FATHER ERNEST COOK (1925-32)
A Birmingham man, David Ford was at school at the Abbey, Erdington; St Chad's and St Philip's before coming on to Cotton in 1911, the year of the 150th anniversary. In 1917 he joined the Royal Navy, trained at the Crystal Palace and Devonport and spent the rest of the war as a gunner in a merchant ship on the North Atlantic run carrying war cargo from railway engines to ammunition. Demobilised in 1919, he returned to Cotton for a few months before going on to Oscott. Before his ordination in 1927
he spent two years in Western Australia. After ordination he served successively at St Mary's Convent, Burslem; Oscott; St Patrick's, Birmingham; and St Hubert's, Warley where he opened the new church and built the school.
Having joined the Territorials early in 1939, David was called up on the outbreak of war and served with the Worcestershire Yeomanry, which was an Anti-Tank Regiment. He went to France in January, 1940, and then in May moved up to Belgium. The regiment then was forced to retreat and Father David finished up on the beaches and was evacuated at the end of the month with the remaining personnel of an army hospital. He later went to North Africa, was then posted to Palestine as Senior Chaplain and finally to the Southern Army India at Bangalore.
Father David Ford.
After demobilisation in 1945, Father David served at Dorchester, Uttoxeter and Atherstone before retiring in 1958. After that time he became very much involved with dogs and the dog world: he bred them, showed them and judged them at all levels, both at home and on the
Continent and in Africa. He was a member of the Kennel Club for some years and a member and Chief Steward of the committees running the two Birmingham Championship Dog Shows. He made up a number of Afghan champions and took the Best-in-Show (All Breeds) at the Cardiff Championship Show in 1973. He also exported dogs to many parts of the world. When the shows ran over to the Sunday, Father David said Mass for the Catholic exhibitors on the showground, a privilege which was much appreciated.
He died on 4th August, 1985, at the age of 86 and his Requiem Mass took place at Sts Peter and Paul, Swadlincote on August 9th.
Fr. Ernest Cook.
Ernest Cook was one of the eighteen priests given to the diocese by Burton-on-Trent. The parish priest, who was there for 51 years in all, was Canon John Flynn. The Canon showed great kindness to Ernie and once took him off to
the Lake District on holiday. Other students sent on to the priesthood by the Canon were members of the illustrious Emery family: Bishop Anthony, Mgr Canon Leonard and Canons Walter and Augustine.
At the age of 12, Ernie came to Cotton. He was in the Rugby teams, he modestly asserted, only because he was big. He took his Lower Certificate in 1929 and School
Certificate the following year. He won the Scripture and Doctrine prizes in 1930 and the Mathematics prize in 1931.
He was a member of the 1st XV from 1930-32, the year in which he took his Higher Certificate, passing in Latin, Greek, English and History.
His early years at Oscott were spent under the rector
ship of the future Bishop Dey, soon to be succeeded by Mgr Leonard Emery. One day Ernie was sneaking off on a clandestine visit home when he met Len about to ascend the 'Scala Sancta'. Expecting a dressing down, Ernie was mildly surprised when Len said, `Give my love to the family'. In his last year at Oscott Ernie was Dean of Students.
Ordained priest on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul in 1938, Ernie's first curacy was with Canon Martin Power at Birches Head. In those days life was rigorous for a curate: a bicycle was about the only comfort. Every night in church the Challoner night prayers and rosary were said, even on Christmas Day. The new curate used to cycle off to Abbey Hulton to hear confessions or to say Mass in the school. He always retained a great respect for Canon Martin as an exemplary priest.
In 1942 he went to Sedgley, followed by Selly Park in 1945. In 1947 came his first appointment as parish priest to Radford down in the Oxfordshire countryside. He was very happy there, came to love the country life, was ably supported by the nuns and even managed to own his first car. This was vital as he had to say Mass at Charlbury in those days.
In 1949 Ernest went to Kidsgrove to succeed Fr Harry Taylor as parish priest and remained there until he died 36 years later. He extended the school, built the balcony in the church and the war memorial outside the front
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