Alec Cogswell Remembered
By Sue Ford (nee Cogswell), Alec's daughter, now resident in Canada. Photos courtesy Sue Ford May 2016
By Sue Ford (nee Cogswell), Alec's daughter, now resident in Canada. Photos courtesy Sue Ford May 2016
Mum and Dad photographed whilst living at Ashley. In the background you can see the Ashley Barracks.
The article Bob a Job by Richard Pinker and Phil Martin was of special interest to me as my Dad, Alec Cogswell (Skip), was involved with the construction of the new Scout Hall on Devizes road. I remember my brother, Graham, and I taking thermos flasks of tea up to him when he was laying those large building stones which came from the military barracks at Ashley.
Alec was a Catalina seaplane pilot during the war on anti submarine patrols. After the war my Mum, Glenys Stinchcombe, and Dad were married in 1948 but there was little housing available then. They, along with a few other newly weds, squatted down at the Ashley Barracks till they could find suitable housing. Perhaps that's where Dad got the idea to bid on the building stones for the Scout Hall when the barracks were demolished. Who knows ?
Alec was a Catalina seaplane pilot during the war on anti submarine patrols. After the war my Mum, Glenys Stinchcombe, and Dad were married in 1948 but there was little housing available then. They, along with a few other newly weds, squatted down at the Ashley Barracks till they could find suitable housing. Perhaps that's where Dad got the idea to bid on the building stones for the Scout Hall when the barracks were demolished. Who knows ?
Above are Mum and Dad with their good friends, Bernard and Hilda Lovell (nee Butt of Butts Farm, sometimes called Ashley Farm.[1] Dad and Bernard played football for Box Rovers FC for many years.
This photo is of my Mum and her fellow workers at the Moon Aircraft factory at Box Hill during the war. The company made Perspex cockpit windows for aircraft fighters. You can read more about the company at Factories in Box.
I would love to hear more about these times in Box and please remember me to Dickie Pinker and all others who recall me.
I remember many of Alec's friends in Scouts and my own school friends and wonder what happened to them all.
Mick Betteridge emigrated to Australia; I wondered if he stayed there?
I remember many of Alec's friends in Scouts and my own school friends and wonder what happened to them all.
Mick Betteridge emigrated to Australia; I wondered if he stayed there?
Supplementary Information
[1] Courtesy Eddie Weeks
[1] Courtesy Eddie Weeks