Memories from the WAr Years
I was at the College from 1941-1949 mostly during WW2.
The Rector was Fr Barragray (spelling!!), the Headmaster was Fr Stubbings, Fr Cliff was Bursar.
Fr Doyle replaced Fr Stubbings in due time. Other Priests during my time were, Fr Dan Murphy,
Br. Cornelius/Fr C. Murphy, Fr. White, Fr. Pilbeam taught me History and later became Parish Priest.
Fr. Delahunty who formed the first ever Under 14’s football team at the College and I was it’s Captain.
Picture of the team is in a Salesian Magazine. Fr. O’Hara, Fr Boat who apart from teaching French,
was the Officer in charge of the Cadet Force on a Saturday morning. Once a year we went on a week’s
Training down somewhere on the South Coast. Fr Crummy, who was a good tennis player. I lived in Brookwood
near the Guards Camp in Pirbright. Both he and Fr. C Murphy helped the local Army Priest by occasionally saying
Mass in the Guards Chapel in Pirbright Camp. The local Tennis club played on the Army courts and when we were
short of players against other teams both of them played for us.
I was a member of the Old Boys after leaving College and sometime late 60’s, I was Treasurer for 10 years with John
Clenshaw who was Chairman.
Both my Sons attended the College. Richard in 1972 and James in 1975.
On leaving the College, I joined the Midland Bank and after a year was called up to do my two years National Service.
I joined the Royal Horse Guards in Windsor and after six weeks square bashing, spent fifteen months in Germany with
The Guards Armoured Division. During my two years I moved up to full Corporal and when congratulating me, The Colonel
of the Regiment said, “Sheather you should be proud of yourself, you are the first National serviceman to reach the Rank
of full Corporal. I put this down to the Cadet Force training I received at the College. I became a marksman in the Army with
crossed swords on my sleeve and fired for the regiment at Bisley, the World Rifle Range near Pirbright Camp.
On leaving the Army, I returned to the Bank at Woking Branch. During my time there, I played football for Woking reserves and was a reserve for the 1st team who then were an Amateur Team in the Isthmian League. They are now in the National League. Then to Weybridge, Guildford then to Farnborough, Queens Road Branch as Accountant. Lived in Church Road East which is just a stones throw away from the College which was an easy walk to the College for my son Richard. I was eventually transferred as a Manager to Cranleigh Branch and during my time there , the Bank was taken over by HSBC. I have now been retired 35 years and enjoying every minute.
I have a large Family, Four children, 11 Grandchildren, 15 Great Grandchildren who altogether keep me young and active.
Noel Sheather
Far and Wide
Following our most recent newsletter we were contacted by Pete Lambert in Western Australia and Jeremy Mulliss from Canada, proof once again that Farnborough Alumni are spread far and wide.
We have reported on Pete before and he is in good health and sends best wishes to all those that know him from his tiime in Farnborough in the 70s.
Jeremy left in 1962 and has made his career in business, whilst also coaching American Football throughout Canada, including following a sextuple coronary bypass last year.
Jeremy is now widowed and has one son and, despite retirement, is always keen to talk about new business opportunities. He too sends his best wishes to all Old Salesians and particularly those from his era.
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We received this email recently from Pete Lambert, am Old Boy and a teacher at the school in the 70s
In May last year three old friends, Nic Sommer, Frank Dobbin and Peter Lambert met together for the first time in over forty years. They left in 1966 and have stayed in close contact since. Frank and Pete taught at the College during the early 1970's.
The reunion took place in York Western Australia (WA) where Pete and his wife Jenny have a small farm-stay. York is located in the Central Wheat Belt sixty miles east of Perth, the capital city of WA. It is the oldest inland town in the state having been settled since 1831.
Frank has lived in Queensland since the mid 1970's and Pete moved to WA in 1980 however, they only managed to catch up on two occasions since their arrival. Nic remained in Europe and has primarily been based in Geneva.
Having been in close touch over the years the three of them had been working on ways to organise a reunion and family connections provided the trigger. Nic's son was working in Melbourne and Frank's son recently won a job in Bunbury (WA). Nic decided to visit pay his son a visit and the reunion of the three old friends was arranged. After visiting Frank in Brisbane Nic headed to Melbourne and then to York. Frank and his wife Helen joined them a little later after visiting their son in Bunbury. The picture shows Pete (left), Frank (centre) and Nic (right) after polishing off a drop of their favourite tipple.
Some of their contemporaries may remember that Nic and Peter shared a common interest in music, Nic playing the piano and Pete the fiddle. Both of them have maintained this interest and the Homestead at York saw a good few musical evenings with Frank keeping the duo well-oiled with the occasional drink (or two). Nic maintains his musical skills with an amateur dramatic group at home in Geneva and Pete plays with a 'Bush Band'. Frank still pours a good beer.
If anyone would like to make contact Pete would like to hear from them. Pete's e-mail address is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
