Irving Hiller

This Blog is saddened by the recent death of Irving Hiller who passed away on the 3rd of February this year. As one of the two Hiller brothers, Tony being the other one, the duo unselfishly entertained us for many years at the Club Reunion and thereby continued a Club tradition of paying back the debt we all owe to the Club. We wish all his family a long and healthy life. Ron

Good news for Julia Roxan

Julia Re your comment on the Rochelle Street School photo. Send me an e-mail to the address shown in the header above as I have good news for you Ron

A splendid trove of C&BG Club photos & memorabilia is now held at the following address: Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives 277 Bancroft Road E1 4DQ Plan your journey Tel: 020 7364 1290 Fax: 020 7364 1292 Email: localhistory@towerhamlets.gov.uk. To see an article about myvisit there, enter "Bancroft Road" into the Search Box on the right.

Welcome to the Blog ! Be aware that any comment you post will take about 24 hours to appear whilst it is vetted to keep out spammers. If you have a genuine query, e-mail me at the address given in the header and I will do my very best to help. Best regards Ron

http://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/10/04/at-the-boys-club-89th-anniversary-dinner/ Our very good friend "The Gentle Author" has done us proud again ! Ron

One of the joys of running this blog is to receive the odd letter from the offspring of club members who are no longer with us. Such as the following:

Ron, I've been going through some of my father's papers, and came across his ticket for the 1987 Cambridge Reunion. I then did a Google search and found your blog site, with the guest list for that same event: http://candbgoldboys.blogspot.co.uk/2007/02/guest-listclub-reunion-november-12th.html My Dad, Dave Shade (né Shreibman), appears on Table 4, and his cousin, Morry Graham (né Gitovich), is listed on Table 6 with his two sons Ralph and Mark - although there is a ring round their names, I'm not sure why. My father died in 2004, aged 93, and remembered his club days to the end, as did Morry (d 2009, aged 92). I recognise the names of one or two of his friends in the 1987 list, and elsewhere on your site. I have a few photographs of him involved in what could be C&BG activities, including one of a group in athletics (or boxing?) strip, with the club badge on the chest. The photos appear to be from the period late 20s-early 30s. Maybe if I email you the photos you could confirm whether they are of the C&BG club? And if any of them are, please fell free to use them on the blog site, as you see fit. Many thanks for what you are doing to keep the memories of the club and its contribution to East End life alive. I hope you are keeping well. Best wishes, Michael Shade

Since then, Michael has sent me this wonderful photo:

It just struck me that What I failed to mention in my report on the 2013 re-union was to mention how how long that Benny Lampert & I go back as friends, I dug up up a couple of photos to illustrate the point. The first couple, circa 1935, shows he & I at the visit to the House of Commons. The second shows both of us in 2012 at the AJEX Annual Commemoration Parade.

A brief report on last nights re-union at the Imperial Hotel, Russel Square. Inevitably there were lesser numbers attending but it did not stop us all having a most enjoyable evening. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I hope the attached will give a flavour of the evening's events Just in case captions are required: 1. Simon & Joe Brandez 2. Alf Mendoza & Lenny Saunders 3. Ron, Sydney Berns & Benny Lampert. 4. Manny Silverman & Dennis Frank 5. Ron & the Gentle Author 6. Ron & Lenny Saunders 7. The Guest list

Congratulations to Maxie !

MAX LEA, MBE, 50 years RA Membership Congratulations to Max Lea, MBE who will receive the Referees' Association 50 year continuous membership award from his friend and colleague Peter Molyneaux at the April Society meeting. Here is a snap-shot of his involvement with football and refereeing over 60 years. Best wishes from all your colleagues! Gordon Kirby, JP, Chairman I 1941-88: Played cricket and football with Cambridge (Bethnal Green) Boys Club, Although the club folded in 1988 old boys continue to meet annually for a dinner; From 1950 Old Parmiterians FC playing football and cricket and refereeing; Qualified as a referee in1962 and still a member of the RA; Became an AFA Committee member in1970 and also representative on the London County Committee of referees; AFA and Society Training Co-ordinator 1988-1997; Helped to collate and despatch ARGUS magazine from 1970-1991; Society delegate to the Southern Division of the RA 1975-97; Received RA LMSA at RA Conference in Cardiff 1992; Became Society Life Member 1992; Became AFA Council Member 1976, elected Life Vice President 1990; AFA Assessing Secretary 1973-89; Southern Olympic Football League Council member 1973 -2002 and Vice President 1984; London Old Boys Cup: elected Vice President 1990; FA 50 year football award received 1996; Delegate to RA Southern Division 1975-1997; Was awarded the MBE for services to football and youth work in 2000;

Always glad to receive photos from families of old C&BG boys. Just received these two from Janet Snowman who's dad was Nat Levinson. Dear Ron You may remember that I was in touch a couple of years ago having come across your website, and I was so delighted to find a photo of my dad on it. I have finally found these two images, which are possibly (probably) related to the Club. I'm not sure if you have copies of them in your archive. The one called 'Nat Levison 1' is stamped 858 on the reverse of this otherwise unused postcard; in this one my father is seated, wearing striped socks. The other I have called 'Nat Levison 2' and the reverse carries a reference stamp of either 981 or, upside down, 186! My father is on the right.

Annual Reunion Dinner 2012

Just a brief report on the Annual Dinner. Thanks to the stalwart efforts of the committee, once again we met up with old friends at the Imperial Hotel in Russel Square. A quick count on the posted guest list and I make the total present between 75 & 80. Some changes that I noted included the announcement of the retirement of Monty Meth as Chairman after a magnificent 12 years and the introducing of Allen Smith as the new Chair. The absence of our musical finale due to the Hiller boys not being fit, we all wish them both well. The first lady guest speaker, Naseem Khan OBE who I was pleased to see got a very good reception. Enough comment. Now for a few pics,including yours truly with my very old friend Benny Lampert, Ron Clayton, Manny Silverman and our guest speaker Naseem Khan OBE Also shown is a good friend of the club who chooses to remain anonymous Ron

We deeply regret that we once again have to report the passing of two stalwart members of the "old" C&BG Boy's Club, namely Maurice Coburn & Ralph Levene. With regard to Maurice, I received the following letter yesterday (5/8/12) which is self explanatory: "Dear Ron, My father in law Maurice Coburn was a member of the Cambridge and Bethnal Green Boys Club until the war. The club was one of the formative experiences of his life. His older brother Harry Coburn and his younger brother Cyril, both of whom are no longer with us were also members. Unfortunately and with great sadness I write to inform you that Maurice passed away aged 94 earlier today, having been unwell for some time He greatly enjoyed the annual reunions and would look forward to them each year, insisting that I and or my brother in law came with him, until ill health in the last few years meant he was unable to attend. Please pass this information to the other members of the club from his era. With best wishes, Simon Gordon"

Tower Hamlets Archives

On Tuesday 10th June, 2012 I paid a visit to Tower Hamlets Archives in Bancroft Road in Mile End. While one of my daughters did some family research, I spent a fascinating hour looking through club photos that Maxie Lea had very sensibly donated to the Archives after the New Cambridge club was disbanded. I thoroughly commend this wonderful way of looking back at what the club did for us all back in those halycon days. If you decide to try this experience drop me a line and I will tell you how to proceed.

Manny Silverman - Interviewed on Spitalfields Life

Another cracking interview with a remarkable club boy/manager on Spitalfield's Life.

Go to this site to see the article of 29th March 2012.
http://spitalfieldslife.com/
Photo courtesy of Spitalfields Life.

Old C&BG Filmshow at the Bishopsgate Institute

At the recent film show at the Bishopsgate Institute the East London Advertiser printed a small piece which included this photo.

From left: Major Carr, Mel Burton, Monty Meth & Maxie Lea

Spitalfields Life has done us proud again !

Once again, the Gentle Author has done us proud with these memories of the New Club at Virginia Road.

Go see !

http://spitalfieldslife.com/

Maxie Lea MBE - a well earned tribute

The Spitalfields Life site has done Maxie, and the club, proud by this excellent and well illustrated tribute to a man who has literally devoted most of his life to the C&BG Boys Club.

Use this link to take you to the site: http://spitalfieldslife.com/
Borrowed from that website and with many thanks & due acknowledgement are two of Maxie's snaps, the first showing Maxie in football strip and the second with Victor Monger, at the tender age of eleven.

Also shown is a fine portrait by professional photographer Jeremy Freedman, Maxie's nephew, who's website is: http://jeremyfreedman.com/

After you have read the article use the links at the end of it to access the other stories about the club:

The Return of Aubrey Silkoff

Ron Goldstein of Boreham St

At the Cambridge & Bethnal Green Boys Club 86th Annual Reunion

Aubrey Goldsmith of Shoreditch

The Annual Re-union, 5th September 2011

Thanks to the sterling work of the Club Committee, we met once again at the Imperial Hotel and a super time was had by all.

One of the highlights of the evening was provided by guest speaker Martin Sugarman who gave us a masterly account of Jack Nissenthal's actions during the famous Dieppe Raid of August 1942.

Martin, Archivist to AJEX and a long time personal friend, has recently written a fine book "Fighting Back" which covers the contribution made my British Jewry in WW2 and copies of this book were eagerly snapped up by a very appreciative audience.

We look forward to next year's re-union...... don't miss it !

Amongst the snaps taken and pictured above were Alfie Mendosa, a sprightly 92 year old and seen here with Martin Sugarman and I, and we were once again delighted to see Syd Tabor. Joe Brandez was also at my table with his son Simon and that's him making one of the evening's toasts.

The Hiller boys once again closed the evening to a very appreciative audience.

Finally, if any readers of this Blog have a favourite picture taken at the function send them to me as an e-mail attachment and I will publish them here.

Ron

Found whilst GOOGLING on the internet

By pure chance I came across this obituary in the RCS (Royal College of Surgeons) website.

The old C&BG club produced some lovely men, Paul Abbey was just one of them.

Biographical entry
Abbey, Paul (1920 - 2008)
FRCS 1953; MB BS London 1944; DLO 1958.

Born 6 January 1920
London, UK
Died10 September 2008
Occupation ENT surgeon
Details
Paul Abbey was a consultant ENT surgeon in the Windsor area. He was born on 6 January 1920 in Stoke Newington, London, the son of M Abbey, who had arrived in the UK in 1911 from Lodz in Poland. He was the youngest of four children – there were two older brothers and one older sister. The family lived in a two-bedroom flat until Paul was about 4½ years old, when they moved to Bethnal Green into rooms above a small factory in a converted pub. He attended primary school in Teesdale Street, where he was bullied, and in the evenings he went to Hebrew classes at the same school. At the age of 11, Paul started at the Central School, where his form teacher, Mr Jones, decided that he should try for a scholarship to Parmiter’s, the local grammar school, which was a successful move. Paul’s barmitzvah took place at Teesdale Street Synagogue when he was 13. He was an active member of the Jewish Boys Club and the Cambridge and Bethnal Green Club, taking part in swimming and gymnastics, as well as summer camps near Herne Bay. In the senior years at school Paul became a prefect, and became the school’s most successful sportsman, excelling at gymnastics, swimming and football. When Paul was 15, he bought himself a racing bicycle from James Goose in Holborn, which he paid off at 2/6 per week. He and his brother Manny would take off on camping holidays by bike, once as far as the Isle of Wight.

In 1939, he passed his Senior County exams and was accepted as a student at Westminster Hospital. When war was declared, the Westminster was evacuated to Glasgow, but a friend told him about a vacancy at the London Hospital which was evacuating its medical college to Cambridge. He applied and started in October 1939.

Paul qualified in 1944 and then became receiving room officer, house surgeon to A M A Moore and the gynaecological firm, and then house physician to A E Clarke-Kennedy. He joined the RAF medical service in February 1945 and was posted to India, where he spent two enjoyable years, rising to squadron leader. He made friends with the RAF transport pilots. He would wander out to the airfield and see whether a DC-3 was due to take off. “Hi doc”, the pilots would yell from the cockpit. “Just off to Jaipur. Want to come along for the ride? Hop on, old chap, we’ll list you as additional freight.” He eventually learnt to fly himself in Tiger Moth planes and kept his linen flying helmet and goggles as souvenirs.

On demobilisation, he returned to the London Hospital for three years, at first as a supernumerary registrar to Clive Butler in the septic ward, where penicillin was effecting a radical change in the management of osteomyelitis. He then moved to the King George Hospital in Ilford, initially as a house surgeon for six months, followed by three years as a surgical registrar, during which time he passed the FRCS.

In December 1954, Paul decided to specialise in ENT. He started work at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, where he became a senior registrar and then moved to a similar post at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. In May 1961, Paul obtained his first ENT consultant appointment at Southampton General Hospital. Two years later he applied successfully for a more advantageous ENT consultant post with the Windsor group of hospitals, where he spent the rest of his career.

When he arrived in the area, Wexham Park Hospital was being built, and Paul had a large hand in the design of the ENT department. A firm believer in the original values and mission of the NHS, he disapproved of the many bureaucratic reorganisations that began in the 1970s.

He published numerous articles, delivered lectures and belonged to many committees and councils, including the ENT section of the Royal Society of Medicine and the British Association of Otolaryngologists. He was particularly proud of designing a new surgical instrument which bears his name. In 1985 he retired from the NHS, but continued in private practice for several more years and became a surgical member of the Medical Appeals Tribunal for Industrial Injuries.

Outside medicine, Paul’s great love was sailing. In the days before mobile phones, it was the ultimate escape from the stress of hospital life – out on the water he was completely unreachable. For many years he had an Enterprise dinghy and would tow this boat down to Cornwall every year for family holidays. Later, he teamed up with two friends to purchase the St Brigid, a 32-foot sailing cruiser which they moored down at Lymington on the south coast. Paul spent a lot of his spare time on St Brigid, including two weeks sailing in the English Channel every summer. He studied for his yachtmaster’s qualification, joined the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and even bought a house in Lymington. The whole family was involved in Paul’s sailing. Paul married Joan née Singer in March 1952. Jocelyn was born in April 1956 and Bryony came along four years later, in May 1960. Joan took navigation courses and their two children were co-opted as deck hands during school holidays.

Paul was a great wine enthusiast, and he and Joan travelled extensively around Europe, and visited Australia, the USA and South Africa. Above all, Paul loved being with other people – he liked having an audience, he was great company and always entertaining. This world will be a duller place without him.

Max Lee MBE on Ron Fellman

Since posting the article below I have received the following details from Maxie:

The group photo, from the left, shows "T", Ron Fellman, Bernard Fellerman, Joe Monger, Max Lea, Leslie Addison & Ralph Young. The "Trio" photo shows Leslie, Ron & Bernard and the 2nd snap shows Ron at Oxford & St.Georges. The last snap shows "T" & Ron.

Maxie goes on to write as follows:

Ron was Club Leader at the Virginia Rd School premises approximately 1950-1956 when we came under the GLC.

He was a very quiet man and well respected both by the management committee and the boys who came under his wing. He organised camps at Shackleford and Badger Hall, hikes and holidays abroad and kept things going very efficiently until his departure to Birmingham when David Greenhalgh (Weasel) took over from him

Apart from being Club Leader, he was a personal friend to all the other managers which at the time included Leslie Addinson, Ralph Young and myself.

He was badly missed when he first moved to Birmingham and now he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

He was indeed a very lovely man.

Max Lea MBE