GEC Apprentice Association outings, from Leigh Belcham
eigh Belcham has sent me a wonderful set of photographs from his apprentice days with the G.E.C. at Coventry's Telephone Works, Stoke. They include many shots of the GEC (Coventry) Apprentice Association's Outdoor Club on various outings from around 1959 to 1961. Clicking on any photo will open up a much larger version, which can be panned and zoomed.
Lake District
The Outdoor Club's first expedition to the Lake District, around 1960:
Lake District, c1960, with Leigh Belcham on the left.
R. Daniel, J. Duckett, Tony Clements and Leigh Belcham and fellow apprentices.
Camping in the Lake District, c1960.
En route either to or from somewhere, c1960.
Black Mountains
Early expeditions were primarily to the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park area of Wales:
Leigh Belcham, Clive Compton, someone whose name is not recalled, and Ian Buckler, at the White Hart Inn, Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon Beacons, c1961.
Leigh Belcham at the Half Moon Hotel in Llanthony near Capel-y-finn, c1961.
Colin Shurrock on the Brecon Beacons, c1961.
Colin Shurrock (left) and Leigh Belcham at Abergavenny Railway Station, Monmouth, c1961.
Tony Clements and Leigh Belcham on the Pioneer Trip, sitting in their shelter after the tents had been flooded out, c1959-60.
The main party half way across the ridge, c1959-60.
Leaving camp early (10:30!) on Sunday morning - 2 seconds later he got wet feet! c1959-60.
During a 35 mile route march over & near Brecon Beacons, c1960-61:
Jim Witt in bobble hat, 3rd from left.
Clive Compton, back row, 4th from left.
Ian Buckler, 2nd from right, next to the pole.
'Jack' - GEC bus driver, squatting front left.
Leigh Belcham holding the broom.
Coombe Abbey
In 1952 the then owner of Coombe Abbey, John Gray, leased the abbey to the General Electric Company for use as a hall of residence and training centre - an arrangement that lasted until 1964, when The Grange at Copsewood took over as a hostel.
An apprentice at Coombe Abbey, c1959-60.
The opening of the Cellar Bar at Coombe, c1960-61, which is below the Norman building on the right as you enter the courtyard over the bridge.
Christmas at Coombe
Around 1960 the apprentice residents of Coombe Abbey held a Christmas party for pupils from Exhall Grange school for physically disabled children:
Peter Phillpot is by the door.
Christmas at Coombe Abbey, c1960.
Christmas at Coombe Abbey, c1960.
Christmas at Coombe Abbey, c1960.
Christmas at Coombe Abbey, c1960.
Christmas at Coombe Abbey c1960.
Christmas at Coombe Abbey, c1960.
Bill Torrance is on the right.
Cottage
For some years the Apprentice Association's Outdoor Club rented a cottage at Nantmor, near Beddgelert, North Wales:
The Cottage (on the left), just as the apprentices found it, around 1960-61.
The Cottage, c1960-61.
1978. Is this a new member applying for membership!!?
Thee Peaks
Around 1961 the Outdoor Club attended the Thee Peaks expedition:
Tony Clements, Ian Buckler and Ewan Walker in training.
In the Land Rover en route to the Three Peaks.
Leigh Belcham, Tony Clements and Ian Buckler.
Dave Hodder, Leigh Belcham and Tony Clements.
Leigh Belcham and Dave Hodder.
Back home in Broadgate after a journey of 24hrs and 45mins - 45mins too much!
Tony Clements - happy to be back home in Broadgate.
The End.
