Old Boys' Association Presidential Address by Richard Wain (1944-50)
Given on May 21 2004 at the Bretby Conference Centre.

Good Evening, Gentlemen.

Thank you for electing me; before talking about myself I should like to say a few words about my father, Jack Wain, since I know that many of you will have known him. He joined Burton Grammar School in 1907, when he lived at the gamekeeper's cottage at Bretby, which is a field away from here, across the Ashby Road.  At the back of this building is the line of the old Ashby-Burton tramway.  If my father was late for school he could see the tram come over the hill from Newhall and would run across the field to catch it at the Stanhope Arms.  In July 1914 he and two other ex-pupils tried to start the OBA, but the outbreak of World War I stopped them.  Finally in November 1920 a meeting was called and the OBA was formed to start in 1921.  Jack was the first secretary.  It is appropriate that we are meeting at this site tonight.

 However, back to my story.  I did not shine at school either in the classroom or on the sports field, but I enjoyed my time there and I am grateful for the influence of certain members of staff.  Since you have seen my CV in the Newsletter I won't recall my industrial experience, but I should like to describe how the school helped me in my life.

My maternal grandfather started my interest in woodwork, but 'Taffy' Davies in the woodwork room extended my skills, so that I won several prizes in the Hobbies Exhibition and I still enjoy woodwork at home.  I can still recall the scent of the gluepot, bubbling away in the corner of the woodwork room, and 'Taff's' comments if you left your plane resting on its blade. 'Nick' Nicholson showed me how to think things out logically, and I easily recalled  my chemistry knowledge when conducting research on exhaust gas analysis for the Ford Motor Company. I only spent one term in the Lower Sixth Science but devoured my physics text book, learning about the Otto Cycle and 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines, prior to my selection interview with Rolls Royce.  Mr.Shorthose bemusedly answered my questions that were outside the syllabus, but to good effect, because I was selected and started my career in mechanical engineering.

 'Horace' Pitchford awakened my interest in history and made events come alive, as well as making us learn the kings and queens of England.  I was grateful for his tuition when I became interested in local history, which has become a hobby. 'Jake' Hammond tried to teach me Latin but to no effect and I gave it up.  However we lived near each other and caught the same bus into school.  One morning our tomcat had relieved itself in my school cap which had fallen off the peg and onto the floor - it was unwearable.  My mother said she would wash it and gave me a note for school.  I managed to get on the bus without 'Jake' seeing me, but as the bus filled up, we boys had to stand and 'Jake' spotted my bare head.  "Where's your cap, Wain?" he bellowed down the bus.  Truthfully, I shouted back, "The cat peed in it, Sir."  The bus erupted into laughter and Jake was not pleased.

 Finally, I should like to mention Ron Illingworth.  Many old boys have recalled his prowess with cricket bat and chalk, but I remember him for introducing me to maps and map reading, which became a lifelong interest.  Under his tuition I learnt to plot contours to decide if point 'A' could be seen from point 'C' or did point 'B' get in the way, or was point 'B' in hidden ground.  This theory was put into practice in the Scouts where Norman Jones (Rajah) devised wide games and hikes that involved map and compass.  From these beginnings I had a successful time as an amateur rally navigator, obtaining my International Licence and winning several national trophies.  Incidentally, the first motoring competition I entered was a Rotary Club treasure hunt in 1956, organized by Bill Howarth, one of our old boys.

My map-reading skills were further enhanced when the Pennine Way opened in 1964 and I led a local group on walks in the Pennines and also the Berwyn Mountains in Wales.  A further bonus occurred a few years ago when I went on an organised walking holiday.  Whilst identifying distant peaks on one of the walks I met the lady who became my second wife.  As she is an Anglo-Saxon scholar, we combine our knowledge of history and geography:  I have a lot to thank the school for.

So I should like to propose a toast to the next reunion which will be held here on  20^th May, 2005.