e-mails

Dear Slim

I was very interested to see the email from Peter (Bill) Davies. I remember him well – we stood opposite each other in the Apprentice Dept (Apps) filing our rectangular lumps of steel during the first few days of our apprenticeship. Like Bill, (as I knew him) I also became a close friend of Fred Sussenbach and I can confirm that he was tragically killed in a car crash around 1970 or thereabouts. We both moved to Leicester in 1958/9 and we remained friendly until his death. Fred’s wife Pat still lives about a mile from me. Bill, Fred and I all had a strong interest in jazz and Fred and I played (badly in my case) in a jazz group consisting largely of “Cotonians”. One year we were the band for the rag nightclub at the Laurels apprentice association club. I am sure Bill will also remember Pete Hector who was one of our immediate circle.

Like Bill I also remember our favourite pubs in Rugby – The “Shoes”, The Bull and the “Playfair” ballroom on Saturday nights and the dances at The Laurels club.

Fred and I moved to Leicester with the Radar department which later became Marconi Radar Systems. I left them in 1981.

I still live on the outskirts of Leicester and if Bill is ever this way again I would be delighted to see him. Perhaps you could give him my email address or forward this email to him if that is possible – or he may see it on the website if you post it there. What a shame I didn’t realise he was in the UK in October 2010.

Dave Collinson

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Came across your web site by accident.

My name is Peter Davies, better known in Rugby as Bill.

I was at Coton House from 1952 to about 1955 and in various digs until 1958, then left BTH (or AEI as it was by then) to go to Canada. I was a friend of Fred Sussenbach who I understand from your site may now be deceased. Was very much involved with the RAG revue. Was surprised to meet some old Rugby people in Montreal: Cathy (not too) Bright (now Williams) who was Carnival Queen (or whatever we called it back then) in about 1954. I recently revisited Rugby, for only the third time in fifty years, as my grandson, living in Jersey, is involved in Optimist dingy racing, and was competing at Rutland Water. I was amazed to see this lake, which of course, did not exist in my day. I would be interested in meeting anyone still living in the area who remembers me, (but not too much!) I will be visiting the area in October 2011 for the Rutland Water sailing. Most of my memories of the time are around the pubs! The Bull, The Shoes, and the dance hall above Burtons and the unforgettable apprentice supervisor CRADDOCK who fired all of us (for a day or so) who took a little time off to go to the Coronation (53 or 54?)

Peter (Bill) Davies 1952

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Well----- what a great find on the 'net' Coton house in all it's gory------err Glory. What happy days are brought to mind by the names __ Pete Nightingale Fred Mullen the Pollard Bros Ken Kortegas Pluckrose Bros Works visits dances at Candle college (sorry Canley college) wind swept cycle rides anywhere sobering walks from the Greyhound or even worse the Pheasant. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Gwyn Sugg or Dave Herd? Ah-------So many memories it would take hours to write them all down if I could remember them!!! Its me age you know Regards G.H.C (Taffy) Gerald Crocombe (1951-6) Taffy

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Hello John

Thanks for your message. Apologies that it has taken so long to acknowledge. Since I decided to retire there never seems to be enough time. I note that my address is listed as unknown. In fact, I am resident in Geneva, Switzerland. There are many people whom I would like to contact. Three in particular are Roger Balcombe, originally from Coulsdon or Purley, Alan D. Murphy, from Greenford, and Neil Duncan from Delph, near Manchester. All three started in Rugby in September 1956. I would be ver grateful for any information that you may have on them.

Best regards

Mike (Michael P Brown)

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Hi !
I found your website by accident, and enjoyed the nostalgia. As a BTH apprentice I was billeted at Coton House in 1952-53 before moving to digs in town. Following my term with BTH I was called up for NS after which I did a stint in the Merchant navy. and eventually emigrated to BC Canada in 1967. My main out of work activities in Rugby were long distance cycling and I was also a member of the Rugby town band. I have often wondered what became of my old room mates and other pals. Following the usual stint in the apprentice school and various departments in the plant. I found myself seconded to building 122 ( I think it was ) which was run by the Royal Navy and was concerned with research into radar amongst other things, I spent the last three years of my time there before being called up for NS.
I was dismayed to learn of the recent fire at the house and would appreciate any further info on this subject.
Sincerely Don Matthews ( now retired from the workforce. )

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Hello

Trawling through the Internet, I came across the Coton House site. Don't know why I looked for this - part of an effort to trace the past. I was a BTH student apprentice from September 1956, but never lived at Coton House. The reason was that when I arrived Coton House was full, so together with several other new apprentices we were placed in digs in town. A year later we moved to Tower House in Hillmorton, a private hostel that had about 40 BTH/AEI apprentices. Then, in 1959 along with many other people I moved to Leicester, working at both Blackbird Road and New Parks, both of which are now of course gone. I am still in touch with a few people who were students with me, but would really like to know what has happened to many others.

For the record, after finishing my apprenticeship in 1961, I continued to work for AEI as a field engineer, initially in the UK and then in Switzerland. I left at the end of 1968, by which time I was officially employed by Marconi Radar Systems.

None of the above falls within the scope of Coton House. However, many people did move from Coton House to Tower House and also later to Leicester. Jock Currie, who is pictured on the website, was one who moved to Tower House.

Hoping to hear from you.

Best regards

Michael Brown

Hi,
I decided to get more insulation laid in my attic and finished up on your website! When clearing the attic I came across some BTH/AEI/Coton House paperwork and that prompted me to make some checks on the internet.

I was a Thick Sandwich apprentice living at Coton House from September 1959 to July 1960, and then from November 1963 to August 1964.

Congratulations on setting up the website, the photos brought back some happy memories.

Regards,
Roger Bushel

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I was an AE I / RCET student apprentice and “did time” at Coton between Sept 1961 and Dec 1962.

I have a couple of comments to add to those about the food on your news page:

I can believe the 58/59 egg story (although the “new’’ dining hall was already open in my time), but have no recollection of the 62/63 ”horsemeat pie”
What did upset the management was that, at breakfast, we used to make marmalade sandwiches in great quantity and smuggle them out for our lunch at the works or at the tech. (Our wages at that that time were about six pounds ten a week, Coton took three pounds seven and six or so!) Eventually they cottoned (Cotoned?) on to what was going on and put a stop to it.
A lunch time treat was pie and chips floating (extra gravy), at the little pie shop near the Dirty Duck (White Swan) in town, at half a crown.

Once we moved into college in Hillmorton Rd, the food improved no end!

We are having another reunion at Coton House in September, hopefully one of us will manage to send in some pics for the web site,

Best regards to all fellow Cotonians

Malcolm Skipp

Singapore