I asked my good friend Marmaduke if he could remember a few names of our year and this is what he came up with apart from himself
Robert Gaisford and David Forward
Here are a random body of lost souls that assembled in Chippenham on the 6th September 1971 (prior to gaining immortality)
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Martin Tudgay, Marmaduke, he could crack you up with laughter all day with just a look or one word, he was a born engineer and had rebuilt most motorbike engines before he had even left school, we looked upon him as a sort of hero as he just knew what to do, he was the catalyst for all ideas and fun, our Dennis the Menace.
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Robert Gaisford, Rob, everybody's best friend, keen football supporter, leader of fashion and music, always in on the fun and made it an occasion to remember, very funny and always had a joke to suit the situation, we all became friends through him.
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Dave Forward, Lorenzo Bolan Boogie Booky Ace, complete nutter, always up to some prank, usually in some sort of trouble, wore yellow Wimpey builders mack and German steel helmut, Pink Floyd man.
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Rob Hatherall, supported spurs, but never lived down writing spuds on a drawing sheet in work. His sister seemed to buy him everything, including a new motor bike.
- Mike Olden, Ned the shed, keen fisherman, caught a fish using a banana as bait, was on the front page of angling times, cant remember the shed link, something to do with temporary accommodation I think.
- Steve Brown, always wore a Bristol City scarf, I think it was part of his body.
- Clive Marshman, Dougal, due to his hairstyle (magic roundabout), famous for several things, particularly his fights with Danny Macalinden in the process shop, standing in a wooden 'ring', approx. 3ft square.
- Rod Minty, Speedy, worked on the market gardens in Bromham during evenings. I think he is still at WB&S.
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Mick Hole, from up north, dressed as a gangster for the apprentice prize giving, was sent back to the hostel to change.
- Keith Shepherd, Charlie, from Warminster, a bit of a car dealer, always seemed to be driving a Jaguar.
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Brendan Cable, came from Lyme Regis, started on Lambretta scooters, progressed to VW Beetles. Mick Hole remembers
Brendan Had a Triumph Vitesse that was famous for having a 'Volage Doubler' in the ignition. Allways the 'Ladies Man' went out with the girl from the filling station who claimed her name was DELIA SNOUTROCKER, perhaps it was.?
- David Tolliday, I remember him doing lots of welding on his car parts in the process shop. Mick Hole remembers he had a Berkeley T60 three wheeler (328cc Excelsior Talisman Twin 2stroke engine), Studied Agriculture at Newcastle University, Lost touch with him when he
was in PERU. Tried to measure his lathe work without stopping the machine, the remains
of his micrometer hung on the office wall.
- John Thorton, Thorton's Norton, came from Weston Super Mare.
- Nigel Saunders, Rupert came from Herefordshire, had a BSA on which he had an accident, followed by a green Morris Minor called 'Rosy Cork's Cousin', with a home made aluminium 'dice' gear knob. I saw him a year ago, he lives in Kington Langley & works at Westlands, Yeovil. His son is at Hardenhuish with my Daughter.
- David Barcham, Gorm, had a motorbike & always wore a greatcoat, lived near Devizes.
- Tony Dunsford, Gizmo, lived in Calne, I think his dad had a radio shop.
- John Teagle, from Chippenham, had a new Honda 250, red & white I think.
- Pete Lunn, ? Lemmy ? one of the Altus boys, short lad with long dark hair, had an Ariel Arrow.
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Dave Best
, had a scooter, but was a good trials rider, lived in Ladyfield Road.
- Conrad Woodlands, from Yatton Keynell, rode a scooter.
- Steve Hince, may have come from Lyneham.
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Steve Kenchington, from Rudloe, keen motorcyclist, long dark hair. Married Kay Denley's younger sister.
- Gordon Spiers, Altus, lived in Corsham.
- Lennie Goddard, Altus.
- Mark Glanville, Altus, had a new Honda 250, same as John Teagle but blue & white.
- Dave Bright, Shiny, he bought my Triumph tiger cub.
- Viv Sherman, lived in Malmesbury.
- Brian Lovelock, Sam, supported Man City & was keen train spotter.
- Mike Hopper, Mick, had already been at WB&S for long time before we arrived, I think he is still in the tool room.
- Boris, cant remember name, tall lad with long hair, wore sandals have seen him at Hardehuish school.
- Pete Davis, whom I unsuccessfully ran over in Sherston.
- Rob Alford, Alfie, introduced us to reggae and ska music, lived in Chippenham.
- Rob Lauder, ???????.
- Stephen Fisher, lived in Corston, he was always dressed in army gear, with a bandana around his head. He also carried a copy of Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, from which he would quote almost religiously. Member of the Sealed Knot Society.
- Nick Pearce, lived in Dilton Marsh, we called him the apprentice vicar, I think he was a lay preacher or church warden. He always lit the forge in the process shop & stoked it up to get warm.
- Michelle Mace, yes a girl there really was one!, with dark hair. She was involved in the photo session with Brian Williams in the red lead shop, out the back of the training school.
The instructors were:-
Ron Witts, good cough & scratch every morning.
Bert Wheeler, tail gunner (rse).
Doug Jones, striped coat, Bond Bug, Morris Marina.
Benny Jenkins, 5 minutes instruction @ 8 o'clock, & disappear all day.
Rod Howell.
Brian Fields.
Not forgetting Jack.
The ones that stand out in my memory from college are:-
Colin Caple.
Nobby Clark, free hand drawing with a ruler.
Mr. Miles.
Mr. Powelsland.
"My name is Lawrence", "Lawrence who", "Mr. Lawrence".
M. Tudgay
More Excitement and Memories from Marshfield on Page Two
