Page 6 - Leighton News April 2018
P. 6
-6-
Rembering Ralph Mills A Fishing Friend
Ralph Mills who lived at Heather Lea Leighton has died My fishing began when I was 10 years old in the Satanic
at the age of 89. He was a career civil servant. He Mill town of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Sticklebacks and
started in the vacancies section of an unemployment Goujons in the canal next to Mackintosh’s Chocolate
benefit office and progressed to much more exotic works – I remember it well.
activities involving Bletchley Park and associated
Government Communications. He spent many years at Time passes and in 1964 the family moved to
a radio listening post in Hong Kong covering China Birmingham and believe it or not
and Indochina during the Cold War. Ralph Birmingham anglers had a beat for
enjoyed the lifestyle in Hong Kong and it is no trout and grayling on the river
surprise that he developed a keen taste for Vyrnwy near Dolanog and we all
curry!! fell in love with the area.
He was honoured for his service to
National Security with the Imperial So, when we retired, and the
Service Medal. children had fled the nest,
When he retired and returned to the UK our lovely neighbours were
in the early 1980’s he lived in Stella and Ralph Mills. Ralph
Buckingham using a house which he
owned and after a few years decided to was a keen fisherman and
sell up and sample Wales at belonged to an extrovert
Trawsfynydd. During this time, he used threesome – Bill Jones,
his undoubted skills in quality Brian Hanley and himself of
woodworking and French polishing to course. I was asked to join
purchase and renovate quality items. He and welcomed the
marketed these through local antique shops membership with open arms.
in both locations. However, Trawsfynydd Bill and Brian were likeable
proved rather remote and he settled in Leighton. rogues, but Ralph kept them on
As well as woodcraft he had an extensive variety of the straight and narrow – being
interests: golf, fishing, beekeeping, community council, honest and sensitive.
school governor, gardening, hand bell ringing, and travel
using a motor home. Bill bought an old Vauxhall as fishing car
but Ralph was driver not trusting the
In 1995, along with others he realised that there was a motoring skills of the vehicle’s owner! We fished most
transport need in the rural area for people without a car lakes in mid and North Wales for rainbow trout with
or a car in the household. Following a survey, a Charity some very productive outings. Mike Kempster joined us
was set up in 1996 called Welshpool Community in 2003 and then we were five. At the end of a day’s
Transport to provide taxi tokens for people living within fishing we would call into a local for a pint and a bowl of
a 10 mile radius of Welshpool. Ralph made an chips – an added bonus for our outing.
exceptional contribution by raising funds and being
Chairman for some 18 years. it is a tribute to him that By 2010 we had lost Bill and Brian and later Mike moved
the Charity continues to thrive. East. Just Ralph and I were left – we carried on fishing
together up to his recent illness. Ralph made a delightful
Roger Brooks fishing companion – I was extremely privileged to know him
and have him as a friend.
Gordon Helliwell
Invitation for New Members Growing Season 2018
FORDEN ALLOTMENTS
Plots £60 p.a. half plots £45.
With Sheds and shared water Troughs.
Located opposite St Michael's Crescent,
Forden SY21 8NQ
Phone Annie Horner on 01938 580153
or email ahpotty@gmail.com
Rembering Ralph Mills A Fishing Friend
Ralph Mills who lived at Heather Lea Leighton has died My fishing began when I was 10 years old in the Satanic
at the age of 89. He was a career civil servant. He Mill town of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Sticklebacks and
started in the vacancies section of an unemployment Goujons in the canal next to Mackintosh’s Chocolate
benefit office and progressed to much more exotic works – I remember it well.
activities involving Bletchley Park and associated
Government Communications. He spent many years at Time passes and in 1964 the family moved to
a radio listening post in Hong Kong covering China Birmingham and believe it or not
and Indochina during the Cold War. Ralph Birmingham anglers had a beat for
enjoyed the lifestyle in Hong Kong and it is no trout and grayling on the river
surprise that he developed a keen taste for Vyrnwy near Dolanog and we all
curry!! fell in love with the area.
He was honoured for his service to
National Security with the Imperial So, when we retired, and the
Service Medal. children had fled the nest,
When he retired and returned to the UK our lovely neighbours were
in the early 1980’s he lived in Stella and Ralph Mills. Ralph
Buckingham using a house which he
owned and after a few years decided to was a keen fisherman and
sell up and sample Wales at belonged to an extrovert
Trawsfynydd. During this time, he used threesome – Bill Jones,
his undoubted skills in quality Brian Hanley and himself of
woodworking and French polishing to course. I was asked to join
purchase and renovate quality items. He and welcomed the
marketed these through local antique shops membership with open arms.
in both locations. However, Trawsfynydd Bill and Brian were likeable
proved rather remote and he settled in Leighton. rogues, but Ralph kept them on
As well as woodcraft he had an extensive variety of the straight and narrow – being
interests: golf, fishing, beekeeping, community council, honest and sensitive.
school governor, gardening, hand bell ringing, and travel
using a motor home. Bill bought an old Vauxhall as fishing car
but Ralph was driver not trusting the
In 1995, along with others he realised that there was a motoring skills of the vehicle’s owner! We fished most
transport need in the rural area for people without a car lakes in mid and North Wales for rainbow trout with
or a car in the household. Following a survey, a Charity some very productive outings. Mike Kempster joined us
was set up in 1996 called Welshpool Community in 2003 and then we were five. At the end of a day’s
Transport to provide taxi tokens for people living within fishing we would call into a local for a pint and a bowl of
a 10 mile radius of Welshpool. Ralph made an chips – an added bonus for our outing.
exceptional contribution by raising funds and being
Chairman for some 18 years. it is a tribute to him that By 2010 we had lost Bill and Brian and later Mike moved
the Charity continues to thrive. East. Just Ralph and I were left – we carried on fishing
together up to his recent illness. Ralph made a delightful
Roger Brooks fishing companion – I was extremely privileged to know him
and have him as a friend.
Gordon Helliwell
Invitation for New Members Growing Season 2018
FORDEN ALLOTMENTS
Plots £60 p.a. half plots £45.
With Sheds and shared water Troughs.
Located opposite St Michael's Crescent,
Forden SY21 8NQ
Phone Annie Horner on 01938 580153
or email ahpotty@gmail.com
