years in the Bermuda Police, from which I retired in 1982 with the rank of
Inspector. Some years ago in Bermuda. I met Robert Barron. who was at V.C.J. in
my time. He had married an American girl and was a highly successful insurance
man in Ohio. We paid him a visit there and O.V. tics and scarves were much to
the fore"' Mick is now hack in Jersev and lives at St. Clement.
The Rev. J. D. Dodd, B.A., B.D., Dip. Ed.( Prep. Staff
1953-1961). A much loved teacher/chaplain/cubmaster seen both at College and
Prep who. as he relates. “I became
completely and incurably deaf, literally overnight. I didn't become deaf until
I was 54 so I had a good innings in the hearing world. Deafness has not made me
bitter. resentful or depressed - I'm still my old cheerful self. But I did miss
the teaching at the Colleges (also Head of Classics at J.C.G. from 1961 to
1969) -those were the happiest years of my life". John has since learnt to
lip-read very effectively and still takes a very active part in Church services
as well as being the Priest-in-Charge of Gourav Church. Characteristically. he
concludes. "I am agreeably surprised at the number of my former pupils of
both sexes who ask me to conduct their weddings and/or baptise their children.
As most schoolboys and girls hate their teachers. I conceitedly flatter myself
that perhaps I wasn't so bad after all - but the truth is. no doubt, that these
former victims of mine have learned the Christian virtue of forgiveness".
Frank Le Quesne ( 1 951-1957) of Brookhill House. Princes
Tower Road. St. Saviour. Jersey has been hack in the Island since 1973 working
in the family business of plumbing and heating engineers. He writes to say that
he maintains his interest in amateur radio, which was originally fostered under
the late Headmaster. Ronnie Postill. and in the school's Signals Platoon. He
continues: "I should he very happy to contact any other O.V.s on the air
anywhere in the world. My call sign is GJ4 11SW and I should be happy to run a
'sked' or 'net' with any other interested O.V.s. Contact, of course, would
initiallv have to be made by letter to the above address"
Stanley Stride (1950-1955). Joined Army in 1956 and served
with the Queen's Royal Regiment in Germany until 1958 Has been working eyes
since in the packaging industry, first with F. S & A. Robinson of Bristol
and. from 1970. with his own company The company imports glass bottles from
France and. after processing them in various ways. sells them to U.K perfumery.
cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. More than 40 millioncontainers are sold
in a year within the U.K. alone and Stanley's company also boasts a world-wide
export market. The firm is based in Henley and he lives just two miles away.
Colonel J. N. Blashford-Snell, M.B.E. ( 1951-1955) So much can
be seen or heard in the national and local media almost daily about the new
plans of Britain's top expedition leader
that a mention here seems almost unnecessary. However, we have a special
connection and Colonel John has written personally to ask whether there are any
O.V. volunteers "who are fit and highly compatible and who would he
prepared to act as instructors and staff in the field for periods of one to
three months" Further details can he obtained by writing to him at Operation
Raleigh. Planned on the lines of the highly successful 'Operation Drake', the
new project will consist of over 40 expeditions, each involving up to 250 selected
young people from many countries and is scheduled to last from 1984 to 1988.
Much of the Jersey organisation will he, as before, in the capable hands of
John's O.V contemporary. Adrian Troy
Louis L. ('Lizzie') Seigne, M.A., L. es L. Palmes Academiques
(Dunlop Housemaster 1932-1939), has written from his home at 8 Creighton Close,
Wells,Somerset. saying that he will he glad to welcome any of his former pupils
there. "Beds are usually available". He hopes to be in Jersey again
soon and sends regards to all old friends On a sad note. 'Lizzie' encloses an
account of the life of the late W Franks Ephraums (V.C.J. 1933-1939). Please
see obituary notices.
Francis E. Fischer ( 1919-1925). has just passed his 75th
birthday and writes about his hobbies, started in Jersey. in which he still
indulges The indoor hobby in chess which he plays regularly for the Market
Drayton Chess Club. The outdoor hobby is cycling and he says: "I often
cycle. weather permitting. I have pedalled a total of 472,000 miles. accurately
recorded, I probably rode another 4,000 or so in Jersey. but not properly
recorded". Francis sends his best wishes. which we heartily reciprocate.
Nicholas R. Bailhache ( 1957-1959). Alter obtaining an
Honours degree in electrical engineering at Imperial College. London. worked in
Norwich for 15 months prior to joining R.C.A. (Jersey) Ltd. in 1970. He joined
Coopers S. Lybrand in September 197b and qualified as a chartered accountant in
December 1981. Local resident at Fauvic.
Ronald Trotter 1957-1963, was a member of the renowned
College team which won the Ashhurton Shield He is a director of Primrose Hill
Hvdro (Jersey) and was instrumental in building and equipping it. Ron is now
living in Canada. He is a member of the Variety Club of Ontario and is working
for TV Ontario.
Richard de Ste. Croix (1958-1966) is a partner in a firm of
solicitors in Lincoln Inn Fields, London. Richard writes: "Recently.
Politics have interested me greatly and I fought the Chertsey and Walton (North
West Surrey) constituency for the S.D P Alliance in the June '83 General
Election. It was a particular pleasure to be telephoned after the election by
Frank Willey. who taught me history at College ( 1961-1966). as he had been
following the election closely and helping his local Alliance candidate in Avon
At VC J Richard was a great cricketer and has noted with pleasure last seasons
successful team record
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