120

2 Chris#

Newsletter of Old Boys & Friends of 70

London BB Company

REFLECTIONS

Edition

April 2013

The

The The

The

xt xt

Reunion

ReunionReunion

Reunion

etc

…

ll we have reached number 10 after five not uneventful years...

Thanks again to Alan and to all past contributors.

Details on page 8, but the date for the next Reunion is…

Saturday October 11

2014

All quiet on the website front over recent months, but have just added five Bugle Band

Marches, with first and second bugles, to the Audio / Marches section. Despite their

simulated sound, these will hopefully stir the memory... Have a listen and please let me

know of any marches I have missed - the music for 'Jellico' is promised for November.

If you

would like a CD of these please get in touch.

Please keep Alan, Avis and family in your prayers and thoughts and also Bill Pizey who

continues to undergo treatments and tests. Bill asks that his regards be passed to all. We

also heard recently from Jack Mayhew who is well.

Please keep us in touch with any news.

Dave

In this Edition

…

Owen Clark was not a

particularly

tall man

but as a

Christian, sportsman and teacher he

was a giant! We have devoted much of this edition to covering the story of Owen’s amazing

life, as recounted by his wife, children, brother and best man.

In the last edition we challenged the wit of OB’s with our caption competition… you will

see from the results that you did not disappoint.

Cricket has long been a favourite sport for many OB’s. We include further revelations about

the ‘Seveno’ side, still ‘playing the game’.

Most of us would agree that memory loss is sadly a condition of our advancing years.

However memory aids, as taught long ago in the company First Aid classes, are put to the

test. You may be surprised with the results!

Alan

REFLECTIONS

Page 2

THE OLD BOYS FOOTBALL TEAM C1957

Owen is centre stage

Owen Clark

Owen Clark Owen Clark

Owen Clark

–

––

–

The Early Years 1933 to 1961

The Early Years 1933 to 1961 The Early Years 1933 to 1961

The Early Years 1933 to 1961

Owen was born in 1933 and was thus at the beginning

of the w

ar evacuated with several other children on the

Mitcham Bordergate estate to Caversham, just across

the river from Reading, which at the time was

considered a safe area.

Here was a complete change from the restrictions of

family life so that at weekends h

e enjoyed going out

with a scruffy lot of very young children over the

surrounding farmland, roaming along the river bank or

round the town, playing knock down ginger and in

season scrumping from neighbours’ back gardens. It

was perhaps more “Cider with Ro

sie” than “Lord of the

Flies”. However the residents must have thought it was

one of Hitler’s dirty tricks.

But it was too good to last and in 1943 he returned to

the constraints of family life in Mitcham except for a

brief respite during the doodlebug pe

riod in 1944 when

the family went to Canvey Island and another gang was

formed. In due course he went to Mitcham County

School and although allegedly regarded as the class

clown eventually left with good exam results.

At this time the church at Tooting was served by very

enthusiastic pastors who recognised the value of the

youth activities in bringing youngsters into the church.

They realised

that without young people the outlook for

church growth would be bleak. In particular Chris

Parnell was very keen o

n getting young people involved

and spent much time with them and in fact he started

the youth club, staffed by ex-servicemen. After he left

to go to help the Cape Coloured people in South Africa,

the church was fortunate in getting Eddie Gabb who

followed a similar line with the youngsters. This

support paid dividends as old boys became officers and

then deacons. The church and company in effect

mutually reinforced each other. The church also had

regular missionary weekends and sponsored two

missionary families who had left to go to India and

South America. So there was a regular call for young

people to follow these examples of overseas service for

the sake of the Gospel.

Meanwhile both of Owen’s parents, Roly and Ivy, were

church members and served one in the BB and the

other as Life Boy leader. He attended all the usual

activities including bible class and Sunday school and

later the Young People’s Fellowship and church on

Sundays and other BB activities during the week. He

was a good gymnast and sportsman as well as a

drummer playing in a massed band at the Albert Hall

and before King George VI in 1951. He had a good sense

of humour and was very popular both with the boys and

girls. He was promoted to staff sergeant in the company

before leaving for National Service.

On leaving school Owen first worked in the laboratory at

Lactogal at Mitcham Junction and then, when he took an

external BSc. he worked near the college at Kingston

getting a deferment from National Service until he got his

degree, which, what with working all day and studying at

night took some doing. He joined the Royal Signals and

was sent to Cyprus which was a difficult posting as troops

were generally confined to barracks because of terrorist

activity (EOKA) and he worked long shifts handling coded

messages to and from London

When he returned from National Service Owen had a

serious frame of mind and after a spell of teaching his

upbringing and the strong church encouragement clearly

influenced his decision to become a missionary teacher.

After the Belgians had left the Congo in chaos in 1960

there was a civil war! Owen went there in 1961 during a

period of comparative calm under the auspices of the

Baptist Missionary Society.

Peter Clark

Feeling inadequate for the job Owen took extra training

whilst in the UK with a view to training others in the

regions on his return to Zaïre, but lack of funding meant

the scheme never took off.

As the children progressed to secondary school Owen was

involved in ‘the school run’ not only to get them there on

time, but also to pick them up from various activities

football, basketball, life-guarding at the swimming pool,

as well as the many social activities in a teenager’s diary!

He was always there for them and for outings and fun

occasions. Heavily involved in the international French

church he was often called upon to preach there and in

the English church, and encouraged the young people in

their different activities.

Amongst the visitors to our veranda was a young lad from

Ntondo. John Mola was blind and attending a Catholic

school for the blind. Owen encouraged him to persevere

with his studies until at last he obtained his State

diploma which enabled him to teach at primary level.

Armed with this John, set out to visit all our churches and

round up the blind children with a view to setting up a

school for them. Owen encouraged him this, and now the

school has been in existence for many years helping blind

and visually impaired children to study and take their

place in society.

We were occasionally asked to go to distant villages to

preach. As we were approaching our last years of

service, we realised that here was a great need. Why

had we not seen it before when we were younger and

more able to put up with the rude conditions and to learn

Owen Clark

Owen Clark Owen Clark

Owen Clark -

- The Missionary Years

The Missionary Years The Missionary Years

The Missionary Years

1961 to 2001

1961 to 2001 1961 to 2001

1961 to 2001

REFLECTIONS

Page 3

‘Forty years’ is what he said

! Not taking it quite literally

I nevertheless understood it to mean ‘our working lives’,

which is what our mission to Africa turned out to be:

quite an adventure.

We flew out to the Congo in August 1961. A train from

Kinshasa (then Léopoldville) took us to Kimpese where we

were welcomed by the head of the schools complex

called EPI (Ecole de Pasteurs et d’Instituteurs). At that

time there was a primary school, a secondary school from

which students then went on to teach, a pastoral training

school, and a women’s school.

We were there for the secondary school, and Owen was

soon immersed in teaching chemistry, with French and

English textbooks and dictionaries scattered around.

Soon he was supervising the transformation of a large

classroom into a chemistry lab and had the students

working on experiments.

At first we were given time to learn the local language,

Kikongo, with the expectation that Owen would soon be

preaching. We also had responsibilities in the school:

taking class registers; weekly house inspection (students,

mainly young men who had started school 4 or 5 years

late, were housed in simple tiny red-brick houses in the

forest) ; class prayer meetings; and general discipline.

The students looked after themselves and once a week

staff members inspected their houses to check on

cleanliness. Owen also got regular football training

sessions going. EPI nestled in the foothills of the Crystal

mountain range, so he had his teams running to the top

and back as part of their training!

Owen also loved fishing and spent hours setting up ponds

for fish-farming to provide much-needed protein for the

student diet.

By the time Janet Mary and Jonathan came along, Owen

was being drawn into administration, first as Treasurer

and then as general Head of the complex that had

changed to IPE (Institut Pédagogique Evangélique) to

include a new teacher-training college at a higher level.

These were, however, rather tense years with land

disputes and political tensions. At one stage it was

reported in the national press that Owen was languishing

in jail in Matadi! Untrue, but we had some very

unpleasant experiences at this time. The Lord kept us

safe and free from harm.

In 1978, following the nationalisation of schools, we

moved to Kinshasa where Owen became head of finance

for the Baptist Community of the River Zaïre, as it was

called then. Here we began a quite different sort of life,

with the British school for the children just across the

road.

Returning f

rom a Village Trip

Owen Clark

Owen ClarkOwen Clark

Owen Clark

‘

‘ ‘

‘

Missionary Years’

Missionary Years’Missionary Years’

Missionary Years’

co co

ntinued

ntinuedntinued

ntinued

the local language? Such was our questioning when we

asked the Community to release us from our

responsibilities in order to work in the villages. God was

calling us to change direction. The Community leaders

looked askance at this proposition and wondered what we

had against them that we should wish to step down from

our responsibilities. Simple – to be able to go and preach

the Gospel and make disciples – surely that was our

calling. Our proposal was eventually accepted.

In 1992 Owen was asked by the BMS to become the

Bicentenary Secretary, and we enjoyed a brief spell back

in the UK living in Didcot. Here we were able to have

Jonathan with us and to see more of Janet Mary, not to

mention all the overseas visitors!

After the Bicentenary, we were permitted to return to

Kinshasa and began seven years full of a

dventure, visiting

distant villages to evangelise, preach, teach and

encourage. Via the village chiefs, particularly on the

Bateke Plateau, Owen encouraged village communities to

improve their lot by working together to build a place of

worship, a school, and to make a start on agro-forestry.

In every village time would be found ostensibly to fetch

water from the nearest stream (there being none in the

village). This would provide an excuse for all the lads to

wash the white! Land Rover, their clothes, and then to

hold a fishing contest!

Regrettably political unrest, the departure of one

President and the arrival of another, put paid to these

trips. So it was that Owen felt it necessary to ask BMS for

extra time to try to consolidate the work begun in the

villages. Sadly, jealousy raised its ugly head amongst

church leaders in Kinshasa, but we knew these same

people would not visit the villages so we persisted and

were able to take time to prepare the village leaders for

our departure in 2001. Owen had always encouraged

village Christians to visit each other, and we always

picked up leaders from one village when visiting another.

Our prayer was that they would grow in the faith and

encourage each other mutually.

REFLECTIONS

Page 4

Owen, as Director

chairing the Executive

Committee

Extract from Joseph Hone’s book

‘Children of the Country - Coast to Coast Across Africa’

‘Owen Clark was a bright, friendly, informative, unafraid man – very far from any fuddy-duddy missionary image. For the

first time in Kinshasa, in Zaire, I felt I was talking to someone entirely sane, someone quite unaffected by the mental coast

fever which destroyed all balance, all logic in the end and made everything a nightmare.

Clark thought straight, was knowledgeable, aware of all the Congo’s history, a part of it himself now. There was nothing of

the barely controlled panic, nerves, the harsh irony, malice or the sheer dottiness, which gave an unhappy colouring to all

the other whites I’d met here. And I saw how it was possible to survive as a European in Zaire if you were honourable.

Owen Clark had that gift. In a world of total corruption and misrule, which I’d come to inhabit, I’d forgotten that such

people even existed. Clark would never be shipped home as a case of mental fatigue, a nervous wreck. …..I said goodbye to

Owen Clark at the gate of the compound

–

thanked him, envied him.

On our retirement in 2001 we returned to

England, but, having

been made aware of the great lack of Baptist and Protestant

churches in France, we felt called to go and help start a church in

Cholet. Unable to buy a house there, we bought in the country

next to a farm. With a small nucleus a church was begun in the

September of 2003. His preaching and teaching were much

appreciated (as was his French spoken with an ‘African accent’!)

and the church has slowly grown. Having pounded the streets of

Cholet in search of a suitable property (public b

uildings cannot be

used for religious purposes in France), Owen would have rejoiced

to see the building we eventually bought, and the growing

families that now make up the church.

Owen passed away in July 2006 at the age of 73, after suffering

from melanoma cancer.

He had in his life made an indelible mark

on all who knew him, and made an invaluable contribution to the

life of the church in Congo.

Deanna Clark

Page 5

REFLECTIONS

My Dad

was a kind, compassionate, supportive and loving man. This was not only seen and

experienced by me but by many others as well. He was always there when I needed him. For many years

at school in Zaire he was my personal chauffeur ferrying me to school activities, slumber parties and

various other activities. He was strict when he needed to be but always there in times of difficulty.

Although he is no longer with us he still remains in my heart and I think about him often and tell Amelia

my daughter about the Granddad she never had the chance to meet.

Janet Mary

My Best Man

...and indeed ‘My Best Mate’! He was my

best man at my marriage and I was his best man at his marriage to

Deanna.

I have so many happy memories of time spent together with

‘Nobby’… Friday nights, camp, band practice etc.

I remember too the titanic table tennis duels in the Primary Sunday

School Hall on Saturday mornings.

I was privileged to be included in the Clark family summer holidays

at Canvey Island where our friendship continued to flourish.

Val and I were so pleased to meet up with Owen towards the end of

his life. We reminisced and laughed the whole afternoon. Although

we knew him to be poorly, we did not appreciate he was so near to

the end.

He was a shining example to all who had the privilege to knew him.

I still miss him…what a guy!!

Bernard Shaw

My Dad

. As many sons would, I held Dad in the highest of esteem. To me, as to many people, he

was many things, but above all he was dedicated, honest, consistent and a man of principle.

Dad’s consistency ran throughout his life – be that in his daily exercise routine picked up during his time

doing National Service, his unfailingly good sense of humour, his unwavering support of Arsenal Football

Club (something I have inherited), his approach to his life’s work or his belief in me as his son.

It takes a particular type of human being to live in the Congo for 40 years - a man of principle with a

huge amount of dedication. To me, this was my Dad.

He was also a consistently bad cook!

Jonathan

Owen Clark

Owen ClarkOwen Clark

Owen Clark

Accolades

AccoladesAccolades

Accolades

REFLECTIONS

Page 6

Caption Competition

Caption CompetitionCaption Competition

Caption Competition

Response

Response Response

Response

s…

s…s…

s…

Hong Kong Calling…

If ever we needed to have proof of the far reaching nature of the

internet we recently received a request from ‘Kevin’, a BB boy in

Hong Kong to buy one of our 100 years Centenary badges. We

responded, with regret, that none were available.

This snap is from Camp 1955; showing, Officer Percy Sore and

Camp Cook, George Blake.

We asked you for some ideas on what the conversation might

have been….. Here are the printable suggestions!

George: 'Gunfire?'

Percy: 'I thought it was a Bugle...' (Martin Dennis)

Percy: 'What is this George, I can't get it out of the mug!'

George: 'You should have drunk it while it was hot, now it's

set!' (Bob Verrills)

Percy: 'Why is lunch late George?'

George: 'Because I have been washing your blooming shirt

Percy!' (Jack Fishpool)

Percy: 'What have you put in this Gunfire George?'

George: 'Just a little something to stop your cough Percy'

(Alan Verrills)

George: 'After you with the drink Percy...'

Percy: 'You won't want this George, just tested the level of

lime in the latrines' (Martin Richardson)

George: How's the new 'Gunfire' Perce?

Percy: Too good for the boys George, Officers only! Perhaps

a little less rum next time? (Dave Richardson)

???

???!

Many of today’s teachers might frown on the methods used time ago to learn facts. Learning our ‘times table’ by rote

for example was standard…. and it seemed to work for many of us. Acronyms, for example was another way to

remember things, so ably applied by Brian Rance at his First Aid Classes.[as remembered by Brian Newman]

Here are two examples:

1. Small Children Never Play Cards Unless Visiting Aunties

2. Loud Voices Roughly Adjusted Receive Very Little Attention

Can you remember what they stand for and in what context? Chances are that you will be able to recall for evermore!

Answers on the next page

Some

SomeSome

Some t

t t

thing

hinghing

hings

s we can never forget

we can never forget we can never forget

we can never forget?

REFLECTIONS

Page 7

Seveno CC…….

the story continues

Following up on Keith’s splendid article on Seveno CC in the last Reflection:

My story begins in 1989 when a young man called Mike Harper joined the club. There was nothing special about Mike.

He was reliable, keen and enthusiastic without being an outstanding player. However, he was unusual in one respect.

He loved scoring and was a fanatic about statistics. Very conveniently, Mike worked in an IT company at a time when

computers were a complete mystery to most of us rather than the commonplace toys and tools they are today. Mike

started to produce printed records at the end of the season with statistics of runs scored, wickets and catches taken,

games played etc,. He then asked if we could pass on to him all the surviving score books back to the early days of

the club. Soon more statistics arrived recording total games played, runs scored, wickets taken etc. Some time in the

late 90’s Mike’s marriage was in trouble and he began to play less often. At around the same time I stopped playing

and contact with Mike was lost.

In August last year, out of the blue, I suddenly received an email from Mike. It seems he had toyed with the idea of

writing up the Seveno records as a book. He realised it would have a small market and would be unlikely to see the

light of day but he had written some chapters, would I like to see them? I said “yes please”

and passed on some other

email addresses of people I thought might be interested, including Dave Richardson.

Mike’s work has now reached the 80s and Keith and I have been able to wallow smugly over our achievements in the

glory days. But the real joy has been seeing names from the past that promote poignant memories. Some half

forgotten, some former close friends we can no longer trace. Many, sadly, are no long

er with us. The oldest among us

will have memories stirred by names such as Challis, Goodson, Heath, Porter, Short, Smith, Sore and Stacey. Move a

few years on and others will remember fondly Matcham, Maxwell, Packman, Rowe and Tyler. This material may have

a wider significance for along with our other records Dave will now have a detailed history of a minor but fascinating

offshoot of 70

London activities that could be of interest to future social historians.

Last month Sue and I had a nostalgic afterno

on out when we went along to watch the current Seveno team play in the

Nutfield Sixes competition. When we introduced ourselves to the eight young men playing, we were warmly

welcomed and I was immediately dubbed ‘the legend’. They have also seen Mike’s work and have soaked up their

history. They still wear the BB anchor on their shirts and play in the same spirit we played as young men. The name

of ‘Seveno’ is in good hands!

John Ward

POST SCRIPT

POST SCRIPTPOST SCRIPT

POST SCRIPT

: We welcome all comments and suggestions on

Reflections

Please contact either Alan Rance:

alan.rance@virginmedia.com

01491 839164 or

Dave Richardson:

davri22@gmail.com:

01323 483066

www.70thlondonoldboys.org.uk

The

next Reunion

will take place on

Saturday

October 11

2014

at the

Tooting Junction Baptist Church Halls, Longley Rd from 2pm to 5pm.

Another opportunity for a grand ‘catch up’ with friends, indulge in tea and cakes and

possibly

sing some of the old Hymns

(

if we can remember them…

REFLECTIONS

Page 8

Answers to First Aid Quiz

Signs

and Symptoms of Shock

Small Shallow breath

Children Cold clammy skin

Never Nausea

Play Cards Pallor

Unless Unconsciousness

Visiting Vomiting

Aunties A slow pulse at first tending to

become more weak and feeble

as the case progresses

2. Direction of flow of blood through the

heart

Loud Left

Voices Ventricle

Roughly Right

Adjusted Auricle

Receive Right

Very Ventricle

Little Left

Attention Auricle

The 70th Gym team in 1965, winning

the London ‘Horse and Bars’.

Back Row [left to right]:

Unknown, Brian Newman, Officer

Ralph Price, Jimmy Boerio, Unknown

Seated: Unknown, Roy Norris

Avis and Alan Rance would like to thank

the many OB’s and friends for the

prayers and good wishes for Avis,

currently undergoing

cancer treatment