SAD DEPARTURES
MARY STOCKLEY (1905-2004)
Miss Stockley, whose name is probably unknown to all except a very few readers, died at the end of July 2004, in her 99th year. Some months previously I had the great privilege of visiting her for a conversation that lasted all of two hours. Although physically a very frail old lady, Miss Stockley had retained all her mental faculties together with a prodigious memory. I was thankful indeed that I had taken along a tape-recorder to place the conversation on record.
She was born in the same year that the B&MMO Co. Ltd. actually started functioning (we’ve already touched upon the false start in November 1904 and the correspondingly false “centennial celebrations” which some are celebrating this year). In her teens she joined the staff of the Midland Red at Bearwood, eventually becoming a member of the personal secretarial staff to the great O.C. Power, whom she described as the kindliest and most generous boss any employee could wish to serve.
When I joined the Midland Red myself I recall Miss Stockley (we didn’t descend to the familiarity of first names in those days) in a quite exalted position in the Accounts Department. However she was an enthusiastic member of the British Red Cross, which she had joined before the 1939 War, and for which she had leave of absence from “OCP” to serve for the duration. Although she clearly had happy memories of her time at Midland Red, her true vocation called, and she eventually left the bus company in the late 1950s to make the Red Cross her proper career, rising to the rank of County Commissioner for Staffordshire.
The tape recording of my conversation with her is to be transcribed, and those parts which deal with her time at the Midland Red (including the affair of the infamous “green-baize door” separating Engineers from Traffic) will be the basis of something I hope to put together for those interested, especially at this time when centennial celebrations are in the air.
Stan Letts
FRED MUTCH
It is with regret that we have to report the very sad loss of Fred Mutch, who had supported the Museum on open days with his excellent model stall for approximately ten years. He also flew the flag for the Museum at other events, with museum leaflets on his stand, distributing a box of leaflets each year,
Fred’s death was very sudden and a great shock for the ones who knew him. Our thoughts are with his wife Joan and daughters Dawn and Kay, who also supported the Museum. We would like to thank the Mutch family for all their support over the years.
Fred died aged 66 on Saturday 17 July and was cremated Tuesday 27 July in Bristol.
Kevin Hill
RON SCOTT
It is with deep regret that we have to record the passing of Ron Scott. He died on 29 August after a short illness.Ron was a member of EMES and was known to a number of Museum members who work here on a regular basis as he had done some engineering jobs for them. He was a gentleman and put himself out if one asked him to do a job if it was within his capability.
Ron will be greatly missed and we all send our condolences to his wife Jean and daughter and grandsons.
Fred Withers
A bench at the Museum, in memory of Ron Scott, has been proposed by his colleagues in the
Elmdon Model Engineering Society.
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
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