STOURBRIDGE OLD EDWARDIAN CLUB

ED-Words  Newsletter
December 2024

Aspiring to have his own Accountancy Practice and having made sufficient contacts along the way, he ‘put up’ his plate in Cradley Heath in 1962; albeit suppressing a feeling that he should pursue an academic career, particularly in the legal aspects, predominantly in Tax and Revenue Law.

This led to two years teaching at Dudley Technical College, learning ‘on the job’ as it were from where he was head hunted by what was then the Birmingham College of Commerce which morphed into the Birmingham Polytechnic and subsequently becoming the third University in the City, the other two being the long established Universities of Birmingham and Aston at each of which Arnold became a visiting lecturer.

Arnold has along the way and as they became available, added to his professional qualifications  those of Chartered Tax Adviser, Trust and Estate Practitioner and Licensed Probate Practitioner.

Arnold is married to Rita, whom he met when she was travelling to the Girls High School in Stourbridge whilst he was on his way to King Edwards.    Rita now suffers from Parkinsons disease having been in care at Grange Hill House in Halesowen for several years, with having daily visits from Arnold unless he is out of the area.

Names can lead to confusion!

One of the first ladies to introduce herself to Arnold at the Birmingham College of Commerce was one Rita Burrows who  only a few months earlier had joined the academic staff after having herself been a star pupil.

There was the immediate gelling of academic minds such that they quickly established a working partnership in the literary world, producing the Tolley Tax Guide and The Taxwise publications and lecturing throughout the United Kingdom on Taxation and Revenue Law.

They produced over thirty editions of each of these publications becoming household names along the way and topping the Times Best Seller list for Non-Fiction publications on several occasions.

Arnold comments that two Ritas in his life have always been good friends and companions!!

There has always been a strong connection between Arnold’s academic work and his practising in Taxation and Revenue Law, leading to his having been chairman of the West Midlands firm of Chartered Accountants Clement Keys for several years prior to its becoming several independent practices having been and indeed remaining a Director of the local Chartered Accountancy Practice Price Pearson for some 30 years and being an active longstanding consultant to various other practices.

Arnold is a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers.

The College community gathered together - to stand in remembrance to those who have fallen to protect the sovereignty of our peace - on Monday 11th November. At 11am the Last Post was played which was followed by a two minute silence. A senior student read a passage, which was followed by the Reveille. 

Invited guests then progressed to the main hall. Our archivist Kenneth Wright gave a presentation on the two ex students whose names had previously been omitted from the memorial.  Kenneth's article later in this  missive gives full details of the occasion and outcome. Wreaths were laid (John Edwards laid the SOEC wreath as usual) followed by brief prayers and a reception - which was a welcome chance to meet some of the staff,  and College Principal Holly Bembridge.

Our forthcoming events are visible on our Events Calendar.

Of immediate note (more information TBA) are:

• The traditional Boar's Head Supper on Monday 23rd December. The boar's head will be paraded in at 8.0 pm  so please be there in sufficient time to socialise before hand.
• Christmas Eve Breakfast at the Club. Phone Tim on 01384 395635 for information and booking.
• Film Night on Saturday 18th January - The Italian Job
• Mary Bodfish's lunchtime talk with buffet Friday 31st January (Life and Times of the Queen Mother).

Reviewed past events may be found by clicking HERE>>  . This includes links to the Annual Dinner,  Past Presidents' Lunch and AGM. 

The AGM was held at the Club on Monday 2nd December at which outgoing President Clive Bowen-Davies passed the Presidency to Arnold Homer.   Full details of the proceedings may be found by clicking HERE>> . The full minutes of the AGM will be found HERE>> .

For a copy of the annual report CLICK HERE>> .

In the spring Newsletter, I explained about the discovery of two missing names from the College Memorial, and that following discussions with the Trustees, the services of a stonemason would be required to update it.

At the time I wrote that Newsletter item, we had a local stonemason ready to carry out the work, replacing a previous firm who had, after some time, declined to undertake the instruction. This situation was to repeat itself a couple of times until at last we had on board a stonemason who was serious about carrying out the work.

It consisted of making, carving and fixing a small Portland stone plaque bearing the two new names to the base of the right-hand column of existing names by glueing. This was because the existing Portland stone memorial is not solid stone but a relatively thin stone facing and that carving or even drilling the stone may have caused it to crack, thereby damaging the original stonework.

In advance of Remembrance Day, the College put out a request via BBC News and social media to enquire whether any of the relatives of either of the two casualties existed, with a view to their being invited to our service.

This exercise yielded a response from a Doctor Chris Oxley, who is a distant relative of Graham Pearson. Dr. Oxley and his wife were duly invited to attend and for Dr. Oxley to formally rededicate the Memorial, now with the two additional names. Prior to this taking place, I was invited to give a brief presentation about the discovery of the two missing Old Boys. Following the unveiling of the plaque, a short service was led by the College Minister, after which wreaths were laid, the Club’s wreath being laid by the Senior Past President John Edwards.

After the service, invited guests gathered for coffee and biscuits in the Board Room (formerly classroom A1). The event attracted local media coverage providing publicity for both the College and the Club.

To all our readers:

And, most importantly........

"A very Happy Christmas and a healthy and fulfilling New Year - full of the things which you would wish for yourself and your families".