P
leased to
report
that
we have heard from Bill Pizey
that h
e is doing well
having just returned from a trip to Australia to visit his brother John.
Unfortunately, John (also an OB) has just undergone a serious bowel
operation. Bill says he will keep us posted.
Updates to the website include some Camp photos from the 1970s and a
link to a BB Centenary Royal Review Programme from 1983 which was
kindly supplied by Neil Pheasant - Man U fans will be interested in this!
That’s alI think, but if you have not already done so, please put the 2014
Reunion date of Saturday 11
th
October in your paper or electronic
reminder system! Details of the event are on the back page, look forward
to seeing many of you there…
Dave
120
2 Chris#
Newsletter of Old Boy
s & Friends of 70
th
London BB Company
REFLECTIONS
Edition
11
April 2014
In this Edition
In this EditionIn this Edition
In this Edition
…
……
…
It was
so
sad to hear of Jack Ma
yhew’s passing in January at the age of 97, one felt he would go on
for ever... Jack came through the ranks of the 70
th
, and returned, as an officer just before the war,
at a very difficult time for the Company. Like many of us, I only knew Jack through his attendance
at Reunions, when he was always interested in BB matters, and from his interview for ‘A Positive
Contribution’. Thus it was revealing to hear at his Memorial Service of his many non-BB related
achievements, and the piece on his life in this edition highlights some of these.
Also in this issue are some reminiscences from Les Wright on his time in the 70
th
and some archive
pictures from the 1990’s need names…can you help?.
Paradoxically, while not having many shorter articles to publish in full, Bob Verills has contributed
a long and interesting account of his time spent in the Royal Navy and the Police. After consulting
with Alan we have decided to create a section on the website, under ‘Reflections’, for Bob’s words,
and for other future sizable articles. However as taster for ‘Bob’s Story’
we include a couple of extracts in this edition.
Late notic
e
…
A lunch is planned for Monday 28th April from noon at:
The Victory Inn, Staplefield, West Sussex, RH17 6EU
Contact Dave if you think you can make it…
Much like that of Owen Clark, Jack’s
life was
one of service to others. The extracts below
are from ‘A Positive Contribution’ and from
Jack’s Memorial Service. With thanks to Jack’s
children Christopher, Francis and Pauline and
to Chris Buss.
------
Jack was born in Battersea, London and was
a pupil of Wandsworth Boys Grammar School
where he attained recognition academically
and as a sportsman.
As a young boy he joined the Boys' Brigade and
this connection went on to become a lifetime
commitment and passion.
(unfortunately there is nothing in the archives
that chart Jack’s progress through the ranks of
the 70
th
)
Jack's own words on becoming an Officer in
the 70th…
"When I reached the age limit (1934) the
70th London Boys Brigade Company didn't need
staff but the new 2nd St Helier did. This
venture taught me a lot about boys and life,
something that was to serve me in good stead.
I was approached to rejoin the 70th in 1938 as
part of a new officer team in charge of a group
of boys well trained in BB tradition, most
knowing more than the officers about the BB”.
(on the retirement of William Cotsell, the
founder of the 70
th
, the three other serving
officers also retired)
The new officer team were committed and
wanting to learn and serve, they bought many
talents and gifts to the task. The senior boys
were a devoted group and were to prove to be
the backbone of the company, especially for
REFLECTIONS
Page 2
Jack
1916
-
2014
A long life, well spent
A long life, well spent A long life, well spent
A long life, well spent -
--
- Jack Mayhew
Jack Mayhew Jack Mayhew
Jack Mayhew
it's future when war caused the officers to be
scattered afar. At the same time as I returned
to the 70th, I was asked to form a Life Boy
team (the Junior Section). We visited local
schools and in a few weeks we had a
membership of some twenty-five boys."
In 1941 Jack left the 70th to "do agricultural
work in Hampshire”. (he was a conscientious
objector) and in 1942 he formed the 1st
Farnham BB Company which, for some
considerable time afterwards, had strong links
with the 70
th
.
------
During the committal at the Crematorium
before Jack’s Memorial Service a bugler played
The Last Post…
The Memorial Service itself was a celebration
of Jack’s life and a thanksgiving for his service
to others. The large Church was full and the
atmosphere a joyous one. Following the
eulogies, the ‘reflection’ on Jack’s life of
action was suitably stirring and his requested
hymns were rendered with spirit. Surprisingly
he did not include ‘Will Your Anchor Hold’
amongst these, but as his son Chris related
afterwards - “he must have known we would
sing it…” So we did, and with ex. BB’ers
present and a Methodist congregation the roof
was duly raised…
Jack Mayhew
Jack Mayhew Jack Mayhew
Jack Mayhew
continued
continuedcontinued
continued
…
……
…
REFLECTIONS
Jack’s non-BB life…
When he was about nineteen Jack went to
Brixton juvenile court to speak for one of his
BB boys. He saw all that was going on and was
convinced that people who had offended
probably needed more help than those who
had not. Having started work as a trainee
accountant, this court experience seemingly
keyed him into social work, first as a Youth
Employment officer in Farnham and then for
21 years as a Probation Officer.
A man of absolute integrity and dedication,
one of the first things Jack did upon his
retirement was to journey to Kent to say
goodbye to a ‘client’ serving a prison
sentence; a few days later he was at
Silverstone with the boys of the Kart club he
founded some years previously.
Jack's retirement was never going to be one of
leisure… He was vice chairman of Ash Vale
Citizens Advice Bureau which he had helped
found and continued working for solicitors and
the County Probation Office up to the age of
75. Then he became a silver surfer, helping to
set up a website for the elderly to keep them
updated re. local activities.
(He was also a trustee of the ‘Dempster Trust’
which ‘financially assists persons resident in
Farnham who are in conditions of need,
hardship or distress’)
Jack was the most patient and unselfish of
men, he touched the lives of so many people
young and old alike. His friends, who were
many, welcomed Jack just about anywhere,
anytime.
Lance Corporal Jack
Page 3