Anthony John

Michelle Orman, Tony's Daughter, contacted me yesterday evening and via our Guestbook as you can see, to let me know that her Father, Anthony John OATT, who was a Blaisdon Old Boy, died on 14th April 2010. She is very anxious to learn more about her Dad and his time at Blaisdon. Please keep Tony and his family in you kind prayers at this time

Tony's daughter Michelle (1999) and Grandson Ian (2010)

Michelle believes her Father's Brother, Peter, now living in Australia, was also at Blaisdon Hall. I let Michelle know that we do not seem to have a record of this and I gave her Father Sean's contact details, so that she can see if Fr. Sean can help with more details of her Dad's time at Blaisdon and if he can resolve the question of Peter's ever having been also at Blaisdon Hall

Michelle will also contact her Uncle Peter in Australia to see if he can add to our record of a Blaisdon Old Boy, with whom, sadly, we seem to have lost touch. As Michelle gets more information I will update this record. I told Michelle she and her family are part of our extended Blaisdon Family and would be welcome at any of our Reunions, where she may just meet former school mates of her Dad.

If anyone of our Readers can help fill out the missing pieces we, and I know Michelle and her family will be eternally grateful. Photos, in particular will be most welcome. To start the process Michelle has already ordered a copy of our Recollections book, which will be on its way to her family later today.

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More Family News from Brother Peter

Hi John, Just received your Email. thanks for replying. Further to info already given, ask Vincent Falkenbridge if he remembers me. I think I knew Fr Dan Lucey. I've been through all material on Blaisdon Brotherhood but there was very little re my era. I am now almost 80 yrs old so my memory is not A1, but I can remember being left at the Crusade of Rescue Tavistock Place, when I was 2yrs old. From there I was at St Vincent De Paul, Mill Hill, from whence I was sent to St Josephs Enfield . One past pupil. mentioned Mr. Langdon. Well the least said, soonest mended. Re sports at Blaisdon, I played right wing in the first 11 (football) and I was in the first 11 for cricket, which funnily enough I hated. I cannot remember the House name but obviously I fulfilled the same functions for them. I went back to Blaisdon once in 1949, while on leave from the Royal Navy. All this is coming back to me, as I write. I hope a few more boys of my era will get into touch with you.
Bye for now Peter A Oatt

Peter, I thank you for bringing more news of the Oatt family to us. I feel many of us older Old Boys will empathise with you frustrations in trying to reach family members. I hope this extra information will bring further news to you of old friends. Vincent is now a Shaw after a name change. He is in hospital as you may know, but he is the kind of guy who will remember you. Best Wishes, John Ward (Peter, Any chance you could Email me a recent photo for our article. That would be good.)

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Immediate success, thanks to Tony Brady, our President.

John - Hello!

Tony Oatt - RIP. We were chums at Enfield and Blaisdon. I have just one letter from him - very touching. I will let his daughter see it. I will write a short tribute.

We are really getting there

Cast from a performance of Aladdin at Blaisdon Hall - Tony Oatt is the boy 2nd from left in bottom row

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Personal letter sent to Tony Brady by his old chum Tony Oatt serving in the Forces in Malaya follows:

Pte. Oatt. No 23836912
34 A-4 H.Q.A.M
Ingram Lines
1/3rd East Anglian Regiment Fort George
Malacca
Malaya. 29/6/61

"Dear Tony,

I hope you are not working too hard. I wonder if the old school is still the same and that they are not pulling the place down - as they usually are. I shall be back earlier that when I told you.. That's if the Army don't start messing about and keep us here longer. But it does not worry me if we do stay here longer because I'm a regular. The whole Battalion should be back in blighty by February 1962.

Most of us boys came out here by jet plane. It took exactly 24 hours flying time to do 8.000 miles. We landed in Turkey, India, and stayed in Singapore for one night. The next day we went by train up to our destination which took us six hours. In Malaya they have only got about six trains running and some of them are goods trains. So you see the train service is not very good for the size of the country. I suppose in civvy-street you might never have had the pleasure of a plane ride but by being in the forces you get these things. I don't think I will ever forget that trip in the plane. Coming back to blighty will be by boat. The journey will take twenty one days by sea - another great experience.

The climate out here ranges from 95 - 120 degrees the whole year round which goes to show you it's quite some heat. But I am very used to it by now. The local town is about 14 miles from camp. It cost 20 cents to town which in English money is about one and four-pence. All the money is in dollars and cents which I know all about now. Come to think of it, it will be very funny to come and handle English money again. The shops are open till ten pm every night. We have our own picture house on camp and shop which is known at the NAAFI.

I have slept in the jungle for two weeks - washing in some old river - cook your own food - make your own little home. It was a great experience because it learns you the hard way of life. My worst enemy was the mosquitoes in there. It's a little fly you can hardly see but it can see you in the darkness and bite hell out of you and you can catch malaria which is very dangerous out here.

There are mostly Chinese, Indians, Malayas. I am very friendly with a lot of them. The women are very attractive, specially the Chinese. Don't get any ideas. Give my love to Curly Stanton, Father Dan, Brother Joe Carter, Roger Allen and to the very reverend Father Rector - tell them I am quite happy out here and I hope they are all in the best of health.

The trouble in Laos started and we were all on stand-by to move in. But things got quiet and we were all relieved. I think that if we did go to this fighting some of us would not come back to see another day. Over this country you got all the rough countries just north of us like China, Laos, Russia. Here we might be called at any time to get ready for ACTION.

Well I shall probably see you in about seven month's time - if all goes well. From your friend Tony Oatt.

Forgive me for my hand writing."

Facsimile of front and back page of actual letter follows:

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Our President, Tony Brady, has received an Email from another friend of Tony Oatt, see below:

Extract from an email to our President - 3/5/2010 sent by Terry Chaplin (BH. 1953-1955) who lives in Australia.

"I am quite sad that Anthony Oatts has passed away. I don't know if you can remember but his nickname was "Skinny." Yes he was a friend of mine, a very gentle boy not a very athletic lad, taller than me but much thinner, we got on well together. If I am remembering right, his best friend was Patrick Begley. I am sure Paddy will be sad when he hears the news.

Yes: I have a story involving "Skinny" John Loftus and myself; Unfortunately it involves theft. Well more like putting food in the mouths of hungry boys. If you remember on our annual Porthcawl holiday we used to play a lot of football and go on long walks etc., to keep us occupied. This particular day we were playing football on a pitch that was marked out correctly by Brother Allen. The referee was a Brother from the country of Chile - his name was Brother Albert.* I don't know how he appeared to be with us but he vanished when the camp finished, he was a very nice fella and a real dare-devil who used to climb the sheer cliff face unassisted when we went on walks. Anyway back to the story. During the game the ball was kicked over the stone wall that separated the field with the one next to ours. Brother Albert told "Skinny" to climb over and get the ball, which he did. After a couple of minutes he told Loftus and myself to go and help him find it, which we did. WOW! there before us was this massive field of, just about ripe, peas: the plants were as tall as me, just hanging with pods "Skinny" was eating some so we picked a few and were getting into them when Bro. Albert caught us. We didn't hear him jump the wall, "Skinny" had the ball at his feet so we had no excuse to say it was lost. Yep, we got spud-peeling for the week, which wasn't too bad because Bro. Albert used to get in and help us telling us many stories of his country and the mountains where he was born, I used to be fascinated and dreamed as I peeled. Yes he was a nice fella. But those peas were plurry lovely also."

* Albert Venegas - Ordained SDB in Blaisdon - 1955

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Tony Brady comes up with the goods yet again - with this photo.

Believed to be taken by the River Ogmore on an outing from Porthcawl Camp

Front row crouched: ????? , Peter Noone, Anthony Oatt (RIP)

Centre Standing: Godfrey Tighe, Ronald Daley, Terry Chaplin, Willy Macusker, Paddy Begley, Patrick Swords, John Loftus

Back Line (heads) ????, ????, Br. Thomas Palmer SDB, ????, Fr. George Hilton SDB, John 'Chick' Walshe

Going on these outings, usually to Dymchurch in Kent, we would be lined hours beforehand, at least it seemed like that, we used to sing the following refrain:

"ROLL ALONG FATTY ASHTON ROLL ALONG

WE'VE BEEN WAITNG FOR THE CHARAS* ALL DAY LONG (* CHARABANC)

WE'LL BE SITTING IN OUR SEATS

ROLLING DOWN THE STREETS

ROLL ALONG FATTY ASHTON ROLL ALONG"

Fatty Ashton was a wonderful chubby driver, who loved to take us children to the Seaside and back

Tony's two Brothers Two more fine young men

Peter A Oatt in Royal Navy Uniform

B 14/02/1931 -

Michael A Oatt (RIP)

11/09/1934 - 18/07/1975

For link to St. Joseph's, Holtwhites Hill, Enfield, Middlesex. Click here