Godfrey Finn (BGS 1941-1946)

 This article, written by Godfrey, appeared in the August 1998 edition of The Old Bostonian.

I have resisted, over recent years, pressure from Reg Adcock the Editor of our Newsletter to write a short pen sketch of my life since school days. I thought that surely nobody would be interested in what I had been up to, there must be many with far more exiting things to tell. At the last AGM of the Old Bostonians I was honoured to be elected to the committee. This has led me to think again. I feel that maybe I should let those who don't know me, learn a little about who has been elected to their committee and there may even be some who do remember me that are saying 'Oh him Godfrey Finn I wondered where he was'. So Reg you will not have to remind me again.

I went to Boston Grammar School from St. Mary's in 1941. I joined 3b with (Curious) Cox as Form Teacher. You see I was not judged to be very clever even at that stage because I was in a b Form destined to learn German instead of Latin (thank God). There is no need to say who were my contemporaries because the majority of then are well known. (We continue to support the Annual Dinner in numbers). The teachers during the war years have been mentioned many times, I can only add I hold them in high esteem and have many fond memories of most of them. I still have all my School Reports and left in 1946 with a School Certificate. Science and German were my best subjects. I did have the distinction of having the longest name on the school roll hence Tilly Turpin calling me 'Alphabet Finn'.

I was a member of the School Air Training Corps which meant we sometimes had to return in the evenings to learn Morse Code, Aircraft Recognition, Navigation etc. Yes Mr. Mould I can enlighten you about how Mr. Cox's 3rd form rain gauge was very full of a peculiar coloured liquid one morning.

I went from school to work in the office at Hardy & Collins Produce Merchants in High Street. There were a number of Grammar School boys that were there with me or had been there before going to do their National Service. After a few years there I worked with my father in Motor Body Building until I went as a Travelling Salesman with Bond's (Credit Drapers) in Bridge Street. I married Beryl Pope and set up our first home in Threadneedle Street. Beryl worked as a telephonist and was the daughter of Sam Pope the Police Sergeant. Her younger brother was Bob Pope (also an Old Boy) who was a Telephone Engineer until he died in the 80s. I have three children, Michael (another Old Boy) who after working at British Telecom is now at the Ministry of Defence in research, Nicholas who is an Electrician living with me and Suzanne who lives at Rushden and has provided two grandchildren Danielle and Jamie.

In 1961 I was involved in a motor accident along the Boardsides which put me in hospital for about a year. Bond's had by now been taken over by Alex Sloan & Company, one of the GUS empire under Sir Issac Wolfson. It was then in 1962 that I was promoted as the youngest Manager appointed by the Company at that time to take over the Branch at Northampton. We moved to the house where I still live. In 1966 I moved my office to Kettering and became the Manager of the district covering Northants, and parts of Beds, Bucks etc. I employed up to 40 people including 17 credit travellers. I had been used to working 6 days each week many time to 9 or 10 o'clock at night and I decided now the young children were older I ought to change. I was half way through my working life so it was after 24 years service I left in 1974 and went to work in Education Finance with Northants County Council at their Headquarters transferring to become Bursar at Thomas Becket Upper School (900 pupils+) were I remained until I retired in June 95. I was appointed to the Voluntary post as Clerk to the Governors of the School a post I held for 17 years.

I had always had a busy life and wanted to be involved voluntary public service. I was interested in the judicial system and in 1976 was appointed Justice of the Peace. During the 21 years I have been a Magistrate I have served on many Committees and panels and am at present the elected Chairman of the Combined Youth Court Panel for Northamptonshire. I have represented the County as a member of the Executive Committee of the Magistrates' Association. Imagine my surprise some years ago when I was sitting in the Northampton Crown Court on Appeals that I walked into Judges Cambers to meet the Judge I would be with, it was Roy Ashton. There we were two old boys from the same era sitting in judgement on our fellow men. I enjoy the work which can be demanding and hope to continue to sit on the active Bench until the year 2000.

I was appointed by the Home Secretary to the Board of Visitors at H.M.P Gartree twelve years ago and continue to serve there. This is a voluntary appointment which entails visiting the prison regularly sometimes unannounced, oversee the running of the establishment, monitoring standards and dealing with prisoner complaints and requests.

I am also a member of the Electricity Consumer Committee of the East Midland Region. This is a voluntary appointed made by the Director General of The Office of Electricity Regulation. (OFFER). We are there to monitor, and question where appropriate, the quality of supply and service from the now privatised Electricity Suppliers to the customer. We need to be satisfied the supplier is within the terms of the licence. We will be increasingly involved in pricing policies that competition in the coming years will bring.

My wife Beryl worked with me in the office for a number of years before working 15 years in finance and accounts at the Area Health Authority until she retired. She also worked as a Volunteer Helper at the Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton. She lost her fight against cancer and died in March 1995.

I have had various hobbies over the years and still am interested in DIY, astronomy, wood turning, painting, family history research etc.

I still have a bungalow in Boston and spend quite a lot of time in the old town. I hope to become a useful member of the Old Boys Committee and look forward to renewing more old acquaintances as time goes on. See you at the Dinner!

Email Godfrey
Godfrey has built his own telescope, and you can find details at http://www.nnhs.info/astro/astgfinn.htm