Apprentices reunion a great success (From Malvern Gazette)

Apprentices reunion a great success

9:27am Wednesday 12th September 2007 in News

A REUNION of apprentices who trained in Malvern 60 years ago was a great success, say organisers.

The event was being held to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the School of Electronics in 1947.

Former apprentices from the 1947-52 intake were invited, and 48 attended, including three from Canada and two from the USA.

The School of Electronics produced electrical engineers and craftsmen, and the apprenticeship scheme was one of the foundations for the emergence of the Britsh electronics industry after the war.

The reunion began on Saturday, September 1, with a social event at the old Geraldine Staff Club, now part of the Chase school.

The next day, they visited Park View apartments, which used to be a students' hostel, before enjoying lunch at the Foley Arms Hotel.

The guest at the lunch was Brian Iles, curator of Malvern Museum, and afterwards the former apprentices handed over many mementos and trophies for the museum to hold.

But organisers still have one trophy which they want to trace the winner of.

John Barker, one of the organisers, is hoping Gazette readers will have information to help him trace Stephen Hiles, who won the Tom Nevard Mechanical trophy in 1979. He can be reached on 01684 569527 or delysiajb@aol.com.