Home News. Michael Richardson, now married, works in a solicitor's office and helps run a guest-house in Sandown, Isle of Wight (special rates for Old Cottonians). Martin McCormick is working in the ambulance service in Rugby. Chris Carroll has his own painting, decorating and interior design firm at 125, Allcroft Road, Hall Green, Birmingham (Tel: 021 777 1044). Stephen McGill is a Housing Manager in Coventry, very near to Mgr Gavin's parish.

Francis ('Jack' or 'Jupp') Payne has recently retired after being Headmaster for 20 years of Our Lady of Muswell School in Muswell Hill. He was presented with the Benemerenti medal, a cheque for £150 and a magnum of champagne - a pleasing blend of the spiritual and the material. 'Jupp' was at Cotton from 1923 until 1931. He went to Strawberry Hill to train as a teacher in 1935. After posts in Canterbury and Bournemouth, he joined the RAF in 1940. He resumed his profession after the War and eventually became Deputy Head at St Joseph's, Harlesden, before taking over Our Lady of Muswell School in 1958. In those days 40-plus classes were commonplace. 'J-upp's' wife is Head of Rokesley Infants' School, Crouch End. They live in Finchley where they attend St Alban's Church and spend all their holidays on Mallorca where they own an apartment. Congratulations, 'Jupp'.

Mr D. Kelleher, Mr and Mrs F. Payne, Fr J. Greene

When the Staffs Gents visited us recently for the annual cricket fixture we heard from John Haynes news of Jeremy Oliver. He is now a major in the Army and has been awarded the MBE. His brother, Simon, is an expert in the making of cheese and yoghurt. Martin McGowanScanlon, also an Army officer, is stationed `somewhere in Europe'. Tim Preston joined the RAF in May this year.

Noel Stack is married and working for a chemical company in Northern Ireland. John Guyler is a partner in his firm of solicitors in Derby. Ray Doherty, who recently retired as one of the senior partners of Coopers and Lybrand, Chartered Accountants, after 41 years, has been appointed a local director of Baring Brothers, Richard Brumby's merchant bankers, and will represent the Bank in the Midlands. Ray worked for a short period in Paris at first then served in the Far East during the War. He then spent virtually the whole of his professional life in Birmingham, becoming President of the Birmingham and District Society of Chartered Accountants and of the Students' Society. He is very well-known in Rugby football circles (or ovals!). He was Chairman of Moseley RFC from 1961 until 1974 and President from 1972 to 1974.

Further honours for Old Boys. Daniel Byrne (OC 1934-39) had the honour of being the first Catholic Mayor of the Erewash Borough Council last year. Anthony Thornton (OC 1914-16) received the Benemerenti medal from Bishop Cleary at Oulton Abbey on 9th June. He is

80 years of age and began serving Mass at the age of 4! He hasn't missed a day's Mass for the past 50 years. As a youth Anthony was considered to be frail so he was sent to Staffordshire to `build him up'. At first he was at Great Haywood School where his great aunt was Headmistress. He then came on to Cotton where he became a recruit volunteer under Lord Derby's scheme, joining the RFC in the First World War. He became a flying officer observer with the 22nd Bristol Fighters and had many exciting and daring missions in the air. His wife, Marion, died just after their Golden Wedding three years ago. He has a son, two daughters and four grand-children. Before his sight became impaired he was a highly skilled precision engineer working on large clocks and watches.

Peter Brain, Fr Terry's brother, has a senior technical post at Birmingham Hospital. He now has four children, and has been working in Carmarthen. Terry Moore is the Training Opportunities Manager for the SW Region. He works for the Manpower Commission and, since he works in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Avon and Dorset, claims that he has three abbeys in his parish. Michael Wheeler ('Pop') is still playing Rugby for Effngham RFC and working at Lloyds Bank in Dorking. Andrew Bibby is teaching in London. Richard Williams was a recent visitor. He is now in the prison service and is based at Foston Hall, near Sudbury. When he first arrived from Llanfairpg, the place with the longest name, in Anglesey, he was given accommodation at the 'Vernon Arms', Sudbury, until he was able to find a house for his family. His brother, Christopher, is an accountant in Anglesey.

Billy O'Neill came up for the Sixth Form Dance at the end of term. Both he and Jonathan Flanagan are in a group called `The Dark' in London. They practise at `The Mitre', Jonathan's home. Billy plays the guitar and Jonathan is the vocalist. They write all their own music: Billy looks after the music and Jonathan the lyric. They have been mentioned in music papers, have sent a tape to the disc jockey for Radio 1 and hope to have a single record out soon. Meantime Billy is hoping to get into Strawberry Hill, having been most impressed by a recent visit there to see Gerry Nowicki and Reg Smith. Jonathan is doing English and History `A' Level at Kingsway Princeton College in London.

Peter Moriarty is now International Branch Manager for Central Africa for his pharmaceutical firm. He has recently returned to his home in Hampshire from Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia. He has three children: two boys and a girl aged 6, 2 and 4 respectively. Fr Conry heard news of Peter at the consecration of Mgr Gavin's church where he also met Hilary Evans, OC 1914 vintage. Gerard O'Hanlon is working in the Civil Service and studying at night school. Mark Forshaw is farming along with his brother, John, and his father. Dom Phillips is also farming at Abbots Bromley. Martin Lynch of the Merchant Service has just returned from Russia. Steve Martin has been acting as bosun's mate on Lew Grade's yacht in the Mediterranean. He was hoping to further his nautical experience on a charter trip to the Caribbean. He had previously gained a BSc at Oxford Polytechnic.

Richard Reeve arrived by helicopter (!) for lunch one day in May. Our photograph shows Fr Round, Mr Castille and his two children admiring the machine. Martin Northard continues to be in the Rugby news. He was a member of the Notts, Lincs and Derby side that defeated Warwickshire in the County Championship. `The Birmingham Post' reported that 'Northard's left foot was one of the dominating influences of the game. From the halfway line and 15 yards in from touch he kicked a magnificent goal.' Martin plays for Nottingham RFC and we are delighted at his success. Michael Scott is an analy-