The Old Veseyan Golf Society, Moor Hall Golf Club and the Pro-shop Clock

My family and I returned to Sutton Coldfield in 1984 following stints in other parts of the country and overseas.

Thanks to the sponsorship of OV Harry Matthews and Jim Hearn, Phil Baker’s father in law, I joined Moor Hall Golf Club in 1985. I cannot remember seeing a working clock mounted on the front and above the Pro Shop until the late John Slater reported to the OVGS that he had purloined and had refurbished a suitable clock from Little Aston.

Given the long standing association between MHGC and the OVGS it was decided and the golf club accepted, that the clock would be donated to MHGC by the OVGS.

In my year as OVGS Captain a small commemorative ceremony was held at the clock’s inauguration in August 1999. The donation was marked by a plaque affixed to the wall of the pro shop. Sadly that clock gave up the ghost some years ago and a new digitally controlled clock with analogue display has now taken its place through the generous gift of a well known and respected member of MHGC.

With the kind permission of the MHGC Honorary Secretary, I have detached the commemorative plaque and would welcome suggestions for its final destination. Perhaps the Old Big School display cabinets or somewhere to do with the golf society?

Headmaster Geoffrey Cross’s Family Home for Sale

> From the Guardian 28th April 2023 courtesy of OV and ex-border John Mitchell

Below is the house that headmaster Cross was raised in.

There was an occasion when Headmaster Cross drove me home to Kidmore End, at term end and we called there to have a meal on the way, with Cross’s elder brother(who I expect had inherited it after Cross senior had died).

You might remember that he owned 800 acres of Downs and some scruffy cottages on that property where the scouts had a chance to camp and enjoy rural life.

The history behind it suggests that Cross Senior, in 1901, having made a pile of money from a Cotton Mill in Bolton Lancashire, retired and bought the manor house in Aston Tirrold with a big acreage, which was Geoffrey Cross’s stamping grounds for the rest of his life.

I guess the house has been modernised and facilities added since Vesey scouts spent time there It is those same scouts who in the 60’s would build fires and cook ”dampers” on the site currently designated for the LRC!

Nick Hammond

COLIN TOPLISS JP, MA, BSc (OXON)

(January 1936 - January 2022)

The life of the late Colin Topliss was celebrated at a Thanksgiving Service at Sutton Coldfield Methodist Church in March 2022 following an earlier cremation. The service was attended by a large number of people in a packed church and the singing was wonderful.

Colin was born in the mining village of Oakthorpe, North West Leicestershire. He was an only child but as his mother was the youngest of ten children there were lots of cousins. His father worked all his life as a miner down the pit, which was an occupation he did not wish for his son.

He had a happy childhood and attended the local village school, from which he won a scholarship to Ashby Boys Grammar School at the age on 10yrs. It was quite common then for boys who had the ability, to go to Grammar school a year early, which meant that he took the equivalent of 'o' levels a year early and then spent 4 yrs in the sixth form as it was not possible to take further exams early. He was appointed Head Boy while in the 6th form. He was the first boy in the village to win a scholarship to Oxford, which was reported in the local newspaper. He attended Brasenose College and gained a BSc and MA degree. On leaving university he was invited to join the teaching staff at Ashby Boys Grammar School.

During that time he was in charge of one of the school football teams, where he coached 2 boys who reached the dizzy heights of playing for Derby County, a team which Colin supported, and they then went on to play for England.

Colin was something of a sportsman while at school. He was a footballer and a good sprinter, but having broken his knee cap while high jumping, this put an end to him as a sportsman.

After several years of courtship, Colin married Janet, a girl from the village, soon after leaving university. Sadly it wasn't to be a long marriage because Janet had a heart condition and died after only 11yrs, leaving Colin a widower with a 6yr old son. Life changed for Colin and Mark when he met and married Liz. They would have been married for a few months short of 50 yrs.