Recollections of Blaisdon Hall
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Newsletter June 2005
SALESIAN PAST PUPILS
I have asked Fr Sean and Terry O’Neill (50/51) to contribute a few
words with their
thoughts and news. A number of us had our usual get-together in Blaisdon the W/E after
Easter with many
staying in B+B as is now a custom, starting with meeting up in the
Village Hall and the
Red Heart on Saturday evening. Sunday we met at the Salesian Graveside
to
remember and pray for our past friends, then joined the local
parishioners in the
Village Hall . After Mass a presentation was made to Fr Sean of a Oil
Painting of
Blaisdon Hall by Charlie Calder (48/50), (it showed the Irish and Papal
Flags on the
Tower) .I was pleased to receive a Print copy of this same painting from
Charlie which
I have had framed and is now on display at home for visitors to see. We
all had chats
and light refreshments and photo’s taken before the ones making their
way home left. Robbo’s bench outside the Village Hall has been refurbished by Martin
Cummins
(who made it with his dad Kevin RIP (55/57) After suggestions and
discussions with
many Old Boys, Villagers, and Irene Robertson regarding Robbo’s bench,
a number of
Brass plate’s have been fitted by Pat Young (49/50) with the O B names
with years at Blaisdon. The Villagers like this idea. The cost of each plate was £10
paid for by the
individual. Interested Old Boys who wish to have a plate with their name
and years
added please contact Pat Young. There are other brass remembrance
plate’s fitted to
Fr Hilton’s RIP bench (again refurbished by Martin ) by St Michael’s
Church , of
Salesians and Old Boys to which we add others at times.
The reunion this year is rather special as it is the 70th
anniversary of Blaisdon Hall
being opened by the Salesians and the Crusade of Rescue as a Home and
Trade
School for Underprivileged boys. I would like to draw your attention to
the It is with deep sorrow that I have to tell you that we have lost more Old Boys since last year, Jim Kelly, RIP (38/40) from Gloucester, Hector O’Shea, RIP (50/51,) from Bodmin, Fred Evans, RIP, (48/50), from Cardiff, John Sandwick RIP, (36/41) from Boston (Lincs), also, Fr Paul Golding SDB, RIP (at Blaisdon 40/47) Farnborough, Fr. John Thompson SDB, RIP, Farnborough, one of the first Salesians at Blaisdon, Mr. Stan Tilling, of Longhope, husband of Carol Tilling our cook at Blaisdon Hall and who has put on some great buffets at our reunions. Mr Frank Bayliss of St Michael’s Cottage Blaisdon, (a great supporter of the BOB Assn) Fr Sean and I have attended these funerals to represent the Blaisdon Old Boys, with Fr Sean also officiating at some of these. Others attending some of the funerals to say their farewells to their old friends were ; Eric Nutcher, (41/43), John Plevey, (45/47), Terry O’Neill, (50/51), Gerry Hines, (43/45), Norman Taylor, (42/44), Donald Whelahan, (45/48) Mike O‘Brien, ( 42/44). Charlie Calder (48/50), Thank you Gentlemen, The Brotherhood Still Lives On. Fr Ainsworth, SDB another Salesian from the early days is rather ill, Please remember him in your prayers. Mary Sandwick (Johns wife ) has offered his Electric Keyboard for sale and the monies donated to the Past Pupils 2004 Smile project, anyone interested please contact Fr Sean or C.W.S. When staying around or visiting Blaisdon area you may find it worth while to visit Littledean Old Jail on the Longhope – Cinderford Road and which has now been turned into a very interesting museum called ‘Crime Through Time.’ Some exhibits were on display in Newent but now a vast number are to be seen at the new location, but be warned, it will take hours to get round everywhere and see everything on display, and also some exhibits are not for the faint-hearted. The Past Pupils of GB National newsletter is on the Salesian website with updates and photos of the success of the Water Project, i/e www.donbosco.com / PP / Newsletter; also for News, Events, Links, Contacts etc.
I was lucky to be in Rome for three days earlier this month, the weather
was good, but, the crowds in St Peters Square on the Sunday was the most I have ever
seen, there
was hardly room to turn round, with the Mass displayed on the massive
screens, and
everyone waiting and hoping to see the Pope for his blessing at noon. Looking forward and hoping to see many of you at the August Reunion. Charles W Springett.
Dear Old Boys, It was good to see so many of you at the informal Reunion at Easter. Thanks to Charlie for all his hard work and dedication. He does so much to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Now we look forward to the 7Oth Anniversary celebration, which we are holding at St Peter’s in Gloucester. St Peter’s Social Club has excellent facilities including a Bar. Blaisdon Hall opened as Salesian School on 13th February 1935. The only one of the original staff still alive is Bro Chris Gorton who will be 97 years of age on 15th June. Although his short-term memory is not so good, he clearly remembers the early days at Blaisdon. Our celebration at St Peter’s, Gloucester on Sunday, 28th August, will bring together not only Past Pupils, but staff, cooperators, campers, friends from all over and especially from Blaisdon Village. Fr John Gilheney will be one of our special guests and will preach at the Mass. It should be an absolute dream of a celebration. Make sure you are there! Don’t forget the BBQ at Blaisdon Village Hall on Saturday, 27th August. Fill in the Booking Form straight away, having cancelled all other engagements that weekend. We need to know the number who will be attending especially the Dinner as it is a sit-down meal and it is imperative that we get the numbers right. Enclosed is a map of central Gloucester. There is very limited parking at St Peter’s, but it is possible to drop people off there. The entrance to St Peter’s is on BIackdog Way and must be approached from Worcester Street. Once again, may I remind you, especially younger Past Pupils returning for the first time, that Blaisdon Hall is now a family home. No one should even think about entering the grounds. I am sure that you will continue to respect the privacy of the lovely family who now own Blaisdon Hall. This celebration is going to stretch our finances. We didn’t get much of a response to the Annual Subscription Appeal. Of the over 300 requests sent out with the Christmas Newsletter only 25 replied; so that put £250 in the bank! On the plus side, donations from the same 25 Past Pupils, amounted to £512. We are grateful for the generosity of the few who keep the boat afloat. So, dig deep and make this 70th Celebration memorable. It may be the last for a number of our older past pupils who are beginning to find the travelling a bit too much. This is a wonderful opportunity for the younger ones to step forward. I look forward to meeting you at the end of August. Get in touch as soon as you can by returning the Booking Form inside the stamped addressed envelope. Even if you can’t come, please use the envelope to express your regrets and don’t forget to sign the cheque! Keep well. God bless. Fr Sean Murray Saturday 28th May 2005
Blaisdon Reunions Having been coming to the Old Boys Reunions for many years now, I was quite sad to hear that this reunion could sadly be the last organised one, as I am led to believe that our present President, Charlie Springett, will be standing down as our reunion organiser. We all know what tireless work both he and Fr Sean and good friend Terry O’Neill has put in over the years to make these happy occasions, which many of us come back to year after year. I think this should be the time when those of us who do come back so often should endeavour to keep the reunions alive. We all have very fond memories of Blaisdon, our time there, and the friends we have made over the years, including the Villagers who are always so pleased to see us. So why not keep these few happy days we spend together alive by keeping in touch more often, and phoning each other around Easter and August time and arranging to meet up as usual, after all, we all know that there are plenty of B+B in and around Blaisdon. I am sure there would be no objections to us using the Village Hall to have a social meeting place. Come on lets show our appreciation for all that has been done for us over the years, and keep the Brotherhood of the Blaisdon Old Boys and the reunions going for as long as we can. We have lost so many of our senior friends lately, do not let the Blaisdon Salesian Past Pupils become a thing of the past. I know many of us have spoken about this time coming one day, but please do not let it happen yet. Let us sit down together at the August reunion and show Charlie, Fr Sean and everyone our thanks and support. May God Bless you all Your friend Blaisdon Old Boy + Salesian Past Pupil, Pat Young 
70th ANNIVERSARY OF BLAISDON HALL SCHOOL Last
weekend On the
24th
April,
I had a short letter from Charlie to let me know
that
he was off to Spain for a few days rest. A rest well deserved after
all the running about he’s been doing lately on our behalf, and that
when he returns he will have to start all over again for the August
Bank Holiday Reunion There was a good crowd at the Mini reunion on Sunday 3rd of April, smaller than usual but I think everyone enjoyed themselves Pat oung John Plevey and Charlie went on the Friday because they wanted to put some Brass Plaques on the bench, by the way the Brass Plaques on the benches is Pat young’s idea, he’s worried that as we are getting older and some of us will find it difficult to maintain our visits to the Blaisdon Reunions in future years, now is the time to put our names on the bench’s. Good thinking Pat, very much appreciated. I forgot to mention that earlier in the year Pat and John Plevey had visited the Salesian grave and cut back some of the bushes around the grave area to let in the light. Nora and Martin arrived early on the Saturday to stain both the benches, the one outside St. Michael’s church in memory of Fr. Hilton and the one outside the village hail in memory of (Robbo) John Robertson. I believe that they all enjoyed themselves in the village hail Saturday evening and down at the Red Hart Pub. My wife, daughter and grand-daughter drove me to the Kings Head Pub at Birdwood Nr. Huntley, where I met up with Nora Cummins and her son Martin. Martin managed to get us a cup of tea while we had a chat for a while, before making our way to St Michael’s church at Blaisdon for prayers around the Salesian grave. It was a bitterly cold day and if I remember correctly we had to wait awhile before we went to Mass in the Village Hall. It was that Friday that Pope John Paul 2nd passed away, so it was also a sad weekend for us all After Mass the hall was cleared, and chairs and tables were laid out to sit around and to have a chat of old times, with a drop of wine and a can of beer or two, as always supplied by Fr. Sean and Charlie. Charlie Calder and Irene Robinson, who used to live in the same area, they took up the art of painting. Two years ago I saw the fantastic results of Irene’s work when she sent me a Christmas card she had painted. Now this year at our meet-up at Blaisdon, Charlie Ca1der presented Fr. Sean with an oil Painting he did of Blaisdon Hall.
Many of us went down to the Red Hart for a pint and a bite to eat. As usual the pub was packed and there was quite a waiting time to get a meal. My Family came to pick me up about 3 pm, and by the time we said our good-byes, time was getting on. Fr. Sean and Charlie came up the village hall to see us off, and with the promise that we would meet up again in August we made our exit A few weeks ago Charlie sent me a copy of an E-mail he’d had from Norman Taylor under the heading Nostalgia. I thought it was very good and straight to the point. This is just part of Normans letter: Nostalgia As we grow older so a greater sense of nostalgia develops. A question that is frequently asked by Blaisdon old boys is “Why is it that the younger boys who attended homes run by the Crusade of Rescue and then sent to Blaisdon fail to join the association or attend the bi-annual meetings?” Some of the younger boys have shown an interest in the past, and after attending once or twice their interest diminishes, and then they disappear once more into anonymity. For us who failed to show an interest in our younger days and who have only in recent years rekindled an interest in Blaisdon, it is, if we are honest with ourselves, know that advancing years have given us an opportunity to become nostalgic for our past We are able to look back over the many decades since our childhood at St Joseph’s and Blaisdon and recall our boyhood friends. For us, these boys were the only close friendship that we were able to make in our childhood. They replaced the close friendships that children have with their brothers and sisters, during their childhood, and then endure during their adulthood. On Sunday 3rd of April the “Old boys” once again met in Blaisdon Village. The majority of those attending had arrived on either Friday or Saturday, making it a weekend break. Some went to visit old friends still residing in the area. Others visited places that they remember from their time as boys attending Blaisdon Hall. Whatever the pursuit, it was a trip down memory lane. On Sunday when we visited the Blaisdon village church cemetery, and we stood by the Salesian grave, Fr. Sean gave us the news that since we were last met two more of our dwindling number had died. The future of the “Old Boys” association is itself uncertain: because of the advancing years of its members. This year we will celebrate the seventy years since in a joint venture, the Salesians and the Crusade of Rescue under the guidance of Canon Craven made a decision to purchase Blaisdon Hall for the purpose of providing training in what was really an introduction to the world of work and its disciplines. The trades on offer were few and did not appeal to all the boys who were sent to Blaisdon from homes run by the Crusade of Rescue. In August we will celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the opening of Blaisdon Hall by the Salesians. We will meet in Gloucester and celebrate the success of the Salesians' work for the boys who attended Blaisdon Hall, particularly those who attended in the early years. The mist before our eyes will be the mist of nostalgia, as the boys of the Blaisdon Brotherhood meet officially for possibly the last time. Norman Taylor April 2005 I had to breakdown Norman’s letter because space dictates, but Charlie will give out the whole letter to anyone who wants it at the reunion in August. I hope and am looking forward to seeing many of you who are attending the August reunion, Best wishes,
Terry O’Neill |
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